The ASYV team is a group of dedicated and hardworking professionals, many of whom live and work at the Village. We are devoted to providing the more than 500 young people in our care with the security, love, education, healing, and nutrition they need to thrive. It takes a village to transform a child, and it takes a team to build a village.
Executive Leadership
Jean-Claude Nkulikiyimfura
Executive Director
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Jean-Claude (JC) has over 17 years of experience in education, marketing, government, and corporate communication. At ASYV, JC manages a diverse team of educators and care providers while building successful local and international partnerships. JC’s passion lies in Rwanda’s development and the belief that Rwanda’s success will be achieved through educated, empowered, and resilient youth. He received a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Central Arkansas before returning to Rwanda to work as a media and protocol officer in the Office of the President. He then moved to South Africa to undertake a Master’s program in International Relations. After completing his Master’s degree, JC founded XLcom, a communications agency that provided communication services to organizations including the African Development Bank. Prior to joining ASYV, JC served as the General Manager for Saatchi & Saatchi Rwanda. In 2011, he joined the ASYV staff as Village Director and was later promoted to Executive Director in 2015.
Shiri Sandler
Managing Director
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Shiri has a deep background in education, programming, and fundraising, in post-genocide communities. Previously, Shiri was the U.S. Director of the Auschwitz Jewish Center at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. Shiri directed fundraising, educational programs for North American students, and Board relations for the Center, an affiliate of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. While at the Museum, she led immersive programs on dehumanization and genocide for military students, developed new ethics programs for professional school students, and taught about the Darfur genocide. Prior to joining the Museum, she was the Interim Chief of Staff at the Genocide Intervention Network, a Darfur genocide activism organization. Shiri received her M.A. in Modern European History from Brown University and her B.A. from Cornell University. Her academic research is on Soviet liberator rape of Jewish concentration camp survivors. Shiri is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors.
ASYV Staff Leadership
Christine Icyitegetse
Director of Finance
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Christine is a professional accountant with extensive experience in financial services. Christine is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a Bachelor’s degree of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Rwanda, College of Business and Economics (UR-CBE). Christine joined ASYV in October of 2008 as an Accountant and was promoted to the position of Director of Finance in 2013. Prior to joining ASYV, she worked as a Finance and Business Development Specialist at Sustaining Partnerships to Enhance Rural Enterprises and Agribusiness Development (SPREAD RWANDA) from 2007 to October 2008.
Aloys Kagimbura
Special Projects Manager
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After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Rwanda’s College of Education, Aloys began his work with the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in 2009 as a Math and Instructional Enrichment teacher, before becoming Deputy Principal of the Liquidnet Family High School in 2011. In this capacity, he oversaw the teaching-learning process, designed and monitored performance indicators, analyzed grades, and organized teacher capacity building. He then went on to build the Parental Wholeness process and designed after-school program modules. In January 2017, Aloys became ASYV’s Academic Director where he lead the school as its chief administrator, managing personnel while developing and implementing academic policies and programs. In 2021, Aloys was appointed as Special Projects Manager. In this role, he partners with other International NGOs, schools, foundations, and the Rwanda Education Board to continually improve ASYV's education system and implement new projects.
With training in teaching methodologies for at-risk and post-conflict youth from MASHAV and FHO, in Jerusalem and London respectively, and training in instrumental enrichment and the mediated learning experience from Israel’s ICELP, Aloys enjoys helping his students succeed by building confidence and a sense of stability.
Martine Nibigira
Chief Operating Officer
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Martine joins ASYV as Chief Operating Officer with 10 years of experience in finance, leading in education projects and human resources. She has worked with world leading agencies in education sectors, international non-governmental organisations and charities. She started her early career in an accounting firm based in the UK, banking sector in Rwanda then followed by working as Project and Operations Manager in non-governmental agencies in Education sectors funded by Mastercard Foundations, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and leading UK Universities. Martine holds a bachelor degree in Accounting Financial Management and Marketing from Gloucestershire University and Masters in International Business and Finance from Aberdeen University. Education, giving back to the community and empowering the young generation lies close to her heart.
Richard Niyibigira
Country Director
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Richard has been working in the education sector in Rwanda for over 12 years. He has served as the Founding Director of the Evening and Weekend program at Akilah Institute (now Davis College) an organization for which he later served as the Academic Director, Vice President of Academics and Student Life, and Vice Chancellor. Richard has also served as a volunteer president of the Association of Teachers of English in Rwanda since 2015. In this role, he leads teachers' continuous professional development efforts for over 250 teachers in 10 districts of Rwanda. He has also chaired national and international conferences taking place in Rwanda and in the region. Richard’s choice to join ASYV was based on his dedication to youth empowerment. The ASYV mission to restore hope to the most vulnerable youth in Rwanda, as well as the Village's values, were the biggest motivators for Richard to join ASYV.
Stella Wayianzuvuko
Principal, Liquidnet Family High School
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Stella joins ASYV with vast experience in faculty professional development and curriculum development and implementation. Previously, Stella was the Director for Faculty Professional Development and Quality Assurance at Davis College, Rwanda. At Davis College, she designed and delivered high-quality faculty workshops in a variety of teaching methodologies geared to learner-centered education. She has contributed to achieving positive academic outcomes for students through effective strategic organization, prioritization, and execution of key structures in faculty development. Stella also has experience teaching English language, writing, and English for specific purposes at Davis College, Uganda Christian University, and Victoria University, among other institutions. Stella received both her master’s degree in literature and her bachelor’s degree in education from Uganda Christian University.
Board of Directors
Ben Snyder
ASYV Board Chair
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Following twenty years as the Head of Upper School and Assistant Head, Ben just stepped away from his role as the Director of EXCEL (Experiential and Community Engaged Learning) at the Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts. Prior to his arrival as Director of Admissions at Nobles in 1989, Ben worked for a tech startup in Cambridge, MA, a small international college in California and as a development officer for another independent school. During his tenure at Nobles, Ben has led many strategic planning efforts for the school, including the school’s most recent strategic plan of 2009, while overseeing and developing virtually all aspects of Nobles’ academic and co-curricular programs. In addition to his leadership responsibilities, Ben continues to be a history teacher, coach, advisor and leader of student service travel opportunities that he developed to South Africa, Rwanda, Cambodia, Vietnam, India and New Orleans. Ben has also been intimately involved in the creation of two programs for low income, first generation college-bound students (Achieve and Upward Bound), both of which are closely connected to Nobles. Ben serves on the board of the Cape Eleuthera Island School and on the board of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda. He received his BA from Bowdoin College and his EdM. from Harvard University. Ben’s wife Sarah taught English at Nobles until 2014 and his two children - Abby (Nobles Class ’07) and David (Nobles Class ’08) - have both pursued careers in education and public service.
Jason Kotik
Treasurer and Fiscal Committee Chair
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Jason is a Managing Director, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller Asset Management, whose mission is to create outperformance for their clients over multiple market cycles, driven by a disciplined investment process including a rich history of ESG-integrated research and a highly collaborative team culture. Jason will be responsible for the U.S. Small and Smid Cap business for Rockefeller. Prior to Rockefeller, Jason served as Lead Portfolio Manager for the small capitalization strategy at abrdn, a global asset manager. Prior to abrdn, Jason was an Equity Research Analyst at Allied Investment Advisors and began his career at T. Rowe Price.
Jason joined the Finance/Fiscal Committee in May of 2015 and subsequently the Board of Directors in late 2015. He was inspired by Laurie Franz, the former Board Chair, whose dedication, passion, and hard work inspired him to want to give back and continue to learn more about the organization’s mission and goals. He received a B.S. in Business from the University of Delaware and an M.A. in Business from Johns Hopkins University. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst. Jason lives outside Philadelphia with his wife and two children.
Christy Lamagna
Secretary and Strategic Planning Committee Chair
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Christy is at her best when in service to others. An avid reader, author, coach, entrepreneur and intellectual philanthropist, Christy gets joy from meeting people, hearing their stories, and helping them build bridges to their future. Her time with ASYV is one of the most rewarding aspects of her busy life, which includes running Strategic Meetings & Events, the firm she founded 22 years ago, serving on numerous boards, coaching, and keynote speaking. Christy’s latest endeavor allows organizations to raise philanthropic funds without ever having to fundraise and she can’t wait to share it with the world.
