Our Board Members
Leah Battillo
Chair
Board Chair
Leah Battillo is a special education teacher and board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) supervisor. She studied elementary education and linguistics and concentrated in special education and English as a second language at Gordon College. She was given the Presidential Award in 2014 for making significant contributions to the college and the community. She was the founder and director of Gordon College’s Beyond Disabilities Week, a 7-day event focusing on the topic of disabilities, which included Temple Grandin as the keynote speaker.
Leah was also the project coordinator and is a current team member on the internationally recognized Accessible Icon Project. Currently, over 40 states and 25 countries use the Accessible Icon symbol. In addition to this, she is the vice president of Mom of Multiples (a mom’s group that offers support to twin moms in the Lehigh Valley).
In 2017, Leah received a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis with an emphasis in autism from Ball State University where she received her BCBA license. Since then, she has been providing in-home supervision and training for parents and behavior technicians.
Before her move to Pennsylvania, Leah was a special needs consultant in her community and church, as well as an Outreach Coordinator, providing community relief during COVID-19 through events, food drives, volunteer opportunities, and local partnerships. In 2019, she became a Funds for Teacher Fellow, allowing her to travel to Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, and Holland with a Holocaust survivor from NJ’s Commission on Holocaust/Genocide Education. In addition, she manages a website and an Instagram page (@ParentTools) that supports parents who have children with behavioral needs.
Read more about Leah’s experience in her LinkedIn profile here.
Christine Allen
Board Member
Board Member
Board MemberChristine Allen has an MBA from MIT Sloan and is passionate about helping vulnerable children experience the fullest life possible. She is currently a Senior Program Manager in the Digital Transformation Office at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Read more about Christine’s experience in her LinkedIn profile here.
Beth Melillo
Board Member
Board Member
Board MemberBeth Melillo is an Organizational Development and Change Management specialist with an M.S. degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology. and B.A. in English. She currently works as a Program Manager for business change at National Grid, an investor-owned electricity and gas utility based in the U.K. and Northeast U.S. In her current role she provides training and development to leaders and managers so that they can effectively lead change in a transforming environment. In past roles at the company she has worked on enterprise-wide teams in order to shift corporate culture, develop and retain employees, increase employee performance, integrate a newly acquired company, enhance team effectiveness and increase diversity and inclusion. Previous work in HR included generalist experiences with recruiting, onboarding and employee training and development. Prior to working in her current field, Beth worked at Bridgewell, a service provider for persons with disability. While there, as a Case Manager she focused on improving capability in the activities of daily living for her clients so that they could live more independently.
In addition to her professional work, Beth is the Founder and President of BayState IO, a Massachusetts-based membership organization that connects professionals who apply psychology to the workplace, which is a local chapter of the Society of Industrial Organizational Psychologists. She has also volunteered on various Personnel and Nominating committees in churches to ensure effective governance, staffing and operations, and has volunteered with the the city of Salem, MA. Recycling Committee serving as both Chair and Secretary. She has volunteered with Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom experience for people with special needs.
Read more about Beth’s experience in her LinkedIn profile here.
Jeff Gentry
Vice Chair
Vice Chair
Vice ChairJeff holds a Master of Divinity degree and currently serves as the Disability Services Director at JVS Boston. Jeff has committed his career to increasing workforce engagement and community access for people with disabilities. Over the past decade Jeff and his teams have equipped over 1,000 transition age youth and adults with disabilities to secure employment in the community. In recent years, Jeff has led a number of workforce development initiatives that have connected people in Greater Boston to the industry recognized credentials (i.e., ServSafe Food Handler and Certified Nursing Assistant certifications) that they need to participate in growth industries like hospitality and allied health.
In past years, Jeff has participated in innovative initiatives like IMPACT:Ability, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation supported initiative that empowered organizations and individuals with disabilities to prevent abuse, and Empowering People for Inclusive Communities, an organization that empowers transition age youth with disabilities to develop their leadership skills through community service.
As Kupenda’s Vice Board Chair, Jeff is responsible for overseeing Kupenda’s board and executive committee meetings. He works in partnership with the executive director to ensure Board resolutions are carried out and calls special meetings preparing board meetings agendas, organizing board evaluations of staff, and recruiting new board members.
Read more about Jeff’s experience in his LinkedIn profile here.
