Ms. Katayoon Shaya is an urban planner, licensed architect, and community empowerment enthusiast who has resided in the national capital region for over four decades. In her latest role, in 2016-2024 she served as Chief of Public-Private Partnerships at Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. In this role, she has led the master planning and development of some of Fairfax County's most iconic projects. These have included redevelopment of Reston Town Center North (50 acres, over $200 million), the original Mount Vernon High School master planning and renovation ($90 million), Fairfax Judicial Complex Master Planning (48 acres, over $100 million first phase), transformation of the former Lorton Correctional Complex into community space, among numerous others. Prior to this, she served Fairfax County as an architect and planner for over 25 years. 

 

Ms. Shaya has also been active in empowering the Iranian American community, and is currently chair of the board of Children of Persia, a Maryland-based public charity which received its tax exempt status in the year 2000. For the past quarter-century, with annually updated licenses from the U.S. Treasury Department, Children of Persia has raised millions of dollars from the Iranian American community and dedicated it to underserved individuals and communities in Iran in need of medical, educational, shelter or other basic support. 

 

Among Children of Persia's achievements have been building and continued support of the Baja Baj and Golestan elementary schools following the 2012 earthquake in Azerbaijan and the 2019 floods in Golestan, fully furnishing the Khaneh Mehr Vocational School in Karaj for Working and Street Children and constructing and furnishing a full-service medical clinic in Sistan and Baluchestan.  

 

Ms. Shaya resides in Washington DC Metro area with her family and promotes the joy of giving back, locally and globally. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from University of Maryland at College Park. kshaya@childrenofpersia.org