Our Team

Having taught in classrooms in Coastal Kenya, Northern California and Chirumhanzu, Zimbabwe, Rebecca has devoted her professional life to college equity and access for talented, low-income students. She founded USAP in 2000 and worked for a very long spell as the Country Coordinator for EducationUSA in Zimbabwe. She has been active as a presenter, trainer and leader in international education organisations such as NAFSA, I-ACAC, CIS and currently the HALI Access Network. Rebecca holds a BA in Anthropology and African Studies from Brown University and MAs in International Development Education and English and World History Secondary Education from Stanford University. When not trying to save the world from itself or hanging out with her daughters, Rebecca enjoys cooking, Arsenal FC and dreaming of beaches from her landlocked home.

Rufaro is a recipient of the Makomborero Zimbabwe and MasterCard Foundation Scholarships. She graduated from United States International University-Africa in Kenya with an Honors degree in Finance with a concentration in Investment Management. Rufaro has found purpose in working with young people from low-income backgrounds helping them identify their passions and talents and linking them with opportunities that can change their lives positively. When not crunching numbers or analyzing financial markets, Rufaro loves singing and meditating on the hammock!

Tapiwa graduated from Kalamazoo College with a BA in Psychology and concentration in African Studies. She coordinates the Rise and YYAS programs as well as other youth initiatives at Education Matters. Tapiwa is passionate about youth mental health, civic engagement, and the arts. Tapiwa loves cooking and baking, making art, and learning more about different cultures through travel or media.

Lincoln studied A level sciences at Hellenic Academy under the Makomborero Zimbabwe scholarship. He will be attending University of Pennsylvania starting August 2021 to pursue his passion in combining engineering and business. Lincoln had the pleasure of working with, challenged by, and being mentored by bright minds and visionary leaders. He enjoys reading a wide variety of books, meeting diverse people, and creating life long friendships.

Christine is a proud alumni of St Dominic's Chishawasha and an EducationUSA Opportunity Fund scholar. A very active member of Young People for Others (YPO), she enjoys working with and for others. She loves reading, listening to music, experimenting in the kitchen and playing Scrabble.Living up to her name, Chikomborero, she makes an effort to be a blessing to whomever crosses her path.

Kupa is an A level graduate of Arundel School on a gap year before starting university. Kupa loves anything to do with Biology and hope to use this love to become a part of the Health Sector through Biomedicine. At Education Matters she hope to learn and gain insightful information about how best she can make an impact on the education of the youth in Zimbabwe as well as Africa. When not working, Kupa enjoys cooking, reading, and engaging in intellectual conversations about mental health.

A member of the USAP Uganda class of 2008, Becky graduated from Amherst College with a BA in English. She returned home right after graduation, confessing that she couldn't handle the New England winters, and first worked in public health for a while. She now has one foot in media and the other in Ugandan history research.

Eve is a USAP ‘03 alum who graduated from St. Lawrence University with a BA (Hon) in Economics. She has had diverse career experience in international investment banking, and locally in entrepreneurship, public health and education. Eve is currently an active member of the Christon Bank Environmental and Tourism Association(CBETA) which is working towards preserving the local environment and encouraging ecotourism in Christon Bank. Having worked in public health, she is also excited at the prospects of beating Neglected Tropical Diseases in Zimbabwe. When not saving the world, Eve is chasing her four year old daughter.