Staff Leaders

As a nonprofit organization, KWA holds in high regard the stewardship entrusted to the agency to manage funds and our team.  Our funders and community partners trust us to create safe and accessible programs that best serve our communities. KWA is committed to the best practice in governance, accountability, and transparency. Meet our leadership below.

Executive Director

Cheryl Lee brings to KWA nearly 30-years of professional experience, spanning both the public and private sector, in public policy, advocacy, law, business and marketing and technology.  In addition to her unique background in law, business and engineering, Cheryl has actively served in community and non-profit organizations, founded and led several non-profit social service and community empowerment organizations and advocated for equity and inclusion for marginalized communities. Prior to joining KWA, Cheryl was a partner at the law firm of Real Property Law Group, PLLC representing real estate developers, commercial property owners and small business owners.  Her career also includes over four years as General Counsel to Ballmer Group, ten years at Microsoft leading global business and marketing initiatives, and ten years as an engineer with Boeing Commercial Airplane Group. She served two terms after being elected to the founding Shoreline City Council.  Cheryl grew up in Seattle. She obtained her JD, MBA and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering – all from the University of Washington. Cheryl serves on numerous boards including Seattle Symphony, Shoreline Community College Foundation, Allied Arts Foundation, and KAC-WA.

Director, Finance Department

Hwaja comes from a long line of individuals who have dedicated their lives to the service of others. Her grandparents built a church in Korea and passed on that work to her parents and uncle, a commander in the Salvation Army. Following in her parents’ and uncles’ footsteps, she began her 27-year career in social service starting in Korea and Canada where she would serve 11 years in the Salvation Army before moving to the United States and working for Upjohn Healthcare, the Multicultural Self-Sufficiency Movement, and, finally, the Korean Women’s Association where for 11 years she has led the Finance Department. Hwaja has seen KWA grow tremendously in her time here and hopes to see even more growth in the years to come.

Director, In-Home Care Department

Originally from Kansas City, Gregory Schaffer obtained degrees from Arizona State University and the University of Washington (UW).  While studying art at the UW, he volunteered with the Youth Program of Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) in Seattle.  After spending two years as an educator in China with the Peace Corps, he returned to helping kids at ReWA for three years.  In 2012 he joined the Home Care program of Full Life Care, serving low income seniors and vulnerable adults, Gregory worked as a Supervisor, Hiring Manager, and then as Program Director, through 2021.   Gregory also taught photography at UW, Seattle University, and the Kansas City Art Institute.  He enjoys cycling, music, making deliveries for the food bank, and learning about Filipino culture.  He lives in Seattle with his wife and two children.

Director, Social Services Department

Mi-Yeoung is the Social Service Director at KWA, working directly with the Director and Managers to grow human services for underprivileged. Starting KWA’s domestic violence victim services program more than two decades ago, she was instrumental in opening WAFHome, a domestic violence shelter that opened in 2004. As Director of Social Services, she oversees Naturalization, Senior Wellness, Benefits Enrollment, Housing Assistance, Community Education, and resident services for KWA. Mi-Yeoung earned a BA in Journalism & Communication at Ewha Women’s University in Seoul, Korea, and a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. She taught counseling courses at several graduate schools & seminaries. She has also served on the board of the Washington Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Youth With A Mission. Mi-Yeoung’s passion is to help people, organize systems and infrastructure, and train staff to work as a cohesive team. She loves to watch the sunset every day, read poetry or meditate.

Explore: Social Services Programs

Director, Human Resources Department

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