Meet Our Team

Nicole oversees the day-to-day execution of the Wells Mountain Initiative’s vision and development goals. Her career is inextricably linked to her belief in advancing access to education, the right to quality healthcare, gender equity, and poverty alleviation. Since joining WMI in 2013, Nicole has been integral to the organization’s strategic growth. She has been a driving force in building robust and metrics-driven programming that delivers sustainable impact to our scholars and their communities. With her support, our Scholar population has increased by over 1200%, from 59 in 2013 to 806 in 2024. In addition, Nicole has spearheaded efforts to expand WMI’s international team from zero to eight members, who are regional professionals who understand the unique needs and talents of the young leaders served by WMI.

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Jennifer brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector to her role at WMI as Development Director. She began her career running direct service programs and soon discovered the transformative power of fund development and community engagement in advancing educational equity. Her work aligns closely with WMI’s mission to foster education, opportunity, and community-led transformation.

Jennifer has raised over $100 million for mission-driven organizations throughout her career. She brings extensive experience in grant writing, strategic fundraising, individual giving programs, and volunteer engagement. At WMI, she leads the development and implementation of a scalable, long-term fundraising strategy with an emphasis on organizational goal alignment and diverse revenue streams.

A lifelong learner, Jennifer holds advanced degrees in Political Science, Sustainability, and Education Innovation. She continues to grow professionally through ongoing training and hands-on learning. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, hiking new trails, and sharing life’s adventures with her husband and their children.

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Elizabeth manages the WMI scholarship program and scholar programs. She has an expansive professional background in scholarship management. In addition to 15 years of program management and administration experience stemming from roles held at the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Cooperative Bank Foundation, Rikolto (Vredeseilanden) East Africa, Help Self Help Centre, Kickstart International and Safaricom Ltd. Elizabeth holds a MBA in Strategic Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, a Bachelor of Agribusiness Management from Egerton University and a Diploma in Management of Information Systems from Kenya College of Accountancy.

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Bonny Mark has significant grant management experience as a three-time beneficiary of the WMI Community Development Grant program which were pivotal in establishing and expanding Nissi High School in his home community. The secondary school currently enrolls 178 students and employs 26. Bonny Mark is also the founder of a thriving business and an NGO dedicated to supporting women, orphans, and vulnerable children. His extensive leadership experience includes many roles with Rotary International, including Regional Grants Support Officer for Eastern Uganda. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialization in human resource management from Bugema University and will complete his masters of business administration from Uganda Christian University in 2023.

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Rachel comes to Wells Mountain Initiative with an abiding belief in the power of education and bottom-up community transformation, as well as a diversity of professional experiences. She is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University (’07) with a dual bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Social & Cultural History. After graduation Rachel served as a Peace Corps Youth Development Volunteer in Ukraine from 2009-2011 and got her first “taste” of international humanitarian support during that time. Consequently Rachel pursued an MBA at Seton Hill University (’13) and began her non-profit career shortly after graduation.

Rachel brings experience in Grant Writing & Fundraising, Public Relations, Communications, and Program Development.

In her free time Rachel enjoys cooking, reading, running, traveling, and spending time with her beautiful family.

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Success is driven to support the professional development of others. She is also passionate about revolutionizing healthcare and lifestyle practices of young people and is currently in the start-up phase of De-Bloom Medicare. Success served on the Global Advisory Board and has held the position of Regional Coordinator for West Africa. She is also a recipient of a Community Development Seed Grant which supports patients who are screened and diagnosed cervical cancer to be seen by specialists for early treatment. As the Leadership Skills and Development Coordinator, Success designs leadership skills opportunities for scholars throughout the world and actively supports the development team. She graduated with a degree in biological sciences from the University of Port Harcourt in 2021.

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Mala Deep Upadhaya is eager to assist WMI Scholars throughout his region and has actively supported the WMI Nepal Fellowship in its continued development. He also works as an independent consultant for several national and international organizations, focusing on data visualization, analysis, and web development projects. His current research integrates methodologies from data visualization, human-computer interaction, machine learning, visual analytics, and data mining to address issues within social contexts. Mala completed his bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Kathmandu University in 2020 and earned his master’s degree in Data Science from Coventry University, UK, in 2024.

