Meet Our Team
Five Before College is guided by an extraordinary team of educators, coaches, and professionals united by a single mission: to help Muslim youth thrive in both dunya and ākhirah.
Our coaches include graduates of Harvard, Stanford, and other top universities, with backgrounds spanning education, psychology, and business. We’ve navigated the same systems, achieved at the highest levels, and built lives rooted in faith and purpose—and we’re committed to showing the next generation how to do the same without ever losing sight of their qibla.
Hamzah Henshaw
~Founder and Head Coach
"Helping Muslim teenagers win in both admissions processes—college and Jannah"
At 15 years old, at a traditional New England boarding school where most classmates could trace their family trees back to the Mayflower, Hamzah took his shahada.
That decision didn't just change his faith—it changed everything about how he understood success, purpose, and what it means to "win" in life.
Years later, after graduating from Harvard College in 2001, Hamzah found himself helping Muslim students navigate college admissions. And he kept seeing the same pattern: students who were spiritually lost getting into prestigious schools only to lose themselves further, while others who had strong Islamic identities were being told to downplay their faith to "fit in."
He knew there had to be a better way.
That's why he founded Five Before College in 2023—to help Muslim teenagers navigate the college application process without losing themselves in the process. More than that, to show them that the very qualities that make them strong Muslims are the same qualities that make them irresistible to top colleges.
With over 20 years of experience in education, Hamzah has helped hundreds of Muslim teenagers secure spots at elite universities like Harvard, MIT, UPenn, Dartmouth, and Johns Hopkins. But what sets him apart isn't just his Harvard education or his insider knowledge of the admissions process—it's his deep understanding of what Muslim families are really asking for: a path to success in both this life and the next.
His approach is built on the Five Before Five hadith, using the Prophet's ﷺ wisdom as a framework for developing well-rounded students who excel academically, lead with Islamic character, and know their purpose. Because the real admissions game, he believes, isn't just getting into an Ivy League school—it's getting into Jannat al-Firdaws.
When he's not coaching students or building FBC, you'll find Hamzah in suburban Boston with his wife Ruheena and their two children, Sumayya and Ilyas. An avid traveler, he's visited more than 30 countries across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia—experiences that continually deepen his perspective on education, faith, and what it means to prepare youth for a globalized world.
Patrick Bensen
~Director of Enrollment, Coach
"Helping Muslim families discover
the guidance they've been searching for"
Hamzah Henshaw
~Founder and Head Coach
"Helping Muslim teenagers win in both admissions processes—college
and Jannah"
At 15 years old, at a traditional New England boarding school where most classmates could trace their family trees back to the Mayflower, Hamzah took his shahada.
That decision didn't just change his faith—it changed everything about how he understood success, purpose, and what it means to "win" in life.
Years later, after graduating from Harvard College in 2001, Hamzah found himself helping Muslim students navigate college admissions. And he kept seeing the same pattern: students who were spiritually lost getting into prestigious schools only to lose themselves further, while others who had strong Islamic identities were being told to downplay their faith to "fit in."
He knew there had to be a better way.
That's why he founded Five Before College in 2023—to help Muslim teenagers navigate the college application process without losing themselves in the process. More than that, to show them that the very qualities that make them strong Muslims are the same qualities that make them irresistible to top colleges.
With over 20 years of experience in education, Hamzah has helped hundreds of Muslim teenagers secure spots at elite universities like Harvard, MIT, UPenn, Dartmouth, and Johns Hopkins. But what sets him apart isn't just his Harvard education or his insider knowledge of the admissions process—it's his deep understanding of what Muslim families are really asking for: a path to success in both this life and the next.
His approach is built on the Five Before Five hadith, using the Prophet's ﷺ wisdom as a framework for developing well-rounded students who excel academically, lead with Islamic character, and know their purpose. Because the real admissions game, he believes, isn't just getting into an Ivy League school—it's getting into Jannat al-Firdaws.
When he's not coaching students or building FBC, you'll find Hamzah in suburban Boston with his wife Ruheena and their two children, Sumayya and Ilyas. An avid traveler, he's visited more than 30 countries across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia—experiences that continually deepen his perspective on education, faith, and what it means to prepare youth for a globalized world.
