Meet The Team

Samuel Sesay

President

Samuel Sesay is a Missionary Evangelist in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Sierra Leone and is also currently serving as the President of EduNations Inc. Having worked previously in full time Christian Ministry, in a business organization and recently with other Not for profit organizations, Samuel holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honours in French, English and Linguistics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and a Master’s degree in Peace and Development Studies. Samuel’s training in both secular and ecclesiastical matters in Sierra Leone and abroad has given him a feel for a passion in life in which he wants to see God’s creation come to an understanding of his love and to help them respond in faith. His commitment to helping ‘the least of these’ experience the love of God is what drives him on and on daily as he sees life after life and community after community come to experience this love. Samuel is married to Catherine and the Lord has blessed their marriage with two lovely daughters, Samuella and Samrine.

Email: [email protected]

Isaac Boima

Program Manager

Motivated by compassion for the poor, Isaac is devoted to poverty alleviation through education. Isaac holds BSc in Banking and Finance from Njala University. Prior to his promotion as the Program Manager, Isaac served as the Administrative Finance Officer and previously as the Agricultural Project Officer for EduNations Inc. Isaac burns with desire for the Word of God and has a passion for soul winning. Isaac has served as a missionary in different parts of Sierra Leone. He is highly motivated, diligent and pragmatic with quantitative aptitude, decision making skills and experience in teaching and rural evangelism.

Email: [email protected]

Michael Alusine Turay

Education Secretary

Passionate about serving humanity in under resourced communities, Michael is devoted to identifying and developing opportunities that promotes personal growth and uplifts professional development through education. Michael is highly motivated, has a creative mind and always up for new challenges.  Michael holds a Bachelor in Education Degree in Agricultural Education from the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology. Prior to his promotion as the Education Secretary, Michael served as a teacher and later as principal for EduNations Hope Academy Junior Secondary School in Fintonia.Raised by Christian parents, he burns with the desire for God's word and soul winning. Michael has served the Lord in different capacities in different parts of Sierra Leone. Michael is married, and he and his wife have been blessed with four sons.  

Email: [email protected]

Michael Jude Conteh

Finance Officer

Michael Conteh is currently serving as the Finance Officer of EduNations Inc. in Sierra Leone. Prior to his appointment as the Finance Officer of EduNations Inc., Michael worked as a High School Teacher in many schools including EduNations Hope Academy Senior School in Rokassa Community, Sierra Leone, where he also served as the Head of the Accounting Department and also headed the Discipleship Program. Michael has a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Accounting and a Master's Degree in the same field. Michael has both Theological and secular training. He did his theological training in Cornhill- UK online. He is a bible teacher and preacher and also has passion in Mission work.

Email: [email protected]

Mariama Jabbie

Social Worker

Mariama Jabbie has a bachelor’s degree in economics education from Njala University. Her previous experience included teaching high school students, most recently at EduNations Hope Academy Senior school in Rokassa. She has also served as one of the tutors of the discipleship program, and house parent to one of our student families living in the dormitories.  During her time as house parent, Mariama displayed gifts in understanding and developing relationships with high-school students. Mariama is a committed follower of Jesus and loves to share the joy of new life in Christ with others.

Email: [email protected]

Kadiatu Conteh

Social Worker

Kadiatu Conteh is pleased and happy about working with schools in under-resourced communities as part of our Psychosocial staff. Prior to her appointment as Social Worker Of EduNations, Kadiatu worked as school missionary and mentor in many schools in Makeni and surrounding areas. Kadiatu holds a Bachelor in Education Degree in Business Management from the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology. Kadiatu is a bright young woman full of passion and enthusiasm. She believes that every child has the right to a quality education because God desires for all students to be used to impact nations in all walks of life.

Email: [email protected]

Isatu Dumbuya

Administration and Human Resources Officer

Isatu Dumbuya holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in Library, Archive and Information Studies from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. Prior to working for EduNations, Isatu accrued over five years of experience in Records Management and Archive Administration, while working for the Corporate Affairs Commission of Sierra Leone. Passionate about learning and working with people, she pursued a certificate in Preparing to Manage Human Resources; an online, non-credited course from the University of Minnesota.. Fueled by her love for humanity, communities and service, she actively participated at the 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone advocating for women's and girls' empowerment during my final year at university. 

Email: [email protected]

Dana Kaltenberger

U.S. Director

Dana Kaltenberger's partnership with EduNations began back in 2018 when she met Samuel Sesay on a trip to Israel. In 2022, she felt the Lord calling her to step into the U.S. Director role at EduNations. God has placed a passion in her heart for missions and reaching the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.  Earning her bachelor's degree in education, Dana sees the value and impact of establishing schools in developing world countries. Dana is married to Matt, who is the lead Pastor at Grace Community Church, and has 3 adult children. 