Keita Rone Wilson
Secretary
Secretary
SecretaryKeita Rone Wilson is a native of Detroit, Michigan and has worked in the field of special education over 20 years as a speech pathologist, special education teacher, educational consultant. Keita has both a MS and PhD in special education and is currently an Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She has taught courses that address inclusion and diversity. In addition to her work in teacher preparation programs, Keita is passionate about her research interest which includes studying how other cultures perceived and experienced disabilities. Keita is excited about working towards improving the lives of children with disabilities and their families through the mission and vision of Kupenda for the Children. In her role as Board Secretary, Keita records meetings minutes and ensures their accuracy, safety and availability.
Read more about Keita’s experience in her LinkedIn profile here.
Maddy Ullman
Board Member
Board Member
Board MemberMaddy Ullman is a disabled Chinese adoptee with a love for stories. Her life experience growing up raised by white parents shaped her passion for diversity and inclusion in storytelling through writing to increase representation on screen. Maddy was recently a Showrunner’s assistant for a Netflix series, where she maintained a high level of organization in and out of the Writer’s Room. Additionally, her many years of experience as a writer’s assistant deepened her passion for collaborating with others to tell a compelling story that will resonate with diverse audiences. Having mild cerebral palsy, Maddy is an excellent problem-solver, especially when it comes to unforeseeable accessibility barriers. Other than chasing the writing muse, Maddy is a full on cat lady and photographer. Her hobbies include improving her American Sign Language skills and practicing aerial hammock yoga.
Read more about Maddy’s experience in her LinkedIn profile here.
Patricia Prasada-Rao
Treasurer
Treasurer
TreasurerPatty holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology/Pre-Med and a Master’s degree in Public Health. She has worked with several non-profits over the past 20 years, both in the U.S. and abroad, in multiple roles. In addition to her public health and research background, Patty has worked in corporate marketing, psychiatric program management, and as an area director for Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. She has served on 11 different boards and actively volunteers within her community and abroad. Near and dear to her heart is her family’s work with the Chadalawada School (Pure Religion in Action [PRIA] Ministries) in India. Her experience in community and international development, as well as faith-based leadership, is a valuable resource for Kupenda.
As Kupenda’s Board Treasurer, Patricia manages the review of and action related to the board’s financial responsibilities. She also works with the executive director to ensure that appropriate financial reports are made available to the board on a timely basis.
Read more about Patricia’s experience in her LinkedIn profile here.
Daniel Huss
Board Member
Board Member
Board MemberDaniel Huss has a B.A. in history from Gordon College in Massachusetts. He volunteered for a year in Khartoum, Sudan, working with a team doing relief work in North Darfur. He has worked for Bridgewell, a non-profit in the Boston area that works with adults who have intellectual disabilities. He is currently a carpenter in the Boston area.
Read more about Daniel’s experience in his LinkedIn profile here.
Josh Peigh
Board Member
Board Member
Josh is a leader, activist, communicator, and pastor with a passion for inspiring action that enables lives to be transformed and hope renewed so that individuals and communities flourish. Throughout his career, Josh has provided executive leadership, engaging communication, and staff leadership to complex organizations in churches, community development 501(c)(3)’s, and global not-for-profit organizations. Josh also enjoys encouraging and supporting public sector and marketplace leaders to ensure their personal, emotional, and spiritual flourishing.
Read more about Josh’s experience in his LinkedIn profile here.
Caroline Kamau
Board Member
Board Member
Board MemberCaroline Kamau is a mother and domestic violence advocate from the Great Rift Valley, Kenya. She joined Miss Kenya USA in 2015 and continues working as an ambassador for Miss Kenya through her domestic violence platform. In 2017 she became the pageant president. Her background in volunteering and helping others has inspired many young people to volunteer and bring change to their communities. Caroline has also represented Kenya at the Annual International Human Rights Summit, organized a college preparation workshop for high school students in her community, and launched an ambassador program to help young women give back to their communities.
Read more about Caroline’s experience in her LinkedIn profile here.
Lauren Boswell Blair
Ex Officio Chair
Ex Officio Chair
Ex Officio ChairLauren is an experienced policy writer and author. After she earned an honors degree in English, she went on to write policy for multiple government agencies and contracting companies. She also wrote An Unlikely Gift, a book about Kupenda’s founding and growth. Lauren has a heart for Kupenda’s mission to serve children with disabilities because she underwent numerous pediatric health challenges herself. In addition to working with Kupenda in Kenya on multiple occasions, Lauren has hosted a variety of awareness and fundraising events. Without her fundraising efforts in the early stages, Kupenda would not be where it is today.