Patrick's path to Five Before College isn't what you might expect.
A Harvard graduate who once played elite-level athletics, he could have easily stayed in traditional academic or corporate circles. Instead, his journey led him to organic farming, halal food production, Muslim chaplaincy at a local jail, and eventually, to serving as president of his local mosque—where he helped lead the purchase of the community's permanent home.
That unlikely journey taught him something crucial: the most important decisions in life aren't about prestige or status. They're about purpose, community, and staying true to what matters most.
Today, as Director of Enrollment at Five Before College, Patrick leads the outreach and strategy that helps Muslim families discover FBC and understand how we can support their teenagers' college journey. He's passionate about making sure families know this resource exists—especially those who, like him once was, might not think "elite college admissions coaching" is for them.
His diverse background—from English literature to athletic excellence to community leadership—gives him a unique perspective on what actually makes students successful. He knows that the skills that matter most can't be measured by GPA alone: character, resilience, purpose, and the ability to think bigger than your circumstances.
Working with families, Patrick draws on his own experience navigating elite spaces while staying grounded in what really matters. Whether he's speaking with a parent who's overwhelmed by the college process, or coaching a student who needs to expand their vision of what's possible, he brings both strategic insight and genuine care.
When he's not working with families, you'll find Patrick in his hometown in western Massachusetts—coaching youth sports, working in organic farming and halal food production, or serving his local Muslim community. That local engagement keeps him grounded and connected to the real challenges families face.
Because for Patrick, this work isn't just a job—it's about helping Muslim families access the guidance and support they need to give their children the best possible future, without losing who they are in the process.
Patrick Bensen
~Director of Enrollment, Coach
"Helping Muslim families discover the guidance they've been searching for"
Patrick's path to Five Before College isn't what you might expect.
A Harvard graduate who once played elite-level athletics, he could have easily stayed in traditional academic or corporate circles. Instead, his journey led him to organic farming, halal food production, Muslim chaplaincy at a local jail, and eventually, to serving as president of his local mosque—where he helped lead the purchase of the community's permanent home.
That unlikely journey taught him something crucial: the most important decisions in life aren't about prestige or status. They're about purpose, community, and staying true to what matters most.
Today, as Director of Enrollment at Five Before College, Patrick leads the outreach and strategy that helps Muslim families discover FBC and understand how we can support their teenagers' college journey. He's passionate about making sure families know this resource exists—especially those who, like him once was, might not think "elite college admissions coaching" is for them.
His diverse background—from English literature to athletic excellence to community leadership—gives him a unique perspective on what actually makes students successful. He knows that the skills that matter most can't be measured by GPA alone: character, resilience, purpose, and the ability to think bigger than your circumstances.
Working with families, Patrick draws on his own experience navigating elite spaces while staying grounded in what really matters. Whether he's speaking with a parent who's overwhelmed by the college process, or coaching a student who needs to expand their vision of what's possible, he brings both strategic insight and genuine care.
When he's not working with families, you'll find Patrick in his hometown in western Massachusetts—coaching youth sports, working in organic farming and halal food production, or serving his local Muslim community. That local engagement keeps him grounded and connected to the real challenges families face.
Because for Patrick, this work isn't just a job—it's about helping Muslim families access the guidance and support they need to give their children the best possible future, without losing who they are in the process.
Morjane Hmaidi
~Lead Success Coach
"Meeting students where they are—
then helping them discover where
they're meant to go"
Ask any student who's worked with Morjane, and they'll tell you: she just gets it. The pressure of living up to family expectations. The identity questions that keep you up at night. The fear of choosing the wrong major, the wrong school, the wrong path.
She gets it because she's lived it.
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Algerian parents and raised in Shrewsbury, Morjane grew up navigating multiple worlds—American and Algerian, secular and Islamic, traditional expectations and modern opportunities. That experience gave her something textbooks can't teach: the ability to understand what Muslim American youth are really going through.
Today, fluent in English, French, and Arabic, Morjane brings this multicultural perspective to her work as Lead Success Coach at Five Before College. But it's not just her background that makes her exceptional—it's how she shows up for students.
