Our Team
The Vermont Afghan Alliance is a 501(c)(3) and registered Vermont non-profit launched in April 2022. Now in our second year, our VAA team is growing. Check back soon for updates on staff hirings!
Interested in serving on our Board? Interning with the VAA or volunteering?
Email us at info@vtafghanalliance.org
Board of Directors
Wazir Hashimi
Wazir Hashimi serves as a Co-Founder of the VAA and President of the Board. He was born and raised in Bamyan Province in Central Afghanistan. Wazir attended high school in Vermont graduating from The Long Trail School in Manchester, Vermont in 2017. He attended Castleton University graduating with a bachelor's degree in Political Science in 2021. Wazir was a member of the Pi Gamma Mu, an International Honor Society in Social Services.
Wazir's passion for entrepreneurship and commitment to community development, led him to found the Equinox Transportation Agency in Manchester, Vermont. Wazir also founded and served as the Chairman of a youth committee in Afghanistan representing Afghan youth nationally and globally.
In 2022, together with his brother Awran, Wazir opened Bamyan Kebab House in Winooski, Vermont - the first Afghan restaurant in the State. Currently, Wazir is also working to open an Afghan foods market in Essex Junction, Vermont.
Wazir lives with his wife and son in Colchester, Vermont.
Dan Barkhuff
Dan serves as a Co-Founder of the VAA and Vice President of the Board. He was born in Maine and grew up in New England. Dan attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 2001. He served seven years on active duty as a member of Naval Special Warfare and completed multiple combat tours.
Upon leaving active duty he attended Harvard Medical School and then completed an Emergency Medicine Residency training program at the University of New Mexico. He is now a faculty member at the University of Vermont and an Emergency Medicine doctor at the University of Vermont Medical Center.
Dan is also the Founder and President of the Board of Veterans for Responsible Leadership.
Dan lives with his wife and four kids in South Burlington, Vermont.
Amin Sahil
Amin was born and raised in Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan, graduating from Ikra high school in 2011. He attended Kabul University graduating with a bachelor's degree in BBA in 2015. Amin Speaks five languages: Pashto, Dari, English, Urdu, and Hindi. Previously Amin worked as a decorated senior translator in the US army in Khost, Kandahar, Herat and Kabul provinces in Afghanistan from 2008 to 2011. Amin arrived in Vermont in November 2018 and is currently working in Perrigo Company as a supervisor of operations.
Amin lives in Burlington with much of his family still in Afghanistan. He looks forward to the day they will be reunited in the United States.
Siamoi Ahmadi
Siamoi Ahmadi was born in Baghlan province in central Afghanistan. Siamoi attended high school in Kabul and matriculated at ETRAK University, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Dari language Literature in 2021. Siamoi Speaks three languages: Pashto, Dari and English. Previously Siamoi worked as a security guard in the US embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan from March 2018 to August 2021. She is currently employed by True North Granola located in Brattleboro, VT.
Siamoi and her nine year old daughter arrived in Vermont in February 2021, settling shortly after in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Tamim Habibi
Tamim was born and raised in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan where he attended high school, graduating from Istiqlal high school in 2012. Tamim is fluent in three languages: Dari, Pashto and English. Previously Tamim worked as a senior driver and Security Guard in the US embassy in Kabul Afghanistan from March 2009 to July 2021. Tamim arrived in Vermont in October 2021, and is currently employed at Mack Molding in Arlington.
Tamim lives with his wife and three children in Bennington, Vermont.
Farooq Wali Mohammad
Farooq was born and raised in Khost province in the southeastern region of Afghanistan. He attended high school in Khost graduating from Shaheed Mohammad Daud high school in 2012. Farooq Speaks three languages Pashto, Dari and English. Previously Farooq worked as a police officer in Khost province from January 2012 to July 2021. Farooq arrived in Vermont in August 2021 and is currently working at Peerless Clothing Warehouse in St. Albans and lives in Burlington.
Farooq is married with two children who remain in Afghanistan and is hopeful they will be together again soon.
Staff
Molly Gray
Molly serves as the Interim Executive Director of the VAA. She was born and raised in Newbury, Vermont on her families’ vegetable and dairy farm. Molly holds an LL.M in International Law from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, a J.D. from Vermont Law School, and a B.A. from the University of Vermont. After graduating law school Molly served as a law clerk to the Honorable Peter W. Hall on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Previously, Molly served as Vermont’s 82nd Lt. Governor, completing her term in January 2023. From 2018 to 2020, she served as a Vermont Assistant Attorney General while also teaching international human rights law as an adjunct professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School.
Before that, Gray worked in Geneva, Switzerland for the International Code of Conduct Association, an international initiative aimed at overseeing the compliance of security contractors with human rights. Gray launched the Association’s human rights monitoring program and led monitoring missions into East Africa, Nigeria and Iraq.
Gray also previously worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross where she managed relations with Congress and led field missions to Haiti, Uganda, Georgia, the Western Balkans and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Gray began her career as an aide to U.S. Representative, now Senator, Peter Welch (D-VT).
Molly lives in Burlington with her husband, two step sons and growing family.
Khalid Ullah Sahar
Khalid serves as a Program Officer for the VAA where he oversees the VAA’s Driving Program as well as the Translation Services Program.
Khalid was born and raised in Kunar Province in northeastern Afghanistan. He attended high school in Kunar Province and went on to study law for six semesters at Nangarhar University. Previously Khalid worked as a police officer for the Afghan National Police in Nangarhar Province.
Khalid arrived in Vermont in March 2021. He currently owns his own electronics repair business. Since arriving in Vermont he has supported Afghan resettlement and proudly speaks five languages.
Khalid lives in Burlington. He is married with two children who remain in Afghanistan. He looks forward to the day they will be reunited.
Vermont Afghan Alliance
Vermont Afghan Alliance
50 Lakeside Ave Unit 118-H19
Burlington, Vermont 05401
info@vtafghanalliance.org
© 2023 Vermont Afghan Alliance
