Rokim Robinson
Co-Chief Executive Officer

As Co-CEO Rokim is responsible for operations and partnerships at an executive level. He has worked in nonprofit/ NGO management his entire career. The majority of his work has involved mental health, vocational services, HIV/AIDS advocacy, substance abuse, women’s empowerment and gender-based violence. He joined the Peace Corps in 2016 as an NGO volunteer in Botswana. After finishing his service in 2019 he stayed in Botswana and worked for a private health care practice. He earned his B.A. in Sociology and M.A. in Liberal Studies from the University of Albany. Rokim likes the outdoors and enjoys spending time with his family.

Jeff Fonda 
Founder and C0-Chief Executive Officer,
Chairman of the Board

Jeff was inspired to create this organization after volunteering in Uganda in 2009. During his time there, Jeff saw that there was an overwhelming need for books in the community he was working with, and after speaking with many locals, he discovered that books were a scarcity for Ugandans nationwide. Realizing the gravity of this situation, Jeff began to take action, and in 2011 The Literate Earth Project was born. Jeff graduated from SUNY New Paltz in 2010 where he studied International Relations and Black Studies and was a soccer student-athlete. Jeff also has an MBA from Temple University. In addition to his work with The Literate Earth Project, Jeff is in IBM's ALDP executive training program. Prior to starting his MBA Jeff was an executive at both a textbook reseller and a travel company based in Spain.

Lukwesa Morin
Global Ambassador

Lukwesa Morin is the first ever Miss African Union Queen 2018-2019. She received a Masters in Public Policy and Public Administration from the prestigious Johns Hopkins University and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from Gettysburg College. Having worked as an environmental consultant for the World Bank and United Nations World Flood Program, she led a mission project to Lesotho with the goal of developing a disaster risk management framework. She aspires to continue her work efforts in multiple countries and her platform will focus on the alleviation of hunger and illiteracy rates in African countries. She will also work directly with youth and serve as an exemplary role model encouraging them to participate in the development of Africa and use their voices to effect change.

Alexandria Moore 
Chief Operating Officer,
Board Member

As COO Alexandria manages and fosters relationships with school library partners. She is also the direct superior to our staff on the ground in Uganda and works with them on a daily basis. Having done most of her undergrad work at SUNY Stony Brook, Alexandria is currently pursuing her degree completion in Accounting at Empire State College. In addition to her work with The Literate Earth Project, Alexandria currently works at IBM as a Solution Sales Specialist. In her free time she enjoys taking runs with her dog Riley and playing soccer. 

Chapman Ellsworth 
Chief Financial Officer
Board Member

As CFO, Chapman ensures The Literate Earth Project is compliant with all financial obligations of a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit and provides guidance on all financial related matters for the organization. Chapman recently graduated from the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University with his bachelor's and master's degrees, both in accounting. He works as a management consultant at L.E.K. Consulting in Los Angeles, CA. Chapman loves music (he plays the viola), sports (especially Arizona Diamondback baseball), and his family; he lives in LA with his wonderful wife, Kimberly, who is an elementary school teacher. 

Timothy Kazinduka
Director of Uganda Relations,
Board Member

Timothy is in his first year at Villanova Law School.Timothy holds a B.Sc in International Transportation and Trade and a M.Sc in International Transportation Management from SUNY Maritime College. Timothy worked as an Operations Manager at Global Container Terminals in Jersey City, NJ for three years after completion of his Undergraduate degree. As a first generation Ugandan-American, Timothy was elected as a Council Representative for the Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) in 2015 and 2017 and 2019. Also the current the Vice President of "Breaking Barriers Connecting Cultures" which aims to connect the youth in the diaspora with the Ugandan youth. Timothy also is a "Mentor Coach" for America Needs You.

