Duncan, Khia

Khia Duncan

Khia Duncan (she/her) is a Data Analyst II with USC’s Equity Research Institute working on projects spanning governing power, economic inequality, and immigrant integration.

Recently, Khia obtained her Master’s in Urban Policy and Leadership from Hunter College. She is committed to social justice initiatives and data transparency and has led many youths in NYC to organize for educational justice reform/Police Free Schools campaigns throughout the state.

Outside of the ERI community, Khia is a community organizer, educator, musician,  food justice and criminal justice advocate based in New York City. In addition to her research interest at ERI, Khia’s independent research specialties are education, affordable housing, and community alternatives to incarceration.

Brown, PhD, Katie

Katie Brown, PhD

Katie has dedicated her career to making high-quality language learning more accessible. She has a PhD in Second Language Acquisition from the University of Maryland, where her research focused on cognition and language learning. She is an expert on workplace-based language programs and has helped dozens of organizations create successful pathways to career mobility for both incumbent workers and job seekers. She has spent years evaluating and analyzing language learning products, and she has conducted extensive empirical research on how to design online language programs that are efficient and effective. After authoring ten patents on the technology she designed to deliver AI-driven language learning at scale, she founded EnGen, a Certified B Corporation, and her current goal is to leverage this technology to deliver high-quality, needs-based English instruction to immigrants and refugees, rapidly giving them the tools they need to advocate for themselves and their families and improve their economic outcomes.

Sanchez, Joslynn

Joslynn Sanchez
She/Her/Ella
Policy and Advocacy Manager | Deeds Not Words / Deeds Action Fund

Tienou-Gustafson, Léa

Léa Tienou-Gustafson

Léa Tienou-Gustafson is the Senior Director of World Education Services Mariam Assefa Fund, overseeing the team and its philanthropic efforts in the United States and Canada. Léa has over 15 years of experience working with and on behalf of immigrant and refugee communities. She previously served at the Director of Refugee and Immigrant Community Services at Heartland Human Care Services in Chicago, where she oversaw the provision of high-quality case management, employment, educational and youth services to over 1000 refugees and immigrants annually. She has also held roles at community-based organizations in Chicago and served with the Peace Corps in Chad. A child of immigrants, Léa has lived and travelled in many countries over the course of her life. She has always held a keen interest in cross-cultural exchange and understanding, identity and global migration. She is passionate about creating just systems and welcoming communities.

Ma, Cecily

Cecily Ma

Cecily Ma was born in Shenzhen, China and immigrated to San Francisco, California where she grew up with her parents. She is now the Migrant Services Manager at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), overseeing the rapid response and wraparound case management program for newly arrived asylum seekers in Los Angeles. Prior to joining CHIRLA, she worked at the IRC is San Diego as a Housing Coordinator during Operation Allies Welcome, as well as various city and county programs serving those experiencing homelessness. She holds a BA in Comparative International Studies from San Diego State University.

Ponce, Angel

Angel Ponce

Angel Ponce brings over 15 years of experience in advocating for individuals with disabilities and historically underrepresented groups. In 2004, following a spinal cord injury resulting from a vehicular accident, Ponce transitioned to life as a wheelchair user. As a person with a disability, Ponce knows firsthand the challenges that people with disabilities experience in the Houston Metropolitan area and has devoted himself to serving as an advocate for the rights and needs of disabled citizens.

Ponce currently serves as the Director of the City of Houston Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), bringing forth a wealth of experience in both advocacy and government service provision. In his capacity, he leads efforts to ensure the comprehensive access for and integration of all citizens like the empowerment of the pedestrian access and review program which brings sidewalks to the neighborhoods of people with limited mobility. He advocates for the rights and necessities of people with disabilities, acting as a crucial liaison between the City of Houston Mayor, city council, various city departments, and other public and private entities.

Ponce plays an integral role in various special projects, such as the Annual Disability Emergency Preparedness Workshop, the Houston Disability Celebration, the Annual Reel Abilities Art and Film Festival, disability awareness workshops for employers, and disability etiquette and educational presentations for youth and professionals. In partnership with local organizations, Ponce assisted with the ongoing efforts to connect people with disabilities to durable medical equipment and connected those affected to resources in the aftermath of natural disasters, such as, Hurricane Harvey.

Ponce is co-founder of the National Coalition for Latinxs with Disabilities (CNLD), and his educational background is anchored by a bachelor's degree in leadership and management from the University of Houston, further enriching his capabilities in leading initiatives that foster inclusivity and accessibility within the Houston community.

Colon-Uvalles , Joe

Joe Colon-Uvalles

Joe Colon-Uvalles (He, Him and Él) is Senior Specialist for Raíz + Latinx Campaigns at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Joe works to support affiliate Raíz programs, mentoring and coaching young Latinx organizers to strengthen Planned Parenthood's Latinx organizing footprint across the country. Joe is a proud fronterizo who currently resides in Brownsville, TX and is better known for their dragtivist work as “Kween Beatrix”. In and out of drag, Joe has been active in the fight for immigrant rights, reproductive freedom, LGBTQIA+ rights and civic engagement for Latinx communities.

