With almost 20 years of experience in international and domestic programming at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Suzy Cop brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for refugee resettlement to Texas. She began working in refugee services in Zagreb, Croatia, while responding to the Balkan conflict with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Disaster Assistance Response Team. Her experience working with refugee processing and placement with Bosnian refugees brought her closer to the work of the IRC, which shared the office floor with USAID at the time.

Eventually returning home to the United States, Cop acted as the Regional Director at the IRC in Baltimore for four years. In 2006, she took on the role of Executive Director at the IRC in Miami. Over the past twelve years, the IRC in Miami has grown. Some notable accomplishments have been: opening a satellite office in Tallahassee and expanding services to vulnerable populations (i.e unaccompanied minor children), programming which has now expanded to other IRC offices.

In her role as the Community Engagement Manager in the Refugee Services Department at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, Elena Korbut works on connecting refugees to the local community as she believes that this connection is instrumental in helping refugees make Houston their home, to contribute to building a strong and diverse community and thrive. Elena works with her staff, volunteers and the community in addressing the needs of refugee clients and designs projects and programs that meets those needs. Her passion for serving the refugee community is fueled by her experience as an immigrant and someone who is familiar with challenges one faces when moving to a different country.

Elena was born in Moscow, Russia and raised in Coimbra, Portugal. Elena holds a BA in Political Science and a Master’s in Public Administration from Lamar University and Rice’s Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Executives (LINE) Certificate. Elena actively volunteers in the community with the Junior League of Houston.

*Event cancelations require 24 hours advanced notice.