Washington, DC — Refugee Council USA is pleased to announce that, following a nationwide search, Taif Jany has joined our team as RCUSA’s new Director of Policy and Practice. Taif takes up his new role today, September 1st.

RCUSA is the national association of the nine refugee resettlement agencies and 18 other organizations that serve and advocate for refugees, people seeking asylum, asylees, stateless persons, torture victims, and other vulnerable displaced populations.

Taif comes to RCUSA from Next100, a think tank for next-generation policy leaders, where he served as a Policy Entrepreneur, leading a research initiative to amplify the contributions of immigrants to communities across the United States. He is the author of the “Keeping Talent in America Act,” an original legislative proposal to attract and retain immigrant students. Previously Taif was the Policy Coordinator at the Young Elected Officials Network, where he led nationwide policy initiatives in coordination with 1,400 state and local elected officials.

A native of Iraq, Taif has been a first-hand witness to war and displacement. He lived as a refugee in Syria, then came on a student visa to the United States, where he was subsequently granted asylum and permanent residency.

“I am thrilled to welcome Taif Jany as our new Director of Policy and Practice,” said John Slocum, Interim Executive Director of RCUSA. “His policy engagement and entrepreneurial energy, combined with his own lived experience of having been a refugee and asylum seeker, bring an important mix of attributes and understanding to the work of protecting vulnerable displaced people. He joins us at a crucial time, just as the refugee-serving community is facing the enormous challenge of providing welcome and support for tens of thousands of Afghan allies and refugees. I know he will be a important element in the success of RCUSA and our member organizations.”

Taif holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and French from Union College and he currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Enabling Peace in Iraq Center, a nonprofit organization committed to lasting peace, human rights, and empowering communities in Iraq and the region.

Media Contact: Sarah Seniuk, sseniuk@rcusa.org