Key Staff

Anna Crosslin, President & CEO Suzanne LeLaurin, Sr. VP for Individuals and Families Ann Rynearson, Sr. VP for Culture & Community Ana (Anita) Barker, VP & Director of Education P. Ariel Burgess, VP & Director of Social Services Paul Costigan, VP & Director of Employment Cesar Figari, VP & Director of Finance & Operations Jane Knirr, VP & Director of Elderly Services Evelio Sardiña, VP & Director of Economic Development Shawna Brinson Development Coordinator Kate Howell Volunteer & Communications Coordinator
Anna Crosslin, President & CEO • Years employed at the International Institute: Since September 1978 • Department/Function Overseen: Working in partnership with the Board of Directors, determines agency goals and strategies; sets policy and oversees implementation of procedures; prioritizes needs and allocates resources; and ensures a fiscally sound and well-operated agency. Determines overall staff organization; integrates agency services and programs; and oversees agency community, public relations and fund-raising programs. • Education: BA, Political Science: Washington University, MO
Community Participation/Recognitions: 2007-Selection as a “Neighborhood Changer” in the Most Influential St. Louisans list of the St. Louis Business Journal; St. Louis Alive Magazine in its “Buzz List: 25 of St. Louis’ Most Talked-About Visionaries, Culture Shapers & Influentials;” 2006-D.H., Washington University (honorary doctor of humanities); Selection by St. Louis Magazine in its “St. Louis’ 50 Most Powerful People in 2006;” 2002-Brotherhood-Sisterhood Award, National Council for Community and Justice (NCCJ); 2001-Norman A. Stack Community Relations Award, Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis; 2000-Selection by St. Louis Business Journal in its "100 St. Louis Leaders of the New Millennium;" 1999-Community Citizen Award for St. Louis from the William T. Kemper Foundation and Commerce Bancshares; 1992-D.H.L., Webster Univ., St. Louis, MO (honorary doctor of humane letters); 1985/86-Leadership St. Louis Program (Danforth Foundation); 1974-Founder, Japanese Festival, Missouri Botanical Garden. Community Participation (current): Dean’s Professional Advisory Committee, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University; Executive Leadership Institute Women’s Advisory Council of UM-St. Louis; Treasurer, 39th Street Redevelopment Corporation; Member, International Affairs Committee, UM-St. Louis Chancellor's Council; US Attorney's Hate Crime Task Force; Bridges, FOCUS St. Louis; St. Louis Forum; and Japanese American Citizens League.
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Suzanne LeLaurin, Sr. VP for Individuals and Families • Years employed at the International Institute: Since February 1997 • Department/Function Overseen: Plans, monitors and evaluates the operations of Social Services/Mental Health, Employment, Education, and Youth/Elderly departments. Responsible for strategic planning and vision, community liaison, contract monitoring and evaluation. • Education and Professional Credentials: MSW from Washington University, MO; LCSW in Missouri since 2000; Certificate in Global Mental Health - Trauma and Recovery Program, from Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, Massachusetts General Hospital and Istituto Superiore di Sanita (anticipated May 2007); certified by St. Louis University and Washington University for conducting Human Subjects Research.
Community Participation/Awards: St. Louis Human Trafficking Coalition 2005-present (Chairperson); Community Advisory Board and Access to Care Workgroup of St. Louis Regional Health Commission 2002-present; Post-Polio Health International 2006-present (Treasurer); NASW-MO Licensure Task Force 2007; Adjunct Instructor, Washington University 1999-present and St. Louis University 1999-2003; Refugee and Immigrant Consortium of St. Louis 1997-present; NASW-MO Social Worker of the Year 2005; Missouri Hospital Association Immigrant Refugee and Translation Service Committee 2001-2004; Interfaith Legal Services for Immigrants 2001-2003 (Treasurer); YMCA South City Board of Managers 2001-2003; St. Louis Regional Workforce Development Committee 2001; RCGA Regional Governance Policy Group Subcommittee on Health 2001; Title VII Advisory Council of the St. Louis Bilingual/ESL Systemic Reform Initiative 1999-2000; Leadership St. Louis Class 1991-92; Child Day Care Association Board 1991-92 (President); Eliot Unitarian Chapel Board 2003-06 (President 2004-05); First Unitarian Church of St. Louis Board 1983-86 (President 1984-86).
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Ann Rynearson, Sr. VP for Culture and Community • Years employed at the International Institute: Since 1980 • Department/Function Overseen: Plans, monitors and evaluates the operations of the Cultural and Community Services Division which includes the Economic Development departments and Language Services and other programs of the International Institute Business Solutions Center. Responsible for strategic planning and vision, fundraising, community liaison, and contract monitoring and evaluation. Serves as arts programming director for the agency's annual region wide festival, Festival of Nations, held each July in Tower Grove Park on the City's Southside. • Education: Ph.D., Anthropology: Washington University, St. Louis, MO; M.A. and B.A., Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
*Community Participation:* Phi Beta Kappa, Newcomb College, Tulane University; Fellow, American Anthropological Association & Society for Applied Anthropology; Panelist for Missouri Arts Council, Missouri Humanities Council, Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis and National Endowment for the Humanities; Chair, Committee on Refugees and Immigrants, American Anthropological Association, 1990-1992, & 2000-2002; Executive Board of Riverfaces, Asian Art Society, Center for Human Origins and Cultural Diversity, Grand South Grand Business Owners Association, 3D Business Owners Association, Diversity Awareness Partnership FOCUS St. Louis Task Force on New Americans and its Implementation Task Force; Community Service Award, Lao Buddhist Association, 1985, Harambee Institute Award.
