About Switchboard

Switchboard is a one-stop resource hub for refugee service providers in the United States. Funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR),  Switchboard offers a library of learning resources, an online evidence database, a range of self-paced e-learning courses, regular live learning opportunities, and on-demand technical assistance for ORR-funded organizations. Switchboard is implemented by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). IRC has partnered with Lutheran Immigrant Refugee Service (LIRS) to provide employment-related training and technical assistance. Our training and consultation are provided by a roster of subject matter experts in topic areas ranging from employment, education, and case management to monitoring and evaluation and health and wellness. Switchboard is guided by a national advisory panel of resettlement professionals.

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Looking to contact Switchboard? Please fill out the short form below and we will be in touch! Are you a refugee service provider in the U.S. interested in customized training or consultation? If so, submit a request for technical assistance →
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Toolkit

Supporting Afghan Students in Schools & Youth Programs in the United States

In the 2021-22 school year and beyond, schools across the United States will enroll significant numbers of children and youth from Afghanistan. These students fled…

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Guide

Afghan Backgrounder

This backgrounder contains historical, political, and cultural information to cultivate a general understanding of Afghans arriving in the U.S. The ongoing crisis in Afghanistan is…

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Archived Webinar

Who are the Afghan Newcomers? Understanding the Background and Socio-cultural Strengths and Needs of Afghan Evacuees to the U.S.

Hosted on October 26, 2021, this training was delivered by Farid Saydee, President of Language Mentors International; Durana Saydee, Research Associate with Language Mentors International;…

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Video

Who are Refugees and How Do They Arrive in the United States?

This animated video explains the process of refugee resettlement, from flight and displacement to arrival and integration, through the true story of a family’s resettlement…

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Jason Crislip

Director of Training and Instructional Design (IRC)

Jason is an experienced educator, trainer, and program manager who has worked in the field of refugee resettlement since 2003. He comes to Switchboard from the Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE), where he directed a global CO technical assistance program for over three years. Prior to CORE, Jason worked abroad for 15 years at the Resettlement Support Center for East Asia, the Overseas Processing Entity in West Africa, and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana. He holds a degree in Education from the University of Akron, Ohio.

Margaret (Meg) Gibbon

Deputy Director (IRC)

Meg comes to Switchboard from her role managing the Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Assistance (META) Project. Previously, she worked as a Program Manager for Resource Acquisition. Her work has focused on grant management, monitoring and evaluation, and instructional design. Meg holds an MA in French from Middlebury College, specializing in francophone societies, and a BA in Religion from Barnard College, specializing in Islam.

Floor de Ruijter, Program Officer, Monitoring & Evaluation (IRC)

Floor de Ruijter

Senior Program Officer, Monitoring & Evaluation (IRC)

Floor has more than seven years of experience in the field of refugee resettlement. She previously worked as a Program Officer for Resource Acquisition, where she coordinated major public and private grant development opportunities. Prior to that, she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA Evaluation Specialist for Project Strengthening Organizations Assisting Refugees (SOAR). She holds an MALD from Tufts University’s Fletcher School with concentrations in Monitoring & Evaluation and Development Economics.

Tigest Coleman

Training Officer, Strength-Based Services (IRC)

Tigest is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience working with refugees, immigrants, and other forcibly displaced populations in direct service, supervisory, and management positions.  Prior to joining Switchboard, Tigest worked at Lutheran Community Services (Seattle, WA) in ORR’s Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program, where she provided countless client-centered consultations, guidance, and recommended resources for clients, staff, and various community agencies. Her many years of on-the-job experience as a direct line worker have afforded her a well-rounded skillset including managing adverse situations, comprehensive service planning, strengths-based and trauma-informed case management, and collaborating with interdisciplinary care teams to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate services. Tigest holds a Master of Social Work from University of Washington.

Rebecca Mulqueen

Program Officer, Learning and Knowledge Management (IRC)

Rebecca has a diverse background in administrative and technical support roles with a focus on vendor management, website maintenance, and research. Prior to joining Switchboard, Rebecca worked at nonprofits in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, CA serving in a number of roles that included event planning, fundraising, and human resources. Most recently, she spent a year living and working in Sydney, Australia providing administrative and IT support at EBSCO Information Services. Rebecca holds an MPA from the University of Southern California and a BA in International Affairs from the George Washington University.

Rishan Habte

Program Officer, Economic Empowerment (LIRS)

Rishan has worked in adult education for nearly 10 years. She served as an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor at Prince George’s Community College and Montgomery College under the Department of Labor-funded Workforce Development and Continuing Education Programs. While at Montgomery College, she worked at the Refugee Training Center, teaching contextualized classes such as ESOL for healthcare, ESOL for Customer Service, and ESOL for Childcare. In her last role, Rishan worked as an Intake and Assessment Specialist at the Literacy Council of Montgomery County.  Previously, Rishan was a consultant at the Welcome Back Center of Suburban Maryland in which she prepared foreign trained health professionals for board exams. Rishan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English with a minor in International Studies from Wright State University. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree from The University of Maryland Global Campus in Strategic Communications. Rishan also serves as a member of the State of Maryland’s Skilled Immigrant Taskforce.

Trieuvan 'Van' Nguyen

Program Coordinator, Economic Empowerment (LIRS)

Prior to coming to LIRS, Van worked and volunteered with diverse populations including youth, immigrants, and returned citizens from various organizations. She worked as an employment specialist and financial coach, connecting refugees to local employers, compiling consumer loans, and conducting financial literacy classes for refugees and other humanitarian migrants. Van holds a BS in Sociology and Anthropology from Towson University, concentrating in Criminal Justice.