STAFF

Laura Vaudreuil
Executive Director
laura@reftrans.org  

Since joining Refugee Transitions in 2001, Laura has shown dynamic, visionary leadership through expanding the agency’s scope and power to transform lives. Laura holds an undergraduate degree in international relations with minor degrees in economics and Spanish from the University of Minnesota, as well as a masters degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages from San Francisco State University. She has over 16 years of overseas and domestic classroom teaching experience and has taught English literacy and citizenship courses at City College of San Francisco and academic writing at San Francisco State University. She designs the agency’s curriculum, oversees all of programs, and trains volunteer tutors. Laura has ensured that Refugee Transitions continues to develop and strengthen its partnerships with organizations serving refugees and low-income immigrants throughout three counties: San Francisco, Alameda and most recently, Santa Clara where the agency expanded in 2008.    

Elsa Amboy
South Bay Program Manager
elsa@reftrans.org        

Elsa joined Refugee Transitions as the South Bay program manager in September 2008. Prior to working at Refugee Transitions, she volunteered full-time in the South Bay coordinating volunteers in her community who were helping newly arrived refugees. Elsa received the National Volunteer of the Year award from Catholic Charities for her work. She completed a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and a master’s degree in educational leadership at Cal State East Bay.  Furthermore, she holds a California teaching credential and has over a decade of education and administrative experience working with under-served immigrant communities.  Elsa brings her personal perspective as a Filipina immigrant who arrived in the States when she was four years old.

 

Nicole Germanov
Volunteer and Program Coordinator
nicole@reftrans.org 

Nicole joined Refugee Transitions in August of 2011 to fill the position of volunteer and program coordinator. She recruits and trains the agency's many volunteer tutors. Nicole was introduced to the international humanitarian sphere while volunteering at an orphanage in Bulgaria, where she taught ESL and coordinated enrichment activities. Prior to joining Refugee Transitions, Nicole worked with the International Rescue Committee in Oakland, where she developed a deep connection to the East Bay refugee community. Nicole received her B.A. in political science from UC Santa Cruz, with a concentration in international studies.

 

Kyle Halle-Erby
SFIHS Academic and Enrichment Coordinator
kyle@reftrans.org 

Kyle is the academic and cnrichment coordinator at San Francisco International High School (SFIHS). At SFIHS, he supports staff and students part-time during the school day and leads the after-school program in the afternoons. Originally from Baltimore, Kyle earned his B.A. from Tufts University in 2010 and was a 2010-2011 Fulbright Grantee in La Guajira, Colombia. Kyle is now actively involved in designing and implementing engaging programs of interest to all SFIHS students.

 

Grace Lau
San Francisco Program Coordinator
grace@reftrans.org

Grace Lau, an immigrant from Hong Kong, began working with Refugee Transitions as a program coordinator in September 2008. She works primarily with the Asian Pacific Islander community in San Francisco and to this end, contributes her intimate knowledge of China, its culture, and the challenges immigrants face resettling in the U.S. Grace supports families enrolled in Refugee Transitions’ home-based tutoring and mentoring programs and she is the key staff person involved in coordinating services with the Chinatown Neighborhood Workforce Center, helping clients access job opportunities and training programs in San Francisco. Grace received a B.A. degree in accounting from the University of Hawaii.

 

Zar Ni Maung
Family Advocate
zarni@reftrans.org        

Zar Ni Maung began at Refugee Transitions in March 2008 as the agency's family advocate. Zar Ni focuses primarily on supporting volunteers and newly arrived refugee families from Burma, linking them to services and providing tutoring for youth. Zar Ni grew up in Rangoon, the former capital of Burma. As a university student, he was active in the student democracy movement. When the military crackdown began, he and his family had to flee the country. They first fled to Accra, Ghana where they lived for three years before being resettled in Daly City as political refugees. Zar Ni is active in many Burmese community organizations and has helped organize numerous events to raise money and awareness for the Burmese community. Through his work at Refugee Transitions, he is able to fuel his passion for serving refugee populations. Zar Ni is the proud father of two young sons, and in their free time, they enjoy exploring the Bay Area together.

 

Sandy Naing
PR and Development Associate
sandy@reftrans.org

Sandy Naing joined Refugee Transitions in July 2010 as the organization's PR and development associate and AmeriCorps VISTA member. Sandy works with the staff to improve donor and volunteer communication, develop new social media, and strengthen volunteer outreach and support - particularly in the South Bay. She also plays a main role in organizing the agency's individual fundraising efforts and coordinates volunteer appreciation events. Prior to joining Refugee Transitions, Sandy lived in Chicago. While residing in the Windy City, she dedicated her enthusiasm for literacy education through serving as a volunteer literacy tutor at several organizations - including the Southeast Asia Center, Open Books, and 826CHI. She also worked full-time as a consultant at Morningstar, Inc., a financial research firm. Sandy graduated from Wellesley College with a B.A. degree in American studies and English. As a Burmese-American and native of the Bay Area, she is excited to work with the refugee and immigrant communities here.

 

Anh Vu
South Bay Family Resource Coordinator
anh@reftrans.org

Anh joined Refugee Transitions in February 2011 as the agency's family resource coordinator. She provides family support services, trains refugee interns, and supports volunteer tutors. Anh came to the U.S. from Vietnam and has lived in the South Bay for several years. As an immigrant herself, Anh understands the challenges that refugee and immigrant families face daily. Prior to joining Refugee Transitions, she worked with the Kinship Program to provide support for the elderly in St. Petersburg, Florida. She has a B.A. in social work from the University of South Florida.