Alumni Directory Display

Meghan is originally from outside of Philadelphia, PA and graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park in May 2015. Meghan minored in Global Studies with a focus on global poverty. In 2013, Meghan participated in a short-term study abroad experience in Uganda, where she studied Global Leadership and Sustainable Development.  Meghan also served as the Development Intern for a Global Health non-profit, where she executed their first social media fundraising campaign and headed the official launch dinner in downtown Washington DC. Additionally, Meghan was deeply involved with the University of Maryland Alternative Breaks (AB) program, where she served and learned about social justice issues domestically and abroad. Also through AB, Meghan traveled to Haiti for two winters, and taught English at a pre-professional school. Through this she fell in love with teaching and saw education as a catalyst for development.  As a result, she spent much of her college career teaching Biology and Organic Chemistry to freshman and sophomore students. Meghan is so grateful to be serving in Botswana next year, and is excited to learn some Setswana, explore Southern Africa, and have a transformative experience teaching with Maru-a-Pula!

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Rachael Mutisya, a native of Kenya, holds an MBA in Marketing as well as a BSc in Hotel and Restaurant Management from United States International University- Africa (USIU- Africa). Throughout her professional journey, Rachael has garnered valuable experience across multiple industries including finance, hospitality, education, and e-commerce. Her area of expertise is in communication, social media management, customer experience, and brand promotion, and she has successfully applied her skills in various locations in Kenya. Rachael’s commitment to her community is evident through her strong passion for giving back. During her free time, she actively volunteers for an NGO called Together for Africa (TOFA) in Kenya. In this role, she forges new partnerships, organizes events, and develops empowering content for Kenyan youth in the fields of entrepreneurship, leadership, and ICT development. Outside of her professional pursuits, Rachael finds joy in various hobbies and activities. She is an avid badminton player and takes pleasure in gardening and exploring new destinations. Rachael is excited to join the PiAF program this year at the Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia, Kenya, further exemplifying her dedication to making a positive impact.

A native of Bukavu, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Wilo Muyoma graduated from Whitworth University in 2016 with a major in computer science. Most recently he worked at Microsoft as Azure cloud engineer. He left Microsoft to help start a poultry and logistics company in Eastern Congo alongside his childhood friend. During his PiAf fellowship, Wilo will serve as Junior Consultant/MEAL Fellow with the West Africa Rice Company (WARC) in Accra, Ghana.

Alumni Update:

Jamie is the Manager of College Access Partnerships at a nonprofit called The Opportunity Network, which prepares high-achieving, underrepresented students for success in college and careers. He is also in a graduate program at Teachers College, Columbia University, studying Higher and Postsecondary Education.

Fellow Bio:

Jamie is a Government and Legal Studies Major and English minor at Bowdoin College. He is from Leominster, MA. At Bowdoin, Jamie was actively involved in the McKeen Center for the Common Good, volunteering at a legal service nonprofit in Portland, attending and leading Alternative Spring Break trips to Guatemala, and acting as President of Bowdoin’s volunteer Corps. He studied abroad in Cape Town. Jamie has also been a tour guide, RA, and drummer for a campus cover band. Next year in Zambia, Jamie looks forward to learning about education and the local culture and is excited about a new adventure!

Shan was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 2016 with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Music. He spent a semester studying abroad in north-central Tanzania as part of the Wildlife Management Program through the School for Field Studies. While there, he conducted research on land protection strategies in the region and conducted interviews with local communities about human-wildlife conflict. Shan has held internships with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service where he monitored prescribed fire effects and invasive species on a National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota, and at the Duke Lemur Center where he conducted a research project on the response to visual and olfactory cues in Cockerel’s sifakas. At Bowdoin, Shan was the music director for his a cappella group and was a whitewater kayak instructor with the Outing Club in addition to working for the Office of Admissions. Shan is so excited to return to East Africa and to experience Kenya for the first time with Nyumbani Village. While there, he hopes to improve his Swahili skills and to explore the region with other PiAf Fellows!

Gabriel graduated with a BA in African studies and an MA in Political Science, for which he wrote his thesis on the strategic responses of trade unions to globalization. Though born and raised in Atlanta, he spent much of his childhood in Sweden and is a dual citizen. In the spring of 2011, Gabriel lived in Rwanda, studying post-genocide reconstruction and peacebuilding as well as performing research on Rwandan perspectives of representative government. Having been hit by a car while there, he became a fully trained, though non-practicing, EMT. Gabriel has worked with several nonprofits in the Atlanta area, including the Southeastern Council of Foundations, the International Rescue Committee, and the Global Growers Network. Gabriel’s passion is political and economic equality, and knows that his fellowship with Equal Education will give him a chance to confront these issues. While his hobbies change frequently, Gabriel currently blues dances and performs improv.

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Sarah Namagonya is a driven Malawian professional, she has worked as a Diplomatic Affairs Assistant Intern at the Malawi High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya where she supported accreditation to UNEP and UN-Habitat. As the head of the Upsell department at a solar tech company, she demonstrated significant leadership in commercial settings. Further, her passion for humanitarian work is demonstrated in her over three years of experience as a Research Assistant at the United Nations World Food Programme, where she honed her skills in data management and qualitative research. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master of Arts in International Relations, specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies from the United States International University. Sarah is adept at navigating complex diplomatic environments, facilitating international accreditations, and supporting high-level governance meetings. Committed to community service, she has dedicated six years to volunteering in social services, impacting prisons and hospitals. Sarah’s expertise is further complemented by her strong decision-making, problem-solving, and organizational skills, making her a valuable asset in international relations and humanitarian work. Sarah is characterized by her curiosity and a keen interest in expanding her horizon as she works with exceptional individuals to build a better future for generations to come.

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Jackie Namala is from The Bronx, New York. She graduated from Princeton University, where she studied Public and International Affairs and Spanish. Having grown up in working class households in Uganda and the US, Jackie has always been curious about how individuals can be empowered to secure better livelihoods for themselves. She is primarily interested in the role education plays in both individual mobility and national development and envisions herself working as an international educational consultant. Her dream is to make quality education accessible to all. As an undergraduate student at Princeton, she joyfully took advantage of the liberal arts education; in her independent work, she focused on Africa, studying the relationships between racial discrimination and adolescent mental health in South Africa (vis-à-vis the US), socio-economic status and sub-Saharan women’s political participation and, for her senior thesis, universal primary education and intergenerational education mobility in Uganda. Furthermore, Jackie virtually volunteered as a K-12 tutor and an outreach associate with Hatch Tutors, an educational non-profit, and worked as a Peer Academic Advisor on campus. She feels very honored and excited to work with the students and educators at Rwamagana Leaders’ School. In her leisure time, Jackie loves to cook, sing and learn new languages. She also has newfound interests in travel and physical exercise, particularly running.

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Abigail graduated with distinction from Strathmore University with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, majoring in Finance and Accounting, Abigail then began her career journey as a graduate trainee at a microfinance holding company. Her journey towards impactful change began here, where her passion for development finance grew, leading to her swift transition to the treasury department where she honed skills in financial analysis, reporting, data analysis, and funder management,
Outside her professional pursuits, Abigail remains deeply rooted in her community, as a volunteer finance associate for a foundation focused on women and youth empowerment, she channels her expertise to provide tools and resources for economic growth and wellness. Additionally, Abigail served as an associate teacher at a local primary school, nurturing academic excellence and instilling a sense of empowerment in her students. For Abigail, giving back to her community is not just a duty but a calling, reflecting the values instilled in her as a Maasai girl. She remains steadfast in her mission to leverage her experience and skills for the growth and development of Africa.