ORAM Announces Six Dynamic New Leaders Joining its Board of Directors
- Kyle Kvamme
- May 20, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: May 21, 2025
Minneapolis, MN (May 21, 2025): ORAM – Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration – proudly announces the appointment of six new members to its Board of Directors. This expansion more than doubles the Board’s size and brings a rich blend of professional expertise, lived experience, and deep commitment to LGBTIQ refugee rights.
“Amid today’s rising political threats and funding challenges, these leaders bring a host of critical skills, experience, and connections to our work that will help us both navigate these uncertain waters and chart our course into the future,” said Steve Roth, Executive Director. “I’m beyond thrilled for the lived and professional experience they bring and for the true passion that each of them holds for ORAM’s mission.”
Meet ORAM’s new Board members:
Anne Campbell is an independent scholar and consultant focused on human rights, education, diplomacy, and climate justice. Formerly an Associate Professor at Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a Fulbright Scholar in Kosovo, she has held management roles at Open Society Foundation and Doctors Without Borders. Anne holds a Ph.D. in comparative and international development education and an M.A. in cultural studies and critical theory. She is currently writing Finding Freedom? Queer International Students in U.S. Higher Education, exploring the experiences of LGBTIQ students from countries without legal protections.
Anton Sarkisov is a Data and AI Specialist at Microsoft with over 20 years in IT, supporting software innovation on the Azure platform. A dedicated advocate for equity and justice, Anton engages with nonprofits including APLA Health, LA LGBT Center, and ORAM. Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, he brings a personal understanding of displacement, having experienced life as both a refugee and immigrant. His multifaceted background informs his commitment to building inclusive communities and leveraging technology to drive change.
Ariane Cartwright is Director of Business Development at Church World Service and a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with over 15 years in international development. She has led strategic growth and communications initiatives for NGOs and UN agencies across four continents. Before CWS, she led development and communications teams at Jusoor, supporting Syrian education. Ariane holds a BA in Political Science from McGill University and a Master’s in Religious Studies from the University of Edinburgh. Her career reflects a deep commitment to humanitarian impact and cross-cultural engagement.
Earl is Assistant Dean for Inclusive Excellence at Arizona State University’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, where they work to develop a community and belonging culture. Their work emphasizes the ways liberation emerges through Black and queer creative texts as a lens to understand better the relationship between knowledge and power, innovation and inequity, and the future and justice. Earl has developed inclusive mentorship programs, equity-centered curricula, and built transformative opportunities for students. They hold a Ph.D. in Justice Studies, a Master’s in adult education, and a BA in Sociology. Earl is dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers and fostering liberatory, joyful spaces in education and beyond.
Kat Yushchenko is the founder of Hominin LLC, a consultancy that helps mission-driven brands grow through strategic marketing. She has led major campaigns at Acorns, Betterment, and Ameriprise, making finance and technology more accessible. Based in the Twin Cities for nearly 25 years, Kat is deeply committed to expanding opportunity and representation. She has led LGBTIQ employee groups and volunteers with Alight and UACC. Kat earned her B.S.B. in Business from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, with a focus on marketing and political science.
Paul Salvador is Executive Director of The OUT Foundation, advancing inclusive fitness and wellness for LGBTIQ communities. With 15 years of nonprofit leadership, he brings expertise in fundraising, strategy, and stakeholder engagement. Paul previously worked at Immigration Equality, supporting LGBTIQ and HIV-positive asylum seekers, and has led initiatives across immigrant justice, sustainable agriculture, and civic engagement. His dedication to equity is shaped by personal and professional ties to queer, trans, and immigrant communities. Paul holds a B.A. in History from Stony Brook University.
Rajiv Desai, ORAM’s Board Chair, added: “I’m truly proud to welcome six new members to our Board of Directors, each of whom brings a wealth of expertise, lived experience, and deep commitment to our mission. After a thorough and inclusive selection process, these new board members strengthen our leadership at a time when LGBTIQ+ refugees continue to face growing uncertainty and discrimination.”
ORAM’s newest Board members join Arjun Nagarkatti, Enrique Torre Molina, Nicki Hangsleben, Perry Witkin, and Rajiv Desai on ORAM’s Board.
Media interviews are available upon request. Please contact KyleK@ORAMRefugee.org.
About ORAM
ORAM protects and empowers LGBTIQ asylum seekers and refugees globally, creating sustainability and systematic change. Founded in 2008, ORAM is one of the first international nongovernmental organizations to advocate for and assist people fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression (SOGIE) and has since become a thought leader in LGBTIQ migration. To learn more about ORAM’s other work, visit www.oramrefugee.org and Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
What an exciting milestone for ORAM! Welcoming six such diverse and experienced leaders to the Board at a time when LGBTIQ refugees face increasing challenges is both timely and inspiring. Each new member brings something unique — from Anton's personal experience with displacement to Earl's work dismantling systemic barriers in education — and together they create a genuinely well-rounded leadership team. It's a great reminder that meaningful change happens when the right people come together with both lived experience and professional expertise. This kind of thoughtful, mission-driven leadership is something students studying social policy or human rights could learn a lot from — much like how services such as New Assignment Help UK encourage students to think critically about real-world…
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