Rfat, Mustafa

Mustafa Rfat

Mustafa Rfat is a Ph.D. candidate in Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis and a McDonnell Scholar. His research centers on refugees with disabilities, with a special focus on barriers to inclusion and opportunities for upward mobility. Mustafa’s work integrates community-based participatory research to promote inclusive policies.

Jones, Esq. , Nicole J.

Nicole J. Jones, Esq.

Nicole Jones is the Senior Program Director for the YMCA International Services Immigration Legal Services Department. Ms. Jones has practiced Immigration Law in the Greater Houston Area for over 10 years. She is an experienced litigator whose practice focuses on removal defense, particularly with those in immigration detention centers. Nicole is dedicated to empowering individuals with practical knowledge and the resources necessary to navigate the challenging immigration system. The YMCA Immigration Department has provided free or low-cost immigration legal services for over 40 years. Our staff deliver client-centered programs to refugees, immigrants, and other vulnerable populations to advance their economic independence, social integration, and civic participation. The legal team includes experienced immigration attorneys, Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representatives, and immigration case managers. Our services range from basic consultations to complex appeals in asylum, permanent residency, family petitions, naturalization, relief for victims of human trafficking and crimes, and removal/deportation relief.

Suriyopas, Ivy O.

Ivy O. Suriyopas

Ivy leads GCIR’s program and policy strategy and development, funder education and engagement, and funder mobilizing and organizing. Previously, she was a program officer at Open Society Foundations, where she focused on immigrant and refugee justice, managing a multimillion-dollar portfolio and developing a strategy challenging the systems rooted in the racialized treatment of immigrants throughout US history. Prior to joining OSF, she was an attorney and director of the Anti-Trafficking Initiative at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, working at the intersection of migrants,’ workers,’ and women’s rights, providing legal representation and advocating for policy changes informed by the lived experiences of her clients.

Bonin, Stephanie

Stephanie Bonin

Stephanie Bonin is a Senior Strategist at Economic Security Project, a network dedicated to advancing a guaranteed income in America and reining in the unprecedented concentration of corporate power. She has led the Direct File initiative through a four-week pilot in 2024 and will continue outreach efforts in 24 states for the upcoming tax filing season. Most recently, Stephanie was the visionary behind Vermont Everyone Eats—a $49 million statewide pandemic relief program that bolstered food security, economic stability, and agricultural resilience in a single initiative. She is a graduate of Green Corps,a field school for environmental organizing—and has led direct action efforts with Mighty Earth, as well as advocacy and lobbying work with Environment Colorado. Stephanie grew up in an independent bookstore and is raising her family in southern Vermont.

Vazquez, Cristina

Cristina Vazquez

I am the English Innovation Coach in the beginning class. I joined OneAmerica in 2020, and before that I was a student of this program. I am from Mexico, and I moved to the USA in 2010. I want my students to learn, practice, and gain confidence speaking in English and get involved in the community, because I know when you move to another country and you don’t speak their language you feel that you are not a part of the community. I am interested in helping my students to grow in their skills, make changes and become leaders with OneAmerica.

Chang, Stephanie

Stephanie Chang

Stephanie Chang is a Michigan State Senator and was the first Asian American woman elected to the Michigan legislature and the first woman to give birth while serving in the Senate. She served two terms in the Michigan House and as Democratic Floor Leader for her first term in the Senate. She is the Senate Democratic Policy and Steering Chair. In the legislature, she has led on environmental justice, criminal justice reforms, affordable drinking water, and immigrants’ rights. She has passed legislation regarding sexual assault prevention, an address confidentiality program for survivors, the COVID-19 water shutoff moratorium, female genital mutilation, community crisis response, Fred Korematsu Day and more. She cofounded the Asian Pacific American Legislative Caucus and was chair of the Progressive Women’s Caucus. She previously served in various roles for NextGen Climate Michigan, Center for Progressive Leadership, Campaign for Justice, One United Michigan, and the James and Grace Lee Boggs School. She is a co-founder of Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote-Michigan and Rising Voices. Chang earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degrees in public policy and social work from the University of Michigan. She lives in Detroit with her husband, Sean Gray, and two young daughters.

Rowan, Paul

Paul Rowan

Dr. Paul J. Rowan, PhD, MPH, is a clinical psychologist, and is an associate professor in the Department of Management, Policy, and Community Health at the University of Texas - Houston School of Public Health. Dr. Rowan conducts research on the organization and performance of the health care system for detecting and addressing mental health needs, and on patient preferences for health care. Dr. Rowan has collaborated with CHAT on several projects, bringing theoretical, academic, and conceptual bases and evaluation strategies for projects focused on psychosocial aspects of ehatlh and wellness.

