Board of Directors
Kelly Simon, Board President
Community Volunteer
Kelly’s passion for immigration law took root as an Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Staff Assistant specializing in immigration matters for the office of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. From there, Kelly attended Georgetown University Law Center, where she studied immigration law and interned at Hogar Hispano-Immigrant Legal Services. Now Kelly practices exclusively in the area of immigration. In 2014, she was included with the Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list and in 2014 was named an Up & Coming attorney by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Kelly lives in the Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis with her husband, Tim Schoemehl, and their daughter.
Angela Strum
Community Volunteer
Angela grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and is a graduate of University of Kansas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Advertising. She worked in the advertising field until the birth of her children, and then focused on volunteering and fundraising with local not-for-profits in addition to providing volunteer opportunities for children and families of all ages. Some of those agencies include the MICA Project, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Cornerstone Center for Early Learning, Gateway 180, Peter and Paul Community Services, Maryville University's Kids Rock Cancer, Reach Out and Read, Our Little Haven, Operation Baby Shower, Operation Food Search, Church of St. Michael and St. George and YMCA Headstart. She has an extensive network of contacts within St. Louis's not-for-profit sector and loves creating meaningful partnerships with those folks. She is a firm believer that everyone wants to do good, and will, if given the opportunity. Angela speaks German, loves to read and travels extensively with her husband and two children.
Community Volunteer
Angela grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and is a graduate of University of Kansas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Advertising. She worked in the advertising field until the birth of her children, and then focused on volunteering and fundraising with local not-for-profits in addition to providing volunteer opportunities for children and families of all ages. Some of those agencies include the MICA Project, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Cornerstone Center for Early Learning, Gateway 180, Peter and Paul Community Services, Maryville University's Kids Rock Cancer, Reach Out and Read, Our Little Haven, Operation Baby Shower, Operation Food Search, Church of St. Michael and St. George and YMCA Headstart. She has an extensive network of contacts within St. Louis's not-for-profit sector and loves creating meaningful partnerships with those folks. She is a firm believer that everyone wants to do good, and will, if given the opportunity. Angela speaks German, loves to read and travels extensively with her husband and two children.
Tabea Linhard, Board Secretary
Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
After living in Germany, Spain, Mexico, and several states in the US, Tabea moved to St. Louis in 2003. She is a professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature at Washington University in St. Louis, where she also directs the Global Studies program. She has spent much of her career teaching and researching migrant stories in the Spanish-speaking world, and also elsewhere. She began volunteering for MICA as an interpreter and translator in 2016 and she greatly welcomes the opportunity to continue learning about immigration and to become a better advocate for migrants in the region.
Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
After living in Germany, Spain, Mexico, and several states in the US, Tabea moved to St. Louis in 2003. She is a professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature at Washington University in St. Louis, where she also directs the Global Studies program. She has spent much of her career teaching and researching migrant stories in the Spanish-speaking world, and also elsewhere. She began volunteering for MICA as an interpreter and translator in 2016 and she greatly welcomes the opportunity to continue learning about immigration and to become a better advocate for migrants in the region.
Elizabeth Shabani, Board Member
Washington University, Olin School of Business, Director of Global Programs
Liz Shabani is an educator, having over 15 years of experience in the field of international education. Having studied art and art history as an undergraduate, Liz has lived and worked overseas and has spent significant time in Italy, Ireland, and Kosovo. As the wife of an immigrant and in her work, Liz has navigated immigration policies and procedures of the US and recognizes the complexity and burdens of these processes. As Director of Global Programs at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, Liz oversaw more than 50 international partnerships and programs, aligned strategic vision with operational excellence, and developed and taught intercultural curriculum in the Business School
Washington University, Olin School of Business, Director of Global Programs
Liz Shabani is an educator, having over 15 years of experience in the field of international education. Having studied art and art history as an undergraduate, Liz has lived and worked overseas and has spent significant time in Italy, Ireland, and Kosovo. As the wife of an immigrant and in her work, Liz has navigated immigration policies and procedures of the US and recognizes the complexity and burdens of these processes. As Director of Global Programs at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, Liz oversaw more than 50 international partnerships and programs, aligned strategic vision with operational excellence, and developed and taught intercultural curriculum in the Business School
Nithi Angamuthu
Peabody Energy, Senior Business Analyst
Born and raised in Coimbatore, India, Nithi Angamuthu is a graduate in production engineering with 15 years’ experience in Information Technology. His expertise is predominantly around ERP solutions, process automation, digital transformation, better user experience and enhanced operational performance. Having moved to the USA in 2007 on a H-1B work permit visa, it took him 14 long years to get his green card. The current visa system has impacted his life both personally and professionally. As someone who has directly gone through the tough process of becoming a permanent resident, he understands the challenges every foreigner will have to face, and the emotional battle they must go through in this long journey. Nithi is passionate about working on projects that empower people and he runs his own nonprofit in India.
Peabody Energy, Senior Business Analyst
Born and raised in Coimbatore, India, Nithi Angamuthu is a graduate in production engineering with 15 years’ experience in Information Technology. His expertise is predominantly around ERP solutions, process automation, digital transformation, better user experience and enhanced operational performance. Having moved to the USA in 2007 on a H-1B work permit visa, it took him 14 long years to get his green card. The current visa system has impacted his life both personally and professionally. As someone who has directly gone through the tough process of becoming a permanent resident, he understands the challenges every foreigner will have to face, and the emotional battle they must go through in this long journey. Nithi is passionate about working on projects that empower people and he runs his own nonprofit in India.