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Ana (Anita) Barker , VP & Director of Education • Years employed at the International Institute: Since September 1991 • Department/Function Overseen: Directs agency's education department program including core ESOL classes, literacy tutorial, citizenship preparation, Saturday "Discover St. Louis", pre-vocational and workplace ESOL programs. Ensures development and implementation of programs and related services effectively meet community needs and contractual requirements. • Education: M.Ed (area of study: TESOL): Temple University, PA. Missouri Certification in Adult Basic Education since 1991.
*Community Participation:* Member, Refugee and Immigrant Consortium (RIC); Chair, RIC Education Committee; Vice Chair, SLPS Adult Education and Literacy Advisory Board; Member of AEL's Policy and Evaluation Committee; Member of International TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) and MIDTESOL; Member, RHC Health Literacy Task Force.
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P. Ariel Burgess, VP & Director of Social Services • Years employed at the International Institute: Since March 2000 • Department/Function Overseen: Directs agency's refugee program, including reception and placement, housing, emergency services and provision of initial health services. Also, oversees department's case management and client assistance services, immigration supportive services, and the social work and counseling activities of the departments’ social workers and therapists. • Education: MSW, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, MO
*Community Participation:* Advisory Board Member, Women's Place, St. Louis, MO; Advisory Board Member, Youth In Need Head Start, St. Louis; Co-Chair, Health Committee, Refugee & Immigrant Consortium St. Louis.
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Paul Costigan , VP & Director of Employment • Years employed at the International Institute: Since February 1999 • Department/Function Overseen: Responsible for coordinating and supervising the agency's job placement program and related services in accordance with the needs of the client community. Ensures compliance with contractual guidelines, plans, organizes and participates in the development of training programs and employment opportunities for agency clients. • Education: MA, German Literature: University of Notre Dame, IN
Community Participation: Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Slovakia; American Association of Teachers of German; National Career Development Association; St. Louis Frontrunners; Instructor, St. Louis Community College, Forest Park & Florissant Valley; Board Member, TelTemps Training Resources 2000-2005.
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Cesar Figari , VP & Director of Finance and Operations • Years employed at the International Institute: Since 1986 • Department/Function Overseen: Oversees agency's financial operations, plans and supervises the maintenance and repair of building and properties, oversees the agency's computer functions, purchases agency's non-consumable goods and materials, and oversees the agency's reception and related administrative functions as well as certain personnel functions; and provides logistical support for agency-sponsored functions. • Education: MA, Industrial Management, Central Missouri State University, MO
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Jane Knirr , VP & Director of Elderly Services • Years employed at the International Institute: Since January 1998 • Department/Function Overseen: Responsible for creating, organizing and managing a broad-based services programs for youth and elderly including the Youth Career Services Program, Elder Links, the Summer Youth Program and the annual Children's Holiday Party. • Education: MFA, Cranbrook Academy of Art, MI
Community Participation: Member, South City Family YMCA Board of Advisors, International Committee South City Family YMCA, Fanning Community Education Center Advisory Council, Refugees & Immigrant Consortium Education Committee, City of St. Louis Workforce Investment Board Youth Council, St. Louis Minority Advocacy Coalition.
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Evelio Sardiña, VP & Director of Economic Development • Years employed at the International Institute: Since October 2006 • Department/Function Overseen: Responsible for coordinating and supervising the agency's micro-enterprise, which include micro-enterprise lending and assistance, and Individual Development Accounts, financial education, EITC tax assistance and an annual financial resource fair. Ensures compliance with contractual guidelines; plans and organizes program development and fund raising for these programs, assuring language and cultural competency in service delivery. • Education: University of Havana, Havana, Cuba; Graduate School, St. Louis University
Community Participation: Professional and civic activities including fund-raising events for non-profit national/regional health care-related foundations. Board Member of the Hispanic-American Alliance of Sarasota, FL Business management, marketing consulting and advertising Government relations at State, County and City levels. Appointed in March 2002 by Governor Jeb Bush to the Manasota Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). Served until 04/06 following relocation to Missouri. Public speaking
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Shawna Brinson, Development Coordinator • Years employed at the International Institute: Since January 2006 • Department/Function Overseen: Responsible for in-kind and financial donation programs, grant writing and reporting, sponsorships and media relations for Festival of Nations, and representing agency through facility tours and speaker engagements. Serves as staff liaison for I-Squared, the Young Friends Network of International Institute. • Education: BA and MA, Geography, University of Kansas . Community Participation: Association of Fundraising Professionals and AFP Membership Committee, Association of American Geographers, KDHX 88.1, Metropolis
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Kate Howell, Volunteer & Communications Coordinator • Years employed at the International Institute: Since August 2003 • Department/Function Overseen: Responsible for coordinating and supervising the agency's volunteer placement program in accordance with the needs of the agency. Also coordinates media relations and assists with advocacy efforts of the International Institute. • Education: MA, Teaching English as a Second Language, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
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