Joan Hodges-Wu, MA, LGSW

Joan Hodges-Wu, MA, LGSW, is a dedicated social worker and immigration justice advocate who has committed her career to transforming how organizations serve refugees. Joan began her career providing torture rehabilitation services to asylum seekers and other underserved newcomers. It was in this capacity that Joan recognized her clients’ ability to obtain refugee status in the U.S. was closely linked to their capacity to remain healthy, safe, and self-sufficient. Seeing a need for client-led, legally informed, culturally and linguistically appropriate support, Joan conceptualized AsylumWorks as an organization that could bridge this gap. Joan went on to found AsylumWorks in 2016 with $4,000 raised from a GoFundMe campaign.

Today, AsylumWorks is a nationally recognized nonprofit providing innovative and holistic services to empower asylum seekers and underserved newcomers, regardless of language, country of origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender expression. Newcomers use these services to promote and protect their health, participate in immigration legal proceedings, and access opportunities that facilitate community integration. In doing so, AsylumWorks has ensured equal access to justice for thousands of individuals and families from over 50 countries.

Joan’s work has been recognized by several prestigious institutions, including the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. 

She holds a Bachelor’s from Skidmore College, a Master’s in Refugee Care from the University of Essex in England, and a Master’s in Social Work from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She has lived and worked in Pakistan, Mexico, and England. She is a proud Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia.