FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2024
Contact: Jason Lucas | jason.lucas@globalrefuge.org
Baltimore, MD – Global Refuge, the nation's largest faith-based nonprofit dedicated exclusively to serving and advocating for refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants in the U.S., proudly announces the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors: Bishop Sue Briner, Habib Enayetullah, Nathan Glusenkamp, Tammy Jackson, and Pastor Ginny Price.
“We’re honored to have this group of leaders join our Board of Directors to support Global Refuge’s mission. Each of them brings a unique perspective and set of skills that will enhance our work of welcome,” said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge. “Our new board members join Global Refuge at a critical time as we navigate an unprecedented displacement crisis and ongoing national conversation on immigration, which will loom large in an election year.”
“These five leaders are welcome additions to the board bringing experience and knowledge that will help provide valuable direction as we strive to build a bigger table of supporters,” said Bryn Parchman, Chair of Global Refuge’s Board of Directors. “They embody our commitment to global compassion and support for displaced individuals, and we look forward to working with them to advance the dialogue surrounding refugees and immigrant rights.”
Bishop Sue Briner oversees the Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Elected in 2018, Briner is the first woman to serve as a bishop in the history of the three ELCA synods in Texas. She joined the Southwestern Texas Synod staff in 2012. During her tenure as bishop, she has collaborated with Global Refuge and advocated for the organization to establish a Welcome Center in San Antonio, Texas, which has since opened. Briner is a member of Peace Lutheran Church in New Braunfels, Texas, co-chairs the Immigration Ready Bench of The Conference of Bishops, and she previously chaired the board of LEAD, a Christian Leadership Development Organization.
Habib Enayetullah leads real estate and asset management for a major global hospitality company and brings extensive corporate sector finance and investment experience from roles in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Enayetullah is a member of Global Refuge’s President’s Council and provided seed funding for the nonprofit’s New American Community Lending initiative. Additionally, he is a member of the advisory board of Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Nathan Glusenkamp is the chief quality and registries officer at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) where he manages the organization’s growing portfolio of clinical data registries and all quality products, tools, and clinical practice guidelines. He also oversees the ASOS’s Office of Government Relations, where he is responsible for legislative, regulatory, and payer advocacy. Early in his career, Glusenkamp worked at Bread for the World, in the government and church relations departments.
Tammy Jackson served as the Interim Executive Director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Service and Justice home area from April 2023 – March 2024. Prior to this, she served as the Senior Director of Accompanying Peoples, Communities and Networks in Service and Justice and Director of the International Leaders Program in the former Global Mission unit of the ELCA. In this role she worked with ELCA global companions in supporting the development of emerging and current leaders through international scholarship awards. Jackson is a Board of Regents member of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and an active member of Holy Family Lutheran Church in Chicago.
Pastor Ginny Price leads the congregation at New Hope Lutheran Church in Columbia, Maryland, where she has served since 2013. She was ordained in 1989 and has worked in a variety of settings, including both rural and small town, as well as serving as assistant to the bishop for the Delaware-Maryland synod, and most recently as director of admissions and coordinator of spiritual formation at United Lutheran Seminary, formerly known as Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. Price currently leads discussions with community members in Columbia, Maryland, focused on bridging racial and cultural divides.
About us:
Global Refuge, formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, is a nonprofit serving newcomers seeking safety, support, and a share in the American dream. For 85 years, we have welcomed those seeking refuge, upholding a legacy of compassion and grace for people in crisis. We walk alongside individuals, families, and children as they begin their new lives in the United States through our work in refugee resettlement, welcome and respite services for asylum seekers, economic empowerment and employment, and family unification for unaccompanied children. To date, we have served over 750,000 people from around the globe. At Global Refuge, welcoming newcomers isn’t just our duty—it’s an inherent part of our identity, rooted in our Lutheran heritage and inspired values, and serving as a testament to our unwavering commitment to those in search of refuge.
