Our Staff
Lavinia Limón
President and Chief Executive Officer
Lavinia Limón has more than 30 years of experience working on behalf of refugees and immigrants. Prior to joining USCRI in August of 2001, Ms. Limón was Director of the Center for the New American Community, a project of the National Immigration Forum. During the Clinton Administration, Ms. Limón served as the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, Department of Health and Human Services, designing and implementing programs to assist newly arriving refugees in achieving economic and social self-sufficiency. She served simultaneously as the Director of the Office of Family Assistance for four years, helping to devise policies and strategies for implementing national welfare reform. Ms. Limón was previously the Executive Director of the International Institute of Los Angeles.
Lee Williams
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Lee Williams joined USCRI as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in August 2009. Prior to joining, he was the Executive Director of the International Institute of Akron (Ohio), a USCRI partner agency, for two years. Mr. Williams’ early career was in client services and international banking. He was Vice President of the Morgan Stanley Trust Company, Vice President of Deutsche Bank Global Institutional Services, and Managing Principal of Capco – a capital markets company. Mr. Williams holds a Graduate Certificate of Non-Profit Management from Case Western Reserve University, a Master's degree in International Management from The Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a Bs.L from Georgetown University in Arabic.
Peter Limón
Director of Field Offices
As the Director of Field Offices, Mr. Limón is responsible for the operational, financial, and personnel management of USCRI field offices in Vermont, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Iowa, and standardizes best practices in all locations. Mr. Limón has over 25 years of experience in business management, investment banking, financial services, telecommunications, and customer service. Mr. Limón's previous work experience includes ownership and operation of two businesses, a financial services company and a hospitality business in San Clemente, California. Mr. Limón has designed and managed several international communications projects in Africa, South America, and Asia.
Judy Scott
Director of Vermont Field Office, Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program
Judy Scott has been Director of USCRI's Vermont field office, the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program, since December of 2007. Currently, the Vermont field office resettles refugees arriving primarily from Bhutan, Burma, Iraq, and Somalia. Ms. Scott administers the Reception and Placement, Wilson/Fish, Matching Grant, Refugee Healthy Marriage, Refugee Social Services, and Vermont Interpretation and Translation Services programs. Her initial involvement with USCRI was as a volunteer, after which she was asked to join the staff to develop a volunteer program. Her previous staff positions with the agency include Direct Service Manager, Coordinator of Community Services, and Coordinator of Volunteer Services. She holds a Master's Degree from the University of Vermont and speaks French. Ms. Scott also serves on the Governor's Workforce Equity and Diversity Council. (802-654-1700, jscott@uscrivt.org)
Yusuf Abdi
Employment Counselor
Yusuf Abdi joined USCRI/VRRP in 2010 as an Employment Counselor. He arrived in the United States in 2008 as a refugee from Somalia and was a VRRP client, volunteer, and interpreter before joining as a full-time employee. Yusuf received his Bachelor’s degree in economics from Mogadishu University and then taught elementary school for two years. He had to leave Somalia in 2004 and then spent several years in Pakistan before receiving permission to come to the United States. Since arriving in the United States he has been continuing his academic studies. He enjoys working with people from other cultures and speaks Arabic, English, and some Urdu, in addition to his native Somali. (802-654-1717, yabdi@uscrivt.org)
Kapil Chapagai
Housing Case Manager