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Joyce has 10+ years of experience in social behavioral research and works full-time with KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program. Joyce has served as a WMI Kenya Fellowship leader, implemented a WMI COVID-19 Response Grant and has been a Community Development Seed Grant awardee. She is the founder of the Giving Back Initiative, an organization that empowers underprivileged adolescent girls and young women in remote parts of Kenya on sexual and reproductive health management, working to reduce school dropouts of young women by introducing reusable, affordable and environmentally friendly sanitary pads to address the menstrual health gap. She graduated with a degree in development studies from Mount Kenya University in 2019.

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Phoeby is a strong leader and advocate providing representation and opportunity for young women and girls within her region. Her background within the nonprofit sector focuses on international development and the eradication of gender based violence. She currently works as consultant and trainer of gender based violence prevention and management and child protection. She previously worked as the operations and development manager for Freely in Hope in Zambia, a nonprofit organization that focuses on advocacy through education and leadership development for survivors of sexual violence and with Women and Law in Southern Africa supporting women and children’s socio-economic rights. Phoeby is a co-founder of Building Resilience Helping You Thrive Foundation; an organization that provides social services to survivors of gender based violence. She graduated with a bachelor of laws degree from the Zambian Open University.

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Isaac is a trained physician and currently works in the Department of Surgery at the Eastern Regional Hospital in Ghana. He is interested in pursuing continued studies in public health and is an advocate for improving health conditions, working to influence health policy at the local and nation level. One way he accomplishes this is through the Bold Step Foundation, a youth-led organization which he founded in 2020 that promotes adolescent sexual and reproductive health education in rural and deprived communities. Isaac served on the WMI Global Advisory Board for two years and is currently the President of the WMI Ghana Fellowship. He graduated with a medicine and surgery degree from the University of Health & Allied Sciences and has a certificate in Water and Sanitation from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

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Liz is inspired by youth leadership and driven by a strong belief in the transformative power of local efforts to effect positive change in both individual lives and the broader environment. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Community Development from Daystar University in Kenya in 2022. With a specialization in Gender and Development, Liz has served as a Program Officer, where she passionately contributed to the integration of gender perspectives with development initiatives aimed at uplifting communities. Moreover, she is a co-founder of Tujiinue, a social program dedicated to providing enterprise development training to youth. Liz has served as a leader with the WMI Kenya Fellowship and as a Global Advisory Board Member.

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Maria manages the finances for Wells Mountain Initiative as well as the human resources for U.S. employees. Her career spans more than three decades working for non-profits, community foundations, marketing corporations and manufacturing companies. She enjoys both the financial and the employee engagement side of her work and believes the best place to work is where every employee knows exactly how their position helps to move the organization’s mission forward. “When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.” – Simon Sinek

GLOBAL ADVISORY BOARD

The Global Advisory Board is comprised of WMI Scholars who are invested in the scholar experience and exemplify the values of partnership and community leadership. Board members provide insight, direction and recommendations for the growth of our organization and are integral to ongoing program development and implementation. Each member works 10 hours a month and serves a two year term.

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Purity’s journey as a WMI Student Scholar pursuing a BSc. in Computer Science at the University of Nairobi in Kenya has been fueled by her passion for using technology to empower individuals and communities. She took the initiative to establish a community tech hub called Slum Tech, where she teaches web development to the youth in her community, demonstrating her commitment to making a positive impact through technology.

Through her participation in the Global Mentorship Initiative supported by WMI, Purity recognized the profound impact of mentorship on personal and professional growth. This experience further strengthened her belief in the power of mentorship as a transformative tool.

As a member of the GAB, Purity envisions collaborating with her fellow board members to drive the success of initiatives within GAB, especially the mentorship program. Her goal is to contribute to the launch and success of the program by ensuring that all student scholars receive mentoring from graduate scholars at least once before they graduate. Leveraging her technological expertise, Purity aims to develop applications that streamline and automate the mentorship process, creating a seamless experience for all participants.

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Sarah Umukoro is a WMI Graduate Scholar. She is a recent graduate who majored in Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counseling at the University of Port Harcourt. Her Journey as a WMI Scholar was driven by her passion to create and support the long-term mental and emotional well-being of young people. She is also intentional about personal growth and community building. Sarah had served in her university campus fellowship as an academic coordinator, with the aim of building a community of resilient and driven young people who prioritize the pursuit of academic excellence. She volunteered at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital’s medical social services department and helped improve health care services for the needy. As a GAB member, Sarah’s goal is to build a strong support structure for WMI scholars, as well as to stimulate and influence the active engagement of scholars in the educative webinar series.

