Educational Specialist
M.Ed.(Counseling)
Sadaf Khwaja is an Educational Specialist, trained and qualified in the United States. She obtained her MBA (Marketing) from Southeastern University, Washington DC in 1995, and in 1998 obtained an M.Ed.(Counseling) from Providence College, Rhode Island. She augmented her counseling degree by completing a Conflict Mediation Training Workshop held by the Arizona Institute for Dispute Resolution. Her passion has been in Career/Vocational Guidance and Personal Counseling.
Mrs. Khwaja has practiced in the US as a Career Counselor Instructor in community colleges, teaching “Career and Personal Development” courses, Math Anxiety Reduction Techniques, Career Counseling and Awareness and “Strategies for College Success.”She is proficient at conducting Career/Occupational Testing for career decision-making, utilizing COPS Inventory, Vocational Preference Inventory, Strong Interest Inventory and Hayworth Learning Styles.
She has also led Anti-Bullying Awareness and Training workshops for teachers, parents and students in Arizona, USA. This includedinteractive sessions addressing topics such as ‘Anger Management,” “Respect,” “Conflict Resolution,” “Tolerance,” and “Self-Esteem” with students from Kindergarten till Grade 8.
Mrs. Khwaja has also served as President of American Muslim Women’s Association;an Arizona based social welfare organization, from 2006 to 2008.With this organization she developed extensive case management experience in assisting refugees and low-income families as well as abused and divorced women. Mrs. Khwajaalso represented the Muslim Community in the City of Mesa, Human Relations Advisory Board, playing an active role in imparting Muslim sensitivity training to the Board and officials of the city.
In 2011, Mrs. Khwaja conducted Student Study Skills workshops with Al Bateen Secondary School (Aldar Academies) students.Mrs. Khwaja is skilled in developing academic programs to increase students’ self-esteem, confidence and love for learning. She is experienced with instilling coping skills for academic and social competence such as:
- Self-esteem, confidence and self-worth in children improving academic performance.
- Individual/Focus Groups for problem-solving with social emotional issues and bullying.
- School issues: teasing, isolation, friendship problems and acceptance.
- Self-awareness and Accountability
- Motivation
- Career Testing/Interpretation
- Career Counseling
- Becoming a Master Student
- Anxiety Reduction Techniques for Tests/Exams
- Goal-Setting
- Time-management
- Stress management
- Note-taking skills and techniques
- Active Listening and Reading
- Critical thinking
- Decision-making
- Health Management – Taking Care of Yourself
“I feel strongly that if our needs are identified and addressed, then we can be harmonious and function with ease in life. Those needs are: feeling safe, loved, a sense of belonging, capable and responsible and successful. The essence of being human occurs when we can learn how to accept our mistakes and of others with an understanding of our unique development. Only then can we work well with others in school, college, office and at home.”