With over a decade of experience as an educator, mentor, and mental health professional, Morjane has taught in both public and Islamic schools, counseled youth through personal crises, and guided countless students through their college journeys. Her master's degree in education and background in research science give her the analytical skills to break down complex challenges, while her training in mental health counseling helps her address the emotional and spiritual needs that often get overlooked.
But what students appreciate most is how she listens. Really listens. Not just to what they're saying, but to what they're not saying. Whether she's helping a junior figure out their passion project, working with a senior on college essays, or supporting a family through a tough decision, Morjane approaches every conversation with genuine care, high expectations, and the belief that when guided with compassion, every student can thrive.
At Five Before College, she's known for her attention to detail, her ability to ask the questions no one else thinks to ask, and her commitment to supporting students holistically—academically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Because for Morjane, success isn't just about getting into a good college. It's about helping young Muslims become the best versions of themselves, rooted in their deen and confident in their dunya.
Marjane Hmaidi
~Lead Success Coach
"Meeting students where they are—then helping them discover where
they're meant to go"
Ask any student who's worked with Morjane, and they'll tell you: she just gets it. The pressure of living up to family expectations. The identity questions that keep you up at night. The fear of choosing the wrong major, the wrong school, the wrong path.
She gets it because she's lived it.
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Algerian parents and raised in Shrewsbury, Morjane grew up navigating multiple worlds—American and Algerian, secular and Islamic, traditional expectations and modern opportunities. That experience gave her something textbooks can't teach: the ability to understand what Muslim American youth are really going through.
Today, fluent in English, French, and Arabic, Morjane brings this multicultural perspective to her work as Lead Success Coach at Five Before College. But it's not just her background that makes her exceptional—it's how she shows up for students.
With over a decade of experience as an educator, mentor, and mental health professional, Morjane has taught in both public and Islamic schools, counseled youth through personal crises, and guided countless students through their college journeys. Her master's degree in education and background in research science give her the analytical skills to break down complex challenges, while her training in mental health counseling helps her address the emotional and spiritual needs that often get overlooked.
But what students appreciate most is how she listens. Really listens. Not just to what they're saying, but to what they're not saying. Whether she's helping a junior figure out their passion project, working with a senior on college essays, or supporting a family through a tough decision, Morjane approaches every conversation with genuine care, high expectations, and the belief that when guided with compassion, every student can thrive.
At Five Before College, she's known for her attention to detail, her ability to ask the questions no one else thinks to ask, and her commitment to supporting students holistically—academically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Because for Morjane, success isn't just about getting into a good college. It's about helping young Muslims become the best versions of themselves, rooted in their deen and confident in their dunya.
Asumini Kasule
~Success Coach, Strategy & Operations
Advisor
"Guiding first-generation families to navigate American education with confidence and purpose"
When Asumini meets with a student for the first time, she asks them a question that often catches them off guard: "What does success look like for you—not for your parents, not for college admissions officers, but for you?"
That question reflects her core belief: that confident, purpose-driven youth emerge when they have strong relationships with their parents and a clear sense of their own identity. As a first-generation Ugandan American, Asumini knows intimately the cultural tug-of-war many Muslim immigrant families experience—balancing high expectations with American opportunities, honoring heritage while forging new paths.
Her journey took her from Carnegie Mellon (B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering) to Stanford (M.S.) to leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies like Deloitte and Meta. But through it all, she kept returning to the same passion: mentoring young people. Whether through Toastmasters International, Junior Achievement, or designing a comprehensive career counseling program for 69,000 students in Prince George's County Public Schools, she's spent decades helping youth discover who they are and where they're going.
At Five Before College, she brings this wealth of experience to Muslim families navigating the college journey. She doesn't just review transcripts and college lists—she helps teens articulate their Qibla, their direction in life, while giving parents practical strategies to support without controlling.
Beyond coaching, she's a mom to two teenage daughters, which means she lives the same challenges her clients face. Her recent book, "L.E.A.D. with L.O.V.E.," captures the wisdom she's gained from both professional experience and the beautiful chaos of parenting teens.
