About Us
Mission, vision, and the people behind the work
Noor El-Salam is a non-profit charitable corporation pursuant to Colorado law and is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Federal tax code. As a non-governmental and non-sectarian organization we are governed by an all-volunteer board deeply committed to transparent, mission-driven operation. We believe that access to education is a fundamental human right — and that the children we serve are proof that complex situations have simple moral answers.
Our mission
To educate refugee and marginalized children in Lebanon who are unable to obtain an education within the country, and to provide humanitarian relief to Lebanese communities suffering from lack of access to essentials. Noor El-Salam is organized exclusively for charitable, literary, and educational purposes.
Our vision
We provide education opportunities for marginalized populations within Lebanon and humanitarian relief to impoverished communities lacking essentials — building a future where every child, regardless of origin or circumstance, has access to learning and a path forward.
What we believe
We believe in radical transparency: every dollar is tracked, every outcome reported. We believe no child's future should be determined by where they were born or by forces beyond their control. And we believe that education doesn't end at primary school — our scholarships support students into secondary and vocational programs.
Our Team
Amine Tarhini
An engineer by education with senior management and business operations roles across major corporations over 41 years. Holds E.E. and M.E. degrees from Texas A&M University. Born and raised in Beirut, he holds dual US–Lebanese citizenship, speaks four languages, and travels regularly to Lebanon to support NGOs working with refugees.
Founder & Board President
Susan Bryant
An attorney who worked in higher education and as a practicing lawyer, owning her own firm. She received her J.D. from Georgetown University and B.A. from Duke University. She has served on the Board of many non-profit organizations in the areas of early childhood education, interdisciplinary work between lawyers and therapists, reentry of prisoners into the community, and church mission boards.
Co-Founder & Treasurer
Lee is ordained clergy in the United Methodist Church. She has an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Colorado-Denver, completed seminary coursework at Iliff School of Theology, and has a B.B.A. in Marketing from Texas A&M University. She has served churches in specialized roles of pastoral care and missions & service
Board Member
Lee Anderson-Harris
Engineer and senior technology leader with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. Career spans startups to Fortune 100 companies. Former Scholar of Engineering Practice at the University of Colorado; longtime volunteer mathematics tutor and nonprofit board member. Deeply committed to education as a pathway to dignity and stability.
Board Member
Rick Heidebrecht
Paul Landers
Board Member
Paul is a seasoned leader in the health, education, and human services fields, with a M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology, Cambridge College and B.A. in Special Education, Boston University. He has over three decades of experience guiding organizations that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Most notably, Paul served as President and CEO of Pathfinder Village in New York, where he oversaw a nationally recognized inclusive community, led multimillion-dollar capital campaigns, and launched transformative programs in education, housing, and workforce development. His career reflects a deep commitment to inclusive, mission-driven leadership, community partnerships, and organizational growth. Paul brings to Noor El-Salam his passion for creating opportunities and empowering underserved populations, aligning closely with our mission to support refugee children through education.
Jodie is a technical recruiter at a Big 4 consulting company for the past 15 years. She has an M.A. degree in Student Personnel Services from the University of NJ and an B.A. degree in Political Science from Douglass College-Rutgers University. She has served in a variety of church leadership roles from long term planning to facility management over the past several years. She has a particular strong interest in animal rescues.
Advisory Board Member