Leadership Promotions
PHILADELPHIA, Penn., October 2, 2023—Nationalities Service Center (NSC) is proud to announce the recent promotions of four staff members. These ascensions are part of a long-term succession plan for the agency and will enable NSC to continue to stand firm with immigrants in light of our unprecedented growth.
"We are thrilled to recognize these extraordinary leaders for their vision, resilience, and above all, demonstrated dedication to keeping our clients at the center of everything we do here at NSC," said Executive Director Margaret O'Sullivan. "By investing in and celebrating our leaders, we honor their hard work and commitment to NSC's mission. Their exceptional leadership ensures that NSC is in the best position possible to meet the diverse needs of our clients."
"Given NSC's immense growth over the past three years, these promotions are strategic investments in building leadership capacity across the organization," said Brian Kim, NSC's Board Chair. "We are proud to recognize the excellent performance and achievements of Ariel, Cathy, Chrissy, and Kara."
Ariel Ressler MacNeill has been promoted to Director of Health and Newcomer Services. In this role, Ariel will join NSC’s leadership team and lead the implementation of a wide array of services ensuring clients receive needed supports. Her portfolio will include Refugee Resettlement, Newcomer Supports, Health and Refugee Health, INSPIRE – NSC’s medical case management program, and our food pantry and in-kind programs. Ariel brings over ten years of experience in the non-profit sector in Philadelphia as well as overseas experience in Laos. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from Temple University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Justice, Peace and Conflict Studies from Eastern Mennonite University. Congrats Ariel!
Cathy Jeong has been promoted to Director of Survivor Services. Cathy joined NSC in 2015 and quickly established herself as an invaluable member of the Survivor Services team. Her commitment to the safety and well-being of our clients has played a key role in the success of our program and helped NSC become a leader in supporting immigrant survivors of crime in Pennsylvania. In the past year, serving as Associate Director of the program, she has led us toward gaining greater national recognition for the quality of our services. In her new role, Cathy will help us expand our services to better advocate for the well-being of our clients. She will also work with program staff to develop and promote best and promising practices to address the unique needs of immigrant survivors of domestic violence, torture, and human trafficking. Congrats Cathy!
Christina Kubica has been promoted to Associate Director of Newcomer Services. Christina started at NSC in 2016 as a resettlement case manager and will be returning to those roots in this position. In her new role, she will lead NSC’s Resettlement and Newcomer Support programs, ensuring that newcomers arriving in the region have the support, information, and resources they need. Prior to this role, Christina has led our INSPIRE, refugee health, and Ukrainian Support Programs and served as a case manager on the Philadelphia Partnership for Resilience. Christina is a Licensed Social Worker and earned her Master's Degree in Social Work with an emphasis on International Social Work from Rutgers University and holds a BA in Psychology from Temple University. Congrats Chrissy!
Kara Friesen has been promoted to Associate Director of Health and Specialized Services. Kara has served as part of the NSC team since 2018. In the past two years, Kara has spearheaded NSC’s Preferred Communities programming. Kara brings a strong appreciation for cross-cultural communication, fostered by earlier work in Thailand, and a true commitment to helping clients achieve their goals. Kara holds an MA in International Development from Eastern University and her BA in Advertising and Public Relations, with a concentration in Psychology, from Evangel University. Congrats Kara!
