The Idaho Museum of International Diaspora (IMID) was founded in 2018 by Dr. Palina Louangketh [‘loo-on-gate’], a former refugee from Laos into Boise, Idaho in 1981. Idaho is her home. As a Lao-American, finding a special way to give back to the community that welcomed and embraced her family has been a childhood dream. Her journey to explore innovative collaboration in meaningful ways to honor and celebrate diversity later evolved into her vision of a museum founded on the principles of a welcoming community. In June 2018, she jotted down her vision that evolved into the framework for a museum concept founded on diaspora in which she called the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora. Its acronym spells IMID and is commonly pronounced, eye-mid. As the founder and CEO / Executive Director of the IMID, Dr. Louangketh turned her vision into reality on February 10, 2019 when the IMID became a nonprofit corporation. 

Additionally, Dr. Louangketh serves as the advisor for the Idaho Lao Community. She completed her Bachelor of Science and Master of Health Science at Boise State University and holds a professional doctorate – Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) degree – from Regent University, School of Business and Leadership (Virginia Beach, VA) with a concentration in Strategic Foresight. In addition to managing the IMID, Dr. Louangketh also teaches at Boise State University in the Honors College, College of Health Sciences, and University Foundations Program. What is diaspora? | Diaspora in Idaho