Aisa Purak

Aiša Purak was born in a small, beautiful village called Jastrebac in Bosnia

and Herzegovina. She attended Gazi Husrev-begova medresa, a girl's high school

in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina dedicated to religious education.

As a refugee from Bosnia, she came to Rochester, New York and started working with

the Bosnian community, primarily with women and children. Her work focused on

leading the Bosnian female choir, holding Qur'an classes for women, and

organizing many community events.

She has written for a variety of Bosnian newspapers and magazines, mostly covering women's issues and misconceptions in Islam. She has visited many Bosnian mosques across the United States and Canada, giving lectures on women's rights and social involvement. She has also given

lectures on the same issues in churches and universities in the Rochester area.

She received her Associate Degree from Monroe Community College in Computer

Science in May 2003. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer of Science

from The College at Brockport, the State University of New York in May 2009, and

in the fall of 2016, she completed her Master of Arts in History there as well.

Aisa Purak published her first book titled “Bosnian Immigrants: Opportunities

and Challenges.” Her book evaluates the study of a sample of 100 Bosnian

families who immigrated to Rochester and found a way to adapt to life in the new

society. These Bosnians still face cultural and religious challenges, even after

over a decade living here. The book is about the journey of Bosnian Muslim

Refugees coming to America and their struggles in making a life in America."