Rachel Peric is the Executive Director of Welcoming America.  Inspired by her family’s refugee story and by the worldwide movement of welcomers, Rachel works to create communities where all residents – including immigrants and refugees – can thrive and belong. Since joining the organization in 2011, she has served in various senior leadership roles, helping grow Welcoming America from a nascent startup to an award-winning organization with a global footprint. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL), as a regional director with the United Way of the National Capital Area and managing international development programs with Management Systems International (MSI).  Ms. Peric holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters in Public Management from the University of Maryland.