About ONA

What does the Office of New Americans do?

Office of New AmericansThe ONA is comprised of an immigrant services unit and a refugee services unit (formerly known as the Office of Newcomer Services).  The Office is responsible for the implementation of a statewide strategy to promote the economic, linguistic and civic integration of new Americans in the Commonwealth.  The ONA also provides staff support to the New American Advisory Board.

 

Visit the DSS Office of New Americans 

 

Contact Us

Staff Contacts

Seyoum Berhe
Refugee Resettlement Coordinator & ONA Director
Seyoum.berhe@dss.virginia.gov

Grace Reynolds
Senior Program Consultant
Grace.reynolds@dss.virginia.gov

Liliana Penalver
Senior Program Consultant
Liliana.penalver@dss.virginia.gov

Derek Maxfield
Refugee Program Consultant
 
Penelope Boyd
Refugee Program Consultant
 
Elissa Milanowski
Refugee Program Consultant
 
Wendy Shoaf
Fiscal Consultant

 

Advisor

Mona Siddiqui
Senior Policy Advisor to the Office of New Americans
Mona.siddiqui@governor.virginia.gov