Professional Affiliation

Chair, Board of Directors, Refugee Congress; Program Director, Upwardly Global

Expert Bio

Lourena Gboeah is the Program Director for Upwardly Global New York, a national organization working to eliminate systemic employment barriers for immigrant and refugee professionals, while advancing the inclusion of their skills into the US economy. A resettled refugee from Liberia, she came to the US when she was only four years old. Her family fled war in Liberia and the continuous harassment from government soldiers and rebels. Lourena has over a decade of experience working with vulnerable and marginalized populations inclusive of the immigration and refugee resettlement space. During her work resettling refugees in Delaware, she led the adoption of recognizing June 20th as World Refugee Day in Delaware, by the governor’s proclamation. She prides herself in being a connector of people, places, and things. Lourena currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Refugee Congress, a refugee-led organization that ensures that the lived expertise of forcibly displaced people is leveraged to promote policies and programs that protect the rights and well-being of all forcibly displaced people; and sits on the Refugee Council USA Board. She also serves on the Advisory Board to the UNHCR Task Team on Engagement and Partnership with Organizations led by Displaced and Stateless Persons. Lourena holds a BS in management from Rutgers University, Newark Campus and MSW from Temple University in Philadelphia.