Kapil Chapagai was born in Bhutan and spent 17 years in a refugee camp in Nepal. While in Nepal Kapil achieved a BA in Management from North Bengal University, Saint Joseph’s College in North Point Darjeeling, West Bengal, India in 2002. He then completed one year of a graduate work in Management from Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2004. Following his academic pursuits, Kapil taught mathematics at a private high-school in Kathmandu from 2002-2008. After his arrival in the U.S. in 2009, Kapil passed the TOEFL exam and served as a medical interpreter for USCRI/VT. To obtain further expertise in the medical field, Kapil became a Licensed Nurse Assistant in 2010. Kapil was thrilled to join USCRI/VT as the Housing Case Manager. Kapil is proficient in English, Nepali and Hindi and can speak some Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan. (802-338-4632, kchapagai@uscrivt.org)
Abdirashid Hussein
Case Manager
Abdirashid Hussein joined the USCRI/VRRP family in October of 2004 as a Case Manager. He primarily works with the Somali, Somali Bantu, Iraqi, and Bhutanese populations, as well as people native to various African countries. He works with newly-arrived refugees and secondary migrants from across the United States who move to the state of Vermont. Mr. Hussein has vast experience working with refugees both here in the U.S. and back in Africa, having traveled extensively throughout the continent of Africa. A former resident of Maine, he worked with the crisis group formed to dispel the growing tension between the Somali population and the City of Lewiston, Maine in the early 2000s. Previously, Mr. Hussein worked in Georgia as a Social Adjustment Manager with the Georgia Somali Community and the African Community and Refugee Center, Inc. Mr. Hussein was born in Somalia. Educated in Somalia and Kenya, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Administration. He is fluent in English, Swahili, Somali, and other African dialects. (802-654-1707, rhussein@uscrivt.org)
Phub Lama
Case Manager
Phub Lama joined USCRI/VRRP as Case Manager in 2011. He works to provide new Americans with the services and assistance they need in their transition period to become self-sufficient, contributing members of society. He ensures that clients are getting proper orientation services, healthcare, education and employment opportunities, and housing solutions. He has volunteered and also has been an interpreter with USCRI/VRRP. He came to the United States in late 2009 as a refugee. Mr. Lama holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from St. Joseph’s College, University of North Bengal, India. He speaks Nepali, Hindi, some Bengali and Hyolmo. (802-654-1716, plama@uscrivt.org)
Melissa Lang
English Language Training Program Coordinator
Melissa Lang joined USCRI/VRRP as ELT (English Language Training) Program Coordinator in August of 2008. She has coordinated, and taught in, English Language Learning/English as a Second Language programs for twenty-four years. She has a long history of serving refugee and immigrant families, not only through teaching, but also through volunteering and coordinating donations for newcomers. She has also worked extensively with international students in intensive English programs through her teaching and curriculum development work at Paul Smith’s College in New York, St. Michael’s College in Vermont, and Springfield College in Massachusetts. She received her B.A. and M.A. degrees from St. Michael’s College. She speaks basic Spanish and is learning Nepali. (802-654-1704, mlang@uscrivt.org)
Sita Luitel
Medical Case
Sita Luitel joined USCRI/VRRP as Medical Case Manager and Staff Interpreter in November 2011. She provides case management for clients with complex medical issues. She provides enhanced health orientation for all new arrivals and also works with in-migrants and asylees to assist them in accessing medical care. Mrs. Luitel arrived in the United States in 2008 as a refugee from Bhutan. She completed two years of college in Bio-Science at Mechi-Multiple Campus Bhadrapur, Nepal. Since her arrival in Vermont, she has become a Licensed Nursing Assistant and worked in this capacity for two years. Currently, she is continuing her education in nursing. In addition to interpretation and translation services, she ensures that clients are receiving appropriate health services. She speaks English, Nepali and Hindi. (802-338-4628, sluitel@uscrivt.org)
Mukiza Noel
Case Manager
Mukiza Noel came to the United States as a refugee in 2007 and was hired by USCRI/VRRP as a Case Manager. He provides case management and interpretation services for refugees and asylees. Mr. Noel is a Burundian who was born in the Republic of Rwanda. In 1994, he was forced to flee to the Democratic Republic of Congo and in 1996 was again forced to flee to the United Republic of Tanzania, where he lived for ten years. Mr. Noel graduated from high school in 2002 in Tanzania and worked as a teacher from 2002-2007. He also worked with the International Rescue Committee as a Primary Schools Community Worker Supervisor from 2005-2006 in the Muyovozi Refugee Camp. Mr. Noel was a Master Trainer and Equipment Manager at Right to Play in Mtabila and Muyovozi Refugee Camp. He speaks English, French, Swahili, Kirundi, and Kinyarwanda. (802-654-1728, mnoel@uscrivt.org)
