Education Matters Staff

 

Catherine Mapomba Mupombwa

Finance Manager

Catherine is a holder of a Bachelor of Commerce Honors Degree in Accounting (NUST Zimbabwe), an award winning Certified Life Coach (ICMF Zimbabwe), and a trained Wellness Practitioner (Wellness Institute of Zimbabwe). She has worked with young people in schools and communities, physically and online as a Youth/Smart Teens life coach. Her passion is to motivate all people to view life from a well-informed holistic approach, addressing negative past experiences, maintaining and improving positive habits, whilst facing the future with confidence. When she’s free, Catherine reads self help books, plays music, dances and has sing-alongs with her family.


Betty Mafemera

Youth Programs Coordinator


Betty is a USAP alumni from the Class of 2014 who holds a BA in International Business, minor in International Relations and certificate in Organizational Leadership from Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, social responsibility, global awareness and youth development. In 2017, Betty participated in the Nevada’s Got Talent show as a dancer, ZimZam group, to benefit the Nevada middle school girl child empowerment program. During Capitol Hill Days, she participated as an activist for the Global Health Empowerment and Rights Act for Population Connection. Recently married, Betty is passionate about youth development activities and entrepreneurship and enjoys baking, cooking, reading, dancing and volleyball.

Knowledge Chikundi

Zimbabwe Science Fair Director

Knowledge Chikundi is the Founder of the Africa Science Buskers Festival, which is Africa’s only existing international science communication platform for primary and high school students and teachers. Knowledge spends most of his time promoting science education through science shows and workshops for students and teachers in primary and high schools in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana. Between 2016 and 2019, he has engaged over one hundred thousand learners in primary and high schools in hands-on, inquiry-based science and technology education through science shows. He is also the Director of the Zimbabwe Science Fair, an educational platform recognising and empowering Zimbabwe’s most promising young scientists who are developing ideas that could solve society’s grand challenges. Knowledge Chikundi believes in equipping young Africans with skillsets and access to tools as a pathway to solving grand challenges.


Aisha Chihuri

Zimbabwe Science Fair Intern

Aisha is a member of the USAP Community School Class of 2022. She is passionate about Physics and Mathematics, art and hopes to become a civil engineer who can tackle Zimbabwe’s infrastructure challenges. At Education Matters she helps organise ,plan, and post information for the Zimbabwe Science Fair. Aisha has been a part of Zimbabwe’s national archery team and also loves, cooking, baking, reading and making paper mache sculptures.  


Kupakwashe Nhongohema

Fundraising Intern
Kupa is an A level graduate of Arundel School on a gap year before starting university. Kupa loves anything to do with Biology and hopes to use this love to become a part of the Health Sector through Physiotherapy. At Education Matters she hope to learn and gain insightful information about how best she can make an impact on the education of the youth in Zimbabwe as well as Africa. When not working, Kupa enjoys cooking, reading, and engaging in intellectual conversations about mental health.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeanette Kabuya

TWEENS Operations Coordinator

Jeannette is a young lady from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She completed high school at Olympia Park High School with arts subjects (Sociology, History and Literature). She has one year of experience as an operations coordinator at GIrls’ Pam. Jeannette is passionate about giving back to the community, and working with youths and children. She likes singing, soccer and reading. She plans to continue her studies in Nursing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chiedza Mufunde

Head of USAP Community School

Chiedza is a seasoned strategist with a training in social work. Chiedza started her career in Washington DC where she worked in strategy, policy, and advocacy in global education with Save the Children, A World At School and Global Partnership for Education at the World Bank. A passionate pan-African, Chiedza’s belief in Africa’s potential is demonstrable through the work she has done in education and personal passion projects such as the project on youth entrepreneurship in her hometown, Chitungwiza. Before joining Education Matters, Chiedza worked in a strategy and operations role with a Pan-African investment advisory in Kigali, Rwanda. Chiedza believes in the power of leadership for individuals and institutions and strongly believes in the power of institutions in shaping people’s lives. Chiedza is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College (BA in Psychology and Critical Social Thought) and Masters in Social Work (MSW) from Boston College. When not working, Chiedza spends a lot of time reading, talking about books, and discovering new bands.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rebecca Zeigler Mano

Director

Having taught in classrooms in Coastal Kenya, Northern California and Chirumhanzu, Zimbabwe, Rebecca has devoted her professional life to college equity and access for talented, low-income students. She founded USAP in 2000 and worked for a very long spell as the Country Coordinator for EducationUSA in Zimbabwe. She has been active as a presenter, trainer and leader in international education organisations such as NAFSA, I-ACAC, CIS and currently the HALI Access Network. Rebecca holds a BA in Anthropology and African Studies from Brown University and MAs in International Development Education and English and World History Secondary Education from Stanford University. When not trying to save the world from itself or hanging out with her daughters, Rebecca enjoys cooking, Arsenal FC and dreaming of beaches from her landlocked home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melisa Musanzika

Office Intern

Melisa is from the USAP Community School Class of 2021. She is passionate about inclusion of women, girls and marginalized communities into the global community. During the first half of her gap year, she has worked at Kukosha Trust which partners with Zimbabwe Without Orphans and works with teen mothers, single mothers, child headed family leaders and street residents. This experience has influenced her to aspire to study international law and humanitarian policy at college after her gap year. Melisa also enjoys running a book club, writing stories, tutoring kids and debating current affairs.

