Jennifer Verkamp-Ruthven
Director of Catholic Immigration Services and Refugee Resettlement
Hometown: Charleston, AR
Briefly describe your role:
I manage both legal immigration programs in Springdale and Little Rock. These programs provide legal immigration services to low-income immigrants who may qualify for a legal immigration benefit. I also manage our refugee program, which resettles newly arrived refugees within our community. In 2021, we resettled several Afghans, and we continue to work with them today.
Q: Is what you’re doing now what you always pictured you would do?
A: Overall, yes, it is. I knew I wanted to work with immigrants and refugees, but I wasn’t sure exactly what that would look like.
Q: What do you see as the greatest challenges for women in your chosen industry? What are the greatest opportunities?
A: This industry primarily has women working within it. I think the challenge lies with those outside the industry who lack understanding of what we do and the importance of it. Working with immigrants and refugees can be controversial, so receiving respect for our work can be challenging. The greatest opportunity is making a life-changing impact on the lives of immigrants, refugees, and their families. Educating the community about the realities of our work and the people we serve is another impactful opportunity.
Q: Who has inspired you in your life/career?
A: So many people have inspired me throughout my life and career. Several of my graduate degree program professors inspired me with their work. A lifelong friend who took me under her wing during my undergraduate studies taught me about social justice and the importance of generously serving people. She also enabled me to travel abroad and learn about the realities faced by many immigrants in our state.
Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring professional?
A: Talk to people within the field you’re interested in and ask them questions about their day-to-day work. Consider the pros and cons of the field and decide what is most important to you. For some, it might be the salary; for others, it might be flexibility. Think about how your priorities may evolve over time. For instance, if you might have a family someday, flexibility could become more important down the road.
Q: What’s been your secret to success?
A: I believe the most important key to success is to be kind to others.
