Lisa Richlen, a Canadian citizen through her mother, is originally from Seattle. She lived in Israel from 2000-2021 and, from 2004-2021 worked as an employee of and a consultant for tens of social change and human rights organizations. In 2021, Richlen completed a PhD at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in the Department of Politics and Government focusing on community organizing amongst Sudanese Darfurian asylum seekers in Israel. She currently serves as a board member for ISSofBC.

Dr. Richlen’s publications include: The Constructive Influence of the Homeland in Refugee Organizing: Darfurian Asylum Seekers in Israel published in the Journal for Refugee studies, Imported Conflict? Regime Change in Sudan as a Trigger for Unity Amongst Sudanese in Israel published in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Liminality as an Antidote? Ethnic Organizing Amongst Darfurian Asylum Seekers in Israel published in the Journal of Ethnic and Racial Studies and Representation, Trust and Ethnicity Within Refugee Communities: The Case of Darfurians in Israel published in the Community Development Journal. She recently won a prize from her university for best student publication and serves as an ad hoc reviewer for a number of peer-reviewed journals.