The Team

Emelia Kusi is an ecological scientist and STEM for Youth advocate. She is a recipient of numerous academic and leadership awards, including the Chancellor's Emerging Leader Award and the Spaulding Smith Doctoral Fellowship, which is awarded to outstanding doctoral students from historically underrepresented groups in STEM. As the founder and president of EGF, Emelia is committed to building a network of collaborators to address the needs of the youth and foster the next generation of STEM professionals. 

Jessanne Lichtenberg is a biomedical engineer. With a passion for ensuring all students have the opportunity to pursue a career in STEM, she has been involved in various STEM outreach and advocacy programs since 2014. In addition to serving as the Administrative chair of EGF, Jessanne is currently the director for Engineering Practices in Color (EPIC), an engineering outreach program for middle school students with learning disabilities in Richmond, Virginia, US.

Benjamin Abijah is a Statistician. He has served in several teaching, mentoring, and leadership roles. As the Education and Mentoring Chair of EGF, Benjamin is passionate about reaching more youths by means of education, outreach, and mentoring programs. He believes in teaching youngsters that, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds, they can realize their dreams of becoming valuable people through determination, dedication, and good mentorship from other change makers.

Joseph Osei is a trained teacher. He firmly believes that all youths should get access to resources needed for their personal and professional development. In addition to serving as the Outreach and Programs Chair of EGF, Joseph is currently the founder of Academic and Spiritual Union in Ghana. Joseph loves to see youths fulfilled in their academics and persists in creating and engaging in academic outreaches that seeks to give clear direction to students on achieving their academic goals.

Emmanuel Otabil is an optimistic and self-motivated engineer who is passionate about technology and community service. He has held several leadership roles and has gained organizational and project management skills from leading a variety of student projects and programs. Otabil is passionate about mentoring students in STEM. He loves to teach and empower the next generation of young leaders.

MaryGrace is the GINAE  program director. Her passion for empowering the next generation of young scientists led her into the field of Science Education and Outreach where she now works as a program manager for Career Exploration and Workforce development at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. In her role, she manages programs designed to expose and guide high school and undergraduate students into careers within the Biomedical sciences where there are broad workforce gaps.

Favour Nakyazee is passionate about the importance of mentorship and community building in any industry. Since moving to the United States, I have been actively involved in STEM programs as both a mentee and mentor, guiding others to discover their potential and thrive in new environments. I believe that “it takes a village” and I strive to be part of that village for others by helping foster collaboration, learning, and empowerment through shared experiences.

Hannah Opoku is a nurse scientist with over 15 years of experience in clinical and academic settings, specializing in nursing education, mentoring, and workforce advancement. Currently, she is pursuing her doctorate at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Hannah is passionate about fostering belonging, leadership, and excellence in nursing education and community engagement. 

Phebe Havor is a mathematician and a passionate science policy advocate. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Integrated Mathematical Oncology at the University of South Florida and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. Phebe actively mentors students, tutors pediatric cancer patients, and helps with outreach initiatives for women in mathematics and science globally. 

Nomzamo Dlamini is a Food Scientist, Fulbright Alumna, and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pretoria. Her work explores how culture, sustainability, and public health shape food choices. Beyond research, she is dedicated to mentorship and empowering others to pursue their careers with confidence, curiosity, and purpose.