Board of Directors

Alan Anderson was a sociology professor at the University of Saskatchewan specializing in ethnic and immigration studies since 1968.  He continues to be affiliated with Global Gathering Place, the Saskatoon Refugee Coalition, Amnesty International, the Canadian International Council, and he has served on a research panel of the Australian Housing and and Urban Research Institute for over ten years. Alan has a wide range of international experience with ethnic minorities and immigrant communities. Most recently he has been an invited guest editor of the Journal on Ethnopolitics and Minority Isssues in Europe. 

Ranjan Datta is an immigrant Canadian from Bangladesh. Ranjan has been involved in and introduced to a larger community through participation in social well-being and justice movements, such as Saskatoon Open Door Society, the Aboriginal Friendship Centre, the Idle No More Movement, First Nations Land Rights, Saskatoon Community Radio (CFCR 90.5), the Indigenous Language movement, the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre, and the Friendship Inn. Currently he serves as a Board member on the boards of several community organizations, including the Multicultural Council of SK, the U of S Residence Community Garden, and Saskatoon Car Share Cooperative. Through all these past and ongoing roles, he has learned a range of leadership skills, including networking, collaborative decision-making, management, and, perhaps most importantly, how to transform ideas into practice through commitment and collaborative engagement. Ranjan is a self-motivated individual.  

Meritt Kocdag is a policy strategist at Innovation Saskatchewan, a special operating agency of the provincial government. She holds a Bachelors’ of Arts (High Honours) in Public Administration, and received national recognition for her policy research in 2014 by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada.  She believes strongly in the value of public service and volunteerism, and is excited to apply her knowledge in the field of governance and planning as a member of the Saskatoon Open Door Society Board of Directors. Meritt served on the executive boards of Equal Voice Saskatchewan and Women in the Legislature, and has volunteered extensively with the Saskatchewan Elocution and Debate Association. She was a graduating member of the Saskatoon Police Service’s Community Police Academy program in 2015. Born and raised in Saskatchewan as the daughter of immigrant parents, Meritt’s multicultural and interfaith upbringing taught her the importance of diversity and inclusivity as fundamental values of Canadian society.”

Diego Monteiro immigrated to Canada in 1988 from Goa, India after a 6 year stint in the Sultanate of Oman. He holds an MBA in Information Technology Management and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. As the Vice President of Slot Operations and Information Technology at Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA), he was very involved in the set-up of the first four SIGA casinos and has been working in the capacity of  'Vice President, Licensing and Communications' at Indigenous Gaming Regulators, Inc. since 2005. Diego is married to Maria (Ameeta) and has 2 daughters: Meagan  and Kaitlyn. The family has a red mini poodle named Ojo that they all adore and dote on. Diego is passionate about social justice, and has been and continues to be involved in numerous fundraisers for various calamities that have affected people all over the world. He has been on the Board of the Rotary (Nutana) Club, is a member of the Executive for the Knights of Columbus Council 8215,  serves on the Board of the Catholic Family Services and the India-Canada Cultural Association. He believes in giving back to the community that he enjoys being a part of, and hopes that through his work and life experiences, he can make a meaningful contribution to SODS as a Board member.

Jeremy Morgan has been actively involved with the arts and cultural communities in Saskatchewan for over 26 years. From September 1999 until March 2010, he was the Executive Director/CEO of the Saskatchewan Arts Board and prior to that was Chief Executive Officer of Wanuskewin Heritage Park from its opening in 1992 until August 1999. He has served as General Manager of the Saskatchewan Council of Cultural Organizations, the predecessor to SaskCulture Inc. In January 2012 to May 2014, he served as Executive Director of the MacKenzie Art Gallery, guiding the Gallery through a significant change process involving governance, program review, strategic planning and long-term sustainability initiatives. Mr. Morgan has served as a member of various volunteer boards and committees, including the Citizen’s Advisory Council for the Centennial and as Chair of the Minister’s Heritage Council and of the Saskatchewan Tourism Authority. He was a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Centennial Medal, a Premier’s Public Service Award and the Mayor of Regina’s 2014 Business and the Arts award for Management Excellence and Service. In 2011 he was awarded a Diefenbaker Policy Fellowship at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. He is currently a member of the City of Saskatoon’s Public Art Advisory Committee.

Tracy Muggli is a Registered Social Worker with 28 years of experience in the health and social services sectors. She is currently the Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services (MHAS), Saskatoon Health Region, with responsibility for operations of several programs, including the Irene and Leslie Dubé Centre for Mental Health, Calder Centre, the Brief & Social Detox Unit and MHAS Outpatient Services.  She was also a sessional lecturer with the Faculty of Social Work, U of R, for 13 years. She is a board member with the Saskatoon Community Foundation and the newsletter editor with the Canadian Federation University Women. She has served her community through the Aden Bowman and Georges Vanier School Community Councils, as a Board member of the Saskatchewan Intercultural Association, and as the founding Coordinator for the Newcomer Information Centre. Tracy received the Chief of Police Award for Community Service in 2014 and recognition for Distinguished Service in 2015 from the Saskatchewan Psychiatric Association.

