Volunteers
More than 100 volunteers have joined us from all over the world (especially from the US and Romania). From entrepreneurs to non-profit leaders to professors to lawyers to marketing and management folk, our team is made out of people united by their commitment to supporting positive change and their love for Romania. Backed by a strong International Board of Advisors, they made RUF what it is today.
Mihai Lehene
Board of Directors
Founding Angel
Founder, Romanian United Foundation
Founder
Volunteer (full)
Teacher
Mihai is the Owner of MDL Investments, a real-estate and VC family-office with a focus on emerging technologies, including fintech, biotech and crypto. In 2020 Mihai resigned his business roles to run RUF, and in 2022 he was elected as President of FORA.
Simona Oarga assists taxpayers and small businesses with taxes in Chicago IL and the surrounding communities. Whether you are an individual or a local business in or around Chicago IL, Simona C. Oarga has years of valuable experience as an IRS registered
Graduated from UIC, College of Business, with a degree in finance and works as a Digital Manager at Mainland. Fun facts: prefers a camera, unable to make a choice between hiking a mountain or walking in the sand, an incurable optimist.
Ligia Apostoaia
Board of Directors
Founding Angel
Secretary of the Board, CEO of MDL Investments
Founding Member
Volunteer
Teacher
Ligia’s charity involvement began at a very young age, helping her family foundation with the distribution of humanitarian aid to the families in need in the area immediately. Today she continues to do what she is most passionate about: doing good.
Cosmina has a Master Degree in Economics from University of Targu Mures. She is the RUF office wizard, handling all accounting and administrative issues. She moved to Chicago from Romania more than a decade ago and she is passionate about helping people.
Valentin Daraban
Founding Angel
Founding Angel, Ambassador of the Romanian Community Center of Chicago
Volunteer
Georgiana is bringing extensive experience in Communication & Marketing gained from her previous roles as a journalist in the biggest media trust in Romania and coordinator of international campaigns for well-established clients at Ogilvy and Grey G2.
Irina Nedeljkovic
Member
RUF Core Team Member, ROCO Events Team Coordinator, "Trips To Romania" Program Manager
Staff
I am a dedicated member of the Romanian United Foundation (RUF) Core Team, I'm serving as the "Trips to Romania" Program Manager. Born and raised in Romania, I immigrated to the United States in 2006 at the age of 23.
At RUF, I coordinate annual Trips to
Originally from Romania, I relocated to the US in 2013 with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. Currently, I serve as the administrative expert at RUF, where I handle all accounting and administrative issues. I have a passion for teaching young children.
Monica Horga
Member
Founding Member, Ambassador of RoCo, Supporter of RoCo
Founding Member
Volunteer
Diana Ulici
Member
ROCO Member, ROCO Fun Chapter Lead, Supporter of ROCO, the Romanian Community Cente
Volunteer
Diana has an extensive background in Sports and Management, and graduated with a Master's in Healthcare Administration from National Louis University in Chicago.
Real estate investor with over 15 years experience in accounting and property management. Graduated from Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania with a Bachelor's degree in International Business. "Helping others it's a core part of who I am"
A dedicated leader that volunteers through her church and Romanian Community in Chicago. Passionate about teaching her culture, traditions, and faith to children and youth, organizes various social, cultural, and religious events in the community.
Studie
Marius is internationally recognized as one of the founders of computer simulation of complex phenomena. He was Principal Investigator at the Argonne Laboratory and an Associate Professor at the Univ. of Chicago and Northwestern University.
Adriana moved to Chicago from Romania in 2008. She’s a passionate storyteller and public speaker that wants to give back to her community.
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Masters of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University. She taught Science, Social Studies, and English as a Second Language to refugees from the Middle East in public school
Catalin is passionate about real estate investing, passive income, and world traveling.
Claudia graduated from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine with a Masters Degree in Medical Science as a Physician Assistant.
Florin Pricop
Volunteer
As a consultant, Florin is specialized in LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT and SALES. During his career he received his Executive Management from University of Notre Dame, helped many small companies or Nonprofit Organizations SCALE IT UP.
Dorin Acu
Board of Advisors
Member
ROCO Biz
Entrepreneur-Scientist combining IT, biomedical research, clinical medicine & business management
Volunteer
Entrepreneur-Scientist combining IT, biomedical research, clinical medicine & business management to create, open source, innovative AI-based solutions. Bridging science, tech & society gaps to accelerate breakthroughs in human longevity & health.