Erin, a Yiya cofounder, holds a Bachelor of Science from MIT as well as a Masters of Education from Marquette University. Her educational career began as a teacher for America fellow teaching high school math in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has over a decade of experience in secondary STEM education, teacher training, and curriculum development, and has worked with educators in the United States, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Sudan. Erin is interested in science and technology knowledge and ideas, as well as assisting young people in developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
FITZGERALD
ERIN
Samson, co-founder of Yiya and a 2019 Moonshot Fellow, is a physics teacher with a B.Sc. in Education from Makerere University and extensive experience in Uganda’s education system. A 2023–2024 Obama Scholar at Columbia University, he draws inspiration from his rural upbringing to design innovative, experiential learning programs. His passion for education drives Yiya’s mission to break poverty cycles through engaging, game-based learning that simplifies complex topics for students.
SAMSON
WAMBUZI
SHEEBA
NIWENSIIMA
Sheeba, Yiya's User Experience Manager holds a Computer Engineering degree from Mbarara University. Passionate about responsible innovation, she's participated in various science and technology programs that prioritize human-centered solutions catering to user needs. Her efforts earned her recognition as No. 8 of the Top 50 Outstanding African Women in Tech.
At Yiya, Sheeba designs high-quality curricula for Yiya AirScience and has supported the team to create the platform
ANGELA
FORCIER
Angela joined Yiya as Chief of Staff in 2021. She holds a Master’s in Applied Anthropology from the University of Cape Town and has experience in program development, assessment, and entrepreneurship across six countries. Passionate about wellness, accessibility, and interdependence, Angela believes lasting impact requires continual listening and learning, emphasizing that good intentions alone do not guarantee positive outcomes.
Joseph, has a 10 years experience leveraging IOT to address development challenges. He is the co-founder of ThinVoid, and a mentor, teacher, and Tech enthusiast. He advised on and spearheaded the development of the first Yiya Airscience platform. Joseph is an outstanding analytical leader who uses his extensive knowledge of software development to support team members. He is a valuable thought partner in the ongoing development of the YIya AirScience platform, as well as Yiya’s Vision.
JOSEPH KAIZZI KASOLO
Sharifah Yiya's Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learnings specialist is a certified product analyst passionate about supporting projects and teams working on software and data-driven solutions. She enjoys assisting young people in reaching their technological potential. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering from Busitema University, in Uganda and has worked on a wide range of software and data-driven solutions. She is enthusiastic to learn about machine learning and artificial intelligence.
SHARIFAH
NALUSWATA
MICHAEL
ARIKOSI
Michael, Yiya’s product specialist, graduated from Makerere University with a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering. With over 4 years experience in the software development craft, he has creatively contributed to the continuous development and improvement of the Yiya AirScience Platform. He is an immensely skilled Engineer who takes pride in effective teamwork through resilient problem-solving.
GARDNER
ALAN
Alan has spent 15 years as an entrepreneur, software engineer, and product manager, and holds a physics degree from MIT. He founded 4 companies and worked at the MIT Media Lab, as well as research and AI tech startups. Currently he works at Google. He developed the second version of the Yiya Airscience platform. Alan is a selfless team player who makes people appreciate the beauty of software solutions by portraying them in the easiest way possible.
Felisty is a professional teacher of Arts and Design with Diploma in Secondary Education from Gulu Teachers Training College. Her passion for teaching students how to use their talents to improve their lives sparked her interest in teaching students how to use STEM to solve community problems. She was one of the pioneer Yiya AirScience educators, and now works as a Field Officer for Yiya. Her great love for STEM and poetry was exhibited in a poem she composed about Yiya Airscience.
FELISTY
ALAKA
Harriet is a highly qualified teacher who holds a Bachelor's degree in teaching with a major in Geography from Makerere University. She has 8 years of teaching experience and has taught at Trinity College and Nile Progressive Secondary School, both in Gulu City. She has a great passion for science and technology. She is a passionate Yiya Airscience educator, excited about science and technology, who encourages more girls to venture into STEM courses.
