OUR LEADERSHIP
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Kristin has spent the last 12 years providing direct services and in nonprofit leadership for several community-based and national nonprofits in Kentucky and Oregon.
Prior to RefugeeConnect, Kristin spent over 8 years supporting the integration of refugees, immigrants, and low-income residents in Louisville, KY (who collectively came from over 100 countries) as a direct service provider and Program Director for a local grassroots driven organization that serves 5,000 plus people a year. From 2017-2020, Kristin worked in Oregon supporting families affected by pediatric cancer and managed a program that promotes social-emotional health through a trauma-informed lens for school districts across Oregon. Kristin's vision for creating a more welcoming community for refugees of the Greater Cincinnati area includes incorporating the voices of the community in decision-making, collaborating with partner agencies to create pathways that promote refugees success in the community, and enhancing the supportive services offered by RefugeeConnect. |
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Megan studied abroad in Ghana during her undergraduate History studies at Xavier University and learned first-hand that being new in a country can be an isolating experience.
She brings this to her work in helping newly resettled families find a home here in the Cincinnati area. Her past working in a highly diverse Cincinnati Public elementary school created the lasting impression that schools are the hub of the American cultural experience for new families in the US. She works with school staff, partners, and area volunteer mentors to create welcoming environments across the city. |
Executive Committee
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Ross E. Wales, President
Lawyer \ Taft, Stettinius & Hollister Ross Wales is the board secretary of RefugeeConnect. He is an attorney, Of Counsel with Taft Stettinius & Hollister, with 40+ years of experience creating and working with charitable organizations including advising on governance matters.
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Sandra Spinner, Vice President
Community at Large Sandra Spinner is the board vice president of RefugeeConnect. She has over 45 years of experience functioning as a chair, board member, or advisor for over 20 organizations. Her educational background is in psychiatry, volunteer training, student-teacher training, and has a Bachelor’s of Arts from Brooklyn College. She has been working with refugee populations for over 30 years.
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Greg Maggard, Finance Manager
Director \ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC Greg Maggard is the Finance Manager. He is a Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. He has 10+ years of public accounting experience leading external and internal audit engagements for Fortune 20 through Fortune 1000 companies. He holds a BSBA (Accounting with a minor in Computer Information Systems) from the University of Louisville.
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BOARD MEMBERS
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Alicia Kappers
Director of Professional Development \ Frost Brown Todd, LLC |
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Amelia Crutcher
Community at Large |
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Dr. Amy Rule
Pediatric and Neonatal Hospitalist \ Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center |
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Dr. Cruff Renard
Internist \ St. Elizabeth's Healthcare
Internist \ St. Elizabeth's Healthcare
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James Buchanan, PhD.
Director \ The Brueggeman Center for Dialogue at Xavier University |
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Joany Ellsworth
Community at Large |
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Julia Pile
President \ ParentCamp & Board Member, District 4 of the Boone County Board of Education |
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Kelly Birkenhauer
Geologist, Project Manager \ Trihydro Corporation |
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Mirsada Kadiric
Market Research Manager \ Kao USA, Inc. & Author of I Am a Refugee: Finding Home Again In America |
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Rev. Noel Julnes-Dehner
Espiscopal priest \ St. Episcopal Church & Documentary Filmmaker & Founder of Summer Camp Reading |
