Board Members

	Suzanne Jeneby Executive Director Takaungu, Kenya sjeneby@eastafricancenter.org Suzanne Jeneby began her development efforts in Kenya in 1997, through her work with PCEA Kikuyu Hospital. In September 2000, with the help of the Seattle Junior Chamber (Jaycees), she founded the Kenya Kids AIDS Project. This project provided an emergency shelter, as well as over two-tons of humanitarian goods, to HIV/AIDS orphans in a Nairobi slum. In 2001, with the help of a Bill and Melinda Gates Leadership Grant, she founded the East African Center for the Empowerment of Women and Children. In 2002, she received her BSc in International Health from the University of Washington, focusing largely on African Studies and Public Health. As Executive Director of the East African Center, she oversees all of the EAC's operations in Kenya, as well as the EAC's efforts to establish future Centers in Kenya and elsewhere. Mrs. Jeneby is also the President of the Board of Directors for the East African Center’s Kenyan Non-Governmental Organization. In addition to her leadership responsibilities, she is currently spearheading the design of a multi-sector grassroots development model that the EAC plans to implement in other communities. She looks forward to a long career in international development.
	Theresa Wilson Board President Falls Church, Virginia twilson@eastafricancenter.org Theresa Wilson is President of the Board of Directors for the East African Center for the Empowerment of Women and Children in the United States. Theresa has worked as a policy analyst for the Social Security Administration, a Researcher/Analyst on a Gender and Development project for the Presidency of the country of Colombia, and as a Social Worker for the State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services. Her professional interests include gender and development, women’s labor force participation, and women’s economic policy. Theresa has a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington, a graduate specialist degree in Regional Development Planning from the University of Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia, and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science with a focus on gender and development from the University of Washington. She is married with two young sons and lives in Falls Church, Virginia.
	Perry Andrew Pirsch Board Member Lincoln, Nebraska Mr. Pirsch is currently serving as General Counsel to the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts and practices law from in Lincoln, Nebraska. Previously, he was a policy advisor and legislative counsel to U.S. Representative Lee Terry (R-NE), an Associate Attorney with Pirsch & Associates, where he practiced business, nonprofit, and estate planning law, and as an Assistant Attorney General with the Nebraska Department of Justice. Mr. Pirsch has also worked with the Board of Directors of numerous small businesses, nonprofit corporations and charities. He is licensed by the Nebraska State and District of Columbia Bars. Mr. Pirsch received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science and his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and his Masters in Public and Nonprofit Administration (M.P.A.) from George Mason University. He was recently accepted as a candidate for his Ph.D. in Public and Nonprofit Administration at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
	Evan Serpick Board Member Brooklyn, NY eserpick@eastafricancenter.org Evan Serpick first began his involvement with the EAC as a Peace Corps volunteer in December 2003. At our center in Takaungu, Evan initiated the Farmer Field School, business education program, and after-school tutoring program. He joined the Board of Directors of EAC-Kenya in December 2004. After returning to the U.S., Evan joined the Board of Directors of EAC-U.S. in March 2005. He grew up in Baltimore and moved to New York, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University and a Master of Science degree from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his wife, Brenda Bordofsky, and works as an Associate Editor of Rolling Stone magazine. In addition to his experience living and working in Kenya, Evan brings to the board expertise in website creation and grant-writing. He values his membership on the Board of Directors and participation with the EAC as a way to maintain his connection to Africa and his friends there.
	Rose Wilson Board Member, Secretary Gig Harbor, Washington rwilson@eastafricancenter.org Rose Wilson serves as the Board Secretary and has been involved with the EAC from its earliest stages. She is the mother of Suzanne Jeneby--EAC founder and Executive Director, and Theresa Wilson—Board President of EAC-US. Rose currently resides in Gig Harbor, WA and is a Standards Technician with the Boeing Company where she has worked for 21 years. Prior to joining Boeing, she worked in health care administration. Rose states, “I feel honored to be a part of this organization making a positive difference in so many lives not only in Kenya, but also in the lives of those who have volunteered with the organization and experienced the culture first hand. They are now sharing their experiences with others in their homelands.”
	Ann Albrecht Board Member Weymouth, MA Ann Albrecht joined the Board of Directors in 2002. She has a BS/MS in Management, with a specialization in Fundraising & Non-profit Management from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Ann currently works for Digitas LLC in Boston, an integrated marketing firm, in their Technology Enablement group. She joined the Board because “of the passion of its founding leaders and the innovative and progressive nature of how to improve the lives of people in Kenya.” Ann currently resides in Weymouth, Massachusetts.
	Emily E. Sanders Board Member Washington, D.C. Emily Sanders joined the Board of Directors in May 2005. After growing up in Dallas, Texas, Emily attended the University of Arkansas earning a B.A. in Political Science. She now lives in Washington, DC and works as a Legislative Assistant for the U.S. House of Representatives. Although Emily has yet to visit Kenya, she brings to the Board her expertise in program development, fundraising, and government relations. Emily is particularly interested in helping women and children receive an education and overcome extreme poverty.
	Tim Rowe Board Member Falls Church, VA trowe@eastafricancenter.org Tim Rowe became involved with the EAC as a fundraising volunteer in 2004 and then visited Takaungu with his wife and their two young sons in October 2005. These experiences inspired him to become a working member of the EAC Board of Directors in March 2006. Tim grew up in the Washington D.C. area, where he earned a BA in Health Policy from the University of Maryland and a Master’s of Public Health from the George Washington University. Tim's professional experience spans 14 years of public service in health policy and health information systems analysis for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He is currently a Senior Systems Analyst for an information technology consulting firm in Arlington, Virginia. Tim's interests on the Board include identifying information technology solutions that provide underserved populations in Africa with improved access to health services and information. He also serves as a liaison between the EAC and student volunteers at the George Washington University’s School of Public Health and Health Services.
	Charity Bracy Board Member Oceanside, California Charity Bracy is currently Vice President of the California Children's Hospital Association, heading up government relations and public policy. Previously, Charity spent four years advising U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein on health & social policy issues. She also worked for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services working on HIV/AIDS policy. Prior to her work in policy and health care administration, Charity was a psychiatric social worker at a hospital in Los Angeles. Charity graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in Psychology and then went on to receive her Masters in Social Welfare Administration and Social Policy from the University of Michigan.

Suzanne Jeneby

Executive Director