Anand, Meeta

Meeta Anand

Meeta Anand (she/her) is the Senior Director of Census & Data Equity for The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and The Leadership Conference Education Fund. Meeta came to this work from the New York Immigration Coalition, and has extensive experience in advocacy, strategic planning, and community engagement With a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a Master's Degree from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, Meeta specializes in creating opportunities for social change and promoting equity.

Abdo, Dr. Diya

Dr. Diya Abdo

Dr. Diya Abdo is the Lincoln Financial Professor of English at Guilford College and the founding Director of Every Campus A Refuge. A second-generation Palestinian refugee born and raised in Jordan, Dr. Abdo’s teaching, research, and scholarship focus on Arab women writers and Arab and Islamic feminisms as well as refugee and immigrant issues. She has also published poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Her book AMERICAN REFUGE: True Stories of the Refugee Experience, published by Steerforth Press in 2022, was selected by the North Carolina Humanities as a North Carolina 2024 Reads Book. In 2015, inspired by Pope Francis' call on every European parish to host one refugee family, Dr. Abdo founded Every Campus A Refuge (ECAR), which advocates for housing refugee families on college and university campus grounds and supporting them in their resettlement. Dr. Abdo is the recipient of the Emerson Collective Fellowship (2024), the J.M. Kaplan Fund’s Innovation Prize (2021), and several higher education and community engagement awards. Dr. Abdo sits on the Advisory Board of the Community Sponsorship Hub. She lives in Greensboro, N.C., with her partner and two daughters.

Bilic, Una

Una Bilic

Una Bilic has been with the International Rescue Committee since 2015. She opened the first resettlement agency in Tallahassee, FL and served as the site manager. Born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to injuries sustained in the Bosnian Civil War, she was resettled as a refugee to Orlando, Florida in 1994. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Central Florida. In June 2021, Una embarked on an exciting new journey with IRC headquarters, spearheading the organization's community sponsorship initiative. She designed, implemented, and worked with local IRC offices to develop their community sponsorship programming as well as remote placements programming. In 2023, she was promoted to Deputy Director of New Resettlement Pathways. In this position, she oversees sponsorship, client voice and community engagement initiatives at the HQ resettlement team, helping the IRC network build stronger, more supportive communities.

Tapia, Edith

Edith Tapia

Edith Tapia is a Technical Advisor for Cross Border and Asylum at the International Rescue Committee and has worked extensively with asylum-seekers at the border and in the interior, designing programmatic responses and providing technical support and policy-related updates. Edith holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Smith College and a master’s degree in Globalization and Development from SOAS University of London.

Zugay, Ayda

Ayda Zugay

Ayda Zugay is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Massachusetts. She is a resettled refugee from the former Yugoslavia. Ayda is an award winning leader, published author, activist, polyglot, and a believer in people’s individual capacity to drive global change. She is a Principal/Co-Founder of Advancing Agency, a consulting collective supporting social changemakers on their journeys toward sustainable impact. A refugee trailblazer, she uses her multinational, diverse field expertise to create and mobilize positive change across government, market, and civil society. She has lived and worked in Europe, North America, and Africa either as an implementing partner of UNHCR, leading nonprofits and companies, consulting for heads of state, or speaking internationally about human rights, policy, and her experience as a refugee. Ayda also serves on the US Refugee Advisory Board. She is a member of the Refugee Storytellers Collective, an initiative co-founded with the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Refugee Congress. She is also the Founder of the Impact Investments Fund, a cross-sector partnership that advances socially responsible business performance for the wellbeing of people and the planet.

Gboeah, Lourena

Lourena Gboeah

Lourena Gboeah is the Program Director for Upwardly Global New York, a national organization working to eliminate systemic employment barriers for immigrant and refugee professionals, while advancing the inclusion of their skills into the U.S. economy. A resettled refugee from Liberia, she came to the U.S. when she was only four years old. Her family fled war in Liberia and the continuous harassment from government soldiers and rebels. Lourena has over a decade of experience working with vulnerable and marginalized populations inclusive of the immigration and refugee resettlement space. Prior to her role with Upwardly Global, Lourena served as Associate Director of Student Services for the Year Up Philadelphia program, where she helped lead the development of overall program structures and advanced strategic partnerships with community-based organizations and social service agencies on mental health, housing, pregnancy/parenting, financial services, family issues, and substance abuse. Lourena currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Refugee Congress, a refugee-led organization that ensures that the lived expertise of forcibly displaced people is leveraged to promote policies and programs that protect the rights and well-being of all forcibly displaced people. Lourena also serves on the Board of Refugee Council USA, a coalition which mobilizes expertise, ideas, and influence to protect the rights of forcibly displaced people and build more welcoming societies. In 2023, she was selected to serve on the newly launched Advisory Board to the UNHCR Task Team on Engagement and Partnership with Organizations led by Displaced and Stateless Persons. Lourena holds a Bachelor of Science in management from Rutgers University, Newark Campus and a Master of Social Work from Temple University in Philadelphia.