She was born Catholic, became an Athiest in her early twenties - now Ingrid Mattson is the first female president of the largest Muslim organization in North America. "I was more than anything really proud of my community, that my being a woman wasn't considered by our members to be an obstacle to me taking this leadership position," says Ingrid Mattson, PhD.

She's hoping her leadership role will enlighten the world about Muslim women. "There seems to be a sense that Muslim women are exceptionally oppressed," she explains.

Doctor Mattson feels Muslim women are largely judged and defined by the images depicted when the Taliban was in control. "When the Taliban came it set everything back. They were there for a number of years and it created such a terrible environment," says Mattson.

That environment, according to Doctor Mattson, is rejected by Islam and she hopes to redefine the image - working to get equal rights for Muslim women... getting them into mosques where they were once forbidden, promoting equal rights in a marriage and better educating Muslim women so they can become leaders in their communities.

Her message has already encouraged many Muslim women like seminary student Suendam Birinci. "I can do something. I can help Islam in this country to be heard in a better way," she says.

Mulim convert Colleen Keyes adds, "She has great vision and I thing she is going to make people question their own assumptions about what a Muslim woman is."

"The typical Muslim woman is very strong and has a deep sense of justice," says Doctor Mattson.

And if she has anything to do with it - justice for Muslim women will be served.