Founders’ Message

Greetings!

We are delighted that you are considering the INTERLINK International Institutes at Al Yamamah University—a leading English-medium university in Saudi Arabia and the region.

Since its establishment at Al Yamamah University in 2004, INTERLINK’s unique program has empowered students to excel academically and professionally. Our graduates have secured positions at top corporations in the Kingdom, achieved academic distinction, won first- and second-place prizes in international debate competitions, and actively participated in youth forums across Europe. Many have also pursued higher education at prestigious universities in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe, and Asia.

Founded in the United States in 1980, INTERLINK has helped thousands of students and professionals achieve their academic and career aspirations. Our alumni have attended esteemed institutions such as Berkeley, Cornell, Duke, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania, among many others. Today, they are making an impact as professors, researchers, and executives in leading global corporations, universities, and government agencies.

We invite you to experience our dynamic learning environment and take advantage of the enriching academic opportunities available in the Kingdom and beyond.

Ahad Shahbaz – President & CEO, INTERLINK International Institutes

Khalid Al Khudair – Board Chairman, Al Yamamah University

Ahad Shahbaz, President & CEO

Ahad Shahbaz has directed and overseen over 30 programs on various university campuses in the U.S. and abroad. Inspired by John F. Kennedy’s global message of helping and learning from the world through the Peace Corps program, he began his career in teaching and learning with the Peace Corps in Afghanistan and subsequently continued with coordinating the Teacher Corps/Peace Corps language and cross-cultural project at SUNY/College at Buffalo. Having completed his tenure at SUNY/College, he taught English as a second language at SUNY/Buffalo followed by directing the Office of International Student Affairs at Snead State College in Alabama. His incurable addiction to language and culture subsequently took him to Saudi Arabia to set up the Ohio University intensive English program in Taif, Saudi Arabia. An active participant in multiple organizations, he served EnglishUSA (formerly American Association of Intensive English Programs) as its first elected Vice President for Standards; Carolina TESOL as president; the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation as a task force member; and NAFSA: Association of International Educators as a multi-year presenter on leadership, management, and cross-cultural training. He obtained his BA in Liberal Arts/Linguistics from SUNY/College at Buffalo and his MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from SUNY/Buffalo. Committed to transformative education through project-based curricula, he currently oversees U.S. and international programs focusing on academic preparation, language learning, and cross-cultural training.

David Parsons, Senior Executive Director

David Parsons has had extensive experience in teaching, research, and administration. Prior to joining INTERLINK, David directed a Kellogg Foundation-sponsored program on agriculture in the liberal arts: “Food, Peace, & International Development” at Wilmington College of Ohio. He has taught ESL and conducted cross-cultural research in Algeria. Since 1986, he has worked with INTERLINK as teacher, assistant director and director of two different campus programs. As former president of Carolina TESOL, he has been active in the region promoting standards in ESL programs. David holds a B.A. in History and Math from Guilford College; an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Northwestern University; and a MAT in English as a Second Language from the School for International Training. He speaks fluent French and is familiar with Arabic and Russian.

In Memoriam: Bob Steiner, Founder & Chairman

Founder and Chairman, Robert Steiner had extensive experience in the field of cross-cultural training and international education. He  held key posts in leadership, management and training in the U.S. and abroad; was Director of Cross-Cultural Training and Research at the University of Hawaii; served as Director of the Fulbright Commission in Iran; at the request of Sargent Shriver, President John F. Kennedy’s brother-in-law, started and directed the Peace Corps programs in Afghanistan and Iran, and was later promoted to Peace Corps Regional Director for North Africa, Near East, and South Asia; worked as Executive Director of New Jersey Education Consortium; and was a consultant at the United Nations. As a chief executive officer of government agencies and private institutions, Robert managed and promoted world-wide educational and training projects. He held an M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia University and a B.A. in Mathematics and Physics from the College of Wooster. He was listed in Who’s Who in America. Robert spoke Farsi and French fluently.

