Board Members
Alexandra (Ali) Cervini is an international development leader with over 13 years of experience managing and evaluating humanitarian and development programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
She currently serves as Deputy Director at Itad Inc., where she oversees projects focused on resilience and economic development, peacebuilding and conflict prevention, global health security, and gender.
Alexandra has led large-scale research and learning initiatives for organizations such as USAID, UN agencies, international NGOs, FCDO, and the World Bank, and has worked in countries including Somalia, Sierra Leone, Nepal, Turkey, Haiti, Ghana, and Nigeria.
She brings extensive expertise in program management and design, business development, and operations.
Alexandra holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Roskilde University and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Kalamazoo College.
She is deeply committed to advancing locally led development, empowering women and youth as key drivers of sustainable change for families and communities.
Vincent joined RWA’s Uganda Board of Directors in 2015. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and master’s degree in Development Studies, Vincent has a keen interest in promoting and improving communities through education and has been heavily involved in community development work since 1996, specializing in creating HIV/AIDS prevention awareness .
Abby Rose, Ed.D., is a writer, researcher, educator, and higher education leader with expertise in organizational strategy, program development, and community engagement, and serves as a Board Member of Rooted Wisdom Africa. Her work with the organization is grounded in a deep commitment to listening to and sharing the stories of the people and communities it serves. As a writer of both fiction and academic work, Abby uses storytelling to communicate Rooted Wisdom Africa’s mission, impact, and the experiences of the individuals whose lives it touches. She also draws on her experience in higher education, qualitative research, and program evaluation to support the organization’s leadership and long-term goals.
Alexandra (Ali) Cervini is an international development leader with over 13 years of experience managing and evaluating humanitarian and development programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. She currently serves as Deputy Director at Itad Inc., where she oversees projects focused on resilience and economic development, peacebuilding and conflict prevention, global health security, and gender. Alexandra has led large-scale research and learning initiatives for organizations such as USAID, UN agencies, international NGOs, FCDO, and the World Bank, and has worked in countries including Somalia, Sierra Leone, Nepal, Turkey, Haiti, Ghana, and Nigeria. She brings extensive expertise in program management and design, business development, and operations. Alexandra holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Roskilde University and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Kalamazoo College. She is deeply committed to advancing locally led development, empowering women and youth as key drivers of sustainable change for families and communities.
Abby Rose, Ed.D., is a writer, researcher, educator, and higher education leader with expertise in organizational strategy, program development, and community engagement, and serves as a Board Member of Rooted Wisdom Africa. Her work with the organization is grounded in a deep commitment to listening to and sharing the stories of the people and communities it serves. As a writer of both fiction and academic work, Abby uses storytelling to communicate Rooted Wisdom Africa’s mission, impact, and the experiences of the individuals whose lives it touches. She also draws on her experience in higher education, qualitative research, and program evaluation to support the organization’s leadership and long-term goals.
Denis comes to RWA with a Degree in Development Studies, a certificate in Administrative Law, and a decade of experience in Community Development as well as local government. Dennis began his career working with programs supporting Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children.
Sunny Su is an accomplished Tax Manager with extensive experience in both public accounting and private industry. She brings deep expertise in tax return preparation and review, as well as strategic tax consulting for corporations, pass-through entities, nonprofit organizations, oil and gas businesses, family investments, construction, trusts, and individuals. Sunny holds a Master of Taxation degree from the University of Denver and is known for her analytical skills, attention to detail, and commitment to helping clients navigate complex tax landscapes.
Michele Hives is a senior-level IT and program management professional with a strong track record of delivering creative, efficient, and high-impact solutions to complex business challenges. With extensive experience leading large-scale, global projects, Michele brings deep expertise in aligning technology and strategic planning to drive organizational success.
She is passionate about defining and implementing strategic initiatives that add long-term value, and she excels at translating business needs into actionable programs. Known for her ability to coordinate multiple moving parts across organizations, Michele is a skilled communicator and a trusted leader in high-stakes environments.
