Board Members

Sanam Akhlagh - President

Sanam Akhlagh is the Founder, Executive Director, and President of the Board of Pardis for Children, Inc. A member of the Iranian diaspora, she established Pardis in 2011, following the birth of her first child, with the vision of creating a community for children of Iranian heritage while also providing a space for both Iranian and non-Iranian children to explore and celebrate the richness of the Persian language and Iranian culture.

Under Sanam’s leadership, Pardis for Children has evolved into a pioneering organization that reaches families worldwide, providing innovative cultural education and language-immersion programs that have benefited thousands of children over the years. She has brought together a remarkable team of educators, artists, and musicians whose creativity and expertise continue to shape these transformative experiences, enriching the lives of children of Iranian heritage and their families across the globe.

She has also spearheaded the creation and publication of a wide range of original content—including music albums, podcasts, audiobooks, music videos, and educational curricula—that has become a cornerstone for families and educators seeking engaging, high-quality, and accessible resources on Persian culture.

In addition, Sanam has forged partnerships with renowned cultural institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the Asia Society, and children’s museums across New York City, introducing Iranian culture into broader cross-cultural conversations and public programs. Over the years, she has initiated and overseen numerous tours, exhibitions, and public events—including annual celebrations of Nowruz and Yalda—highlighting Persian traditions and culture for diverse audiences.

Prior to founding Pardis, Sanam served as a consultant for multiple for-profit, nonprofit, and governmental agencies. Immediately before starting Pardis, she oversaw the Community Partners Program at New York City’s Center for Economic Opportunity, which directed collaborations between city agencies and grassroots organizations. Through this initiative, she helped create opportunities for New Yorkers by facilitating workforce training, fostering connections with local businesses, and expanding access to city programs.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Sanam has been deeply engaged in philanthropic and cultural projects. Following the 2003 earthquake in Bam, Iran, she organized a fundraiser in New York City and traveled to the region to personally distribute the proceeds to multiple NGOs supporting victims. She has also curated documentary film series at NYU and directed her own documentary, The Iron Cradle, which explores the dreams, struggles, and aspirations of Iranians from diverse backgrounds. Throughout her work, Sanam’s mission has been to strengthen the Iranian community while sharing the richness and beauty of Persian culture with the broader world.

Sanam currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum and on the board of Khōréō, a quarterly magazine of speculative fiction and migration. She is also an advisory board member of Nimruz and serves as co-chair of the Iranian American Women Foundation’s New York chapter, championing empowerment, connection, and leadership among women of the Iranian diaspora.

She earned her B.A., Cum Laude, in Operations Research and her M.A. in Engineering and Management Systems, both from Columbia University. Sanam lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Morad Masjedi, and their two sons.

Tamilla Ghodsi - Secretary

Tamilla Ghodsi is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs & Co. in New York. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs in 1997, Tamilla practiced tax law at White & Case in New York from 1994 to 1997. She earned a BA, with honors, in Economics and International Studies from Northwestern University in 1991. She received her JD, cum laude, in 1994 from the University of Michigan Law School, and an LL.M. in Taxation from the New York University School of Law in 1997. At the University of Michigan Law School, Tamilla served as the editor-in-chief of the Michigan Journal of International Law from 1993 to 1994 and authored the article Tying a Slipknot: Temporary Marriages in Iran, 15 Mich. J. Int’l L. 625 (1994).

Tamilla has been involved in various philanthropic efforts over the years. She was a board member of the Iranian-American Bar Association from 2002 to 2004. Tamilla is also a board member of Razi Health Foundation and the Coalition for Persian Charities. In addition, Tamilla has served on the New York Noruz at the Met Steering Committee 2007 – 2011. Tamilla is a supporter of the Asia Society programs with particular focus on Iranian art, including supporting the Asia Society exhibit: “Ardeshir Mohassess: Art & Satire in Iran” and serving on the Benefit Committee for the exhibit “Glass, Giling, & Grand Design: Art of Sasanian Iran (224-642).” Tamilla is the founder and currently serves as an adviser to Shabeh Jomeh, a monthly gathering of Iranian professionals designed to improve upon existing professional and social relations, which began in New York in February 2000.

Tamilla was born in Mashad, Iran. She, her husband, Bijan Ayromloo, and their two sons reside in New York City.

Maziar Minovi - Treasurer

As Chief Executive Officer at Eurasia Group, Maziar Minovi is responsible for directing firm strategy and leading oversight of research, sales, and operations teams across Eurasia Group's global offices. He previously served as managing director at the firm, overseeing coverage of cross-cutting, global trends in geopolitics.

Maziar has twenty-five years of experience investing in international and emerging markets. He was a senior member of the Investment Strategy Group at Goldman Sachs, where he identified investment opportunities in emerging markets—including in debt, equities, and currencies—as well as geopolitical and global policy issues with market impact. Prior to that, Maziar was the head of the Emerging Markets Group at MassMutual/Babson Capital Management. He has also worked for the International Monetary Fund, Long Term Capital Management, Putnam Investment Management, and the World Bank.

Maziar holds a doctorate in international finance and economic development, a master of business administration, and a bachelor of business administration from George Washington University. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is on the Investment Committee of the Brooklyn Public Library and the Organizing Committee of Noruz at the Met. He lives with his wife Michelle, and three children: Sirus, Mitra, and Arman in Brooklyn.