Our People

Shara
Chief Executive Officer

Shara is the CEO of the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. She brings over 15 years of nonprofit management experience to Interfaith, including advancing interfaith initiatives across the country. Shara began her career in academia and later began her own consultancy aimed at helping socially conscious organizations enhance their operations, programmatic work, communications, and fundraising. Shara also brings solid media experience to Interfaith, having managed various communications initiatives across multiple organizations. Shara is an animal lover and self-described March Madness fanatic.

Melissa
VP, Policy, Programs, & Partnerships

Melissa is the Vice President of Policy, Programs, and Partnerships at the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. Her career reflects her beliefs in the value of kindness, inclusivity, and public service. Bringing more than 10 years of experience in public interest law and policy, including government and non-profit roles, Melissa coordinates Interfaith’s public policy and programmatic work. She enjoys spending her downtime with friends and family.

Alanna
Director of Education & Outreach

Alanna is the Director of Education & Outreach at the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. They have a background in theology and ethics, and are deeply committed to improving life in Colorado for all its residents. Alanna is responsible for managing Interfaith’s educational programming and events, as well as connecting with faith communities across Colorado. Alanna is a passionate advocate for social justice and enjoys spending time with her spouse and their two cats.

Program Coordinator
VACANT (Part-time, 25 hours/ week)

Interested in this position? Submit your letter of interest and resume (PDF format only) to: info (at) interfaithallianceco(dot)org.

Rev. Leta
Region Leader – Northern CO

Rev. Leta is ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. She has served in two Colorado congregations and currently serves in Fort Collins, Colorado. She is committed to working in partnership with local interfaith coalitions for networking, resourcing, immigration support, and in allyship with LGBTQIA+ organizations. 

Currently serving on a campus ministry board, Rev. Leta has served on the local Habitat for Humanity board as well as other housing initiative organizations. She is active in her community and denomination in areas of ecumenical and multi-faith dialogue, and partnerships amongst clergy, lay leaders, and public actions. She has served the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado as a regional representative since 2023.

Rev. Dr. Thomas
Region Leader – Denver Metro

Rev. Dr. Thomas is a Denver native, a Vietnam veteran, and a pastor with 48 years of ministry experience. He is the great grandson of runaway slave, Sam Carbin, and spends much of his time supporting and designing leadership initiatives in and around Denver.

A former professor at Aspen Christian College, Rev. Dr. Thomas currently serves as Senior Pastor of a church in Aurora, and has founded multiple community-focused organizations. He is also a certified John Maxwell Leadership Trainer, Coach, and Speaker, and is also a certified US Institute of Diplomacy & Human Rights Consultant.

Rev. Sondra
Region Leader – Northwestern CO

Rev. Sondra was born and raised in CO and is a 4th generation member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). With over 40 years of ministry experience, she has worked in the local church in Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado, and the regional church in Colorado. 

In response first to COVID and next to the East Troublesome Fire in Grand County, CO, Rev. Sondra ran the emergency non-profit “Outbreak of Kindness.” She has a lifelong commitment to outdoor ministries and church camp, and celebrated her 100th church camp over the summer! Rev. Sondra and her husband enjoy playing in bluegrass bands, attending music festivals, and overall mountain life. She volunteers for the National Sports Center for the Disabled with horse therapy.

Rev. Heather
Region Leader – South-Central CO

Rev. Heather began her ministry more than 25 years ago in Boulder, CO and has served in 6 local churches. With a focus on removing barriers to justice and building community, she has worked on multiple programs and campaigns, having launched Project Rahab during  COVID and having worked with Interfaith as a community organizer. 

Currently serving a church in Manitou Springs, Rev. Heather is passionate about social justice ministry and action, theology, tattoos, baking sourdough bread, building community, and the Enneagram. She is a wife and a mom to 2 teenagers, a Chihuahua, and many plants. 

Corey
Senior Program Executive

Corey is an educator and advocate with over two decades of experience in youth development and substance abuse prevention. With several years of experience performing stand-up comedy, he skillfully blends humor, lived experience, and faith to spark real conversations and lasting change. Corey is proud to bring this work to faith communities across the state, empowering impacted individuals to engage in honest conversations about substance misuse, faith, healing, and support.

