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Staff Changes at ILCM
Posted on Sep 17 2019
Four full-time staff members transitioned into new positions at ILCM this summer and we are excited to welcome five new staff members and our fall interns and volunteers.
Kyle Smestad joined ILCM in 2017 after working with several nonprofits and political campaigns. In August 2019, he transitioned into the full-time position of grants manager. Kyle has held development and fundraising positions with OutFront Minnesota, Senator Al Franken’s 2014 reelection campaign, Councilmember Alondra Cano’s 2013 campaign, and several other local campaigns and organizations. Most recently, he was a member of the national development team for College Possible, which serves low-income students as they earn their college degrees. Kyle graduated from North Dakota State University in 2013 with degrees in Political Science and Spanish.
Stephanie Rosario-Alvarez transitioned into the full-time position of office manager this summer. She earned a degree in Business Administration and is fluent in Spanish and English language. She has over twelve years of customer service experience in both the medical and legal fields and has worked at ILCM as administrative assistant since 2010.
Maggiy Emery joined ILCM’s development team in 2018 after several years working in campaign fundraising. In August 2019, she transitioned into the full-time position of development coordinator. Maggiy held finance positions with former Minneapolis city council member Gary Schiff and Minnesota’s second Congressional district Representative Angie Craig. She also spent time as a program officer with The Open Door, working to provide food security in the south suburbs of the Twin Cities. Most recently, she led the fundraising team for Minnesota’s first Congressional district candidate Dan Feehan.
Mari Arneson began working at ILCM in August 2018 through Lutheran Volunteer Corps and this July 2019 she happily joined ILCM in the permanent position of communications associate. She is excited to continue supporting with immigrants and refugees through her work at ILCM.
Along with these staff changes, ILCM is excited to welcome five new staff members and eight fall interns and volunteers.
Shenelly Perez-Beltran started working at ILCM in August as our new receptionist. Before joining ILCM, she studied at Summit Academy OIC and she is a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Presbyterian Homes & Services. She is excited to learn more about the US immigration system and work with an organization whose values mirror her own.
Veena Iyer joined ILCM in September 2019 as the new executive director. To learn more about her, click here.
Simeon Huff joined ILCM in August 2019 through Lutheran Volunteer Corps. They will work as a legal assistant on a variety of projects and cases for the next year. They graduated from Berea College in May 2019 with a degree in Sociology and Spanish.
Mary Georgevich joined ILCM in September 2019 as an Equal Justice Works Fellow. Her project focuses on the representation of detained Somali people. Prior to joining ILCM, Mary clerked for the Honorable Anne McKeig of the Minnesota Supreme Court. She graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Law in 2018. Mary will be working with ILCM for two years.
Gabriel Andrus began working with ILCM in September 2019 as a legal assistant through the University of Minnesota Public Interest Residency Fellowship. He is currently studying at the University of Minnesota School of Law. Prior to joining ILCM he clerked for the public defenders’ office in Dakota County Minnesota. He has international experience and he joined ILCM to work with people of international background and help contribute to their welfare.
ILCM will also say goodbye to Mirella Ceja-Orozco in September 2019. She will continue to work with immigrants and refugees at the Ojala-Barbour Law Firm.