"I believe that human resilience knows no limits and knowledge gives us the ability to survive and thrive in the world."
-Slobodanka Hodzic, Program Director
-Slobodanka Hodzic, Program Director
Leadership
Slobodanka Hodzic
Slobodanka leads the agency to fulfill our mission and vision of supporting new Americans in Idaho. She is originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and she came to the U.S. as a refugee in September of 1996. Slobodanka has been with the agency for more than twenty years. She started her career with the agency in 2001 and has worked almost every position here: as case manager, cash assistance coordinator, immigration specialist, and assistant director. Slobodanka moved into the position of director in 2017. In her spare time, Slobodanka loves to read, watch PBS and spend time with her family and cute rat terrier/pug Kyle.
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Yasmin Aguilar
Yasmin was recently promoted to the position of Assistant Director and now leads the agency to success alongside program director Slobodanka. Originally born in Afghanistan, Yasmin has traveled all over the world. She earned a B.S. in Medicine in the Czech Republic, and M.D. Residency in Kabul, Afghanistan. After training medical staff at Mercy Corps International in Pakistan on health, diversity, and inclusion topics, Yasmin came to the United States through refugee resettlement and joined Agency for New Americans as a case manager in 2000. She briefly left the agency in 2020 but returned after she realized her new job did not feel like home. Yasmin loves to spend time with her husband, travel, and cook the most delicious food!
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Case Management
Brenda Rangel
Brenda joined the agency in July 2021 after earning her master’s in Social Work the spring prior. She is passionate about working with refugees, immigrants and farm workers. Previously, she worked with the aforementioned populations in a multitude of settings including child welfare, higher education and developmental disability services. She is inspired and motivated by social workers and other human service providers, who have had a calling to help those in need and provide individuals the opportunity to be their best selves. During her free time, Brenda enjoys playing soccer, listening to music and painting.
Leylo Hamud
Leylo began working in January 2024 at Agency for New Americans, the very same Agency that resettled her more than 10 years before. She is passionate about helping refugees in her community by listening to their struggles and providing a helping hand during their time of need. She is particularly passionate about supporting causes that provide aid to women and children in need. Before Leylo joined the team as a case manager, she worked with the Agency as a Community Advisor providing direct support to new Americans as a peer mentor. Leylo is a loving mother to her four children and enjoys making new memories with them every day.
Brittany ZandersPreferred Communities (PC) Intensive Case ManagerBrittany works with individuals that have arrived through refugee resettlement that require extra support and services. She has been in the nonprofit sector for over ten years with a B.A. in Nonprofit Administration and a M.S. in Intercultural Studies. She has work experience in Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Haiti and Mexico. She helped start and run an orphanage in North Baja for two years and then moved to Boise in 2020. She loves working with and learning from people that come from all over the world and is passionate about providing sustainable solutions for people facing some of life's greatest challenges. She loves to be outdoors, travel, and go on adventures with her husband and dog they rescued from Mexico, Osito.
Lia Harelson
Lia is excited to join the housing specialist team where she will focus on finding temporary housing for clients. She is passionate about creating positive change in the Treasure Valley through community collaboration and connecting the global with the local. Lia graduated from Boise State University with a B.A. in Global Studies and Spanish, as well as a minor in Latin American Studies. She grew up in southeastern Idaho. In her free time, Lia enjoys going on walks on the greenbelt, reading, watching movies, and skiing in the winter.
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Alla Aguilar
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Employment Services and Cash Assistance
Bitentu Tshibwabwa
Bitentu has been working at ANA for 12 years and finds joy working at ANA simply because he would like to serve his fellow refugees and uplift their spirits. He wants to help them discover new horizons and see the light at the end of the tunnel. He studied English Language and Literature, Latin and Philosophy (Lubumbashi University), and Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations (BA) Boise State University, “Mutatis Mutandis". In his free time, Bitentu likes listening to classic music, walking, and following international current affairs. Fun fact: Tshibwabwa means pumpkin leaves!
Jan Salehi
Jan was originally born in Afghanistan but grew up living in Pakistan. While in Pakistan, he went to school to learn about hardware engineering. He moved back to Afghanistan and worked with the United Nations World Food Program as a Field Monitor and IT Assistant. He arrived in the U.S. as a refugee in 2018 and became a Case Manager a the Agency in 2019. For fun, Jan loves to play his favorite game Cricket! It was his dream to be a professional cricket player, but his refugee status in Pakistan prevented him from achieving this dream. Jan loves to spend time outside, whether its camping, hiking, or his favorite Idaho discovery: fishing!