Michael DelGiacco
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Michael just completed his final term as ASYV’s treasurer , and has served on our Fiscal Committee for many years. He also helped our Founder, Anne Heyman, develop ASYV’s initial financial plan. He is an experienced financial executive. Trained at General Electric before moving into the mortgage industry, he has held two CFO roles at US-based lending companies.
Laurie Toll Franz
Anything Is Possible Committee Chair and Board Chair Emeritus
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Laurie is President of the Five Together Foundation, founded along with her siblings in 2005, to provide support to vulnerable populations. Based on the shared values of justice, equal opportunity and compassion, The Five Together Foundation supports initiatives in youth development, services to families in need, and the preservation of democracy in the United States of America.
Laurie serves in leadership roles for several non-profit organizations. She is the past Board Chair for the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda, built as a response to the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda, replicated from villages built in Israel after the Holocaust. She serves on the boards of JEVS Human Services as the Governance Chair, JEVS Foundation, and OLAM. She also sits on the CATT Committee of the USC Shoah Foundation, as well as the Network of Engaged International Donors Racial Equity Committee. Laurie graduated from the University of Delaware (B.A. in English) and currently resides in Philadelphia.
Kathy Harris
Human Resources & Compensation Committee Chair
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Kathy is the Founder and Managing Director of Harris Allied, a Manhattan-based Executive Search firm specializing in talent acquisition for the technology and financial services industries. She has over 25 years of experience in senior talent acquisition, talent management, and leadership positions for companies ranging from tech start-ups to Fortune 500 industry leaders.
She was introduced to the ASYV through Liquidnet in 2007 and joined the Board of Directors in 2015. She is the Head of the ASYV HR & Compensation Committee and serves on the Development and Program Committees. She has twice served as a Co-Chair of the annual gala, Village Time, and several times as a member of the Benefit Committee.
Kathy credits her philanthropic roots to her mother, who served on Boards for the Girl Scouts, League of Women Voters and PTA. Kathy received a BS from Rutgers University and considers herself a lifelong learner.
John Hoover
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John serves as Director and Senior Vice President of the CRB Family Foundation. John is also the Chief Executive Officer of Chasbro Investments, an international single family office. He has founded foundations, public charities, technology firms and financial service firms. He is a Founding Board Director of 21/64 Inc. and is a member of several other Boards. Prior to joining ACBP and Chasbro, he was the Senior Vice President of the Jewish Communal Fund, one of the nation’s largest public foundations with over $1 billion in assets. He continues to be an advisor to several service organizations, businesses and families. John has a Master’s in Business Administration from Farleigh Dickenson University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Economics from the State University of New York.
Jean Kagubare
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Jean is the Deputy Director for Global Primary Health Care Systems at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which supports innovative approaches to delivering health services to those who need it most around the world. Jean joined the ASYV Board of Directors in 2012 to continue to support the education of vulnerable children of his native country-Rwanda. Jean has over 25 years of experience covering clinical and public health areas, especially in the planning and management of public health programs in developing countries. He obtained his Medical Degree from the University of Kinshasa, an MPH degree from the University of Brussels, and his PhD in health systems from the Johns Hopkins University. Jean lives in Seattle (USA) with his wife and two daughters.