Education Matters Trustees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cathrine Ziyomo

Trustee

Dr. Cathrine Ziyomo is a Senior Scientist – Molecular Plant Breeder with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) based in Nairobi. Her focus as a researcher is to improve the efficiencies of African plant breeding programs using the latest advances in technology. A USAP alum, Cathrine attained her PhD in Plant Genetics from the University of Minnesota.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clive Msipha

Trustee

Clive Msipha is the CEO and founder of Untu Capital Limited and also serves an Independent Non-Executive Director of a JSE listed African Rainbow Capital Investments Limited. A USAP alum, Clive is a Chartered Accountant and a CFA Charter-holder and holds an MBA from the University of Oxford.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Albertyn

Trustee

Mark Albertyn is a Mathematics teacher and the Deputy Headmaster at Hellenic Academy in Harare. He is also the co-founder of and helps run Makomborero; a non-profit that provides A-level and tertiary opportunities for Zimbabwean high-achieving, low-income A Level students at top private schools in Zimbabwe and then universities here and internationally. Mark lives in Harare with  Laura and four young children.

Education Matters Africa Foundation Board of Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ann Kuhlman

Secretary

Ann Kuhlman has served as Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) at Yale University since 1999 where she directs programs and provides services to more than 6000 international students, researchers, faculty, staff and their dependents. Before coming to Yale, Ms. Kuhlman was Associate Director for the Office of International Programs at the University of Pennsylvania and worked for the National Association for Foreign Student Affairs (NAFSA) in Washington D.C. She completed her undergraduate course work with a Bachelor’s degree in international studies from the School for International Training, Brattleboro, VT and a Master’s degree in International and Middle East Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farai Sanyangore

Treasurer

Farai is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America where he provides middle market corporate clients with strategic advice and tailored banking solutions. Prior to that, Farai was at Merrill Lynch where he
was part of the Equity Strategic Solutions Group that was tasked with developing new products to meet the evolving needs of institutional and corporate clients.  Farai is a USAP alumnus and holds a BA in Mathematics and Economics from Connecticut College. In his free time, Farai enjoys DIY building
projects, golf, giving back to his community and spending time with his family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Bruce Wharton

President

Bruce Wharton served as an American diplomat in Africa and Latin America for over 30 years, specializing in educational and cultural policy and programs. Among other assignments, he was U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe (2012-2015), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs (2015-16), and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy (2016-2017). He and his wife Julia, a theater director and teacher, now live in Asheville, NC. They have three children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lois Mufuka Martin

Board Member

Lois is an experienced non-profit executive, social worker and community change agent. She currently works as the Vice President of Search and Consulting Services at CalWest Educators Placement, a firm that places teachers and administrators at independent schools. Lois previously served as Chief Volunteer Engagement Officer at United Way of Southwestern PA and as CEO of Bethlehem Haven, an organization that moves women from homelessness to housing. She also served as Director of The Community Fund at United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. Lois served as a founding trustee and scholarship coordinator with the Douglas & Jean Mufuka Private Foundation from 2002 to 2019, where she facilitated the enrollment of 17 Zimbabwean students to attend Lander University. Lois earned a BA in History from Lander University and an MEd in Counseling from Clemson University. She is married to Derek A. Martin and they have two adult children.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Ronald Mutasa

Board Member

Ronald Mutasa is a Senior Health Specialist in the Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice at the World Bank in Washington, DC. Ronald leads the Bank’s analytical and operational work in Southern Africa and South Asia and has more than 15 years of experience in public health and social protection in Africa and the United States. Over the past three years, Ronald has been the Task Leader of the Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health Systems Support project—the Bank’s flagship regional initiative. Ronald’s doctorate degree is in public health, and he holds advanced degrees in development economics and health policy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rungano Nyambuya

Chair of Fundraising

Ru Nyambuya is a VP at Standard Bank’s New York office where she manages a portfolio of clients based in North America but also doing business in Africa. She joined Standard Bank’s NY team in 2012 and truly enjoys being a part of the Africa economic growth and investment story. Prior to Standard Bank, she spent 5 years at Ernst & Young. She is a USAP Alumni with a BS in Accounting from Ithaca College, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

 

 

 

 

Lucy Steinitz

Dr. Lucy Steinitz lived in Africa for 17 years (mostly Namibia and Ethiopia) where she partnered with several NGOs to help families, communities, and local government in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic (1997-2014).  Currently, she serves as Senior Technical Advisor for Protection and Equity at Catholic Relief Services, which works in over 100 countries globally.  As a former non-profit CEO, academic, and author, Lucy has a Ph.D. in Social Service Administration  from the University of Chicago and earlier degrees from Brandies University and Wilmington College (a Quaker school) in Ohio.