Our Volunteers

Founder and President at AFACE

Serigne is a Senegalese-American businessman and philanthropist, who formerly served as the Assistant Treasurer in JP Morgan’s Global Markets and Banking Division Since then he has founded Afro Marketplace, a highly successful import-export business that has given many Senegalese artisans access to the global markets.

Serigne is also a Professor of Economics, Finance, and International Business at the City University of New York. With his efforts in development and extensive charitable work, including the re-building of schools that has increased educational opportunities for 8,000 children, he remains a very well-known and popular figure in his native country and across West Africa.

"The main goal of this foundation is to improve the educational system in Africa and to educate all African children. It is urgent that we all get involved by building and repairing affordable schools and by helping all public schools in Africa get the adequate resources they desperately need. We can no longer afford to wait any longer because there are many ways we all can help students attain better educations."

Vice President and Director of Global Volunteers at AFACE

Thomas has experience in the public policy sector through his work at both the NYC Comptroller’s Office and the Research Foundation of CUNY. In both capacities, he was responsible for analyzing data and making presentations to policy makers. In fact, his research on the financial aspects of municipal agencies has been cited by several New York State Senators and US Congressmen.

While at the NYC Comptroller’s Office, Thomas gained experience in institutional asset management and pension fund asset allocation through his work in the Bureau of Asset Management, which is the largest municipal pension fund in the world and manages around 120 billion dollars. While there, he spearheaded research on a number of special projects and reported directly to the Chief Investment Officer. While Thomas was at the Research Foundation of CUNY, his research focused on infrastructure public-private partnerships, toll road valuation analysis, and the financial aspects of municipal agencies.

Additionally, Thomas has worked in various roles in the financial services industry and has experience in the Investment Banking, Brokerage, Asset Management, Equity Research, and Private Equity fields. Thomas currently holds the Series 7 and 63 securities licenses and is a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts.

"I strongly believe that education is the main pillar in the global fight against poverty. Moreover, I feel a great duty to help African students obtain a good education in order to become successful."

Vice President and Director of Global Affairs at AFACE

Daniel holds a BA in History from Columbia University, and has also studied at the Prague School of Economics, focusing on development in emerging markets. While a student, he did research on intra-state conflict for Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).

Daniel is currently an Equity Research Consultant to the Toronto-based equity research firm Cooper Financial Research, where Daniel covers the West African energy sector. In the past, he has worked at the Asset Management Bureau of the New York City Comptroller's Office, where he specialized in short term investments. His experience also includes Vector Marketing, where he interviewed and trained a sales force as Assistant District Manager.

A speaker of French, Arabic and Czech, Daniel brings a global perspective in addition to a sound theoretical and practical background.

"I firmly believe that education is the backbone of development, social progress and all the higher purposes of a society. Through my efforts in the foundation, I seek to expand opportunities for those less fortunate and in the process help build a stronger global community. I am consistently impressed with AFACE's combination of global reach and invaluable local knowledge and feel truly fortunate to be a part of the organization."

Project Manager of Senegal Operations at AFACE

Pape B. Lô received his Ph.D in French Grammar at the University of C.A.D. in Dakar, Senegal. He speaks and writes French, Spanish, and English. Pape is currently a freelancer in Thies, where he focuses his efforts in writing, emerging market research, and international project management.

“Since the foundation's beginning, I strongly felt that AFACE would improve children’s access to education in many regions of Africa. It is a pleasure to manage all the building and repair projects of schools in Senegal. I really appreciate the help from volunteers around the world, especially those in the United States of America, for their hard work and dedication to this cause.”

Project Manager of Sierra Leone Operations at AFACE

Onesimus, who is originally from Sierra Leone, is currently working in the private banking division of Barclays in New York City. Additionally, he has experience working in institutional asset management which he attained while working at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Bank of New York Mellon. Onesimus is a native of Sierra Leone and he is an integral part of AFACE’s team in Sierra Leone.

"It is an honor to be a part of this organization. I feel a great duty to help children attain a better education in my native Sierra Leone and other African countries. I am very pleased to help AFACE run its operations in Sierra Leone, and my experience working in financial services has expanded my abilities to help AFACE."

