West Texas A&M professor Sara Makki Alamdari brings to the Board years of experience as a case manager for refugees
Refugee Services of Texas is proud to welcome Sara Makki Alamdari to the 2022 Board of Directors.
Alamdari is Assistant Professor of Social Work at West Texas A&M University and, as an immigrant herself, brings personal experience to her new role on the Board of Directors, having dealt with the hardships of learning a new language and culture upon her arrival.
“With years of experience in the public policy and social work space, Alamdari brings a level of expertise in governance and financial management that will help RST thrive for years to come,” said Russell Smith, LMSW, CEO of Refugee Services of Texas. “Sara is one of a kind, and we are grateful that she has chosen RST as a hub to use her unique skillset and personal experience for the sake of vulnerable populations looking to rebuild their lives in a new land.
In addition to her own experience as an immigrant, Alamdari has previously worked with Middle Eastern and North African refugees.
She has authored several scholarly papers on the post-resettlement experiences of refugees in the US and how engaged refugees become in their civic responsibilities once they have become accustomed to the new culture. With her own personal experience as an immigrant, she will bring a sense of relatability to asylum seekers who can be overwhelmed by the shocks of moving so far away from their homes.
Alamdari is one of seven new board members elected to serve two-year terms on the 18-member board. The new board members will join RST at a critical time as agencies across the U.S. scramble to resettle the unexpected influx of refugees from Afghanistan and others from across the globe.
She began her term in January 2022.
