while serving as the vice-president and president of the islamic society of north america, mattson worked on a number of occasions with united states government official. she provided consultation during the administrations of us presidents george w. bush and barack obama. this worked focused on policies regarding violent extremism, muslim-american military service, and protection of civil rights for muslims-americans . john o. brennan, the director of the cia, when he was deputy national security advisor for homeland security and counterterrorism, and assistant to president obama thanked mattson for her leadership at public meeting at new york university.