Our Team

Charmaine graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honors BSc in Neuroscience and Health Studies. Charmaine is also a UWC Waterford alum and is a member of the Zimbabwe UWC National Committee. She is passionate about mental health education and stigma reduction. Charmaine is SafeTalk certified and a writer. She loves to dance, sing, cook and practice asset-based community development.

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.

Gwen graduated from Brown University with honors in Literary Arts and Africana Studies. Gwen is passionate about the positive contribution that publishing can make to education. To that end, she co-founded a publishing company, Toreva Books, which works to increase the representation of African cultures and peoples in children’s literature. She loves to dance and enjoys winning at board games.

A four-year letter-winner on a full basketball scholarship at Seton Hall University, Alex graduated with honors with a BA in Political Science. She was honored nationally as a NCAA Woman of the Year finalist. Alex completed her Masters in International Relations and Diplomacy while coaching as a Graduate Assistant for the Seton Hall Women’s Basketball team. A sports development and community service enthusiast, Alex enjoys playing basketball, watching and coaching sport, and finding new ways to integrate sport into everything. When not advising student-athletes or showing the young-bloods how to hoop, Alex enjoys spending time with her family and drawing.

Eve is a USAP ‘03 alum who graduated from St. Lawrence University with a BA (Hon) in Economics. She has had diverse career experience in international investment banking, and locally in entrepreneurship, public health and education. Eve is currently an active member of the Christon Bank Environmental and Tourism Association(CBETA) which is working towards preserving the local environment and encouraging ecotourism in Christon Bank. Having worked in public health, she is also excited at the prospects of beating Neglected Tropical Diseases in Zimbabwe. When not saving the world, Eve is chasing her four year old daughter.

Lincoln studied A level sciences at Hellenic Academy under the Makomborero Zimbabwe scholarship. He will be attending University of Pennsylvania starting August 2021 to pursue his passion in combining engineering and business. Lincoln had the pleasure of working with, challenged by, and being mentored by bright minds and visionary leaders. He enjoys reading a wide variety of books, meeting diverse people, and creating life long friendships.

Rufaro is a recipient of the Makomborero Zimbabwe and MasterCard Foundation Scholarships. She graduated from United States International University-Africa in Kenya with an Honors degree in Finance with a concentration in Investment Management. Rufaro has found purpose in working with young people from low-income backgrounds helping them identify their passions and talents and linking them with opportunities that can change their lives positively. When not crunching numbers or analyzing financial markets, Rufaro loves singing and meditating on the hammock!

A member of the USAP Uganda class of 2008, Becky graduated from Amherst College with a BA in English. She returned home right after graduation, confessing that she couldn't handle the New England winters, and first worked in public health for a while. She now has one foot in media and the other in Ugandan history research.