Joe Gentsch
Chief Information Officer, Board Member

From 2015-2017 Joe served as the CFO for the Literate Earth Project (LEP). In that time, he ensured LEP was compliant with all financial obligations of a registered 501c3 non-profit. He has since made the career change from accounting to data analytics, and has worked for Amazon Web Services since 2017. Joe is passionate about using data of all sizes to solve problems and strengthen communities. He lives in Arlington, VA with his fiancé and pet robot (his treasured Roomba knockoff). In his spare time, he enjoys riding his bike around DC, rock climbing, running, and coding.

Danielle Sweetman
Director of Literacy Programming

As the Director of Literacy Programming for the Literate Earth Project Danielle works to create and implement effective training for our staff at Library Sites in Uganda.  Danielle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education. She is a current Doctoral Candidate at Baylor University in the area of Learning and Organizational change. Danielle is passionate about the work of education and strongly believes that literacy is the key lever in social, political and economic change.  Currently, Danielle is a second grade teacher for the Columbia County School District in Augusta, GA . She lives with her husband and step daughter in Georgia. 

Collette Richoux
Chief Design Officer

Collette is an artist and graphic designer. As Chief Design Officer, Collette creates and develops creative materials to help LEP stand out and reach more individuals. After completing her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of West Georgia, she ventured back up north to pursue her career further by opening her own businesses that focus in design and printing services. She lives with her fiancé and golden retriever on Long Island.

Thomas Hughes
Comptroller

Holding not only a CPA but also CIA and CFE certifications, Tom brings a wealth of financial knowledge and expertise to the organization. Tom has been an accountant for IAC, Pratt Industries and the SUNY New Paltz Foundation, where Tom was an undergrad. More recently, he was an associate at PwC and a financial analyst at The Blackstone Group. Prior to his current job at a private accounting firm, he worked for Verizon as a risk management and compliance consultant.

Ryan Greene
Treasurer, Advisory Board Member

Ryan has a passion for helping empower youth through his work in non-profits. Over the last 7 years he has worked for multiple companies in their Finance and accounting department and for the last year he has worked for The Movement Cooperative and is their interim Comptroller where he manages the company’s day to day finance and administration. He attained his B.S. at SUNY Oneonta in Economics and also a finance B.S. from Southern New Hampshire University. After college Ryan worked for various YMCA’s in NY and MA in membership and programs. An avid reader Ryan is excited to join the team and help get books to those in need!

Liana Ruiz
Director of Social Media

Liana recently graduated from Virginia Tech (go Hokies!) with a B.S. in Marketing Management. She has had a desire to work with non-profits since, in 2018, she studied abroad in Switzerland. Through the program, she then had the opportunity to work on the ground with Kids Play International in Gatagara, Rwanda. When Liana isn’t studying Chinese or at work, she loves to hike all around Virginia, to volunteer with the local animal shelter, and plan her next trip across the globe.

Harry Bowden
UK Development Director

As UK Development Director, Harry manages LEP's expansion and fundraising into the UK, helping build partnerships across the Atlantic. Harry is currently in his final year studying Philosophy at Durham University, during which he organized and managed a charity fashion show raising over £11,000 for a local homelessness charity. Harry has also completed a 10-week summer volunteer placement in Bangladesh with VSO specializing in Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, educating Bangladeshi children on issues ranging from hygiene to sexual harassment. In his spare time, Harry is an avid tennis player and spectator.

Kyle Rose
Director of Partnerships, Board Member

Kyle has a passion for education and is excited about providing opportunities for self empowerment through learning. He first began working with Grace International to support children in Haiti with school supplies and learning materials in 2012 and continues to do so today. Professionally, Kyle works as a Strategy Analyst in the technology industry where he confronts a wide range of business issues and executes strategic solutions. Kyle lives in Austin, TX with his wife and their newborn daughter. In his free time he loves to run, read, and travel.

