Our History
The Founding Directors (Jane, Kathure, and Penina) were inspired by their family’s pioneering initiative to educating girls at a time when the culture did not value girls’ education. While cultural perceptions around girls’ education have slowly improved, girls’ education is still at risk.
There are numerous positive socio-economic indicators linked to girls’ education – from health to peace; and that is why our board and Friends of AERC are committed to this cause. We welcome you to join our network of Friends of AERC today. Together we can do more to celebrate the potential within our girls, inspire them, and help educate the less fortunate!
AERC’s Board of Directors 2012
AERC Management Details
Henry Lam, Ph.D.
Dr. Lam, a Fulbright Fellow has a Ph.D. in Lipid Chemistry. Currently he works with Nestle Foods Limited. Previous engagements including some of the world’s largest food companies and an academic career at the University of Arkansas and at Makerere University.
Henry has extensive international experience as a consulting scientist in Canada, Uganda, Australia, and the USA with food industries and non-profit organizations.
He has received numerous awards and honors including Honor Student award and best paper award both from the American Oil Chemists Society; food industry awards; and Vice-Chancellor’s award. Dr. Lam has authored and co-authored several technical and non-technical papers, a book chapter, and is currently a reviewer of various scientific journals.
Dr. Lam also attended graduate school in Sydney, Australia on the John Crawford Merit Scholarship after his baccalaureate degree from Tanzania. He is committed to efforts that enhance girls’ education in Africa
Penina Lam, Ph.D.
Dr. Penina Lam is one of the co-founders of AERC . She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership & Organizational Development from the University of Louisville, USA. As a scholar-practitioner in the field of HRD/OD, she has served as an Assistant Professor and as an Educational Developer at major research universities in North America.
In 2003, she co-founded AERC and currently serves as the AERC Board Chair. Penina has a great passion for promoting education and is committed to developing people’s unique talents.
Her research interests are leadership development and social innovation/entrepreneurship. Her works have been featured in various professional conferences, book chapters, and journals. She co-authored The Management of Adult Education Organizations in Africa, a UNESCO project.
As a consultant and coach, she specializes in Organizational Development, Leadership Development and Social Change initiatives; working with clients internationally on projects to strategize, design, implement, and evaluate programs.
Mahad Yusuf
Mahad Yusuf is the Executive Director of Midaynta Community Services, a registered Canadian Charity. Midaynta Community Services provides settlement services and other programs that advances education by providing courses, seminars, meetings, counseling and other support services for refugees and immigrants in need.
Mahad received the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada in recognition his significant contribution to Canada, community and to Canada. April 20, 1993. Also, I have received 2009 Vital Person’s Award from Toronto Community Foundation in recognition to my Vital Contributions to the community specially my work with refugees.
Prior to being Executive Director of Midaynta, Mahad served on its Board of Directors as a President. Simultaneously he was employed by IBM Global Services as an Availability Service Leader responsible for the implementation of service level agreements, a position which he held for six years. Over a decade, Mahad worked for the Bank of Nova Scotia and Toronto Dominion Bank as a senior online coordinator responsible for providing exceptional technical support and maintenance in the financial industry for the bank’s network and resources, including international banking.
Mahad Yusuf is the founder of the Somali Immigrant Aid Organization and he was instrumental in setting up many organizations including Dejinta Beesha (Somali Multi-Service Agency), Midaynta Community Services, and the Somali Community Centre of Etobicoke to assist refugees and the Canadian government in processing these claims fairly and effectively. Without his work in helping to set up organizations to deal with Undocumented Convention Refugee Class in Canada (UCRCC), He was instrumental at a critical time of Somali mass immigration to Canada, just after the outbreak of the civil war in 1991.
Mahad Yusuf has over 20 years of experience in organizational development, project management, and strong creative leadership. This encompasses community advocacy, policy analysis, operations management, financial management and facilitation and public speaking. Mahad hold a diploma from the Devry Institute of Technology, a business communications diploma from Ryerson University, a diploma from the Canadian Bankers Association, Executive Program in Leading Sustainable Strategic Change at York University and completed professional development program in Leadership, Relationship, and Change at the University of Toronto.
Solomon Belay
Solomon is a Ph.D. candidate (ABD) at the Ontario Institute for the Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto. He earned his first degree in Biology and a second degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Addis Ababa. He then worked as a lecturer and coordinator of the university-wide Community-Based Education for which the university is recognized as innovative school by World Health Organization (WHO). He also co-established and was the first Managing Director for Liket consultant firm which has been doing consultancy and training service in education, development, and leadership. At OISE, he works with educational researchers and teaches a Foundation of Curriculum course to graduate students.
He brings extensive and diverse non-profit (NGO) experience including his current volunteer work as a ‘medical educator’ for a CUSO-VSO program. In the past, he served as the National Coordinator for Sabri Development Institute, working for rural population to expand literacy, health and community banking in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. Solomon also served as the Executive director for Hohete Street Children Inc. and a Board member for Help for People with Disabilities Organization.
