Nga Vương-Sandoval

Refugee Congress

Nga Vương-Sandoval (she/her/hers) is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Colorado. She and her family fled their homeland due to the Việt Nam War and became refugees. They were displaced in refugee camps before resettling in the U.S. and were known as the “boat people.” Nga currently serves as an Investigator at the Colorado Department of Law. Her prior professional experience has included serving at the state homeland security office and specializing in counterintelligence and counterterrorism, as well as working as affiliate faculty at two universities. Her academic book reviews have been published in Oxford University Press. As a Việtnamese refugee, Nga embraces her heritage and refugee experience and is empathetic to the plight and challenges of underrepresented communities. Nga is a TEDx Presenter and is active in a number of advocacy roles, including being a founding member and public speaker with Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau, the first refugee elected to Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains Board of Directors and Vice-Chair of the Program Services Committee, a Noble Ambassador for Christina Noble Children’s Foundation, a Guest Writer for History Colorado, an advisory member for Denver’s Little Sài Gòn Redevelopment Group and an advisory member to the Denver Elections Advisory Committee. She previously served as a Commissioner with Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission. Nga was honored with a mural by iconic artist/muralist I Am Detour (Thomas Evans) in the historic Five Points District. She was recognized as "Five Inspiring Refugee Women" for International Women's Day by USA for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She was named as "100 Asians You Need to Know" by Asian Avenue Magazine. Nga met with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden where she advocated to raise the Presidential Determination for refugee admissions. United Nations Association USA invited Nga to be a presenter at the 2021 "World Refugee Day: The Power of Inclusion" event. She received the 2021 Colorado Attorney General’s Award for “Outstanding Community Service” for her tireless advocacy for underrepresented communities. Nga's refugee narrative and social justice and human rights advocacy has been featured in: USA for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Colorado Public Radio, Business Insider, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, History Colorado, Denverite, 5280 Magazine, KUSA 9News, The Denver Post, CBS4 Denver, Asian Avenue Magazine, Denver Arts & Venues, WMFDP Insider Outsider Podcast, Denver Westword, Confluence Magazine and Unbound Philanthropy.