Office of New Americans Advisory Board
Purpose
The Office of New Americans Advisory Board (the Board) is established as an advisory board, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Governor, cabinet members, and the General Assembly on strategies to improve state policies and programs to support the economic, linguistic, and civic integration of new Americans throughout the Commonwealth.
Term
No nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms; however, the remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment.
Composition
The Board shall consist of 18 nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Governor who represent or have experience with the faith community; local government; the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service; law-enforcement agencies; health, mental health, housing and workforce development organizations; organizations serving youth and the elderly; organizations providing legal services for immigrants; and educational institutions and institutions of higher education. In addition, the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Commonwealth and the Chairmen of the Virginia-Asian Advisory Board, the Latino Advisory Board, the Virginia African American Advisory Board, and the Council on Women, or their designees, shall serve ex officio with nonvoting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the Board shall be residents of the Commonwealth.
Ex officio members shall serve terms consistent with their terms of office.
Vacant Seats
No seats are available at this time. If you are interested in joining this board in the future, please submit an application here.
Current Board Members
Andrei Lipan
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2026Khalid Wardak
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2026Mr Krishendeo Ramsingh
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2026Mr. James Albert Gordon Jr.
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2026Zarmina Yusufi
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2027Karina Martich
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2027Manoj Mathai
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2027Mr Cuong Phu Nguyen
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2027Karina Lipsman
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2027Mr. Chris A Mitchell
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2028Mr. Panayiotis Ibrahim Jabri
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2028Sasha Taylor
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2028Elizabeth W. Njuguna
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2028Pastor Fakhri Yacoub
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2028Raba Letteri
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2029Martha Cohen
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2029Mr. Jacob Stone DePeralta
Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2029