Leadership

Board of Directors

Devon Shahana Beckett

Devon Bates Beckett (Shahana Naja) developed her expertise in marketing, communications, research and project management through progressively senior roles in local and state governments, tele-communications, museums, service learning, and environmental and educational non-profits.  Devon’s wide range of experience has led her to a deeper understanding of complex legal, environmental, political, economic and social interdependencies.  Highly intuitive, analytical and imaginative, she holds a Master of Science degree in social psychology from the University of California at Santa Cruz; she is an ordained UCM minister and a continuing Sufi student. Currently, Devon provides consulting services in strategic planning, writing, editing and events.

David Darakshan Farber

Darakshan Farber, Seven Pillars’ Secretary, serves as a “connecter” immersed in the arts, community organization, world travel, and emerging spirituality. He was a software architect for thirty years, and co-founded Sandpiper Networks which developed Internet technologies that eventually became "the cloud." He owns and manages the Glen Muse estate in Ojai California, and is a graduate of Suluk Academy as well as the Nine Gates Mystery School. He is currently Executive Director of the Seven Pillars Journey of Wisdom, an immersive "transformance" experience based on the Seven Pillars.

Pir Zia Inayat-Khan

Pir Zia Inayat-Khan, is a scholar and teacher of Sufism in the lineage of his grandfather, Hazrat Inayat Khan. He received his B.A. (Hons) in Persian Literature from the London School of Oriental and African Studies, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Religion from Duke University. Pir Zia is founder of Seven Pillars House of Wisdom, and also of Sulūk Academy, a school of contemplative study with branches in the U.S. and Europe. His recent book, Saracen Chivalry: Counsels on Valor, Generosity and the Mystical Quest, was published by Sulūk Press, an imprint of Omega Publications, in November, 2012. www.pirzia.org

Thea Halima Levkovitz

Thea Halima Levkovitz, Seven Pillars' Treasurer, is an environmental policy analyst, with extensive experience in nonprofit outreach, media, communication, and organizational development.  She was the convener for the interfaith Partnership for Religion and the Environment for more than ten years, instituting public policy strategy and values-driven advocacy. Halima has a M.A. in Biology from Humboldt State University and served on the Board of Directors for the National Wildlife Federation. She is founding member of the Northwest Women’s Environmental Network and co-founder of Environmental Leaders Retreats. Halima lives in Seattle, Washington.

Mary Ann Iman O’Halloran

Mary Ann Iman O’Halloran, together with her husband Gerald, is founder of the O’Halloran Family Foundation. Iman supports many nonprofit organizations, both as a volunteer and philanthropist, with a focus on the arts, children, low-income housing, healing, and spirituality.

Deborah Rabia Povich

Deborah Rabia Povich, Seven Pillars’ Vice President and Board Chair, is a seasoned public policy and nonprofit professional, with broad experience in social justice, poverty alleviation, organizational development, communications, and resource development. Currently she co-manages a national initiative designed to strengthen state policies that support the economic advancement of low-income working families. For five years she served on the Sufi Order Board of Trustees, three as facilitator overseeing critical years aligning the Sufi Order organization with Pir Zia Inayat-Khan's vision.  She has been a student of Sufism for over 30 years.  Rabia holds a Masters Degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland. She lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she offers retreats that supports inner awareness that leads to outer action.

Staff

Corin Lee Girard

Corin Girard serves as Seven Pillars’ Special Projects Manager, working on event logistics, outreach and communications, website updates and general administrative projects. Corin has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Advertising from Marist College and previously served as Executive Assistant to the President and the CEO of Humboldt Storage and Moving Co., where she organized numerous events, facilitated company-wide initiatives and provided administrative support. She is an impassioned student and teacher of Argentine tango and currently resides in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

Shams Kairys

Shams Kairys is Seven Pillars’ General Editor of online and print media, with a special emphasis on crafting language for a general audience. Shams is a group facilitator, independent editor, and writer who has worked with innovative organizations and projects dedicated to helping heal the world, including Berkeley Area Interfaith Council, Meeting of the Ways, Creating Our Future, Seva Foundation, Reaching Out Project, EarthSave International and Youth for Environmental Sanity. Shams lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Laurie Lane-Zucker

Laurie Lane-Zucker serves as Seven Pillars' Executive Director. He is a seasoned nonprofit executive, "impact" entrepreneur, lecturer, and spokesperson on environmental, educational, and entrepreneurial issues. His background includes serving as executive director of the Orion Society, an environmental organization with broad international membership. While there, he edited and published magazines and books, founded a grassroots network, organized over 70 conferences, colloquia and institutes, and was a leader in the development of Place-based Education. Laurie also founded a nonprofit incubator to nurture local, national, and global citizenship, and a global impact digital media company delivering content on the burning issues of the day. Laurie was raised in a theosophist family where he had an early introduction to mysticism; he has three children and currently resides in Sheffield, Massachusetts.

Inspirational Voices

Seven Pillars is a collaborative organization. Along with a dedicated Staff and active Board, we rely on the contributions of many accomplished Guiding Voices and a four person Wisdom Council, who assist in guiding the direction of, and creatively contributing toward, programming and content for events, programs and media initiatives of the organization. The relationship is based on mutual interest, availability and commitment to the Mission and Vision of Seven Pillars. To learn more about our Wisdom Council or Guding Voices, click here.