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Niraja Bhitrikoti is a WMI Student Scholar currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Kathmandu University in Nepal. She envisions working in areas of leadership, financial empowerment, business consulting and social entrepreneurship once she completes her studies. She believes in leading by example and has worked on various advocacy campaigns. On a personal level, she finds comfort in the pages of books and loves exploring her thoughts and feelings through writing. On the Global Advisory Board, she aims to champion the interests of both existing and prospective scholars, striving to create positive experiences where all scholars develop a deep sense of belonging and connection to the WMI community. Likewise, she finds it significant to create a platform where interaction among scholars is not only limited to their own region but also extended to scholars from other regions.

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Ernest Cudjoe Anorbor is a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) student at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, Ghana. He is currently serving as the President of the WMI Ghana Fellowship. He also serves as the Vice President of Rotaract Club of University of Health and Allied Sciences, the Lead Organiser of TEDxUHAS. He is passionate about revolutionizing healthcare; hence, he founded Satis Medica, which is a startup that focuses on chronic disease care management and also digitizing medical supply for home healthcare. Ernest is driven by a genuine passion for bringing people together, fostering connections, and building a sense of community within a group and as a member of the GAB, his aim is to promote entrepreneurial collaboration initiatives among WMI Scholar populations from different regions to collaborate on business ventures, startups, or social enterprises.

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Acqueline Niyomahoro is a dedicated leader and advocate committed to fostering a positive change in her community. She is an active member of the WMI Rwanda Fellowship and has served on its board in 2023. Currently she is pursuing a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the University of Rwanda. Acqueline is passionate about improving her community’s health and employing education for social impact and development through volunteering. She is enthusiastic about youth empowerment and strongly believes in the power of education towards development; which encourages her to actively engage in advocacy against school drop out in Rwanda. As a GAB member, Acqueline is interested in supporting the mentorship programs for both the WMI Student and Graduate Scholars thereby elevating scholars’ knowledge which is crucial for their personal and professional development. She also aims at creating strong networking and collaboration in the WMI Scholars’ community at all levels.

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Daniel Femi is a WMI Student Scholar studying Optometry at the University Of Benin. Daniel is a 2022 beneficiary of the Educate Your Own grant and served as thе Communications Officеr for WMI’s Educatе Your Own campaign, a fundraising initiativе lеd by currеnt WMI Studеnts and Graduatе Scholars. Hе lеvеragеs his еxpеrtisе in communication and nеtworking to advocatе for a zеro-dropout ratе among studеnts facing financial challеngеs. In addition to his academic studies, Daniel is an advocate for eye health for under-served communities in Nigeria and has collaborated with specialists to advance effective eye care services. He is a Millennium Campus Network Fellow, Clinton Global Initiative alumni and a member of the R.E.T.I.N.A. Initiative, a youth-led non-governmental organization whose mission is to reduce avoidable blindness and promote eye health. With experience in project management and stakeholder engagement, Daniel aims to help implement scholar-led projects and foster collaboration among scholars.

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Joseph Kinyua is a student at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Passionate about technology, he has served as a volunteer and event organizer in the Dekut Google Developer Student Club, where he educates students and the community about various Google technologies. Joseph is also the co-founder of Tuongee Kenya, a platform aimed at bridging the gap between mental health awareness and the youth in Kenya. As a participant in the global advisory board, he is keen on fostering the personal and professional growth of the WMI Scholars. He believes that mentorship programs offer a unique opportunity to connect experienced individuals with the next generation of leaders, facilitating knowledge transfer, skill development, and personal encouragement. He plans to leverage his tech skills for the betterment of the board and the scholars, such as developing a website to streamline the mentor-mentee relationship.