Project Manager of Gambia Operations at AFACE

Ebrima S. Touray, who is originally from Gambia, is a finance professional who has previously worked with three different multinational banks in Africa including Guaranty Trust Bank, First International Bank, and Oceanic Bank. Most recently, he has worked in the Corporate Banking Division of Citigroup.

He has five years corporate banking experience and has done extensive credit analysis for most of these corporations, including Citigroup, where he has been directly involved in credit packaging worth several multibillion dollar facilities. He has also overseen credit reviews of various revolving facilities as well as participated in loan syndication with other top US banks. Ebrima S. Touray is currently on a presidential scholarship as the top rated Commerce student in Gambia and majors in International Business at the European School of Economics.

“Being a scholarship student myself, I know the value of education and the endless opportunities it affords its recipients. I received my primary education in Africa and I know firsthand the challenges African students face on a daily basis. I desire to do my best in leaving no stone unturned in trying to help as many children as possible.”

Project Manager of Ghana Operations at AFACE

Andrew is a native of Ghana and Nigeria and attended primary school in West Africa. He currently works in the equities and derivatives investment division at the New York City-based Boutique Investment Bank, Fordham Financial Management. He currently holds the FINRA Series 7 and 63 Securities Licenses.

"As someone who attended school in Africa, I remain steadfast in my belief that education is the key to establish the security necessary for Africa's future, prosperity, and economic sustainability. I am honored to be part of the AFACE organization as the Project Manager of Ghana Operations."

Project Manager of Cameroon Operations at AFACE

Arrnauld is originally from Cameroon, where he was a journalist and human rights advocate. He is a professional in cocoa and coffee trading, and since moving to New York City, he is started a career in accounting. Arrnauld is very interested in providing a concrete solution for education and health issues in Africa, and feels that AFACE has provided him with the opportunity to get involved in providing solution in one of these areas.

"I come from Douala, Cameroon where there is an important need to renovate schools and I’m very happy to be part of an organization that does just that."

Project Manager of Nigerian Operations at AFACE

Anthony is originally from Nigeria, where he was an undergraduate student. Upon arriving in the United States, he has since attained a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science and is currently working in the information technology sector.

"It’s an honor to be part of this important project to help students in developing African nations attain access to better education. I am a native of Nigeria, I stated my education in Africa and I know firsthand what the children of Africa are lacking in terms of education. I strongly believe that it is very important that more people get involved in this foundation and help African children attain better educations."

Director of Operations at AFACE

Zanade owns the elite public relations and social media marketing agency Online & Off where she is responsible for creating strategic and cost effective campaigns for savvy entrepreneurs, physicians, attorneys, personal brands and products.

More commonly known she is also the Senior Writer of MahoganyButterfly.com an online magazine where she conducts celebrity interviews and product reviews, interviewing hit talk show host Wendy Williams and Hip Hop Icon Rev Run amongst other A-list stars.

Zanade loves to give back through her efforts with The Pink Polka Dot Organization where she mentors underserved girls in the New York City area and raised over $10,000 for the program. Most recently Zanade joined the Women’s Prison Association to support incarcerated women who struggle to get their life back on track.

Zanade has affiliations with New York Women in Communications Inc., Girls Scouts of America, The White House Project, The Soroptimist Organization just to name a few and continues to network her way to success.

“I strongly believe in AFACE’s goal of helping underprivileged children in Africa. My unique perspective as an entrepreneur and non-profit president enable me to be a real asset in fundraising and building partnerships with all different types of organizations.”

Director of the Accounting and Auditing Divisions at AFACE

Thomas is currently working as an associate in the audit and tax divisions of the New York-based accounting firm, Berdon LLP.

"I am very happy to be part of AFACE's finance and accounting division. Through my positions at my current accounting firm, Berdon LLP, and my previous employer, Bank of New York Mellon, I have gained a solid working knowledge of financial analysis and I have put those skills to use while working on projects for AFACE globally. Overall, I feel a great duty to help children in Africa attain a good education, and that's why I joined AFACE."

Director of Information Technology

Denys is a computer technology specialist who has experience in C++, ASP.NET, and PHP. Moreover, he has experience with variety of database tools such as Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL. He is responsible for maintaining online operations at AFACE in both Africa and America, which include AFACE’s website and online communications.

