Elissa N. Milanowski

Elissa N. Milanowski, MSW, currently serves as the Director of Third Country Solutions at HIAS, a position held since February 2023. Prior to this role, Milanowski was the Senior Program Consultant for the Virginia Office of New Americans from September 2017 to February 2023, where responsibilities included overseeing state-level management of federally-funded refugee youth programs. Earlier experience includes roles at UNHCR, where Milanowski conducted resettlement interviews in Southern Africa and served as the Regional Best Interest Determination Specialist in South Africa, offering guidance and training to ensure compliance with international law. Additional experience includes positions with RefugePoint, Church World Service, the Peace Corps, and Ashoka. Milanowski holds a bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Mary Washington and a master's degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.