Her love of the children she met in Kenya is also evident in her devoted leadership of Kupenda’s board of directors. Lauren served as the board chairperson for over a decade. She currently serves in a non-voting ex officio capacity while also operating in a program support contracting role with an emphasis on writing and editing projects.
Read more about Lauren’s experience in her LinkedIn profile here.
Kenya Board Members
Kupenda’s name in Kenya is “Kuhenza for the Children’s Foundation.” Kuhenza has a Kenyan board of directors that oversees and supports the organization’s staff and operations.
Francis Kalu
Chairman
Chairman
Francis Robert Katoi Kalu has been the Bishop of Kenya’s Mombasa Diocese Anglican Church since 1994. In addition to providing spiritual guidance and counsel to the Kupenda/Kuhenza teams, Bishop Kalu has extensive teaching and nonprofit management experience. He has served as an executive member of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, a council member of the Technical University of Mombasa, Executive Chairman of the Shanzu Teachers’ Training College, Executive Chairman of Godoma Secondary School, a council member of the Coastal Interfaith Council of Cerics, a board member of the Mama Nguni Girls High School, Executive Chairman of Kilifi County Leaders Association. He has also been in charge of relief food distribution in Ghanzi, Malindi, Taba Delta, and the Galole Constituency for more than 10 years. Bishop Kalu has earned multiple diplomas in education and theology from Kenyan training institutions and a master’s degree in theology from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has also completed vocational training programs in advanced adult education, ecumenics, and AIDS awareness in both Kenya in the United States. Bishop Kalu is fluent in Kiswahili, English, Kigiriama and Hebrew.
Jacob Mwagandi
Vice Chairman
Board Member
Board MemberJacob has been a primary school teacher for nearly 40 years and a pastor since 2012. He has also served as the head teacher at Magarine Primary School since 1995. Very early in his career Jacob met Kuhenza’s founder and director, Leonard Mbonani. Leonard and Jacob were teaching together and began to fundraise to pay the school fees of high-performing, impoverished children in their classes. Over the years, Jacob developed a deep passion for vulnerable children, particularly those with disabilities, and agreed to join the Kuhenza Board as an advocate for these young people. Although he will retire soon from teaching, Jacob wants to continue supporting these children through Kuhenza and a farming project he has started to provide nutritional support to special education schools and units in Kilifi. Jacob holds certificates in Primary Education and Theology, as well as a diploma in Education Management.
Leonard Mbonani
Secretary
Secretary
SecretaryIn Kenyan nonprofit organizations, the executive director typically holds the role of secretary. In his role as board secretary, Leonard is responsible for ensuring that accurate and sufficient documentation exists to meet the Board’s legal requirements. In order to fulfill these responsibilities, Leonard records minutes of meetings, ensures their accuracy and availability, proposes policies and practices, submits various reports to the board, and maintains membership records.
Read Leonard’s full biography here.
Gabriel Mwanengo
Treasurer
Treasurer
TreasurerGabriel has over 20 years of experience working as a teacher for children who are deaf. He was also the head of a special unit at the Gede Special School for children who are deaf or have physical disabilities. His extensive experience and attention to detail make him a strong Board Treasurer and great asset to the Kuhenza team.
Cynthia Bauer
Board Member
Board Member
Board MemberAs the CEO and founder of the organization, Cynthia continues to hold a position on the board. She provides the board with updates on both the U.S. and Kenyan operations in addition to financial reports. Cynthia facilitates the board’s strategic planning, decision making, evaluation and fundraising efforts. Read Cynthia’s full biography here.
Joseph Nguma
Board Member
Board Member
Board MemberJoseph is a lecturer at Bandari College and the chairman of the Ahmed Shahame Mwidani Technical Training Institute. In the past, Joseph has also served as a lecturer at Kenya Navy Marine Training School, as the head of the Operations Training Unit at Kenya Ports Authority, and as the head of the Science Department at Shimo-la-Tewa High School. Joseph’s experience in management and as an educator make him a valuable part of the Kuhenza team. Joseph holds an advanced certificate in education from Strathmore College as well as an MBA and a PhD in business administration from the University of Nairobi.