Loan Nguyen
Cash Assistance Specialist
Loan Nguyen has served as the Cash Assistance Specialist at USCRI/VRRP since 2007, administering interim financial support to newly-arrived refugees and asylees while they transition to self-sufficiency. Beginning in 2005, Mrs. Nguyen was VRRP’s Refugee Elder Specialist, supporting refugee elders in areas such as housing, employment-related issues, citizenship issues, crisis intervention assistance, and access to mainstream services. Mrs. Nguyen has more than ten years of experience serving refugees as a staff member of USCRI/VRRP, as an interpreter, and for local human service agencies. Mrs. Nguyen holds an Associate’s degree in Accounting from Champlain College and is fluent in Vietnamese. (802-654-1744, lnguyen@uscrivt.org)
Nada Popovac
Receptionist/Administrative Assistant
Nada Popovac works as a receptionist and administrative assistant and provides general office support to all staff at USCRI/VRRP. She first got involved with USCRI/VRRP as a client herself, as a refugee from Bosnia, in 1998. By the following year, she started working for the program as a receptionist. During her tenure, she has taken on the job of an administrative assistant and the assistant for Interpreting and Translating Services. She also provides basic immigration assistance for USCRI/VRRP clients. Mrs. Popovac is fluent in Serbo-Croatian. (802-655-1963, npopovac@uscrivt.org)
Kristen Rengo
Reach Up Case Manager
Kristen Rengo is Reach Up Case Manager with USCRI/VRRP, serving as a liaison between the Department of Children and Families and VRRP. She works with families with children under 18 to remove barriers to economic self-sufficiency. Her initial involvement with VRRP was as an Employment Counselor in 2008, where she began expanding the network of employers by conducting outreach and developed the curriculum for Job Readiness Workshops. Prior to her work with refugees in Vermont, she was the Program Assistant at the Center for Mediation, Peace, and Resolution of Conflict and facilitated conflict transformation workshops for refugees and teachers in Quito, Ecuador. She has also worked as a case manager for refugees and victims of human trafficking in her hometown of Philadelphia. Ms. McCaskey holds a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from Goucher College. She speaks Spanish fluently and studied abroad at the University of Salamanca in Spain and with Casa de las Americas in Havana, Cuba. She completed Master's level coursework in Conflict Transformation and Development at the School for International Training. (802-338-4625, kmccaskey@uscrivt.org)
Jacqueline Rose
Coordinator of Interpreting and Translating Services
Jacqueline Rose has been working at USCRI/VRRP as the Coordinator of Interpreting and Translating Services since 2004. She served twice in the United States Peace Corps as a health extension worker, in the countries of Niger (West Africa) from 1994-96, and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1998, during the civil war. Previous work experience includes: Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the New Orleans Regional AIDS Planning Council, New Orleans Veterans Affairs Medical Center of New Orleans, The Floating Hospital in New York, and as an Emergency Medical Technician at Huron Valley Ambulance. She is a certified trainer of Bridging the Gap Medical Interpreter Program. Ms. Rose received her Master's degree in International Public Health from Tulane University, focusing on Complex Emergencies and Psychosocial Issues, and her undergraduate degree in linguistic anthropology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Proficient in French and Hausa, she can also speak some Japanese from travels and studies abroad. (802-654-1706, jrose@uscrivt.org)
Htun Sein
Case Manager
