International Institute of New England
Jessica Cirone has over 17 years of experience in the field of refugee resettlement and community sponsorship. Jessica is currently the Director of Strategic Program Initiatives at the International Institute of New England, where they have been working since 2022. Prior to this role, they served as the Associate Director of Community Sponsorship at IINE.
In 2021, Jessica worked as a Refugee Resettlement and Community Sponsorship Consultant, providing program expertise to national resettlement agencies and affiliate offices. Jessica'sfocus was on training, technical assistance, and program development.
From 2014 to 2022, Jessica held the position of Senior Director of Refugee Services at JVS Boston. Before that, they worked as a Program Manager at LIFT in 2014.
In 2010, Jessica was the Director of the HRA BEGIN Program and Yemeni Refugee Resettlement Project at FEGS. Prior to that, they worked as a Lead Employment Specialist at Jewish Vocational Service from 2005 to 2010.
Jessica's early experience includes working as a Project Manager at FORGE from 2007 to 2008, and as an ESL Instructor at the International Rescue Committee from 2005 to 2007.
Jessica Cirone received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Nebraska Wesleyan University. Jessica then pursued a Master of Arts degree in International Development at UNSW in 2004-2005. After that, Jessica completed a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling at UMass Boston from 2009 to 2011.
International Institute of New England
Mission The International Institute of New England (IINE) creates opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed through resettlement, education, career advancement and pathways to citizenship. History and Context Founded in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1918, IINE is one of the region’s largest and oldest service providers for new Americans. The International Institute serves 2,000 refugees and immigrants each year and has launched new programs to double the number of newcomers served to 4,000 within five years. In the past year, staff in our Boston, Lowell, and Manchester (NH) field offices provided resettlement, family reunification, education, career assistance, and legal services to people from 67 different countries. As the United States engages in a pitched debate about immigration policy, our work is critical to preserving the nation’s tradition of welcoming people of all backgrounds who cherish freedom, equality and hard work. IINE’s programs are particularly important to New England, which has a notable dependence on immigrant labor to grow its economy.