Bertrand “Kiki” Kayiranga
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Bertrand, known as Kiki, is the Founder, Owner, and Managing Director of the Bear LTD Consulting Firm. He is also a Member of the Rwanda Association of Architects and a Council Member of the African Union of Architects. He has won many national and international competitions, including 1st prize for the Rwanda Social Security Board building, currently the highest building in Rwanda, the Rwanda Revenue Authority building, the Rwanda Insurance Plaza, and many other landmark buildings in Kigali. He was also involved in many other prestigious projects, including the 5-star Serena Hotel and Radisson Blu Hotel, as well as the impressive Kigali Convention Centre. Kiki graduated with a degree in Architecture from L’Institut de Bâtiment et Travaux Publics.
cheryl knopp
Governance & Nominating Committee Chair
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Cheryl is the General Counsel of Trumid Holdings, LLC, a financial technology company bringing efficiency, connectivity, and access to credit trading through innovative technology and product design. Prior to joining Trumid in June 20212001 , Cheryl served as the General Counsel of Liquidnet, another financial technology firm providing solutions for electronic equities and fixed income trading. She brings more than 20 years of financial services and legal experience to her role and previously served as Liquidnet’s Deputy General Counsel, as well as Head of Liquidnet Capital Markets. Throughout her career, Cheryl has advised on M&A, corporate and securities matters, intellectual property, regulatory developments, technology and new business initiatives. Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Cornell University and a J.D. degree (magna cum laude) from Brooklyn Law School.
Josh Kuckley
Investment Subcommittee Chair
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Josh is a Vice President at Abner Herrman and Brock (AHB), an investment management firm. Josh is a Research Analyst and Portfolio Manager leading AHB's Equity Research. He is also a member of the Firm’s Investment Policy Committee. He is a Charter Financial Analyst, holds a Certificate in ESG Investing from the CFA Institute, and is getting his MBA at Columbia University. Josh joined the ASYV Board in 2022 after significant involvement in the Village, including chairing the Investment Subcommittee and sitting on the Fiscal Committee. He is on the Board of Directors and senior management team for See Far Housing, a social enterprise developing affordable housing in Kigali with the proceeds going to sustainably fund ASYV. Josh first traveled to the Village in 2015 and has been committed to its mission ever since.
Jason Merrin
Program Strategy Committee Co-Chair
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Jason is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles. As a writer, director, and producer, Jason has worked across a broad range of media, including commercials, music videos, graphic novels, animation, television and film - with a unifying principle of following story, whatever form it may take.
Though he was only a teenager at the time of the Village's founding, Jason was involved from the very beginning thanks to his mother - Agahozo-Shalom founder Anne Heyman. Through repeat trips to the Village, starting with the groundbreaking and continuing to this day, Jason had the unique experience of growing up with the Village - and still considers the youth and graduates his family. After Anne Heyman's passing, Jason joined the board of directors, stepping up his involvement in order to support his Rwandan family and honor his mother's legacy.
Crystal Rugege
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Crystal is currently the Managing Director of the Centre for the 4th Industrial Revolution Rwanda, a partnership between the Government of Rwanda and the World Economic Forum, where she is leading Rwanda’s efforts to design and pilot governance frameworks to advance technology’s benefit to society. Prior to joining the Centre, Crystal spent 11 years establishing and scaling Carnegie Mellon University's only campus in Africa. Crystal sits on the board of I&M Bank Rwanda PLC, UNDP’s Africa Leading the 4th Industrial Revolution Technical Advisory Group, the Advisory Council of Andela, and the Africa Europe Foundation Digital Strategy Group, and she is the chair of Rugori Investment Network.
JEFF SCHWARTZMAN
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Jeff is responsible for the TP ICAP’s Global learning and organization development function. Prior to Liquidnet’s acquisition by TP ICAP, he built Liquidnet’s Corporate University upon joining the company in 2006. His primary focus is to create a learning culture that drives business results. Jeff oversees leadership development and ensures all TP ICAP & Liquidnet employees have the skills, competencies and behaviors to succeed in this rapidly changing environment through high-performing teams and focused curriculums for every employee.
Most importantly, Jeff ensures the organization is developing in a way that meets both the strategic short- and long-term goals for TP ICAP & Liquidnet. The Liquidnet University team has expanded beyond the internal walls of Liquidnet by successfully creating The Liquidnet Member Academy, a series of professional development and leadership programs geared specifically for Liquidnet’s key customers. The program includes Headway—a three-part curriculum designed for heads of trading and dealing—and Gateway—a two-day program focused on “second-in-command” traders, as well as more junior traders.
