Our Team
Hussein Samhat, BA(H), BEd., LLM
President and Chief Executive Officer
As President of the TheoRisee Foundation, Hussein provides strategic leadership to advance the organization's mission of expanding access to education and student success. He is responsible for guiding organizational growth, cultivating strategic partnerships, and ensuring the Foundation's programs and initiatives remain responsive, innovative, and community-driven. With a professional background in higher education, nonprofit leadership, and law and policy, Hussein has built a career translating bold ideas into sustainable strategies and programs that foster meaningful impact.
Through a collaborative and people-centred leadership style, Hussein brings together educators, community organizations, industry leaders, and government to develop innovative solutions that expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and improve educational outcomes.
Milad Hammoud, BA(H), BEd., MA, OCT
Vice-President, Program Development and Delivery
With years of experience in the public education system serving multiple Ontario school boards, Milad has worked in diverse educational roles that centre student success, staff collaboration, and system improvement. He is currently a proud vice-principal with the Greater Essex County District School Board and also leads Program Development & Delivery at Theorisee, where he oversees the creation of its theoretical and practical framework for CRRP‑aligned professional learning, and guides the implementation of Theorisee’s unique three‑domain approach to culturally relevant and responsive practice.
His work across both settings is driven by a deep commitment to equity and the transformative potential of CRRP in building inclusive, empowering learning environments for all students.
Ali Samhat, BHK
Vice-President, Operations and Technology
With several years of experience in insurance operations and corporate learning and development, Ali oversees the organization’s core operations, including finance, human resources, and internal systems. Ali brings a strong operational lens to ensuring organizational stability, compliance, and efficiency, while supporting the day-to-day infrastructure that enables the work to scale sustainably.
A key focus of Ali’s role is the technical infrastructure that supports practical, adult-centered learning experiences, ensuring systems are intuitive, reliable, and aligned with real-world use. Ali also leads the integration of AI-enabled solutions to strengthen knowledge transfer, enhance performance, and support continuous improvement across programs. Through this work, Ali helps bridge operational strategy with technology, ensuring TheoRisee’s program delivery is both effective and adaptable as the organization grows.
Afaf Atoui,
Vice-President, Community Impact & Partnerships
Afaf brings over a decade of experience in administration, education, finance, and non-profit service, working in both Catholic and public school boards. She works closely with families and newcomers through school board administration and plays a key role in community engagement, strategic planning, and fundraising initiatives. Through her non-profit work representing various organizations, Afaf coordinated partnerships, and raised awareness to mobilize support for meaningful causes, earning her recognition with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award.
Beyond her professional and non-profit roles, Afaf proudly co-runs The Slime Wagon with her daughter, a family-centered small business rooted in entrepreneurship, creativity, and community connection. This hands-on experience continues to shape her passion for youth empowerment and family-focused initiatives.
Samantha Dalo, BA(H), MA
Director, Research and Programming
With over a decade of experience in Workforce, Education, and Civic Engagement development as an analyst, strategist, and programming specialist, Sam understands the significance of incorporating lived experience alongside research methods to deliver practical programming and curriculum that supports racialized, marginalized, and underrepresented demographics. Through her lived, professional, and educational experiences, Sam believes that a collective approach across industries, education, and community, rooted in equity, empathy, and care, can positively impact socio-economic mobility for all. Sam also possesses a certificate in Social Policy for Social Services
Flo Ndimubandi,
Specialist, Community Engagement
Florine is a dynamic, relationship-driven professional with over five years of experience in corporate partnerships, program management, and marketing across the nonprofit, corporate, and community sectors. She specializes in building strategic collaborations that drive funding growth, elevate brand visibility, and advance equity-focused outcomes. Known for her ability to connect people, ideas, and opportunities, Florine brings a collaborative and thoughtful approach to every partnership she leads. She has a proven track record of developing and delivering marketing and sponsorship strategies that strengthen organizational impact while fostering meaningful engagement between industry, education, and community partners.
Fluent in both English and French, Florine excels in customer-facing and stakeholder-focused environments, where she builds trusted, long-term partnerships.
Mia DiCiocco, BA., BEd.,
Coordinator, Social Media
With a background in education, student leadership, and community engagement, Mia brings thoughtful approach to her role as Social Media Coordinator for the TheoRisee Foundation. Her experience spans in education with the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, along with advocacy, communications, event programming, and equity-focused initiatives across higher education and community-based spaces. She has supported initiatives through content development, audience engagement, and digital communications, with a focus on creating messaging that is clear, purposeful, and aligned with organizational priorities.
Mia is known for a collaborative and service-driven approach grounded in connection, passion, accessibility, and authentic storytelling. In her role, she is focused on strengthening the organization’s digital presence and supporting communication strategies that reflect its mission, values, and the communities it serves.