Spotlight December 2025

IIB would not be able to make WNY a better place for, and because of, immigrants and refugees were it not for our team, the community, and those we serve.

May Shogan
Senior Director of Programs,
International Exchanges, and Education 

UB’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and UBMD Psychiatry recently honored our own May Shogan! May’s decades of community service in refugee health education and community public health awareness positively impact life in Western New York! We congratulate May on this outstanding recognition.

Learn more about how we help educate our community!

Parkside Lutheran Church

Thanks to Pastor Kristen Arends (pictured left), Pastor Jerimiah Smith, and Stacey Kartub, who, along with the Parkside Lutheran volunteers, made the 4th Annual Refugee Thanksgiving Dinner memorable.

This event gave New Americans the opportunity to sit down to share a meal and company with other members of the community. Not only did the church host, but its parishioners and IIB volunteers also set up tables, 

prepared food, babysat, and did craft projects with our youngest attendees! We look forward to this event every year and are already planning for 2026!

Click here to see the images and descriptions of this great event.

Berhane Oqbaslassie
New American Integration Team Lead

Berhane Oqbaslassie is a valued member and Team Lead on the New American Integration (NAI) team whose dedication, kindness, and lived experience make a meaningful impact every day.

Berhane, who speaks Tigrinya, Tigre, and some Amharic, is originally from Eritrea.

This year marks two important milestones for him: 15 years in the United States and 4 years with IIB. We are grateful for the knowledge, compassion, and cultural insight he brings to our community and our work.

Outside the office, Berhane enjoys spending weekends with his family, drinking traditional coffee, and following his favorite soccer teams - Inter Miami, Barcelona, Arsenal, AC Milan, and Argentina.

When asked about his favorite part of working at IIB, Berhane highlighted the Reception & Placement (R&P) program. He loves supporting newcomers and guiding people through the same resettlement journey he experienced years ago. His empathy and understanding shine through in every interaction.

Click here to learn more about the work of our NAI team and how they help our clients get adjusted to their new lives.  

Jose Valbuena-Aguirre
 Interpreting & Translation Intern

Jose Valbuena-Aguirre was born in Miami, Florida, and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia. He speaks English and Spanish.

When he turned 18, he moved to Buffalo for a different experience and more opportunities. He is currently a senior majoring in political science at Buffalo State University. He decided to intern at IIB because he liked the mission and wanted to help those in need.

He enjoys watching soccer, going out to eat, spending time with family when possible, and going to the movies.

Click here to learn more about our expert language services. 

Family Justice Center of Erie County

A big thank you to the Family Justice Center of Erie County, which has welcomed a total of 29 visitors through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) since 2024! These visitors span over four different projects and 18 countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Family Justice Center provides support and services to individuals in unhealthy relationships, and the education the community needs to break larger cycles of relationship abuse.

Executive Director Catharine Miles-Kania (fourth from the left) and her team have been consistently supportive and enthusiastic towards our programs. Their meetings with visitors have included discussions of their holistic approach to supporting victims of violence and the benefits of providing wraparound services in one safe place, as well as facility tours.

We appreciate the Family Justice Center for sharing its wealth of knowledge with our visitors and for being open to learning from them as well.

Click here to learn about the cultural, educational, and economic benefits of international exchange programs. 

"The International Institute of Buffalo makes Western New York a better place for, and because of, immigrants and refugees."