Meet Our Team

Senita is the founder and president of Bosana Foundation. Since 2003 she has worked with a number of international NGOs as a project manager and coordinator. Her experience includes strengthening development strategies of emergency relief programs and supervision of projects’ implementation. She has worked on projects focused on peace education, human rights, microfinance, community development and women empowerment. Senita holds a master’s degree in conflict resolution and diplomacy from Seton Hall University, and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Ajlana, the dedicated program director at the Bosana Foundation, holds two bachelor's degrees - one in English language and literature from the University of Bihac in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and another in anthropology from the University of Vermont. She furthered her education by earning a Master's Degree from California State University, Long Beach in 2013, with a thesis focused on understanding the social networks of Bosnian orphan young adults, a key demographic served by the foundation. With a wealth of experience in working with children and young adults, including teaching roles at NGOs and a local high school in Bosanska Krupa, Ajlana is committed to the foundation's scholarship project. Her primary aim is to provide support to the youth of Bosnia and Herzegovina who lack the financial means to pursue higher education.

Born in Bosanski Novi in 1957, Emira obtained her college degree from the University in Sarajevo, Economics major. During the war, Emira's husband and son were wounded and that sent Emira with her family to the US to receive medical attention. In the US, Emira obtained her CPA certificate and now she is Senior Manager of Accounting at Ambry Genetics. From day one, Emira has always been active in the Bosnians of Southern California organization and she was also proclaimed "Refugee of the year" by the State of California. She has also been an active BOSANA donor and volunteer from the early days as she carries BOSANA mission close to her heart. She is also a very proud grandmother to three grandchildren. Her short term plan is an early retirement so she can move back to Bosnia and Herzegovina to help those in need. 

Ines has been an active member of the Bosana community since 2017, and currently serves as a member of the Advisory Committee and as a student mentor. Born in Sarajevo and raised in Germany and Southern California, she graduated from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo with a degree in International Business, as well as minors in Psychology and Spanish Language. Passionate about education and staying connected to her Bosnian roots, she is excited to extend her support and role within Bosana as the Mentorship Community Manager.

Esma is a former BOSANA student from 2010, the first generation of scholarship recipients. After completing undergraduate studies in Bosnia and getting a Bachelor degree in Management, and decided to move to Sweden where she is finishing her Master's degree in Marketing and Consumer Behavior at Stockholm University in Stockholm. Esma also studied one exchange semester at the Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. She works full time in a Swedish startup as a Marketing Lead and UI/UX designer. Esma decided to become part of the team as a BOSANA Brand Manager.

Sunčica, a former Bosana student, holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Sarajevo. She continued her education with a Master's degree in Security and Peace Studies at the same university and also completed the International Security and Development program at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland.

Sunčica's academic achievements were recognized when she was awarded "Bosana's 2022 best student of the Year" during her Master's studies. Throughout her academic career, she participated in several programs for young professionals and engaged in non-formal education activities, projects, and voluntary services, amassing over five years of experience in the civic engagement sector. She has worked as a project coordinator, assistant, trainer, and facilitator, collaborating with NGOs and international organizations to provide technical support for human rights and peace education initiatives.

After completing her Master's studies in 2022, Sunčica secured a full-time position in her field. She is currently a junior consultant at Lucid Linx, a consulting firm that collaborates with policymakers and practitioners from the public sector to enhance governance and improve service delivery to citizens.

Adnan, a former Bosana student and a 2017/18 Bosana scholarship recipient, has always been drawn to mathematics and physics since his primary school days and various competitions. His passion led him to enroll at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, where he graduated in 2021 from the Department of Automatic Control and Electronics, after publishing a scientific paper.

Adnan's inclination towards helping others is evident from his 7-year voluntary work at the Red Cross. During his final year of studies, Adnan gained work experience as a student when he participated in the "Working Holiday Germany" program, which provides students with short-term job opportunities, taking him to Dorsten, Germany, for three months.

Currently, Adnan works full-time as a Scada Engineer, overseeing and managing large-scale industrial processes. Alongside his engineering job, he also manages all of Bosana's social media networks. Adnan joined the Bosana team to express his gratitude for all the foundation did for him when he was a student.

Sedin, an electrical engineering student, is a multi-talented individual with a passion for design and technology. He finds joy in merging the two in his work, being a graphic designer and a UI/UX designer.

With a goal to create visually appealing and functional designs that deeply resonate with people, Sedin takes pride in paying meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that every element of his designs works cohesively.

Sedin's graphic design expertise has been employed on the social media team of Bosana Foundation, where he helps to promote the foundation's noteworthy endeavors.

Thanks to the Bosana scholarship, Sedin has been able to receive financial assistance, as well as valuable mentorship and guidance, that have aided in honing his skills and accomplishing his aspirations.