Rachel Robinson, Director
M.A. Community Art, Maryland Institute College of Art 2006
B.A. Visual Art, Gordon College 2003
Much of Rachel’s life has been spent in East Africa; she was born and grew up in Kenya and now lives and works in Uganda. While studying for her BA in Visual Arts from Gordon College, she studied abroad on BestSemester's Middle East Studies Program. MESP affirmed a deep belief in the transformative value of cross-cultural living and learning as part of a college education. Rachel earned her masters in Community Art from the Maryland Institute College of Art--a program that incorporates art and the creative process to bring about community development, empowerment and social justice. She then directed community art programs at Baltimore Clayworks, a ceramic arts non-profit organization, before returning to East Africa in 2010 to work with USP as a Program Coordinator, and in 2015 became the Program Director.
Emily Entsminger, Student Life Coordinator
MDiv. Spiritual Formation, Portland Seminary (George Fox University) 2020
B.A. Christian Education, Youth Ministry & Adolescent Studies, Northwestern College, 2009
USP Alumna, Fall 2007
Emily is originally from Eastern Iowa. She earned her undergraduate degree in Christian Education/Youth Ministry from Northwestern College. While earning her bachelor’s degree Emily was a student with Uganda Studies Program (Fall 2007) in the IMME emphasis. She has spent her professional career serving students in a variety of contexts. She started as a congregational youth pastor in Northwest Iowa. Then served young adults with Amagara Bible Institute of Discipleship and Evangelism in Mbarara, Uganda. And most recently served in higher education as the Director of Campus Ministry. Emily earned her Master of Divinity with a specialization in Spiritual Formation from Portland Seminary (George Fox) in 2020. She is passionate about journeying with students and helping them navigate life’s big questions.
Jonathan Tumwebaze, Global Health Coordinator and Christian University Partnerships Manager
PhD Public Policy, University of Pretoria, South Africa 2022
M.A. Research and Public Policy, Uganda Christian University 2017
B.A. Development Studies, Uganda Christian University 2014
Jonathan has a unique passion for cross-disciplinary learning and knowledge systems and has a breadth of experience working with students. As an undergraduate student at UCU in Development Studies, Jonathan was a member of the Honours College, serving as the Chairperson in 2013-2014. He roomed with several USP roommates during those years! He went on to obtain his MA in Research and Public Policy through UCU, while also serving as a Teaching Assistant and later a Lecturer. Jonathan is currently a Ph.D. Carnegie fellow in the School of Public Management and Administration at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. He is a passionate cross-disciplinary child-focused policy researcher. Prior to his doctoral studies, Jonathan Coordinated the Institute of Faith Learning and Service at Uganda Christian University. His work involved designing, implementing, and later evaluating faith integration projects for both teaching and non-teaching staff at UCU's main and it's 4 regional campuses. Jonathan enjoys listening and learning alongside his students.
Nazjé Mansfield, Social Work Coordinator and Faculty
M.S.W. Samford University 2020
B.S.W. Belmont University 2019
USP Alumna, Spring 2019
During the height of the global pandemic, Nazjè Mansfield graduated from Samford University with a Master of Social Work Degree and a concentration in Global Community Development. She has worked in several different social work settings including criminal justice, with chronically ill children, and public nonprofits. As a family-centered woman, Nazjè is passionate about helping others and improving human relations.
Ronald Ssenyonga, Global Health Faculty
PhD fellow, Health Sciences, University of Oslo 2019-
MSc. Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University, Uganda 2015
MSc. Statistics, Makerere University, Uganda 2009
Ronald is a research associate and part time lecturer in the department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda) and Uganda Christian University respectively. He teaches on the Epidemiology and Biostatistics courses and has extensive community-based research experience in designing, managing and analyzing data from randomized trials, longitudinal studies, national and regional surveys. He supervises the PMA-Uganda data management and analysis team on the Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) project that works in 12 countries to collect data at community level and health facilities.
George Ntambi, Global Health Faculty
MSc. Biochemistry, Reva Institute of Science & Management, Bangalore University, India 2015Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT), Colaco Academy of Paramedical Sciences, Bangalore, India 2015
BSc. Biotechnology Reva Institute of Science & Management, Bangalore University, India 2010
George works as the director of Laboratory Services at Mukono Church of Uganda Hospital and as a part time lecturer for the Uganda Studies Program (USP) Global Health Emphasis. He has extensive laboratory experience pertaining to the fields of clinical pathology and biochemistry, hematology and histopathology. Since 2017 George has been with USP as a part time microbiology lecturer.
Lydia Wankuma, Administrator
M.A. Biblical Counseling, Westminster Theological Seminary 2011
B.A. Social Work and Social Administration, Uganda Christian University 2006
Upon attaining her BA from Uganda Christian University, She worked as a research assistant with International Potato Centre - a private organization that seeks to reduce poverty and achieve food security. She later joined the staff at Uganda Christian University as a teaching assistant. As part of her MA Program, she interned with Bethany Christian Services in Pennsylvania with the Post Adoptions department. Upon returning to Uganda, she joined the faculty at Uganda Christian University to teach in the Social Work department and the Counseling Program. Lydia loves helping other people reach their dreams and her work with Uganda Studies Program enables her to do that.
John Kabugo, Driver
Cert. Motor Vehicle Tech Part 1, Mukono Vocational Training School 1990
License, Class CM, B, A, DL 1988
Cert. Business Administration and Accounting, Mukono Vocational Training School 1990
Lauren Thrush, Program Assistant
B.S. Applied Health Sciences, Wheaton College 2022
USP Alumna, Fall 2022
Kayli Radke, Program Assistant
B.S. Speech-Language Pathology, Trinity Christian College 2023
USP Alumna, Fall 2022
Denise Nassunje, Program Assistant
B.A. Journalism and Mass Communication, Uganda Christian University 2023
Lisa Tokpa, Director of Field Education
M.S.W. Washington University 2002
B.A. Psychology, Business Administration, William Jewell College 2000
After studying abroad her last semester of college at Daystar University in Kenya, Lisa pursued her MSW, specializing in children, youth and families. She has since been a caseworker at a Christian child placement agency in Denver, the Director of Aftercare at International Justice Mission, Kenya and the coordinator of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Program at Samaritan’s Purse, Liberia. Upon returning to the US she worked at The Adoption Exchange (now, Raise the Future) as the Director of the Colorado Post-Adoption Resource Center. Lisa utilized her experience in both domestic and international social work within her role as the Social Work Coordinator and Faculty with the Uganda Studies Program since 2012. She now works part-time from the US, guiding USP’s field education component and admissions process.
Kimberly Spragg, Director of University Partnerships
M.A. History, Ball State University
B.A. History and International Studies, Taylor University
Kimberly has worked in higher education for 23 years with a variety of U.S. and international institutions including Taylor University, Texas Christian University, Harvard University, Christian Heritage College, Excelsia College, and the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. During her tenure with the CCCU, Kimberly served as the Director of Student Programs (she was involved in the initial set up of the Uganda Studies Program) and then as the Director of the Australia Studies Centre. Kimberly has expertise designing, implementing, and assessing curriculum and program operations for international and U.S. off-campus programs. As a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory, she’s a skilled curator of immersive experiences in intercultural formation and passionate about mentoring students to adapt across difference. Most recently, Kimberly managed health, safety, and operations for the Center for International Studies at Texas Christian University. She now works 3 days a week as Director of University Partnerships for UCU Partners, and is pursuing a PhD in literature & theology.
