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WASHINGTON (February 25, 1999) -- Patricia S. Maloof, an anthropologist with more than 10 years experience with refugees and immigrants, has been named Director of Refugee Programs with the U.S. Catholic Conference's Migration and Refugee Services.
Mark Franken, MRS Executive Director, announced Maloof's appointment.
Maloof, who holds a Ph.D. in medical anthropology from The Catholic University of America, is currently the project director for the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, a recognized leader in maternal and child health.
Previously, she was the director of refugee resettlement for Associated Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Washington. In that position, which she held from 1991 to 1995, she oversaw a program operating at five sites with a multicultural staff representing 18 languages. In 1995, she served as chair of the District of Columbia Metro Area Volag Consortium, a group of voluntary agencies involved in refugee resettlement. In 1993, she served as the chair of the Maryland Refugee Advisory Council, for which she received a citation from the Maryland governor. She has served as an appointed surrogate parent for refugee unaccompanied minors, and developed and implemented the language assessment component of the central intake unit for refugees in Orange County, California.
"Pat Maloof will be a tremendous addition to MRS's leadership team," said Franken. "Her education, her experience, and her professionalism are extremely well known and respected in the refugee resettlement community. We are eager for her to join us."
The Refugee Programs Director is responsible for planning and executing programs operated through diocesan agencies which provide resettlement services throughout the United States. MRS's Refugee Programs Office currently employees more than 50 staff; provides funding and support for more than 100 diocesan resettlement-related programs; and is funded, in part through 15 program grants from various government agencies.
Maloof will assume her new duties March 22.