Htun Sein serves as a Case Manager for Vermont’s resettled refugee communities. Previously, he worked as USCRI/VRRP’s staff interpreter – providing Burmese language translation and interpretation for both youth and adults. Htun Sein has volunteered at Catholic Charities’ refugee resettlement program in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Before coming to the United States, Htun Sein lived in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burmese border for more than ten years and then lived in Thailand, where he studied English and joined the Tavoyan Youth Organization (TYO). As a TYO member, he was actively involved in human rights and democracy movements for Burma. In Thailand, Htun Sein interned at the Office of Human Rights Documentary Unit for Burma – interviewing migrant workers, entering data, and providing interpretation and translation. (802-338-4617, hsein@uscrivt.org)
Laurie Stavrand
Community Partnership Coordinator
Laurie Stavrand connects the local community – including individuals, organizations and businesses – with newly arriving refugees, facilitating meaningful relationships and sharing information and resources. In addition to growing a dedicated team of volunteers, she organizes community events to build understanding by engaging stakeholders in ongoing, in-depth dialogue. Ms. Stavrand has over thirty years of experience in the United States and abroad, working closely with clients to understand their needs, solving complex problems, and managing staff and volunteers from different cultural backgrounds. She holds a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati. (802-338-4627, lstavrand@uscrivt.org)
Matt Thompson
Coordinator of Programs
Matt Thompson serves as Program Coordinator, overseeing the Matching Grant, Wilson/Fish, and Reach Up programs administered by USCRI/VRRP. Prior to working as Coordinator of Programs, he was an Employment Counselor at USCRI/VRRP, developing employment opportunities and assisting clients in obtaining jobs. Previously, he was a Job Developer at Catholic Charities Refugee Center in Washington, DC, and Case Manager and Housing Coordinator for refugees, asylees, and survivors of torture and severe trauma at the Center for Multicultural Human Services in Falls Church, VA. Matt has studied the conflict in Israel and the Palestinian Territories and assisted with returning refugees and internally-displaced persons in Burundi. He speaks French and received an M.A. from American University-School of International Service in Washington, DC, and a B.A. from Earlham College in Richmond, IN, in Peace & Global Studies. (802-654-1705, mthompson@uscrivt.org)
Tam Truong
Staff Accountant
Mr. Truong joined USCRI as a Staff Accountant in August 2007. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in professional accounting from the University of Vermont. He manages finance as well as human resources for the Vermont Field Office and also assists with MIS. He currently resides in Essex Junction, VT. Tam is fluent in Vietnamese. (802-654-1733, ttruong@uscrivt.org)
Alyssa Vigneault
Employment Counselor
Alyssa Vigneault joined the USCRI/VRRP team in January 2011 as an Employment Counselor. Ms. Vigneault works with area businesses to secure employment for VRRP clients, assisting them in taking their first steps towards economic self-sufficiency. Prior to joining VRRP, Ms. Vigneault worked as the Volunteer & Intern Coordinator and as an Employment Services Coordinator with the Bosnian Community Center for Resource Development, Inc. in Lynn, MA. She also worked as an Employment Services Intern with Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston, and assisted in drafting Council of Europe reports on human rights abuses in Lithuania while interning with the Human Rights Monitoring Institute in Vilnius, Lithuania. Ms. Vigneault hold a Bachelor's degree in International Studies with a minor in non-violence studies from Elon University. She speaks Spanish and is currently learning Arabic. (802-338-4618, avigneault@uscrivt.org)
Htar Htar Yu
Staff Interpreter
Htar Htar Yu is a staff interpreter with USCRI/VRRP. She was born in Burma and has lived in the United States since 2002. Before coming to the United States, she lived in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burmese border for more than ten years and then lived in Thailand, where she studied English, and joined the Tavoyan Women’s Union (TWU). She came to the U.S as an exchange student and later earned a B.A in Sociology/Anthropology from Middlebury College. Prior to her work with VRRP, she worked as a liaison for Burlington School District and an Executive Foreign Affairs Committee member of TWU bases in Thailand. She also worked for the Human Rights Documentation Unit of the Government of the Union of Burma at its branch office in Mae Sot, Thailand and the Democratic Party of a New Society as a staff member at its office in Thailand. Htar Htar speaks Burmese, Tavoyan, and Mon. (802-338-4629, hyu@uscrivt.org)
