Mainstage Sessions

Presenters

Richard L. Santos, President and CEO, Church World Service

Richard L. Santos is the President and CEO of Church World Service. Prior to assuming this role in 2021, Rick was most recently the President and CEO of IMA World Health. He led IMA World Health through several strategic pivots that positioned the agency well for the future.

Immediately before becoming the President and CEO of CWS, Rick spent about two years assisting nonprofit CEOs and boards of directors to develop comprehensive approaches to building organizational resilience and relevance. He provided strategic advice and consulting services to U.S.-based, senior non-profit leadership as they consider adaptive and technical strategies and supports efforts of civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, networks, and facilities to achieve organizational change and build capacity, focusing on leadership and governance, both in developed and developing country contexts.

Rick was not new to CWS when he became President and CEO. Earlier in his career, Rick spent more than a decade with CWS. He began as a Program Officer with our team in Vietnam before rising through the ranks to eventually become Coordinator of Strategic Planning and Evaluation. He went on to serve as the Director of Communication and Advocacy at International Relief and Development before joining IMA World Health.

In total, Rick has more than two decades of experience working for and with faith-based organizations, including more than a decade of living and working in Asia. Rick is an expert in engaging and partnering with civil society in the development process, and his developmental approach includes building and prioritizing robust local and regional partnerships—communities, organizations and networks—which he believes are the key ingredients to successful and sustainable development work.

Rick continues to supportive innovative non-profits through governance. He is the Treasurer and a board member of Christian Connections for International Health and recently ended his work as a Fellow at InterAction and as Principal at NXPivot LLC.
Rick holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School, a Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from George Washington University.

For press inquiries or to speak to Rick, please contact media@cwsglobal.org.

Stacey Clack, Director of Community Sponsorship and Engagement, Church World Service

Stacey Clack serves as the Director for Community Sponsorship and Engagement at CWS. Stacey is passionate about creating welcoming communities for newcomers. Stacey believes that as community members become civically engaged in welcoming they can be a catalyst for community transformation and in turn create better, more inclusive communities for all. Stacey has a degree in Theology from Kuyper College and has been with Church World Service for 2.5 years. Prior to working at CWS, Stacey worked for Inner City Christian Federation, an organization working to ensure everyone has access to safe, clean, and affordable housing.

Tram Nguyen, State Representative for the 18th Essex District

Tram Nguyen is the State Representative for the 18th Essex District, which includes parts of Andover, Boxford, North Andover, and Tewksbury. She is a first generation Vietnamese-American immigrant and was the first person in her family to graduate from college and law school. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Tufts University and a Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law.

From the start of her legal career until she took office, Tram worked at Greater Boston Legal Services as a legal aid attorney and advocated for domestic violence survivors, workers, seniors, veterans, and children. She also engaged in legislative advocacy and worked with statewide coalitions, lawmakers, and lawmaking bodies to push for laws that address issues of racial and economic justice and protect the rights of the most vulnerable populations.

Tram was first elected into office in November 2018 and is the first Vietnamese American woman in elected office in the Commonwealth, the first Vietnamese American elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, the first Asian American on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, and the first Asian American woman to serve as vice chair of a committee. Tram is currently vice chair of the Labor & Workforce Development Committee, and a member of the House Committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement; the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery; and the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government. As an attorney, she received the Lawrence Bar Association Merit Award, the Vietnamese American Bar Association Public Service Award, the Reginald Heber Smith Award for innovation and excellence in legal advocacy, and the UAW Social Justice Award. As a legislator, she’s been given the Women’s Empowerment Award (2019), Asian American Women Political Initiative Legislator of the Year Award (2019), YDMA Young Democratic Elected of the Year Award (2020), and Council of State Government 20 under 40 Award (2020).