Leila Bekri,
Executive Director
Leila is the Executive Director of International Focus, working closely with the organization’s board, staff, and partners. Since officially assuming her role in March 2021, she has guided the organization through a strategic plan and restructuring to better align its activities -post pandemic- with its mission and goals.
Leila’s passion for building bridges between cultures has deeply impacted International Focus, shaping its vision and grounding its programs and activities. In her consecutive roles, the organization has earned numerous nominations, highlighting its commitment to excellence in exchange programs, leadership, mentorship, and its contributions to peace, including the prestigious NC Peace Prize. Her dedication to fostering international understanding has also earned her community recognition as “Tar Heel of the Week” by the News & Observer.
Leila holds a master’s degree in international studies from North Carolina State University and a bachelor’s degree in legal studies. Growing up in Tunisia, Leila is fluent in English, French, and Arabic. Outside her professional life, she supports the arts and enjoys road trips.
Maria Adoskina (PhD)
Special Projects Director
Dr. Maria Adoskina (PhD) emigrated from the Russian Federation in 1993 with her PhD in Philology and Linguistics from the Institute of Linguistics at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. Maria became involved in International Focus in 1999 where she would become the Program Director for Community Connections and Open World Programs. Maria has directed more than 43 successful programs via Community Connections, Open World, Youth Leadership Programs, and the Young Leaders of Americas Initiative. In her free time, Maria loves her dog and family and has recently had a new grandchild born.
John Thoma
Accounting
John Thoma, retired Chief Executive Officer, joined the nonprofit Transitions LifeCare in 1991 as the Director of Finance and Information Systems. John became CEO in 2002 and served on the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.
John graduated from Boston University with a degree in Spanish Language and Literature and has continued his education and training at the Tufts University Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and the Harvard Business School.
John is passionate about maximizing the impact nonprofit services bring to diverse communities and the importance of thriving mission-driven organizations. John is very active at the regional, state and national level, and has served on numerous boards and committees including the United Way of the Greater Triangle, the Association for Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina, and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
Samuel Josephson
Exchange Programs Manager
Samuel Josephson, a native of North Carolina hailing from the Triangle, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western Carolina University a B.S. in Political Science and a B.A. in International Studies. Samuel started his career with International Focus as a Student Fellow in May 2023, and was given the opportunity to join full time in February 2024 as the Coordinator for the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) for the organization. In February of 2025, Samuel was given the position of Exchange Programs Manager and continues to excel within the organization and community. Samuel has a passion for citizen diplomacy and international exchange, which led him to International Focus where he is driven by the organizations mission, values, and dedication to the community. Beyond his professional endeavors, Samuel dedicates his time to his fiancé and training his beloved dog, whilst also indulging in his love for reading.
Leila Bekri
Executive Director
Leila was born in New York City and raised in Tunis. Her father’s diplomatic service took her family to the U.S., Europe, and West Africa before moving back to Tunisia. Being exposed to a multitude of cultures and places at an early age, she cultivated a pluralistic perspective which she later reinforced through her education, work, and passion for world affairs.
Interns
Jake Wiener
IVLP Programming
A Los Angeles native raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Jake Wiener is a young professional passionate about international relations and public policy. After four years of Japanese study in high school, Jake went on to double major in International Politics and Asian Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He studied for a year abroad at Sophia University in Tokyo and has been studying Chinese for the past year. Now in the process of learning the coding language & data visualization tool R, he hopes to use it in the future to produce political science research that helps to inform policy decisions. Jake loves to read and cook in his free time, and he is a former competitive Rubik’s Cube solver – his best time was 18.86 seconds!
Lara Salazar-Casajus
Multimedia Marketing
Lara was raised moving around the world with her family, being immersed in many diverse cultures and regions. This global upbringing instilled in her a deep appreciation for international affairs, cultural exchange, and the arts.
She is a student at North Carolina State University, studying Industrial Design with a minor in Environmental Science and works at International focus as our Multimedia Marketing Intern. In her free time she enjoys learning new languages, making art, and going on runs.