Hasina is a PhD candidate in the Community Research and Action (CRA) program at Vanderbilt University.  Prior to joining the program, she received a BA in Economics from Yale University, and an MBA from Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. After working in the healthcare industry for several years, she went back to school to complete her doctoral degree.  Her dissertation research explores the religious identity development for Muslim American youth in the context of widespread negative stereotypes of Islam and Islamophobia.   Other research projects she has worked on include a mixed-methods study of interfaith organizations, an ethnographic study of classroom discussion, and a qualitative study of women’s activism in Nashville.  Currently, Hasina is serving as the Study Coordinator for Professor Carol Nixon on two grants: one evaluating HIV/AIDS education for the Southeast AETC, and the other evaluating the implementation of environmental strategies for alleviating prescription drug abuse programs by community coalitions for the TN Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Hasina has been married for over 20 years to her husband Shuaib, has three wonderful sons, and is an active member of the Islamic Center of Nashville, the League of Women Voters, PENCIL and the Nashville OIC.