HARRIET
ABER
EDITH PEACE
CANMOO
As our MEL Officer, Edith transforms raw data into powerful stories of impact. A statistics graduate from Makerere University, she bridges the gap between our community work and organizational goals.
Her process is deeply human-centered: beginning in the field by listening to the experiences of the learners we serve. She then weaves these personal stories into compelling evidence, ensuring every number we report reflects a real story of progress. Her analysis directly shapes our strategies, guaranteeing they are informed by genuine community need.
JAMES
SENONO
James is a graduate of the African Leadership Academy and currently works at Yiya as an Innovations Fellow. With a passion for technology and programming, he is dedicated to using his skills to solve modern-day problems. Along with his technical prowess, he also has a keen interest in leadership. James hopes to leverage his knowledge and experience to create innovative solutions that can drive positive change in society.
Our Board Members
CAROLINE LOWENTHAL,
M.S, BOARD CHAIRPERSON
Caroline is the Alliance Manager in the MIT Office of Strategic Alliances and Technology Transfer. As Yiya Solutions board chairperson, she brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning and partnership building.
MERCY KATAIKE VICTORIA, M.S. PHYSICS
Mercy is starting her Doctorate studies in Medical Physics this year at the University of Melbourne in Australia, where she will be researching ischemic stroke. She aspires to become a certified professional medical physicist.
JOSEPH KAIZZI KASOLO
Joseph is the founder of ThinVoid, a software company in Uganda that is leveraging technology to empower SMEs in the transportation and agricultural Sectors. He is a mentor, a teacher and a tech-enthusiast.
RAINA ECKHARDT, PhD, TREASURER, YIYA-US
Dr. Eckhardt is a mathematics professor at MCC, and also serves as the department’s Program Coordinator. Raina received her Doctor of Education with research in technology-enhanced mathematics education and program evaluation from Plymouth State University (PSU).
MIRIAM R. KABAGOROBYA,
PhD. CANDIDATE
Miriam is an instructional/Curriculum Design & Training professional. She is a lifelong learner and teacher, always looking for learning opportunities to empower others. She is a STEM enthusiast and Math tutor at Syracuse University.
RICHARD JEONG
Rich is the Science Technology Officer on the RV Odyssey (formerly the Alucia, best known for Blue Planet 2). He worked in IT for nearly twenty years in Denver, DC, Uganda, and the US Antarctic Program, which included a winter at McMurdo Station and work on their Research Vessels.
FRED BARUNGI
Fred is a contributor to the ICT industry in Uganda as a Hardware support, Lecturer and Researcher for over 17 years,he has a wealth of experience in ICT.
JAMES KATUMBA
Katumba is a co-founder and executive director at Wezesha impact with rich knowledge in education and fundraising.
MIKE CHRISTIAN
Mike is the Board President of Someone Else’s Child Foundation and Founder and Chairman of Risk Strategies, a leading U.S. insurance brokerage he led as CEO from 1997 to 2019, growing it to over $700M in annual revenue. He also manages Community Impact Ventures, an impact VC fund, and supports Boston non-profits focused on children, arts, and education. Mike holds a Philosophy degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
PATRICIA A DAILEY
Patricia A. Dailey is an Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. Her work explores medieval literature, mysticism, and critical theory, focusing on embodiment, language, and temporality. She is the author of Promised Bodies: Time, Language, and Corporeality in Medieval Women’s Mystical Texts and co-editor of A Companion to Hadewijch.
FIONA HUGHES PHD
Fiona studied engineering at MIT and the University of Cambridge, and spent 10 years working on low carbon energy technologies, related policy, and business models.
She is the founding director of a cooperative nonprofit developing a community-based approach to decarbonising UK homes.
ALAN GARDNER
Alan has spent 15 years as an entrepreneur, software engineer, and product manager, and holds a physics degree from MIT. He founded 4 companies and worked at the MIT Media Lab, as well as research and AI tech startups. Currently he works at Google. He developed the second version of the Yiya Airscience platform. Alan is a selfless team player who makes people appreciate the beauty of software solutions by portraying them in the easiest way possible.
RACHEL MCGRATH
