Our Board of Directors

Korina serves as the Board Secretary for Utah Valley Refugees and feels honored to play a role in supporting Utah County's refugee neighbors. Over the past few years, she has volunteered with the organization as both an ESL instructor and a grant writer, securing several significant grants to further its mission. Korina earned a degree in International Studies with a minor in Latin American Studies from Brigham Young University, where she also learned Spanish and had the opportunity to intern as a Literacy teacher in a small town in central Mexico.

After graduation, Korina moved to Washington, D.C., to work with the International Republican Institute. She initially served as Assistant to the Vice President and later as a Program Associate for the organization’s Colombia and Venezuela programs. Today, she works as the Program Director for the International Leadership Academy at Utah Global Diplomacy.

Korina has a passion for traveling, connecting with new people, and experiencing the richness of diverse cultures. She has run five marathons, learned to scuba dive, enjoys hiking, and is an active volunteer in her church congregation. Most especially, Korina loves spending time with her husband and three children.

 Leonard, a successful entrepreneur residing in the United States, was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He immigrated to the U.S. as a refugee and has since built a remarkable career. Leonard holds a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) and a bachelor’s degree in public and Community Health Education from UVU.   

 Leonard has 14+ years of experience working with refugees in Utah and has served on several non-profit boards. He founded and directed Utah Valley Refugees, a  nonprofit organization that is committed to assist refugees in their quest to become self-reliant.  Leonard is also the founder of FAB, an agropastoral enterprise that aims to promote resilience, improve food security, and support sustainable rural area farmers in his native country, DRC.  Leonard is dedicated to making a difference helping others. His work focuses on enhancing food security, fostering economic growth, creating employment opportunities, and ensuring environmental sustainability. With extensive experience in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, as well as in agriculture and farming, Leonard is dedicated to making a positive impact for his community and beyond . 

Sam is a Research Consultant for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Previously, he managed the State’s “Home Visiting Program” for low-income single mothers and served as the Fleet Director for the state fleet program. Sam holds a bachelor's in sociology and a master's in public administration from Brigham Young University. He is a certified divorce mediator and volunteers with refugee services in Utah, including Utah Valley. Sam has lived in Pleasant Grove with his wife, Valerie Lee, and their five children since 2001. 

Scott Wood has been a Finance and Operations Executive with 40+ years’ experience building and leading manufacturers and corporations in the aviation/aerospace and food processing industries.  He has managed expansion, restructuring, and capital market transitions.  Mr. Wood is a strategic decision maker who has a broad view of an enterprise and maintains an understanding of details.  He has extensive experience in capital structure, banking relationships, asset management, M&A, due diligence, and audit.  He holds an MBA from Brigham Young University with an undergraduate degree in accounting. In addition to his work with Utah Valley Refugees, Mr. Wood is active in his community and supports other local causes including a local food pantry.

 Anna Lea Cannon is an educator, author, and educational leader.  She is a passionate advocate for new-to-the-country students in her classroom and at school.  She and her husband worked with a family of 9 children who were sponsored by UVR until they graduated from the program.  They have also hosted or worked with college students from the Congo, Japan, China, Peru, and Mexico.  She loves getting to know people from around the world and understanding their stories.     

  Tiina Watts has been working with refugees for over 25 years--mentoring families and individuals in Minnesota where she lived for 17 years, and then with Utah Valley Refugees off and on for the past 10 years. The latest volunteer experience with UVR was housing a Ukrainian refugee for a year. She also has a church calling with the branch at the local mental hospital and enjoys working with the wonderful people there. She has been involved with a variety of other volunteer organizations, including serving as president of the Salolampi foundation, which raises money for scholarships for youth to attend the Salolampi Finnish camp in Minnesota. Tiina teaches Finnish at BYU, on Zoom, and at Salolampi camp a couple times a year. She and her family love different languages, cultures, and peoples. Tiina has 7 children and 11 grandchildren. She enjoys playing guitar, singing, traveling, playing games, biking, and spending time with family.

 Merna Raines holds a B.A. in History and an Ed.S. in School Psychology, both from Brigham Young University. She currently works as a school psychologist in the Provo School District. Merna previously volunteered as the housing coordinator with Utah Valley Refugees, where she loved helping newcomers find a place to call home. She is passionate about supporting individuals and families and looks forward to once again serving with UVR. Merna and her husband live in Provo, Utah, and are the parents of three sons. She is also a proud first-time grandmother to Wally. Her greatest joy has always been her family, and she is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the refugee community. 

1.  Andrew Smith is an attorney who specializes in immigration and trade law. Prior to returning to Utah, Andrew lived in Miami, Florida and represented clients with claims of asylum in deportation proceedings. He earned his JD from BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School, his master's degree in international economics from the Barcelona School of Economics, and his undergraduate degree in both economics and geography from Brigham Young University. In the past Andrew has taught geography as an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University, and has interned in Washington, DC as an economic analyst of South and Central Asia with the federal government. Andrew keeps busy by running, cooking, reading, and travelling.