When she's not coaching, you'll find her exploring the outdoors or traveling—always seeking new perspectives that enrich her work with families.
Asumini Kasule
~Success Coach, Strategy & Operations Advisor
"Guiding first-generation families to navigate American education with confidence and purpose"
When Asumini meets with a student for the first time, she asks them a question that often catches them off guard: "What does success look like for you—not for your parents, not for college admissions officers, but for you?"
That question reflects her core belief: that confident, purpose-driven youth emerge when they have strong relationships with their parents and a clear sense of their own identity. As a first-generation Ugandan American, Asumini knows intimately the cultural tug-of-war many Muslim immigrant families experience—balancing high expectations with American opportunities, honoring heritage while forging new paths.
Her journey took her from Carnegie Mellon (B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering) to Stanford (M.S.) to leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies like Deloitte and Meta. But through it all, she kept returning to the same passion: mentoring young people. Whether through Toastmasters International, Junior Achievement, or designing a comprehensive career counseling program for 69,000 students in Prince George's County Public Schools, she's spent decades helping youth discover who they are and where they're going.
At Five Before College, she brings this wealth of experience to Muslim families navigating the college journey. She doesn't just review transcripts and college lists—she helps teens articulate their Qibla, their direction in life, while giving parents practical strategies to support without controlling.
Beyond coaching, she's a mom to two teenage daughters, which means she lives the same challenges her clients face. Her recent book, "L.E.A.D. with L.O.V.E.," captures the wisdom she's gained from both professional experience and the beautiful chaos of parenting teens.
When she's not coaching, you'll find her exploring the outdoors or traveling—always seeking new perspectives that enrich her work with families.
Saddam Hammodeh
~Entrepreneurship Coach
"Inspiring Muslim youth to turn
their ideas into impact"
Saddam still remembers the moment a sophomore in his Find Your Qibla group asked, "But what if my passion project could actually become a real business?"
That question lit a fire. Within months, that student had launched a tutoring service that not only strengthened his college application but also taught him more about leadership, resilience, and purpose than any AP class ever could. And it all started with someone believing he could do it.
That's what Saddam brings to Five Before College—the ability to help students see that their ideas aren't just "passion projects" for college applications. They're potential businesses, nonprofits, or movements that can create real impact while building the exact skills colleges are looking for.
Saddam's journey to this work wasn't a straight line. With an MBA in Business Administration, he started in the corporate world but quickly realized his true calling: working with youth. That realization led him to Boston, where he served as Youth Program Director at the Malden Islamic Center, served as Muslim chaplain at Babson College, and taught Islamic Studies at several Islamic schools.
But it's his experience founding two startups that makes him uniquely valuable to FBC students. He knows what it takes to turn an idea into reality—the late nights, the pivots, the small wins that fuel momentum. More importantly, he knows how to help teenagers navigate this journey while keeping their faith and purpose at the center.
At Five Before College, Saddam works with students who are ready to think bigger. Whether they're launching a nonprofit, starting a small business, or creating something entirely new, he provides the strategic guidance and heartfelt mentorship that helps them succeed—in college admissions and in life.
Saddam Hammodeh
~Entrepreneurship Coach
"Inspiring Muslim youth to turn their ideas into impact"
Saddam still remembers the moment a sophomore in his Find Your Qibla group asked, "But what if my passion project could actually become a real business?"
That question lit a fire. Within months, that student had launched a tutoring service that not only strengthened his college application but also taught him more about leadership, resilience, and purpose than any AP class ever could. And it all started with someone believing he could do it.
That's what Saddam brings to Five Before College—the ability to help students see that their ideas aren't just "passion projects" for college applications. They're potential businesses, nonprofits, or movements that can create real impact while building the exact skills colleges are looking for.
Saddam's journey to this work wasn't a straight line. With an MBA in Business Administration, he started in the corporate world but quickly realized his true calling: working with youth. That realization led him to Boston, where he served as Youth Program Director at the Malden Islamic Center, served as Muslim chaplain at Babson College, and taught Islamic Studies at several Islamic schools.
