Malika Azad is a dynamic leader and advocate with a rich history of community-building across local and global platforms. With a lot of experience in education, peacebuilding, and women’s economic empowerment, she brings an unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive environments where individuals and families thrive. In her current role as a Family Engagement Specialist with Aurora Public Schools, Malika champions parental engagement and bridges the gap between schools and diverse communities through strategic training, outreach, and resource coordination. Her past roles with Denver South High School showcase her capacity to guide youth development and build trusting relationships with students, families, and school leadership.

Before her impactful work in Colorado, Malika led high-level initiatives across Afghanistan with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA), World Bank (WB), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), U.S. Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL), and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), empowering women farmers, facilitating sub-national peace dialogues, and driving grassroots social change. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from Kazakh National Agrarian University, speaks Dari fluently, and engages actively in civic life as a board member and ambassador with organizations like WorldDenver, Denver Sister Cities International, and Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau. Malika’s leadership is grounded in her belief that community empowerment begins with respectful dialogue, inclusive programming, and a shared vision for equity and opportunity.