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Gaston is a passionate young leader pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Rwanda with a deep commitment to public health, particularly in empowering youth and adolescents to understand their overall health. Gaston has served in different student associations, particularly the Medical Students’ Association of Rwanda (MEDSAR) as Vice President where he dedicated his time to organizing community projects and radio talks, reaching thousands of young people with SRH education. He firmly believes that sexual and reproductive health is closely connected to mental health, as many young people navigate emotional and psychological challenges during this critical stage of life. His goal is to ensure that youth not only understand their reproductive health but also receive the mental health support they need to make informed and confident life choices. As GAB member, Gaston envisions making a broader impact by supporting WMI scholars and other youth and adolescents globally through Youth health webinar series and mentorship, helping them become health champions of their own and their communities at large.

MEDICAL SCHOLAR BOARD

The Medical Scholar Board is composed of WMI Scholars who are university students or professionals within the field of medicine and healthcare. The board’s mission is to strengthen support of the growing WMI Medical Scholars community through professional development activities, networking events and the sharing of relevant resources. Each member dedicates 10 hours a month and services for a one year leadership term.

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Israel is a WMI Medical Scholar and a medical doctor at the Ho Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Having graduated from the University of Health and Allied Sciences, he has a strong foundation in clinical medicine, health advocacy and community-based outreach. Israel is driven by personal experiences witnessing preventable illnesses and deaths in underserved communities.

Israel has long been committed to advancing health equity. Throughout his medical journey, he has actively participated in, and often led, numerous health outreaches across rural and peri-urban areas in Ghana. These experiences have sharpened his medical expertise while enabling him to contribute directly to improving access to healthcare.

In this new role, Dr. Gidigasu brings a blend of lived experience, global exposure, mentorship insight and strong communication skills to create enriching learning opportunities for both student and graduate scholars navigating diverse medical career paths. He remains actively involved as an executive board member of the WMI Ghana Fellowship, where he continues to support mentorship and capacity-building among young professionals.

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Angella is a WMI Medical Scholar and a final-year student studying Medicine at Kabale University in Uganda. She is passionate about advancing equitable healthcare and creating opportunities for others to learn and grow together. Throughout her medical journey, Angella has found joy in supporting her peers and encouraging open, meaningful connections. She strongly believes that sharing knowledge and experiences is key to building a stronger healthcare community.

Angella is dedicated to lifelong learning and loves creating safe, welcoming spaces where people feel seen and valued. She believes that a community that supports each other grows together, and she sees WMI as that very community - a place where scholars can uplift one another and grow both personally and professionally. She is always eager to help others feel empowered and connected in their professional paths.

In her new role focused on Medical Professional Networking, Angella will develop and host bimonthly online meet-ups for scholars. These sessions will give participants a chance to introduce themselves, learn about each other’s backgrounds, explore opportunities for collaboration, and celebrate their successes and challenges together. By bringing people together in this way, she hopes to strengthen bonds and inspire a spirit of shared growth and support.

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Justice is a WMI Medical Scholars with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Benin, Nigeria. He is passionate about academic research and digital literacy, and actively advocates for health and well-being across communities. He channels this passion by volunteering with leading health and youth development organizations to drive impact at the grassroots level.

He is a Millennium Campus Network Fellow and held various leadership positions during his undergraduate years. He is currently interested in creating innovative solutions to chronic diseases through the intersection of research, technology, and health advocacy. Justice has also spearheaded impactful initiatives such as the Digital Skills Library which is a digital literacy and opportunity platform.

As a member of the Medical Scholar Board, Justice seeks to amplify the board’s impact by creating monthly email blasts that highlight opportunities for online training, certifications, grants, calls for papers, medical conferences, graduate school opportunities, and access to free research articles. He shall also collaborate with other team members to develop initiatives that further the development of all WMI medical scholars.

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Deeksanta is a WMI Graduate Scholar and a medical doctor currently specializing in Dermatology and Venereology. A dedicated scholar, Deeksanta was awarded the Academic Excellence Award during his undergraduate medical studies at Chitwan Medical College for his outstanding academic performance.

His passion for research has led to impactful work in both clinical and public health domains. He received the Early Career Research Grant from the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene for his research on adolescent obesity. In addition, he was awarded the WMI Community Development Grant for leading a school health initiative aimed at reducing non-communicable disease risk factors from early adolescence.

With several publications to his name, Dr. Sitaula is committed to advancing equitable healthcare through evidence-based medicine. As this year’s WMI Medical Scholar Board member, he will be facilitating sessions focused on building foundational research skills and sharing opportunities to inspire fellow WMI medical scholars to embark on their journey in medical research and evidence-based medicine.