Sarah A. Abdallah
Biography of Ms. Sarah A. Abdallah
Backed by more than a decade of professional experience in Interior Design and Architectural and Brand Development Ms. Abdallah has excelled as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Functional Creative Design since 2014. Prior to this appointment, she found success as the Senior Designer with Rockwell Group where she was for 6.5 years, having previously served as the Director of Design of Grand Hotels NYC, between 2009 – 2011. Earlier in her career, Ms. Abdallah worked for Tony Chi and Associates as designer, on several luxury international hotels and restaurants, before assuming her role as Senior Designer with Perkins & Eastman, for Hospitality Incubator from 2006-unit 2008.
Abdallah received her LEED AP Accreditation from The Green Building Certification Institute in 2009 as Accredited Professional in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in hopes to creating a solution for sustainably for future generations.
Through Functional Creative Design, Ms. Abdallah aims to not only create a spaces that incorporate wellness methods that also create environment where human touch points and interactions are created for better understanding of the other. LEED-certified, she is dedicated to minimizing the environmental impact by developing impactful spaces that have holistic and 360 view of sustainability. Notable clientele includes The Ritz Carlton Cairo, Neuhouse NY and LA, the VNYL, Grand Hyatt and 15 Hudson Yards, Semi-Remis Inter-Continental Cairo, Inter- Continental Geneva, Park Hyatt Washington D.C., The Water Line Square in NY, Batter Sea Power Station Boiler House, London
Abdallah in her formative years as a Thought Leader:
At an early age of 8 she had the compassion and urge and the deep desire to help others understand that humanism and connectivity is truly at the core of human survival.
During her undergraduate studies she was recognized for her leadership work and selected as 1 of 46 juniors representing (18) eighteen public and private higher education intuitions through the State for a weeklong intensive summer program participated focusing on Leadership, Engagement and Advocacy lead by NJIT New Jersey Institute of Technology.
During her former career in Higher Education Administration, she held a position as Coordinator of Student Activities at New York University reporting to Robert (Bob) Butler during L. Jay Oliva and John Sexton appointments as President of NYU. Between 2000 -2004. Where she advised 22 student clubs & organizations in areas of programming, management, leadership and team building. Coordinated and facilitated Leadership and Diversity Weekend that consists of recruiting students, planning workshops, teaching empowerment, and conducting evaluations. The Mission of the office at NYU – support a holistic learning environment that fosters retention through active student involvement in University life. Offer programming to enhance leadership skills promote student personal growth.
Following 911 – she was appointed a seat on the Human Relations Committee at New York University– an emergency victim support group for students, faculty and staff reporting acts of bias. Organized by Sally Arthur the VP of Student Affairs along with upper administration of NYU. Needing valuable insights on how to co-create a safer environment for both Arab, Muslim and other minority groups on campus. Consecutively, she joined forces with other recent undergraduate from the tri-state area to co-create NYC chapter of NAAP (Network of Arab American Professionals) a nonpartisan, nonprofit, volunteer-based organization dedicated to development of a prosperous and influential Arab-American community connected through national network. Abdallah sat on the Executive board for 4 years and lead the initiatives of Leadership and Mentorship program with in NAAP that was interlinked with work she was doing with Arab-American Student Group Through her full-time appointment as Coordinator of Student and Club Development. Helping linking work on campus to grass root movements of organizations like NAAP and ADC (The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.) Through this combating misinformation and bias of the greater NY communities along with stereotypes regarding Arabs, Arab-Americans and Muslim communities.
Joining forces with Comedian Maysoon Zayid utilizing her background in psychology and Art and Art-Therapy leading workshops for kids in war torn west bank to foster back energy of love and hope into children from ages 4- 16 years old. With “Maysoon’s – kids” a grass root initiative based through donations from those who wanted to support and assist the well-being of children in Palestine.
Additionally, working closely with Comedian/Actors Dean Obeidallah and Maysoon Zayid the co-founders to New York Arab-American Comedy Festival in 2003 and helping with behind the scenes coordination of the day to day events; Abdallah passion for the theater came through watching Egyptian "masrahat" with her parents growing up on TV. During this time she co-collaborated wrote a piece with actress Leila Buck back in 2004 for upcoming live shows for the festival touching on points of mother and daughter dynamics in Arab family but using humor to address some core cultural dynamics that are thought of at time difficult to discuss between cross generations. The festival showcased Arab- American actors, comics, playwrights and filmmakers and challenged Arab-Americans to create outstanding works of comedy.
Ms. Abdallah holds a Masters of in Higher Education Administration from New York University, along with secondary master’s in Psychology and Counseling, undergraduate Double BA/BFA focus in Psychology, with minors in Gender Study and Art- Therapy and Fine Arts with concentration in Art and Technology from Ramapo College of New Jerseys. Where she received Dean’s Second Year Student Award, Dean’s Leadership Award for her serves in the roles of Peer Facilitator, Peer Mediator, Student Ambassador and Resident Assistant along with her work on Deans committee to creating events with government grant to create alternative non-alcoholic programing to campus. along with being named ALL-WIAC first team in hall of fame for three years in row her role as Varsity Athlete in track & field/ cross-country. Certificates from American University of Beirut from CAMES (Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies) in Arabic. Degree in Interior Design and Architecture from Parson School of Design. Along with her studies at F.I.T (Fashion Institute of Technology) focusing on Technical aspects of Women Apparel. Provide a true platform of formal education to build upon her continued work as a Thought Leader in the areas of Interior Architecture, Leadership, and Strategy to provide impactful solutions that impact positively on human lives.
Social:
Instagram: @functionalcreativedesign