RCUSA welcomes new board members

Washington, DC – On November 2nd, RCUSA’s membership elected Mohammed Naeem, Kristyn Peck, Rachel Perić, Naomi Steinberg, and Essey Workie to the RCUSA board. The membership simultaneously re-elected current board members Sharif Aly, Tawnya Brown, and Hardy Vieux.

Mohammed Naeem serves as Deputy Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the American Immigration Council where he leads programs through the Center for Inclusion and Belonging (CIB). He also serves on the Ad Council’s Advisory Committee on Public Issues, UNHCR CRCP Refugee Advisory Group, and as Chair for the US Refugee Advisory Board.

Kirstyn Peck is the Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area where she has expanded their staff and programming, and overseen LSSCNA’s emergency response work to provide welcome to Afghan allies in 2021. She formerly oversaw national family reunification work at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Rachel Perić is the Executive Director of Welcoming America, whose mission is rooted in envisioning and building a world where all have the ability to thrive and belong wherever they call home.

Naomi Steinberg serves as the Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at HIAS, having previously served as the Director of Refugee Council USA where she focused on strengthening and facilitating partnerships between diverse stakeholders responding to refugee crises.

Essey Workie is the owner and Executive Coach for Multicultural Coaching whose work specializes in diversity, equity, inclusion, change management, and resilience. She is a certified coach and diversity executive.

RCUSA extends its deepest gratitude to our departing board members Eleanor Acer, Denise Bell, Ann Buwalda, Melanie Nezer, and Thang Nguyen Dinh whose expertise and vision have helped steward RCUSA into independent nonprofit status.

Media contact: Sarah Seniuk, sseniuk@rcusa.org

RCUSA is a diverse coalition advocating for just and humane laws and policies, and the promotion of dialogue and communication among government, civil society, and those who need protection and welcome. Individual RCUSA members do not all address all refugee-related issues, nor do all individual members approach common refugee-related issues identically.

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