Civic Lubega
Country Director

Civic Lubega is the Literate Earth Project’s Country Director. In this role he oversees our libraries, communicates with community stakeholders, and researches locations for new libraries. Civic is a lawyer by profession, holding a role in the Ministry of Education and Sports, and also previously working with F. Mukasa & Co. Advocates, and the India Institute of Business Management and Studies. Civic holds a Bachelor’s in Law, a Master’s in Business Law and an Advanced Diploma in Human Resources Management.

Dominic Mukwaya
Central Uganda Coordinator

Dominic is a native Ugandan from Kabira, a town that was the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Uganda. Despite his humble beginnings, Dominic worked hard to pay for his own schooling at the National Teacher’s College and eventually returned to his home town to give back to his community. Together with his wife Rose, Dominic founded Kabira Adult Attention and School of Orphans, or KAASO to provide support and education for those children orphaned as a result of the AIDS epidemic. Since its opening in 1999, KAASO has flourished into the model primary school, becoming one of the top performing campuses in the entire district.

Richard Chaford
Northern Uganda Coordinator

A social worker by profession, Richard dedicated his life to making a difference in the lives of others in his communities ravaged by the two decades of LRA war in Northern Uganda. He studied Social Work and Social Administration at Makerere Institute for Social Development, Gender and Development at the Institute of Social Development and received a Bachelor of Community Leadership and Development at Uganda Christian University. He began his career way back in 2004 at Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) as a Counselor. He also worked with Gulu Support the Children Organization and Comboni Samaritans of Gulu as social worker supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of child soldiers and war affected communities in the Northern Uganda. He currently works with Charity for Rural Development as Program Manager and is involved promoting functional adult literacy among rural farmers for improving on their livelihoods.

Michael Scher
Advisory Board Member

For the last four years, Mike has worked for New York Road Runners managing a free, volunteer-led initiative aimed at bringing a community-based running program to neighborhoods throughout the tri-state area. He attained his B.A. at SUNY New Paltz studying Sociology and Philosophy while being a Conference Hall of Fame Cross Country athlete. During college, he spent time interning with RECAP - Orange County Reentry program assisting with the adjustment of formerly incarcerated individuals back into everyday life. Mike is a native New Yorker who will be attending the Marx School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College this coming spring.

Phoebe Fialkoff
Advisory Board Member

Currently a Senior Specialist on the Development Systems team at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Phoebe was thrilled to be presented with the opportunity to join the Literate Earth Project. An avid reader, Phoebe experienced first hand the power of the written word and its ability to transcend our worldly boundaries. Equipped with a B.A. in International Economics and Business from SUNY New Paltz, and with a background in philanthropic fundraising, Phoebe hopes to bring her experience to benefit the Literate Earth Project’s mission to provide books to those who need them. In her spare time, you can find Phoebe snowboarding, developing her latest roll of film, or planning her next trip.

Lauren Vincent
Advisory Board Member

Lauren has a B.S in business from University of Oregon. In her spare time she volunteers with local organizations empowering youth in Portland. Once a year, Lauren goes to Haiti to volunteer with Grace International. She cooks meals, teaches English, and helped rebuild the boys' orphanage. Lauren works for an e-commerce platform connecting group travelers to non-profit organizations all over the world.

Hannah Mistovich
Education Committee Member

In addition to her work with LEP, Hannah has worked with a plethora of education related non-profits including Garces Foundation, Philadelphia Futures and Minds Matter. She is currently a Spanish language teacher at Archmere Academy and completed her Master of Science in Education in Language and Literacy at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language & Pedagogy. Hannah has worked alongside learners at various stages of life to help them develop the communication skills they need in order to lead fruitful personal and professional lives.

Drew Edwards
Education Committee Member

Drew oversees and guides the programming and development of all organizational activities for Pangea Educational Development, which he co-founded and is currently CEO. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies at DePaul University where he was an Irwin W. Steans Community Service Scholar and Vincentian Mission Fellow. He is currently student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a WISE Learners’ Voice Fellow with the Qatar Foundation studying refugee education. Drew co-founded Pangea from his belief in the empowerment of education.