Rev. Robert Mangi
Board Member
Board Member
Board MemberReverend Robert Mangi has been a pastor for over 30 years leading congregations at eight different Anglican churches in Kilifi County. He currently serves as the Archdeacon for the Anglican Church of Kenya in the Malindi Diocese. His church was the first one Kupenda worked with to include children with disabilities early in the organization’s development. The programs at this church serve as a model to other churches seeking to be more inclusive. Reverend Mangi’s work and experience helps Kupenda connect to other pastors in Kilfi County.
Allan Nyaga
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Susanne King
Board Member
Board Member
Board MemberSusanne King has more than 30 years of experience working as a social pedagogue (a teacher and social worker) in Denmark, Tanzania, Zambia, and Kenya. She served both the Danish Council and Danish Refugee Aid as a family counselor and worked as a development professional and nutrition group coordinator in Zambia. Susanne also served as headmistress at the Nordic School in Dar es Salaam and as Deputy Head of a Nature at a kindergarten in Denmark. She has experience working with teenage mothers, families with alcohol issues, and young adults with special needs and has earned diplomas in adult education and business administration.
Advisory Committee Members
Dr. Kathryn Quissell
Committee Member
Committee Member
Dr. Kathryn Quissell is an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia, and a researcher with expertise in global health policy, advocacy, and governance. She has a PhD in Public Administration and Policy from American University, an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences from Columbia University, and an MSc in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the London School of Economics. In her work with Kupenda, Dr. Quissell is helping the team design and implement assessments of their advocacy work in order to better understand the root causes of disability-related stigma and discrimination, and how to mitigate these factors to improve inclusion and access to healthcare and education. As a member of the Advisory Board, she advises the organization on their monitoring and evaluation work, their data dissemination, and their internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
Read more about Dr. Quissell’s experience in her LinkedIn profile here.
Dave Deuel
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee MemberDave Deuel, PhD, has held various leadership roles related to disability advocacy, including as Joni and Friends regional director for San Fernando Valley, CA, as well as Wheels for the World international instructor. He also helped start a chapter of the National Down Syndrome Association and served with Parent to Parent services for parents of children with disabilities.
Dave has served on over 30 boards and steering committees, including the North Los Angeles Regional Center, All Children’s Hospital, Direct Link for the Disabled, a Governor’s Advisory Committee for the State Council on Disability, the Lexington Family Disability Services, and a Governor’s Disability Policy Committee.
Currently Dave is senior research fellow in policy and publishing for the Christian Institute on Disability and academic dean emeritus for The Master’s Academy International. He is also interim chair for the New York State Developmental Disability Planning Council and serves on the New York State Council on Children and Families in the interest of families impacted by disability. Dave recently co-edited and contributed to the book, Disability in Mission: The Church’s Hidden Treasure. He also serves as catalyst for the Lausanne Disability Concerns Network and is a member of the YLGen Mentor Community leadership team.
Dave has degrees from Summit University (BA), Grace Theological Seminary (MDiv, ThM), the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University (MA), and the University of Liverpool, UK (MPhil, PhD). He is married, has four adult children, and lives in New York.
Read more about Dave’s experience in his LinkedIn profile here.
Suzanne Van de visser
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee MemberSuzanne van de Visser has been a pediatric nurse since 2005. She also spent 2 years volunteering in Benin, Togo and South Africa for the organization Mercy Ships. She is a foster parent through Fostering Hope Merrimack Valley and also has 3 adopted children. In addition to her nursing degree, Suzanne completed a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) trauma training. She currently serves as a Board Member for Kupenda and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in Haverhill.
Michael Thompson
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee MemberMichael is a professional accountant with over 25 year of experience in the finance industry.
Read more about Michael’s experience in his LinkedIn profile here.
Heidi Busch
Committee Member
Committee Member
Heidi Busch is a health and human services professional who currently focuses on monitoring, evaluation, and data analytics. She has a background in refugee health, international development and psychology.
Read more about Heidi’s experience in her LinkedIn profile here.
Jon Busch
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee MemberJon Busch is an advertising and marketing copywriter who has been supporting Kupenda for more than 12 years and who advises the organization on their marketing and fundraising strategies.
Read more about Jon’s experience in his LinkedIn profile here.
