Nga Vương-Sandoval ’98, MCJ ’02 | Mack Easton Distinguished Alumni Award
Apr 16, 2024
Nga Vương-Sandoval is a Vietnamese refugee whose journey and advocacy propelled her into the forefront of local, national, and international human rights on issues and policies impacting forcibly displaced persons and underrepresented groups.
She is the Founder and Executive Director of Refugees + Immigrants United, and is a passionate champion for underrepresented and forcibly displaced communities. Additionally, she leads the groundbreaking program for the Colorado Judicial Department—the nation’s first and only initiative dedicated to diversifying the bench.
She's a TEDx presenter, a refugee representative at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland, a Noble Ambassador for Christina Noble Children's Foundation, vice chair of the Lutheran Family Services board of directors, and a founding member and public speaker for Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau. In recognition of her work, Nga has received the Colorado Attorney General’s Outstanding Community Service Award, ADL Civil Rights Award, and Refugee Congress Excellence Award. She has also advocated to First Lady Jill Biden to increase the Presidential Determination for refugee admissions.
Nga successfully led the effort to recognize Lunar New Year as an observed Colorado state holiday. She has been named among Denver Westword's "Ten People to Watch," was the subject of a public mural by Thomas “Detour” Evans ’08, MBA ’12, and was honored by the Denver Nuggets with the "First Shot" of the game. Nga is a transformative advocate who inspires change and champions the rights of forcibly displaced and marginalized communities. Nga received a bachelor of arts in political science and master of criminal justice from CU Denver.