Email: [email protected]

Sarah Pietryga

Development Coordinator

Motivated by alleviating extreme poverty through education and holistic transformation, Sarah is passionate about finding ways to sustainably ignite hope and a future for the children in Sierra Leone. She is a graduate of Grove City College with a degree in Marketing Management and a focus in International Studies. Sarah visited Sierra Leone for the first time in 2017, where she experienced the hope that EduNations is bringing to many families through education. She lives and works in the Pittsburgh area, and is actively involved in Student Ministries at Memorial Park Church.

Email: [email protected]

Pilar Rodriguez

Sponsorship Coordinator/Administrative Assistant

Pilar Rodriguez has had a deep desire to glorify God by making a difference in this world since she was young. Having grown up in third world countries she experienced first-hand the hope that loving and investing in children can bring. Throughout her life, she has been involved in organizations who are changing lives - especially those sharing the light of Jesus. She has participated in several mission trips around the world that have enriched her life. She is honored to now be serving the children in Sierra Leone. Pilar graduated with a degree in Industrial Management from Grove City College and lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and their three blessings.

Email: [email protected]

Jeff Gingrich

Chairman of the Board

Jeff Gingrich is a urologist involved in patient care, education and research now for over 25 years Jeff heard about EduNations through the missions committee at North Park Church.   After his first trip to Sierra Leone, Jeff was convinced that EduNations provides access to a quality education for children who otherwise would not have such an opportunity. “I consider a basic quality education a human right that should be available to all God's children throughout the world.”          

Email: [email protected] 

Rick Kennedy

Vice Chairman of the Board

Rick Kennedy has practiced law for 40 years and served as the managing partner of a large New York law firm for the past 6 years.   Rick and his wife were led to help found EduNations to honor our Sierra Leonean daughter's prayers to help her friends and to answer God’s call to serve the least among us.  "EduNations’ work is important because it is part of God’s plan to redeem the world by demonstrating Jesus’ love in concrete terms to every man, woman and child everywhere. I serve on the EduNations’ board to provide guidance and accountability for as long as God chooses to use us."

Email: [email protected] 

Stacy Tessaro

Secretary

Stacy Tessaro is a secondary science teacher and has been for 19 years.    In 2019, North Park Church sent Stacy to Sierra Leone as part of a group training teachers at our EduNations’ schools.  Stacy’s desire is to serve EduNations from a stateside location in order to serve God. 
“Communities need effective education to escape poverty, and education that comes in tandem with the gospel is preeminent.”       

Email: [email protected]

Alimamy Bader

Treasurer

Alimamy Bader is a a young engineer just starting his profession with a focus on power systems engineering. Alimamy has been involved with EduNations his whole life. His uncle and aunt both served during the early beginnings of the organization as accounts/bookkeepers, and Alimamy has participated in many events during the early years. Alimamy desires to represent one of the many children EduNations' is serving and to take part in bring impact to his motherland.  “Being a native of Sierra Leone and an adoptee, I still recall much of my early life in Sierra Leone; the lack of food, water, education, resources and a future still remains afresh in my mind. These very needs are what builds up a nation, and it is this that EduNations is helping to provide.” 

 Email: [email protected]                                                                                         

Scott Graham

Board Member

Scott Graham has served as a pastor in Presbyterian churches since 1993.  He come from a family with a long history in both the pastorate and education. Scott was introduced to EduNations by Dean Weaver, one of the EduNations’ founders, and took his first trip to Sierra Leone to learn about the work of EduNations in 2012.  Today Scott serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.  “The only things we keep are those we give away. EduNations gives me the opportunity to give generously, but I receive far more in return. Providing good education in locations where it is otherwise unavailable transforms lives, not just for the students, but for their entire families; not just for the present, but for generations to come.”

Email: [email protected]

Ken Houseknecht

Board Member

Ken Houseknecht, is a founding member of EduNations.  Ken spent 40 years in the professional work world, working with a wide range of organizations in a number of industries, on a host of programs and projects. He spent the last decade running a nonprofit in the mental health field, serving individuals, families, businesses, schools, and community groups throughout Western New York.  Since retiring in 2020, he has served on a number of nonprofit boards, each working to help underserved and under resourced people, both in the United States and internationally.

Email: [email protected] 

Ken Krieger

Board Member

Ken Krieger, is a founding member of EduNations.  His professional experience includes being an educational administrator in the area of Student Services for 30+ years, and he currently works in educational technology sales.  “After adopting two children from Sierra Leone, my wife, Jen and I were troubled by the many children who were left behind and we were motivated to find a way to help lift them from poverty. As a founding member of EduNations, I marvel at the impact we've had in Sierra Leone and I desire to help the organization continue the work. God inspired the founders to be faithful to the vision given and promised that He, in turn, would be faithful to see the work to completion.”

Email: [email protected] 

Bruce Tenenbaum

Board Member

After working in the Banking/IT field for 40 years, Bruce Tenenbaum is now retired.  Bruce was first introduced to EduNations at one of our annual EduNations Benefit Concerts.  Bruce is passionate about moving the Gospel of Jesus Christ forward in Sierra Leone through Christian based education.        

Email: [email protected]