Lenny Mbogo
Lenny holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Science degree in Family and Consumer Studies from Kenyatta University-Kenya. In addition she also holds Accounts and Administration certificate from the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries Examination board (KASNEB) and a graduate certificate in E-commerce from Regis University.
Lenny highly enjoys and continues to engage in issues that pertain to international development. She has experience in community development, research and global education in both developing and developed countries. With enthusiasm, she has worked with children and women for over ten years. Principally, she acquires her joy and achievement in positively impacting children, families and communities. Coupled with her skills, knowledge and experience, Lenny has worked in various capacities as a researcher, trainer, administrator and client relations.
Jane Kaimenyi
Jane is a founding member of AERC. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Education (Honors) from Kenyatta University and a Diploma in Education from Kagumo Teachers College. She has over 20 years of experience as a primary and secondary school teacher and is currently the Principal at a Nairobi school catering for special-needs children. Prior to that served as the Deputy Principal at the Dagoretti Special School. She has great passion for children and has taught students with a variety of special needs.
Her extensive experience in schools in Kenya ensures that AERC’s programs remain relevant. Jane has served in various community groups and a mentor, a role model, and an ardent advocate of girls’ education.
Jené Huffman
Jené Huffman-Gilreath currently works as a Vice President for Arvest Bank (Rogers, Arkansas) as the Professional & Executive Banker managing the financial relationship for high-net-worth individuals. Prior to serving in this capacity Jené managed the business banking division for a group of banks. In this capacity, Jené handled the treasury management, merchant services, and business banking functions in addition to business development. As an active member of the community, Jené is a member of The Noon Rotary Club (Rogers, Arkansas), Rebuilding Together of Northwest Arkansas Funding Committee board member, Government Affairs Committee Member for Rogers/Lowell Chamber of Commerce, Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Candidate Development Institute board member, founding board member of Young Professionals for the Fayetteville Chamber, and an active founding member of Christ’s Church of Northwest Arkansas, in addition to being the Treasurer for African Education Resource Center.
In 1999, Jené received a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas with an emphasis in Small Business Entrepreneurship. Jené later earned a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Arkansas. A portion of her masters work was done at St. Peters College, Oxford University, studying International Trade Policy. While at Oxford University, Jené had the opportunity to visit the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in addition to several other organizations where her desire to work with entrepreneurial ventures in developing nations grew.
Prior to Jené’s banking career, she worked in Washington, D.C. as a legislative staff member for a United States Senator and later owned a political consulting business working with candidates on platform formation, campaign strategy, demographic studies, and image consulting.
Jené lives in Rogers, Arkansas with her husband, Chris Gilreath, and three amazing daughters (Aubre 9, Halle 9, and Zoe 4). Chris and Jené are raising their daughters to understand the privilege of their life and the blight of much of the world. Aubre and Halle would like to visit Africa one day to visit some of the friends they’ve made from Kenya.
Jenise Huffman
Jenise Huffman served as the Director of Corporate Strategy & Development at Tyson Foods, the world’s largest protein company. Her responsibilities focus on mergers & acquisitions and developing strategies to address Tyson’s highest value issues and opportunities. While at Tyson, Jenise has also worked in Financial Analysis, Operations Analysis, and Sales & Operations Planning. Immediately prior to joining the Strategy Department, Jenise worked in the sales planning department at The Kellogg Company, where she developed Go-To-Market Strategies.
Jenise graduated summa cum laude and First Ranked Senior Scholar from the University of Arkansas with a BSBA in International Economics and Business and minors in French and Art History. She was named her graduating class’s top student in both the economics department and the school of business.
Kathure Mwenda
Kathure is a founding member of AERC. She is currently the Principal Consultant with Solid Solutions, a consulting firm based in Nairobi. Prior to that, she served as the Regional Manager at OikoCredit (East Africa), a micro-finance non-governmental organization that supports women entrepreneurship and financial independence. Kathure holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Nairobi, and has gained a lot of experience in NGO, government, and private sectors. She is nationally recognized as a leader in women empowerment and in NGO management. She has traveled to over 20 countries is a sought-after speaker, addressing various audiences at colleges, schools and universities on issues such as microfinance, leadership, and career development. Kathure was one of the recipients of the US International Leadership program award in 2006 by the US State Department.
Warwick Sabin
Warwick Sabin is the Associate Vice President for Communications at the University of Central Arkansas. He also serves as President of the Arkansas Committee on Foreign Relations, a state affiliate of the American Committees on Foreign Relations. Previously he was Associate Editor of the Arkansas Times and co-host of “Unconventional Wisdom,” a public affairs program on Arkansas public television. Before that, he was Director of Development for the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation in Little Rock. He also served as Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Marion Berry (Ark.-01) in Washington, D.C. Selected as a 1998 Marshall Scholar, he earned an M.A. (Oxon) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University in 2000. During his time in England, he was the speechwriter to U.S. Ambassador Philip Lader at the American Embassy in London. Earlier he held internships at Foreign Affairs magazine and the White House. In 1998 he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arkansas, where he was president of the student body. Sabin also was named a 1997 Truman Scholar, as well as a member of the 1998 USA Today All-American Academic Team.