Valley Peters, Executive Director

Growing up in rural Nebraska and Montana, Valley Peters acquired wanderlust at a young age as she dreamt of far-flung places. A study abroad program in college to New Zealand ignited her plan to pursue a lifetime of traveling and learning about other cultures. A stint as an Americorps volunteer ESL instructor opened the door for combining travel and culture with her love for learning. Outside the classroom, you’ll find her dabbling in artistic pursuits, hiking, hanging out with her daughter, and listening to Tedtalks.Valley has taught in Japan, Mexico, and in the United States in a variety of settings. Her love for the outdoors led her to Jackson, Wyoming where she spent 10 years at a non-profit developing literacy programming for adults, training ESL tutors and teachers, and eventually acting as the executive director. Her professional interests include learning-to-learn strategies, reading development, reflective practice, learner efficacy, and intercultural competence. She has presented at conferences in Japan, Wyoming, and Washington on “constructive chaos” in the classroom, group discussion skills, reflective practice, participatory pedagogy, training ESL tutors, and advanced reading strategies.

Ana Valdivia, Admissions Director

Ana Valdivia is originally from Lima, Peru. She graduated with a degree in architecture before moving to Bozeman, Montana where she has lived for over 15 years. She is now used to the long and cold winters. Her interest in learning about different cultures began in 2000 when she began working on the Montana State University campus. Being herself a non-native English speaker, she felt she had found the perfect place to help foreign students in Bozeman. Over the years, Ana has taken different roles and assumed increasing responsibilities. As admissions director, she now oversees the student application process and provides academic advising, ensuring the INTERLINK student experience is smooth and fruitful from the point of application, through graduation, and into their academic and professional transitions. Ana enjoys meeting and assisting students from different countries and backgrounds, and seeing them succeed at INTERLINK.

Allison Kerr, Marketing Consultant

Allison Kerr has been working in international higher education since 2015. Prior to INTERLINK, she started as a work study in the Office of International Education at St. Ambrose University, graduating in 2017, then served with the City of Davenport AmeriCorps Program as an Elementary Program Specialist at a local non profit. Allison joined INTERLINK in 2018 as a Student Services Coordinator before moving to the Home Office team as a project manager and, soon after, a marketing manager. Allison enjoys helping INTERLINK share students’ stories, and communicating the organization’s programs on the website. She values working at INTERLINK and the opportunity to connect with people from around the world. Outside of work hours, you might find Allison listening to a podcast, spending time in the sun, or starting a crochet project. She loves learning new things about the world and thinking creatively to find solutions.

Monique Cooper, Controller

Monique Cooper has been in the accounting field for over 25 years.  As a child, her family immigrated to the Denver area from the Netherlands. English is her second language.  She earned her accounting certificate at Barnes Business College.  While living in Southern California for 18 years she did the accounting for a personal injury attorney, cost accounting for a manufacturing company that produced nutritional supplements, and also in the auto repair industry.  She returned to Denver in 2005 and worked as comptroller and office manager/overseas liaison for a clothing designer whose goods were manufactured in China and New Zealand. By joining the INTERLINK team she is able to continue to embrace the cultural diversity she experienced within her own family and in other accounting positions.

Mr. Bu-Madyan Kahtan, Executive Director

Bu-Madyan Kahtan oversees the INTERLINK International Institutes at all Al Yamamah University campuses in Riyadh and Khobar, as well as their outreach programs. He is also the Director of the Teaching, Skills, and Development Center at Al Yamamah University. He is a dedicated trainer and English language teaching professional with over 28 years of experience in the field, specializing in program administration, teacher training, and curriculum design and review. Bu-Madyan earned his BA in TEFL from the College of Education and subsequently obtained a TESOL Certificate. He began his career as a teaching assistant at Sanaa University, Yemen, where he spent five years teaching English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP), as well as English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at Yemen’s prestigious YALI language center. Awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, he pursued an MA in TESOL/Applied Linguistics at the University of Northern Iowa, USA. Following this, he became a teacher trainer in the UAE, focusing on project-based learning, the use of portfolios, and continuous assessment. Joining the INTERLINK team, Bu-Madyan quickly advanced to Instructional Coordinator, then Assistant Director, and after 13 years, he was promoted to Executive Director. He holds a diploma in project management and a postgraduate diploma in Business Administration. His core strengths are in quality assurance, program and curriculum development, assessment, teacher training, counseling, and comparative linguistics. Fluent in Arabic and with good knowledge in French, Bu-Madyan values cross-cultural interactions and is committed to lifelong learning.