Doug Stevick, Board Vice President
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, General Counsel
Douglas L. Stevick is general counsel at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, for which he works from his home in St. Louis. For more than two decades he has represented migrant farmworkers and other low-wage workers, including U.S. citizens, LPRs, H-2A and H-2B workers, TN-visa workers, undocumented workers, and non-citizen victims of forced labor, in employment and civil rights litigation in federal and state court and in systemic administrative advocacy. He often deals with immigration issues in his litigation practice, typically when employers’ counsel seek to intimidate his clients based on their immigration status. Most of his clients are monolingual Spanish speakers. Doug is a graduate of Yale Law School, and he has undergraduate degrees from Georgetown University and the University of Oxford.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, General Counsel
Douglas L. Stevick is general counsel at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, for which he works from his home in St. Louis. For more than two decades he has represented migrant farmworkers and other low-wage workers, including U.S. citizens, LPRs, H-2A and H-2B workers, TN-visa workers, undocumented workers, and non-citizen victims of forced labor, in employment and civil rights litigation in federal and state court and in systemic administrative advocacy. He often deals with immigration issues in his litigation practice, typically when employers’ counsel seek to intimidate his clients based on their immigration status. Most of his clients are monolingual Spanish speakers. Doug is a graduate of Yale Law School, and he has undergraduate degrees from Georgetown University and the University of Oxford.
Annie J Mbale
Project Manager: World Trade Center-St. Louis & St. Louis Mosaic Project
Born and raised in Malawi, Annie obtained an MBA at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2019. Prior to starting her marketing consultancy, Flames Digital Marketing Media. Previously, Annie worked at Odd Couples Housing as the Marketing Communications Director. Annie is a proud international student graduate and has a desire to use her experiences to give others the same opportunity she had in this country. It is her spirit of giving back that inspired her to join the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project (MICA) board.
Annie has worked directly with international students since her undergraduate years serving in a leadership and mentoring role to international students and to domestic students seeking to expand their cultural awareness. In grad school, Annie worked for the International Business Institute (IBI) helping exchange students, promoting student involvement on campus, and helping promote intercultural interaction between all UMSL students. Annie is also a freelance Marketing Consultant, is the founder of A Community for African Female Entrepreneurs (ACAFE), and is also a co-founder of Missouri Young African Professionals (MOYAP). Annie also holds a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Business and Marketing and a minor in Political Science with honors.
Project Manager: World Trade Center-St. Louis & St. Louis Mosaic Project
Born and raised in Malawi, Annie obtained an MBA at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2019. Prior to starting her marketing consultancy, Flames Digital Marketing Media. Previously, Annie worked at Odd Couples Housing as the Marketing Communications Director. Annie is a proud international student graduate and has a desire to use her experiences to give others the same opportunity she had in this country. It is her spirit of giving back that inspired her to join the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project (MICA) board.
Annie has worked directly with international students since her undergraduate years serving in a leadership and mentoring role to international students and to domestic students seeking to expand their cultural awareness. In grad school, Annie worked for the International Business Institute (IBI) helping exchange students, promoting student involvement on campus, and helping promote intercultural interaction between all UMSL students. Annie is also a freelance Marketing Consultant, is the founder of A Community for African Female Entrepreneurs (ACAFE), and is also a co-founder of Missouri Young African Professionals (MOYAP). Annie also holds a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Business and Marketing and a minor in Political Science with honors.
Virginia Murray-Torres
VIPKID, Inc.
Virginia Murray-Torres is a veteran educator who specializes in English as a Second Language
(ESL), teaching recent immigrants, ESL curriculum development, ESL professional development,
diversity alignment and inclusion, as well as educational account management and marketing.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Preprofessional Studies (Pre-Medicine) from the
University of Notre Dame and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the
University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Growing up on the Texas-Mexico border, Virginia has a
strong passion for education, immigration, and the promotion of cultural, language, and
diversity awareness.
VIPKID, Inc.
Virginia Murray-Torres is a veteran educator who specializes in English as a Second Language
(ESL), teaching recent immigrants, ESL curriculum development, ESL professional development,
diversity alignment and inclusion, as well as educational account management and marketing.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Preprofessional Studies (Pre-Medicine) from the
University of Notre Dame and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the
University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Growing up on the Texas-Mexico border, Virginia has a
strong passion for education, immigration, and the promotion of cultural, language, and
diversity awareness.
Christina Pope,
Welcoming America, Senior Network Director
Christina Pope is Senior Director of Welcoming International, a program of Welcoming America that supports and connects civil society and governments worldwide to advance migrant inclusion, belonging, and equity. Christina’s background is in community development and international education, including prior roles at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, the community-based organization CASA in Maryland, and public schools in Recife, Brazil as a Fulbright grantee. She is passionate about policy and programs that create more equitable communities for people of all identities, including immigrants. She speaks Portuguese and Spanish and credits her Romanian and Portuguese family for her dedication to this work.
Welcoming America, Senior Network Director
Christina Pope is Senior Director of Welcoming International, a program of Welcoming America that supports and connects civil society and governments worldwide to advance migrant inclusion, belonging, and equity. Christina’s background is in community development and international education, including prior roles at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, the community-based organization CASA in Maryland, and public schools in Recife, Brazil as a Fulbright grantee. She is passionate about policy and programs that create more equitable communities for people of all identities, including immigrants. She speaks Portuguese and Spanish and credits her Romanian and Portuguese family for her dedication to this work.