Krish O’Mara Vignarajah

Krish O'Mara Vignarajah currently holds the position of President and CEO of Global Refuge. Prior to this role, she served as Policy Director for First Lady Michelle Obama and held the position of Senior Advisor at the U.S. State Department under Secretaries Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. In addition to her roles in public service, she participated in the 2018 primary election for the governorship of Maryland, where she finished in fourth place.

In 2019, Vignarajah became president and CEO of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Her organization was involved in litigation against the Trump administration's Executive Order 13888 regarding refugee resettlement. Vignarajah's leadership extends beyond her current roles; she is also recognized as one of The Daily Record’s “Top 100 Women,” “Most Admired CEOs,” the Hill’s Changemakers, WTCI’s “International Business Leaders,” and one of the Baltimore Sun’s Women to Watch.

Not only is Vignarajah known for her roles in public service and advocacy, but she is also a published author. She has written numerous opinion pieces on topics related to refugees and immigration, with her work appearing in The Washington Post, USA Today, CNN, and the Houston Chronicle. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she has publicly shared her battle with breast cancer, in an effort to help reduce the stigma and anxiety associated with the disease.