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Our Team
Darya Kaboli-Nejad
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Founder/President
Darya’s journey to founding The Soraya Foundation is rooted in resilience, determination, and the community who always believed in her. A first-generation Iranian American raised in Omaha, Nebraska, she walked on to the top-ranked University of Oregon softball team and earned a scholarship through dedication, discipline, and refusing to take no as an answer. After her athletic career, she carried that same drive into law school, graduating among the top of her class and now works at a top-ranked law firm in the world - and this is just the beginning of the dreams she is determined to pursue. Darya lives by the belief that “you can’t force change, you can only inspire it,” a truth she’s seen firsthand. She is where she is today because people invested in her potential when she needed it most — motivating her to dream bigger, push further, and give back with purpose. The Soraya Foundation is her way of paying that forward, giving the same support, guidance, and opportunity to the athletes who come after her.
Gwen Edwards brings a lifetime of experience at the highest levels of sport and leadership to The Soraya Foundation. Raised in Davie, Florida, she became an All-American at the University of Oregon before spending seven years competing professionally across the U.S., Japan, and on the international stage. Her work off the field has been just as meaningful — serving on intersectional equity and culture councils, mentoring athletes, and managing major national accounts with a people-first approach. With a master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Indiana University, Gwen understands both the opportunities and the gaps that shape an athlete’s life beyond competition. Her journey fuels her commitment to helping former student-athletes navigate their next chapter with clarity, confidence, and community.
Gwen Edwards
Vice President/Secretary
Jada Allender is an attorney and co-chair of the Sports and Entertainment Industry Group at Snell & Wilmer LLP, where she advises clients on corporate transactions and sports law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity financing, collegiate athletics name, image, and likeness (NIL) issues, etc... She has represented private companies, professional teams, ownership groups, brands, production studios, agencies, NIL collectives, and high-profile athletes in complex transactions and compliance matters. Jada earned her J.D. and Master of Sports Law and Business from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and her B.S. from the University of Oregon. She serves on several boards and leadership roles, including the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, Black Sports Professionals (Phoenix Chapter), and the University of Oregon Black Alumni Network. A frequent speaker and author on emerging sports law topics, Jada brings prior experience in professional and collegiate athletics operations and sports media production.
Jada Allender
Treasurer
Katie Harbert is the University of Oregon’s Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development. She received her master’s degree in Athletic Counseling from Springfield College and a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University where she also competed on the soccer team. Her work at the UO includes teaching Foundations of Student Health and Well Being as well as programming for student-athletes in areas of career readiness, community service, and leadership. Katie was the Chair of the Athletic Department’s Community and Inclusion Committee from 2008-2019. Katie was also responsible for implementing the annual student-athlete service trip abroad in 2012 which has now provided an opportunity serve abroad to over 300 student-athletes and Athletic Department staff. She is also the Sport Administrator for the Women’s lacrosse team and the Acrobatics & Tumbling team.
Katie Harbert
Board Member
Jack Maine
Director of Branding
Jaycie Schenone
Director of Marketing
& Storytelling
A heartfelt thank you to our Volunteers!
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​The Soraya Foundation is built on the dedication of individuals who commit their time, energy, and skills to support this mission. They take on the work that needs to be done - often quietly - and their contributions make everything we do possible.
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Our Volunteers: Lily Eltzroth, Jena Robertson, Wilson Munsterman, Olivia Matos, Henry Ammann, Mary Pelan