Emma
Lobbyist

Emma serves as Interfaith Alliance of Colorado’s contract lobbyist. Her background spans nonprofit and government experience as an advocate and a government relations strategist with specialization in business, health care, and social justice policy. Emma holds a Master’s of Public Health, a Master’s of Public Affairs, and a graduate certificate in consumer health advocacy. When Emma isn’t advancing meaningful policy solutions at the State Capitol, she spends her time volunteering. 

Rev. Dr. Valerie L. Jackson, Interim Chair

Pastor Jackson is an unapologetic, visionary faith and community leader, womanist, homiletician, author, and advocate for the sacred worth and potential of all human beings. She was ordained an elder in full connection in the United Methodist Church in 2018 in Ogden, Utah. On January 1, 2020, Dr. Jackson became the first African American and out queer lead pastor of Cameron UMC in Denver and congregational resource minister for the Mile High Metro District of the Mountain Sky Conference. She is also adjunct faculty at the Iliff School of Theology. ​Rev. Dr. Jackson has lived in Denver since 2009. .

Melinda Quiat, Treasurer

Melinda Quiat is the CEO of The Quiat Companies which invests in commercial Real Estate, Private Equity, and energy. Melinda serves as the Anti-Defamation League’s National Chair of the Religious Freedom Committee and Vice President of the Judaism Your Way Board. She has served in a variety of leadership positions in the past including Board Chair of the Mountain States region of the Anti-Defamation League, Advocacy Co-Chair of Jewish Community Relations Council (Jewish Colorado), and as a Board Member for Colorado Public Radio. Melinda is a fourth-generation Colorado native who enjoys endurance bicycling, world travel, birding, scuba diving, and being in nature.  

Arash Jahanian, Esq. Secretary

Arash serves as Director of Policy and Civil Rights Litigation at the Meyer Law Office in Denver. He uses legal advocacy to protect and advance the civil rights of Coloradans, including immigrants, members of the LGBTQ community, and other victims of discrimination and police abuse.  Arash has also worked as a staff attorney at the ACLU of Colorado, an attorney for the Denver civil rights firm Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC, a judicial clerk for the Honorable Wiley Y. Daniel of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, and a middle school teacher in Chicago through Teach For America.  Arash has served as president of the Colorado LGBT Bar Association and chair of the Denver LGBTQ Commission. He is a Kansas City native who enjoys music, sports, and running  

Jennifer Carty, Esq.

Jennifer Carty is a government attorney specializing in administrative, child welfare, and appellate law. Prior to her public service legal work, she worked as a family law attorney and clerked for the Honorable Steven Bernard on the Colorado Court of Appeals. In her pre-law school life, Jen was active-duty military for five years. She continues to serve as a JAG officer in the Reserves. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, the Board of Governors for the Colorado Bar Association, and as a member of the LGBTQ Bar Association. Jennifer spends a lot of time chasing after her toddler when not working, but she hopes to obtain a Master of Divinity sometime in the future.

Dr. Nabeeh Abdurrahim Hasan

Dr. Hasan is the director of the Colorado Muslim Speakers Bureau (CMSB), an affiliate of the Islamic Networks Group (ING). Nabeeh also serves on the Colorado Muslim Leadership Council and on the Steering Committee of Muslims Intent on Learning and Activism (MILA). He is active in speaking at and facilitating interfaith efforts, youth development and training speakers. These include speaking about Islam and answering audience questions at “Open Mosque” events, speaking in classroom settings to enhance student learning with regards to learning about Islam and Muslims, training and improving public speaking abilities of Muslims and non-Muslims, and discussing the relationships between science and religion for clergy and laypersons alike. Nabeeh is also a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Council and a biomedical researcher at National Jewish Health, specializing in genomics of infectious lung diseases. Through speaking about Islam, health and science, Nabeeh has given cultural competency training and hundreds of presentations to primary schools, universities, churches, hospitals and professional societies. In his spare time, he enjoys amateur automobile racing, cooking and traveling with his family.