Kathy Sherrell has worked at ISSofBC in settlement services for nine years. She takes a lead role in program development and evaluation, contract negotiations and oversight, and quality assurance and standardization. Involvement in special projects such as the Refugee Readiness Hub and the GAR Refugee Trauma Pilot allows Kathy to share her passion for refugees with others, promoting policy change and greater understanding of refugee issues.
Kathy holds a PhD in Geography from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Arts Degree from Simon Fraser University with an emphasis on refugee resettlement in Canada, including regionalization, legal status, housing, and settlement experiences. Kathy continues to be actively engaged in research with refugees. At present Kathy is a co-investigator on two pan-Canadian, multi-year refugee research projects, as well as a lead on numerous internal research projects.
Kathy is inspired by the strength and resilience of refugee newcomers and committed to reducing structural barriers to their integration through her work and research.