Leadership
Board of Directors
Darakshan Farber
Pir Zia Inayat-Khan
, founder of Seven Pillars House of Wisdom, is the spiritual leader of the Sufi Order International, a mystical and ecumenical fellowship rooted in the visionary legacy of his grandfather, Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan. Pir Zia is also President of the Suluk Academy for esoteric studies. Pir Zia holds a doctoral degree in religion from Duke University, is a recipient of the U Thant Peace Award, and is a Lindisfarne Fellow.
Halima Thea Levkovitz
Dena Merriam
Deepa Patel
Deepa Patel is passionate about music, young people, fighting injustice and poverty and nurturing equality and creativity in our world. These areas have been the focus of her work. Her past roles have included work as a music education producer for the BBC, a campaigner on HIV/AIDS for ActionAid, and as a Managing Director of Creative Partnerships (a national UK Government Initiative on creativity in schools). She currently facilitates programs on the art of collaboration and conversation and is Co-Director of Slow Down London, a campaign on how to appreciate and enjoy life at a different pace. Deepa is a member of the Seven Pillars Board of Trustees and lives in England.
Deborah Rabia Povich
Staff
Jennifer Alia Wittman
, Seven Pillars’ Director, has a background in public service and volunteerism, founding, directing, and supporting governmental, nonprofit and small business entities. Jennifer founded and directed the Maryland Youth Service Action Committee, led the nonprofit Hands on Baltimore, and served for four years as the General Manager of the independent publishing house and bookseller, Omega Publications. Jennifer now lives in New Lebanon, New York.
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 Humbolt Storage and Moving Co., where she organized numerous events, facilitated company-wide initiatives and provided administrative support. She currently lives in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
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, freelance 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.