“Technology is playing an increasing role in the world, and I feel it is essential to integrate technological innovations into the non-profit world. I have volunteered with many 501(c) (3) organizations in the past and AFACE’s strategic plan is certainly a great example for other non profits to follow.”

Director of Media Relations at AFACE

Amdy is the manager of Afrik Multimedia Advertising Agency, which is headquartered in New York City. Amdy has always wanted to help children and improve the educational system in Africa. Fortunately, when he found out about AFACE and saw how the foundation’s executive staff invested a lot of their personal financial resources and time into operating the foundation, he knew AFACE was the right foundation to join.

“It feels good to wake up every morning and to see the difference you are making for the world to be a better place for all children.”

Director of Community Affairs at AFACE

David has Asset Management experience at UBS Wealth Management, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and the Bureau of Asset Management within the NYC Comptroller’s Office. As Director of Community Affairs, David helps build relationships with various organizations including other NGOs. He works alongside the President and Vice Presidents to identify tactical and strategic ways AFACE can become better exposed within various communities.

“AFACE supports the development of leaders for tomorrow. We are touching the lives of African children.”

Director of International Programs at AFACE

Wilma holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from New York University. She is currently the Chief Librarian at the College of Staten Island at the City University of New York and runs the international program division at AFACE.

"AFACE aims to bring the joy of learning to many children in smaller towns and villages all over Africa. My role in AFACE is to contribute in any way to help make this happen."

Director of Development at AFACE

John is a financial services industry professional based in New York City. He has worked in the investment management division of several broker-dealers and currently holds the Series 7 and 63 Securities Licenses. He is a former New York City Branch Partner of JHS Capital Advisors, a CFA Level 1 Candidate, and he specializes in derivatives and equity investment management.

John is responsible for strategically planning the various projects AFACE is working on in both Africa and America and is tasked with making sure everything runs smoothly.

"It is an honor to be part of AFACE. It feels great to wake up everyday and know that my efforts are helping children in Africa and I'm very proud to be a part of this team."

Director of International Strategy at AFACE

Randall has been in the brokerage industry for over a decade working on the means of funding investment research to the buy-side. After working as a VP at Bank of New York, Randall was a co-founder of Firmview, a multi-broker web portal to enable buy-side clients a single transactional hub to manage the payment of their investment research invoices via 28(e) research commissions as well as for them to monitor the trades used to fund these payments. The web portal integrates with the sell-side and gives sell-side users a communication layer to interact with their clients in a secure manner.

Following the sale of Firmview to TSI, a software vendor with decades of experience in this industry, Randall continues to work with the hundreds of buy-side and sell-side institutions using their products.

Randall is a recent MBA graduate of New York University’s Stern School of Business and is a candidate for the CFA level 2 exam. He is a consultant to Cooper Financial Research. Prior to his move to the brokerage industry, Randall was an AVP at Barclays Capital working in credit risk and portfolio management. Prior to Barclays, Randall worked in mutual fund analysis at Fidelity Investments. Randall studied and worked in France for 2 years and is proficient in French.

Randall is responsible for forecasting the geopolitical and economic enviornment globally for AFACE. He works closely with the other Directors to ensure that the maximum amount of return on invested capital occurs.

“I truly believe in the work that I’m doing with AFACE and to know that I’m really making a positive difference in the lives of children is a great feeling.”

Director of Marketing at AFACE

Shammy Shivaprasad's non-profit marketing experience includes doing Market Research for the Community Health Action Organization and spearheading fundraising efforts for non-profits focused on combating educational inequality. Shammy has been a member of the American Marketing Association for the past two years.

"Helping people has always been a huge part of my life. Through AFACE I get to live my dream of helping the unfortunate children in Africa get a better education. I love children and I wish everyone can contribute to this great cause.”

Director of Marketing at AFACE

Marie is a part-time elementary school teacher in New York City. She has also spearheaded the marketing campaigns of several small businesses and nonprofits.

"I am thrilled to be a volunteer of AFACE and take part in helping children attain better educations in Africa. The appreciation and self worth attained by taking part in improving the lives of others cannot be bought. It is up to us as a whole to support and improve the education of underprivileged individuals. In doing so, we can take part in shaping a better tomorrow for future generations to come."

Director of Quantitative Analysis at AFACE

Tony is the Director of Operations Modeling & Analysis at AT&T Labs Research. Dr Brigandi holds a Ph.D from NYU-Poly in Operations Research. His areas of expertise are in operations research, statistics, and scientific software design. He is specialized in simulation, mathematical programming, facility location and decision support system design and implementation in OR applications. Tony is a member of the Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences (INFORMS) Roundtable. He is an Edelman Laureate and won the 1993 Franz Edelman Competition, the prestigious International Management Science Achievement Award.

Tony assists the AFACE team with quantifying the social return on invested capital on projects in West Africa. As operations research specialist, he brings an invaluable perspective to AFACE and ensures that its projects generate the most return for African children.

“I find it very rewarding to have the opportunity to give back to underprivileged children in Africa.”

Director of Strategic Partnerships at AFACE

Michael has 20 years of experience in the Investment Banking, Equity Research and Private Equity fields and is based in Toronto, Canada. He is the President of Toronto-based Cooper Financial Research, which has coverage on 19 African mining companies which have a combined market value over $80 billion.

In addition to this coverage, he provides analytical services for two Central African mining companies: Banro Corporation and Loncor Resources. Banro Corporation (TSX:BAA)(AMEX:BAA) is currently building a 100,000 oz per year mine to begin extracting gold from Banro's 11.2 million oz Twangiza gold mine at a cash cost estimated at $350/oz. The other company, Loncor Resources, (TSX-V:LN) is a focal point of Newmont's industry leading gold exploration technology.

Michael previously raised $60 million for private companies involved in the communication and information technology industries. He was also the lead advisor on two IPO's. One IPO was the second most successful in Canada in 1999 according to RBCDS. He specializes in producing portfolios of research reports which generate excess investor returns and is a CFA Charterholder. In addition, he is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at AFACE and he works toward building and cultivating relationships across Africa.

“Helping children in Africa is something I’m very passionate about and I really enjoy giving back to those in need.”

Director of Public Relations at AFACE

Brian has a decade of experience in the media industry. He has covered events which range from New York Red Bulls games to the TriBeCa Film Festival for numerous publications. Brian is responsible for working with the Vice Presidents and the Director of Information Technology in facilitating communication between the executive staff and the media.

"With the current decline in the economy it is important that we make sure education is a top priority. It is not simply providing knowledge, but preparing the next generation to confidently meet the challenges they will face. At the same time it is important to write their story and have a record to tell others that nothing is impossible, it just hasn’t been done yet. "

Special Advisor to the Vice President and Director of Global Volunteers at AFACE

In addition to her social activist work in Africa through AFACE, Aleena is also a financial services professional. She has worked in the equity research divisions of several broker-dealers which include Wolfenson & Company, Bankers Trust, and Deutsche Bank. Aleena has a degree in Accounting from the City University of New York.

Aleena has assisted the Vice President and Director of Global Volunteers on many projects which range from supporting the logistical aspects of foundation's trip to ring the Closing Bell at the NASDAQ alongside the President of Sierra Leone to finalizing the terms on numerous fundraising events.

"Being the Special Advisor to the Vice President of AFACE has been a wonderful opportunity for me to give back to the children of Africa. In doing so, I have been able to facilitate numerous events and conferences which have lead to the building of strong partnerships with policymakers all over the world."

Special Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Global Volunteers at AFACE

Majlinda Rusi currently works as a Tax and Audit Associate for an Accounting firm in New York City and has done voluntary work in a Senior Assisted Living & Rehabilitation Center. She works with the Vice President and Director of Global Volunteers on projects in Sierra Leone, in which she helps to manage partnerships with other NGOs operating within the country.

"Many of us forget how lucky we are to be given something so little, but something which changes our daily lives so profoundly, an education. We also tend to take our education for granted, so if there is one way to give back, I cannot think of a better way than volunteering for AFACE. I consider myself very lucky to be given a chance to help children brighten their futures."