Lunch & Learn: HIAS CEO, Beth Oppenheim

My late grandfather owed his life to HIAS, coming to the United States from Germany to escape the horrors of the Holocaust. At this critical moment, HIAS’ mission is more vital than ever. Looking ahead, I am committed to working alongside our dedicated staff, partners, and supporters to ensure HIAS remains at the forefront of advocating for the most vulnerable and continuing to protect welcome.

Before joining HIAS, she served in executive roles in several international development and refugee resettlement agencies, including longtime partner of HIAS, Church World Service. She is an expert on displacement and poverty alleviation in Africa, having held positions in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and Mozambique, amongst other locations. Through her senior leadership positions at two of the ten resettlement agencies in the U.S., she has helped to shape how the sector preserves welcome for newcomers in a changing landscape. Oppenheim holds a PhD in Development Studies from the University of Cape Town, a Master of Science in Global Affairs from New York University, and earned her Bachelor of Arts from NYU, where she double majored in Metropolitan Studies and Hebrew and Judaic Studies. A recognized thought leader in her field, Oppenheim has written and published extensively on development and the NGO sector.