But it's his experience founding two startups that makes him uniquely valuable to FBC students. He knows what it takes to turn an idea into reality—the late nights, the pivots, the small wins that fuel momentum. More importantly, he knows how to help teenagers navigate this journey while keeping their faith and purpose at the center.
At Five Before College, Saddam works with students who are ready to think bigger. Whether they're launching a nonprofit, starting a small business, or creating something entirely new, he provides the strategic guidance and heartfelt mentorship that helps them succeed—in college admissions and in life.
Ammar Yasir
~Marketing & Operations Manager
"Connecting families to their future through smart systems and compelling stories"
Ammar Yasir
~Marketing & Operations Manager
"Connecting families to their future
through smart systems and
compelling stories"
When a parent discovers Five Before
College through an Instagram post, reads a testimonial on the website, or receives a perfectly-timed email about Find Your Qibla—Ammar's behind it.
As Marketing & Operations Manager, he's the reason thousands of Muslim families across the country have discovered FBC and understood how we can help them. But it's not just about marketing—it's about genuinely serving families by making sure they know this resource exists.
Ammar brings together two essential skills: technical expertise and strategic thinking. He builds the high-efficiency marketing systems that help FBC reach families at exactly the right time, and he creates the clear, compelling materials that help them understand why starting early matters. From email sequences to social media campaigns to website optimization, he's constantly testing and refining to amplify our message across the Ummah.
What drives him is simple: he knows that for every family we reach, there's a teenager whose life might change. Someone who might discover their purpose earlier. Someone who might navigate college admissions with less stress. Someone who might keep their faith strong instead of losing it at university.
That's why he loves the problem-solving aspect of his role—figuring out how to reach more families, tell better stories, and build systems that scale our impact. Whether he's troubleshooting a technical challenge, analyzing which messages resonate most, or brainstorming new ways to connect with the community, he's all in on the mission.
Tiara Muhammad
~Operations Integrator
"Building systems with clarity, intention, and barakah"
Behind every successful student journey at Five Before College is a system that just works—and that's where Tiara comes in. As Operations Integrator, she's the one making sure that when a family joins Find Your Qibla, everything flows smoothly: from the first welcome email to the final college acceptance celebration.
Tiara's work is guided by a simple conviction: excellence (ihsān) in what we build is a reflection of our faith. Whether she's designing a student tracking system, streamlining our communication workflows, or ensuring coaches have exactly what they need to support families, she brings this belief into everything she touches.
Born and raised on the Caribbean island of Anguilla and now based in North Carolina, Tiara draws from a unique blend of island-rooted calm and strategic precision. Her background in Islamic theology and education means she sees operations not just as logistics, but as service—creating space for coaches to mentor, students to grow, and families to thrive.
A wife and girl mom of six (two in Jannah), Tiara knows firsthand the juggling act Muslim families face. That's why the systems she builds aren't just efficient—they're designed to reduce stress and create clarity, so families can focus on what matters most.
Most likely to say: "Hold on—there's a solution for that."
Tiara Muhammad
~Operations Integrator
"Building systems with clarity,
intention, and barakah"
Behind every successful student journey at Five Before College is a system that just works—and that's where Tiara comes in. As Operations Integrator, she's the one making sure that when a family joins Find Your Qibla, everything flows smoothly: from the first welcome email to the final college acceptance celebration.
Tiara's work is guided by a simple conviction: excellence (ihsān) in what we build is a reflection of our faith. Whether she's designing a student tracking system, streamlining our communication workflows, or ensuring coaches have exactly what they need to support families, she brings this belief into everything she touches.
Born and raised on the Caribbean island of Anguilla and now based in North Carolina, Tiara draws from a unique blend of island-rooted calm and strategic precision. Her background in Islamic theology and education means she sees operations not just as logistics, but as service—creating space for coaches to mentor, students to grow, and families to thrive.
A wife and girl mom of six (two in Jannah), Tiara knows firsthand the juggling act Muslim families face. That's why the systems she builds aren't just efficient—they're designed to reduce stress and create clarity, so families can focus on what matters most.
Most likely to say: "Hold on—there's a solution for that."