Beena Mannan

Beena is a champion for the rights of women and girls of color. With lived experience as a Pakistani American woman with four sisters, Beena understands first-hand about the need for supporting and promoting women to live and thrive on their own terms. As a founder of Desi American Woman Network, DAWN, Beena is building a community of South Asian women who can be the catalyst needed to help South Asian women unite and accomplish their personal and professional goals. From her undergraduate to her master’s in public administration, Beena has focused on the advancement and fair treatment of minority women in the public sector. As a founder and Executive Director of JRM Foundation for Humanity, Beena and her team have put the betterment of women and children at the forefront of their mission. Formerly serving as the first Muslim City Council member in Idaho of Pakistani decent, Beena has brought forth a movement for representation long overdue in the state. Her effort to diversify and bring greater representation has also been witnessed through her role as an Executive Board member and incoming Chair of the Idaho State University Foundation Board of Directors. Her passion for improving access and conditions for marginalized communities, women’s rights, and children’s health and education has led Beena to also serve on the Advisory Board for the Family of Woman Film Festival. With the spirit of a social entrepreneur, Beena is just getting started. When she is in her element, you can find her cooking up a feast for her family, cuddling up with her two dog babies, reading some thought-provoking nonfiction, or soaking up the sun somewhere.