Shams Ghoneim was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, and has lived in Iowa City since 1967.  She is a graduate of The Universities of Cairo and Iowa and worked for 32 years as a medical researcher.  Ms. Ghoneim is currently Coordinator of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (Iowa Chapter), a member of the UICHR Advisory Board , serves on the Iowa City Press Citizen Editorial Board, and a member of the Executive Committee/BOD of Directors of the Iowa City Mosque and Islamic Center. She is past president of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Johnson County Consultation of Religious Communities, and former Chair of the Iowa City Human Rights Commission.