Jeff has been an Adjunct Professor of leadership and teambuilding in the Human Capital Management master’s program at New York University’s School of Professional Studies in the Division of Programs in Business since 2010.
Jeff joined the ASYV family in 2007, where he worked with Founder Anne Heyman to realize her vision. Over the years, he continued to support Anne in various capacities, such as staff development, culture creation and Board development. He officially joined the Board in 2013, holding multiple positions in Governance and the Executive Committee. Jeff continues as an active Board member today.
Elizabeth stern
Program Strategy Committee Co-Chair and Board Chair Emeritus
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Liz is a former journalist, graphic artist and educator, and is now a full-time artist living in New York City. She is the mother of three daughters who have visited and volunteered in various ways for ASYV. Liz received a Master’s in International Affairs & Journalism from Columbia University, and a Master's in Education from Bank Street College.
Carine Umutoni
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Carine is the Managing Director of Ecobank. She holds an MBA in Corporate Strategy and Economic Policy from Maastricht University of the Netherlands and a Bachelor of Commerce in Banking Management and Finance from Damelin in South Africa. A seasoned banker, Carine started her banking career in 2004, specializing in Treasury & Global Banking and Trade Finance. She then moved into Investment Banking and Assets Management.
Celine Uwineza
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Celine is a business owner, business executive and a thought leader in the human development world, with a vast wealth of leadership experience of two decades.
Celine is also an author of Untamed: Beyond Freedom (Available on Amazon), a memoir recounting her transformational healing and growth journey, after surviving the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Celine is a successful entrepreneur, an advocate for human development and an enthusiast of climate resilience, nature exploration, as well as physical and mental fitness.
Mikey Walker
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Mikey proudly served for 24 years as Head of Old Colony Montessori School, Hingham, MA. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Wheelock College, Boston, MA, as well as Advanced Certification in Educational Leadership.
In 2010, Mikey founded The Kerry Jon Walker Fund, Helping Humanity, fulfilling a dream to bring financially under-resourced teens from Boston to Africa for global service, leadership and educational opportunities. The first group traveled to the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in 2013, and a unique partnership, founded on mutual values and respect, was born. Mikey received the greatest honor when presented with the Anne Heyman Spirit Award in 2018 and is proud to now serve on the ASYV Board of Directors.
Brian Walsh
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Brian is Group Head of Sustainability for TP ICAP, where he focuses on mobilizing capital for the transition to an environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive future. Brian is responsible for the financial markets firm’s internal ESG (environmental, social, and governance) performance management and reporting; oversees its social impact efforts, including ICAP Charity Day; and works to develop client-focused commercial sustainable finance offerings. Previously, he created and led the impact arm for the fintech firm Liquidnet, which was acquired by TP ICAP in Q1 2021.
Brian joined the ASYV Board in 2015 but has been working with the organization since 2007, when he organized a volunteer network of Liquidnet employees and their family members - known as the “Liquidnet Family” - to support ASYV Founder Anne Heyman in realizing her vision for the organization. In addition to providing a range of technical and operational assistance, the Liquidnet Family also organized the first two annual galas and numerous “Race for Rwanda” fundraisers. Over the years, Brian has led more than 100 Liquidnet employees and family members on skills-based volunteer trips to the ASYV. The Liquidnet Family High School was named in recognition for this volunteer group’s support.
An expert on ESG, impact investing, and philanthropy, Brian is senior advisor to media company ImpactAlpha, for which he also co-hosts the “Impact Briefing” podcast; Chair of GlobalGiving, a nonprofit tech platform helping people and companies back trusted community-led solutions; Chair of INCO US, a social mobility nonprofit focused on workforce development and accelerating impact entrepreneurs; Steering Committee member for the Turner MIINT (MBA Impact Investing Network & Training), a global competition providing hands-on impact training for students; board member for Bridges Impact Foundation, which co-produces the Turner MIINT with the Wharton Social Impact Initiative; and Ubuntu Advisory Council member for the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP). Brian developed the “Financing Social Impact” graduate course for Georgetown University, which he taught as an adjunct professor for five years. Brian graduated from Georgetown and lives in New York City with his husband.