Ms. Randa Sibahi, Assistant Director

Dr. Randa Sibahi holds an EdD in TESOL and an M.Ed. from the University of Exeter. She is a passionate English language teaching professional who has been working in the field of English language teaching, teacher training, and curriculum review and design for over a decade. Sibahi has written on reflective practice, project-based learning, students’ evaluation of teaching and learning, academic writing and professionalism. Sibahi remains active in the field of ESL by attending and presenting at conferences and has been a member of TESOL for many years. Her areas of specialization are: TESOL, 21st century skills and improvement of both teacher competency and student academic success.

Mr. Ahmed Saad, Assistant Director

Ahmed holds a B.Ed. in English Language Teaching and two internationally recognized teaching qualifications: CELTA and DELTA with a focus on ELT management. These qualifications have provided him with a strong foundation in teaching and management.  His passion for learning and professional development led him to pursue an MBA in Management Information Systems at Marywood University. Ahmed has worked as a teacher and teacher trainer for different international organizations, providing training services in various contexts and at different levels, ranging between primary schools and universities. As an Assistant Director, Ahmed supports the administrative and logistical operations of the Men’s Division of the program in Riyadh. Working closely with instructors, he ensures that resources and appropriate support are available for high-quality instruction.

Mr. Ahmed Talat, Instructional Coordinator

Ahmed holds an MA in TESOL from SIT, Brattleboro, Vermont, USA; a BA in English literature from Ain Shams University. ; and a CELTA and three diplomas with a focus on translation, interpreting, and screen translation from the American University in Cairo. His professional development courses include teacher training and management. With over 20 years of experience in the field of EFL teaching, he joined the INTERLINK community of students and scholars in 2011. In 2023, he was appointed as an instructional coordinator, training and helping instructors in the implementation of INTERLINK’s unique curriculum. Ahmed has presented at various international conferences, including TESOL Arabia, Nile TESOL, and The International Symposium language teaching and learning at Al Yamamah University. His areas of interest include utilizing modern technology to enhance language acquisition.

Ms. Maisaa Tubail, Instructional Coordinator

Maisaa holds a Master’s degree in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), USA and an advanced diploma in using technology in education from Athabasca University (AU), Canada. She speaks Arabic as her mother tongue and is constantly refreshing her French. Maisaa comes to INTERLINK with a wide range of international teaching and work background, including travel and living in the US and Canada and teaching at King Saud University (KSU) and Princess Nourah University (PNU). As an instructional coordinator, she works closely with instructors in the implementation of INTERLINK’s project-based and experiential curriculum. While actively involved in the ongoing training of instructors, she practices what she preaches in her own classes, encouraging students to see education as a dynamic process of discovery and continuous development. Maisaa’s other professional activities include news anchoring for Saudi TV, translation, and interpretation.

Ms. Hasnaa Hafez, Instructional coordinator

Hasnaa Hafiz holds a BA in English language and an MA in TESOL from SIT, Brattleboro, Vermont, USA. As Instructional Coordinator, Hasnaa Hafez brings to INTERLINK over 22 years of experience teaching English at various institutions of higher education. Since 2013, she has had the opportunity to work with students of different backgrounds. Throughout her career, Hasnaa has developed a passion for creating engaging and effective language learning activities that cater to the unique needs of individual students, fostering an environment of growth and development. In her current position, she has been involved in curriculum development, revision, and teacher support, which require staying up-to-date on the latest trends and techniques in the field. The experience has provided her valuable insights into best practices in language instruction.