Amjad Murabit is a lawyer at WMCZ Lawyers. Amjad's parents immigrated to Canada from Libya and raised him and his ten siblings in Saskatoon. Amjad and many of his siblings continue to call Saskatoon home. Prior to graduating from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 2016, Amjad completed a Masters degree and an Honours degree in Sociology. Amjad is a long-time volunteer in the Saskatoon community, and created many lasting friendships through fundraising events, sports and social gatherings,. He is currently a member of the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon and the Canadian Bar Association BarNotes editorial Board. He also volunteers with Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan and the Children's Wish Foundation. Amjad is enthusiastic about the Saskatoon Open Door Society's mission, and recognizes that people can do great things if they are supported, empowered and given the proper tools to succeed. Amjad is looking forward to contributing as a member of the Saskatoon Open Door Society Board of Directors and hopes that, through his work, he can positively influence the lives of many newcomers to Saskatoon. 

Patricia Prowse is currently the Associate Director of the Saskatchewan Educational Leadership Unit, College of Education, University of Saskatchewan. She has a B.A. (Psy), B.Ed. and a M.Ed. (Admin) from the University of Saskatchewan. During her career in K-Grade 12 education she was an elementary teacher in rural Saskatchewan and Saskatoon. Her leadership roles included vice principal, principal and superintendent of education for Saskatoon Public Schools. As a superintendent of education Patricia had strategic responsibility for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Education; Safe, Caring and Accepting Schools; and most recently English as an Additional Language (EAL). She was part of the interagency team that established the Settlement Support Worker in Schools (SSWIS) program and the development of a supporting MOU. Ms Prowse has received provincial and national recognition for her educational leadership. Her commitment to community partnerships and interagency cooperation and her leadership in this area was acknowledged in 2013 when she received the YWCA Women of Distinction Leadership and Management Award and the Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services’ Shield award for community service. Patricia has one son, Lance, who resides in Saskatoon with his wife Angela.

George Rathwell was born and raised in the Regina and area. He attended both the University of Regina and Saskatchewan where he earned three degrees. Mr. Rathwell then embarked on a 31 year career with the Saskatoon Public School Division. Interested in leadership roles, George became a vice principal followed by principal at various schools in the city before moving to work for the School Board. George has always been a large proponent of education having not only been involved in Saskatchewan schools but has also experienced other education systems in his travels abroad. During his time as a senior administrator, George helped lead major educational initiatives including Facilities for Learning and the award winning Literacy for Life and Collegiate Renewal learning priorities. Mr. Rathwell has also been a strong proponent of enhancing First Nations and Métis education, while simultaneously responding to the rapidly emerging multicultural component in the school division. He is a Past President of SaskSport and has been or is a member of a number of community boards including Wanuskewin, the Saskatoon Trades and Skills Center, READ Saskatoon and the Children’s Discovery Museum to name but a few examples. George is retired, married to Shammi (nee Thakkar) and they have two daughters;  Nikita and Mika. Shammi’s family immigrated to Saskatchewan 50 years ago, so the experience of New Canadians is most relevant and important to the Rathwells and their extended family. As a family, they have a great interest in learning and providing a vibrant Saskatoon community that allows all people to experience a positive life. He joined the SODS Board of Directors in 2014.

Lily Sammak was born in Tehran, Iran and moved to Canada as an adult after finishing her M.Sc. in Genetics. After working sometime at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, she decided to move to Saskatoon to begin Dental education at the University of Saskatchewan. She is a member of Canadian Dental Association and college of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan. Lily started her private practice in an inner city location so she can give back to the community. She has been involved in supervising and teaching at the college of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan since 2007. Lily has participated and worked with several non-profit organizations, in providing dental- health services to under-privileged abroad with KIA (Kindness In Action), Roland McDonald house in Saskatoon, SUM theater group providing free theater for children in the low income neighbourhood of Saskatoon. She hopes that through SODS, she will continue to contribute significantly to her community and provide a bridge between new immigrants, especially female new comers and help them to navigate the education system and find a career in their new country.

Rokhan Sarwar  holds two Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from the University of Saskatchewan, and is currently enrolled in the Business Administration master's Program at the Edwards School of Business. Rokhan has an extensive background in Management, and he loves to serve others and as such, joined the Saskatoon Open Door Society Board, to offer his expertise and to help others. He has a strong knowledge of the Business Environment, current technology, leadership and Finance.

Chris Stoicheff (B.A. Political Studies) is currently a graduate student in political studies and a financial analyst at the U of S.  Chris served as President of the University of Saskatchewan Students' Union (USSU) in 2011. In this role, Chris was instrumental to the provision of 90 new childcare spaces on the U of S campus, and the creation of the Gordon-Oakes Red Bear Aboriginal Student Centre. Chris has significant experience in Government, working as a Ministerial Assistant to the Minister of Advanced Education, the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of Immigration. Chris has served on numerous non-profit boards in the City of Saskatoon. In 2010-11, Chris served as a member of the University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors. He recently served as Governance Chair for the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, and now sits on the Board of Directors of the Saskatchewan Foundation for the Arts (SFA). In 2013, Chris was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal of Honour.