Ingrid Mattson, a University of Waterloo graduate, was born to a Catholic family. In 1986, she befriended Muslims when she was a visiting student in Paris and embarked on a journey to study Islam upon hearing the recitation of the Quran.

In 1987, she returned to Canada, converted to Islam, and obtained a PhD in Islamic studies. In 2006, she was elected president of the Islamic Society of North America, after she was considered one of the most active defenders and prominent leaders of the Muslim community.