Michele’s strengths include business needs analysis, program development and implementation, and cross-functional team coordination. Her commitment to clarity, efficiency, and measurable results makes her an invaluable asset to the Rooted Wisdom Africa board.
Anjana Mathew brings over five years of specialized expertise in nonprofit board governance, financial analysis, and sector transparency. As a Senior Program Analyst at Charity Navigator, Anjana leads research and methodology initiatives that evaluate charity effectiveness, financial health, and accountability. She has a deep interest in women’s economic mobility especially in rural communities across the globe. She’s excited to serve on Rooted Wisdom Africa’s board and support its work advancing sustainable, community-centered solutions. Anjana holds an MPA from the Marxe School of Public Affairs, Baruch College.
Dr. Russell G. Brodie is a senior academic executive and educator with more than twenty-five years of experience leading mission-driven institutions at the intersection of student-centered learning, interdisciplinary inquiry, and experiential education. His career reflects a sustained commitment to expanding access, fostering creativity, and preparing students to thrive amid uncertainty and complexity.
Dr. Brodie currently serves as Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Innovation and as Deputy Chief Academic Officer at Red Rocks Community College, where he provides executive leadership across a large, multi-campus academic enterprise. In this role, he advises the Vice President and on academic strategy, institutional effectiveness, accreditation, and sustainability, while advancing high-impact, applied, and technology-enabled learning pathways. His work emphasizes ethical integration of emerging technologies, including AI, into teaching and learning, grounded in human judgment, mentorship, and real-world engagement.
Throughout his career, Dr. Brodie has championed experiential and field-based learning as essential to a rigorous liberal arts education. As Senior International Officer and Director of Global Study Abroad and International Programs at Saint Augustine’s University, he led globally embedded curricula, faculty-led field experiences, and international partnerships that expanded access to immersive learning for first-generation and underrepresented students. He has studied and worked abroad in England, Italy, and China, and his academic and professional work has spanned North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Dr. Brodie’s leadership experience bridges academic and student affairs, global education, institutional strategy, and nonprofit governance. He has served as a president, academic dean, senior international officer, professor, and executive consultant, and has taught both undergraduate and graduate students. He is known for building collaborative cultures that value faculty creativity, student agency, and shared governance, while remaining attentive to financial realities and organizational resilience.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University, Dr. Brodie earned his doctorate in global education from the University of Southern California through a distributed, international program of study conducted online and in Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Qatar. His leadership development includes fellowships with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education’s Western Academic Leadership Academy, the Salzburg Global Seminar, Harvard University’s Project Pengyou Leadership Fellows Program, and the Institute for International Public Policy.
Dr. Brodie continues to present nationally and internationally on experiential learning, global education, leadership development, and student success. His work is driven by a belief that higher education, at its best, cultivates imagination, serves the historically marginalized, encourages ethical responsibility, and fosters the desire to pursue meaningful and impactful lives
Sunny Su is an accomplished Tax Manager with extensive experience in both public accounting and private industry. She brings deep expertise in tax return preparation and review, as well as strategic tax consulting for corporations, pass-through entities, nonprofit organizations, oil and gas businesses, family investments, construction, trusts, and individuals. Sunny holds a Master of Taxation degree from the University of Denver and is known for her analytical skills, attention to detail, and commitment to helping clients navigate complex tax landscapes.
Michele Hives is a senior-level IT and program management professional with a strong track record of delivering creative, efficient, and high-impact solutions to complex business challenges. With extensive experience leading large-scale, global projects, Michele brings deep expertise in aligning technology and strategic planning to drive organizational success. She is passionate about defining and implementing strategic initiatives that add long-term value, and she excels at translating business needs into actionable programs. Known for her ability to coordinate multiple moving parts across organizations, Michele is a skilled communicator and a trusted leader in high-stakes environments. Michele’s strengths include business needs analysis, program development and implementation, and cross-functional team coordination. Her commitment to clarity, efficiency, and measurable results makes her an invaluable asset to the Rooted Wisdom Africa board.
Dr. Russell G. