MICHAEL AYUEN DE KUANY, President and CEO

Michael Kuany has dedicated his life to the service of the Sudanese people and to the Sudanese refugee community in the United States. Himself a child refugee at age 6 during the Second Sudanese Civil War, Michael was driven from his home and family along with thousands of other Dinka children, making a dangerous, thousand-mile trek to a relief camp in Ethiopia. During Michael’s 14-year sojourn from one refugee camp to another he educated himself and in 2001 was one of 3,800 Lost Boys of Sudan who attained their citizenship in the United States.

Michael earned his BA in International Studies and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2006 and his MA in Conflict Transformation in 2009 from Eastern Mennonite University. He has also tutored Sudanese refugees and helped them find meaningful employment and has served as an intern with the United Nations Development Programme in Juba, Sudan. Michael founded Rebuild Sudan in 2005 to offer the children and families of Sudan an opportunity to educate themselves and rebuild their home – a chance to dream and have a future. Presently, his home is in Oshkosh while he serves in Sudan as Rebuild Sudan’s President and CEO.

Michael often says that, during his difficult childhood, education was his mother and father. The circumstances of his life could have hardened his heart. The loss of family, nation, friends and place is more than most people could endure. But Michael has made a gift of his life to the people of Sudan.

STEPHANIE DE LA ROSA, Accountant

Stephanie’s work with international development started with her Peace Corps volunteer experience where she worked as a Primary Resource Teacher in Lesotho, Southern Africa from 1994-96. She has since evolved into the field of accounting, specializing in nonprofit accounting, while remaining committed to the development and sustainability of developing countries. She has traveled to 29 countries, 13 of those in Africa. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Wichita State University, an M.A. in International Development from New York University and an M.S. in Accounting from the University of Phoenix. Stephanie has been working with Rebuild Sudan since November 2010 and recalls during her interview with Michael the immediate bond she felt with Rebuild Sudan and its mission as they discussed the history of the Lost Boys and her travels through Africa.

MARIANNE NEPSUND, Intern

Six years ago, Marianne left her hometown of San Antonio for the plains of West Texas. She emerged with a Bachelor’s of Science in Architecture with Honors from Texas Tech University and headed for Dallas to begin her career. Armed with a head for design and a heart for volunteering, she began searching out ways to unite the two. While gaining experience in hospitality and large-scale commercial design, her passion for designing with people, not simply for them, led her to the local chapter of Architecture for Humanity. Collaborating with these like-minded designers developed her passion for urban renewal, community engagement, and the meaning of truly sustainable design. Stepping into the public interest realm of architecture, Marianne is honored to be a part of Rebuild Sudan’s dedicated team of talented professionals. After her internship, Marianne will be pursuing her MArch in the fall of 2012. When she isn’t glued to a computer screen, you can find her obsessing over music, experimenting in the kitchen, enjoying the outdoors or searching for the perfect cup of coffee.

JILL KURTZ, Board President
Owner & Partner of reBUILD Consulting

Jill is an green building consultant by trade, photographer by passion, and a traveler by heart. After working a year in India as a non-profit architect, she realized true sustainability is not a trendy gimmick but a strategy survival in the developing world. She has started her own sustainable buildings consulting firm in Berkeley, CA and is committed to linking projects and people in the west with the needs of the developing world. She has designed schools, hospitals, community shelters and orphan homes in India and Sudan as well provided green building consulting services for Cisco and Dropbox in the Silicon Valley.

KEVIN KNOX, Board Vice President
Pastor at Mosaic Bay

Kevin lives in Berkeley, CA where he serves as lead pastor of Mosaic Bay.  He has over 10 years experience working with various non-profits – mobilizing teams, promoting causes and raising money along the way.  What drives Kevin is a passion for Renewal – spiritually, relationally and practically around the world.  He and his wife, Nikki, are thrilled to know Michael and serve with Rebuild Sudan.

KATIE PICHE RIVERS, Board Secretary

Katie lives in San Francisco with Church of the Sojourners, an intentional Christian community. She is both a musician and a record keeper, writing music for Church of the Sojourners and keeping records for GGU School of Law Registrar’s Office and Shalom Missions Communities in addition to Rebuild Sudan. Katie lives her life as if it were a continuous art installation that gives opportunity to find the truth and appreciate the human experience. Story telling is an important part of finding truth, and Michael Kuany’s story has become one to lean into in the face of struggle. She is honored to be part of the Rebuild Sudan Story.

JOSH LAUMAN, Board Treasurer
Workforce Strategy and Planning Director at USAA

Josh works in the financial services industry developing human capital strategy. Previously, he worked for the US Navy and held a variety of roles in performance analysis, aviation and leadership development. An eternal optimist, Josh enjoys working with others to drive positive change.

ZOE MULLERY, Board Member

Zoe’s involvement with Sudan began when she accompanied Rebuild Sudan founder Michael Kuany there in 2007 and experienced firsthand both the cultural and spiritual treasure of Southern Sudan as well as the devastation wrought by the long war. Zoe has taught creative writing for seventeen years, mostly in the context of prisons or residential drug rehab programs. In both settings she has witnessed the power of the written word to help develop minds and hearts—something she would love the children of Southern Sudan to have the opportunity to experience. Zoe currently teaches at San Quentin State Prison and lives in an intentional Christian community in San Francisco with her 8-year-old daughter.

JEREMY HUDDLESTON SEQUOIA, Board Member
Works at Apple & teaches at UC Berkeley

Jeremy Huddleston is currently a senior software engineer at Apple and a lecturer at UC Berkeley (“Cal”) where he teaches a computer animation course (which he created as a master’s project) every other academic year.  Jeremy attended Cal for both his B.A. and M.S. in Computer Science.  During his master’s program, he was named an ADEPT Fellow with the National Science Foundation and was awarded the prestigious Siebel Scholarship for his academic achievements and leadership at Cal.  Prior to obtaining his master’s degree, he worked on visual effects in Matrix Revoultions. Jeremy was also a young entrepreneur as he started his own company, Outersquare Computing, after graduation from high school.  Jeremy joined Rebuild Sudan in 2011 with the hope of contributing his technical skills and providing assistance with fundraising.

JOHN BUL DAU, South Sudan and Lost Boys Advisor
President of John Dau Foundation

John Bul Dau received his Associates Degree from Onondaga Community College in 2004 and his Bachelor’s Degree in Public Affairs at Syracuse University in May 2011. He was featured in the 2006 documentary God Grew Tired of Us and co-authored his autobiography, God Grew Tired of Us: A Memoir, along with Michael Sweeney. Most recently, he co-authored with his wife, Martha, a young adults book called Lost Boy, Lost Girl. He has founded three non-profit organizations and is a professional speaker. Between 2001 and 2006 John held multiple jobs including working as a server at McDonald’s, a factor inspector and a security officer at St. Joseph Hospital Health Center. He has received numerous awards including the 2007 National Geographic Emerging Explorer Award. John speaks five languages and currently resides with his wife, Martha, and their two daughters and son in Syracuse, New York.

SARAH GERBER, Communications Advisor
Owner of TwentyTwenty Studios

Sarah has been interested in story-telling since she wrote her first story in elementary school at age 9. With a degree in English and Fine Art, creative, visual story-telling has become her passion. With her own photography and filmmaking business, she is continually challenged to see, capture, and tell the stories around her. Sarah lives in Berkeley CA, where she grew up, with her husband, David, who has also traveled to South Sudan with Rebuild Sudan.When Sarah first met Michael in 2008, his story completely captivated her. And the story Michael was and is living never ceases to amaze her. In May of 2011 she traveled to South Sudan with a team to capture, on film, the story of Michael and Rebuild Sudan. Prior to that, in January, Sarah came on as Director of Communications at Rebuild Sudan, to develop and form the telling of Rebuild Sudan’s story. She continues to create and produce short films about Rebuild Sudan. Watch the films here!

JAMES GAYNOR, Development & Social Entrepreneurship

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WILLIAM CLAYTON, Web & Technology

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TESSA RICHARDSON FORTESCUE

Tessa Richardson lives in the Bay Area and works as a psychotherapist and as a stay-at-home mother to her son. She was honored to be a part of Michael Kuany’s initial trip back to South Sudan in 2007, and to be a part of transforming Jalle United Development Alliance into Rebuild Sudan. When Rebuild Sudan was first created, Tessa ran multiple marathons to raise initial funds for the school, and she hopes (someday) to return to South Sudan to run with the kids, and to see the school as well as the Jalle community again. She was touched by the children of Jalle’s strong desire for education, as well as the hospitality, resiliency and faith of the Jalle community. Tessa is honored to be a part of Rebuild Sudan’s story.

MARY RICHARDSON

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