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Rosette Yanda
Rose is originally from Democratic Republic of Congo and has lived in the US for about a decade. She always wanted to be a doctor but quickly discovered she wasn't fond of blood. Her other passion was social services so, she pursued it. She graduated with a B.A. in social work from Boise State University in 2020. As challenging as this work can be, she believes letting people know that they are not alone is the most important thing. For fun, Rose is learning to roller skate, and it's a work in progress. She believes Ed Sheeran is the best singer and Titanic and Black Panthers are the best movies ever! 
Marie Ward
Marie Ward joined the team as an Employment Specialist in May 2024. She comes to ANA with 10+ years of experience as an educator in K-12 and higher education settings. As a first generation American, third generation Shoah survivor, and native to Cleveland, Ohio- Marie was born with passion for diversity and commitment to justice. She is dedicated to improving the lives of the populations she serves through her advocacy and is honored to assist our refugee clients in securing initial employment upon arrival in America.
Marie is a 2010 graduate of Cleveland State University (B.A. Psychology, Native American Studies) and 2014 graduate of Northern Kentucky University (M.A. School Counseling.) She and her family moved here in 2020 to live closer to mountains within nature. In her free time, Marie enjoys gardening, hiking with her dogs, rock-hounding, and soaking in Idaho's natural hot springs. |
Immigration Services
Hashmat Nabeel
Hashmat works on Afghan Placement & Assistance. Handling asylum cases for Afghan clients. He was born and raised in Afghanistan. He went to Beijing, China to attend the University of International Business & Economics. After his time in Beijing, he moved to Kabul to work in the Citizen Charter National Priority Program in the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation & Development. He believes that many countries have immensely benefited from immigrants’ talent and contributions for enriching and strengthening the foundations of governments around the world. He’s an avid reader of books, enjoys spending time in nature – likes jogging and hikes.
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Pavlo Liubyvets
Pavlo is originally from Ukraine, and he joined the Agency in March 2024. He got a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in law, and Bar Certificate in Ukraine. Pavlo had a great experience in immigration law in Europe. He speaks Ukrainian, Russian, and English as well.
Pavlo believes that the most important thing in the work is to do everything necessary for the client to get a positive result. Pavlo enjoys playing tennis, pickleball, and traveling the world with his family. |
Rabiou Manzo
Immigration Supervisor
Rabiou Manzo is the new Immigration program Supervisor at the Agency for New Americans. Before he spent the last 15.5 years at the International Rescue Committee (IRCs) serving refugees, first as a case manager, case manager Supervisor and since 2012 as the manager of IRC’s immigration program. Rabiou has a long-time passion for farming and livestock production which he has pursued on weekends and in his spare-time at Malheur River Meats a sustainable ranch in Vale, Oregon, where he has worked since 2011. In addition, Rabiou is currently a certified HROC (Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities) facilitator and serves on the Board of Directors for NeighborWorks Boise. Rabiou holds a Master of Science degree in Animal Sciences from the University of Idaho and speaks six languages fluently. Rabiou enjoys fishing and hunting birds when he is not farming.
Integrations and Outreach Services
Jodi Larson-Farrow
Jodi oversees cultural orientations and integrations services for new Americans. Jodi was born in Emmett, Idaho where she enjoyed being raised on a farm. She started working at ANA in December of 2009, and loves providing educational support to newcomers through Youth Programming, Job Readiness Classes, Cultural Orientation Sessions, Women’s Empowerment Groups and Men’s Human Rights Discussions. Jodi has a passion for working with refugees and believes that everyone has the right to live in peace and in safety. Jodi is married with one son and three Grandchildren; two girls and a boy who are the center of her world. Jodi also has two Boxer boys who rule the roost!
Gabe Elsethagen
Gabe builds connections with the community to gather donations for refugee families, as well as moving families into their new homes. Gabe graduated this past year from the University of Idaho with a Degree in Economics, and have been looking for ways to lend my time to his community. Gabe is new to the Boise area and thinks it's been such an exciting place to explore! To Gabe, Boise is a great place to get outdoors, play some tennis, see fun shows, and really ingrain yourself in a beautiful community.
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Brandee Robles
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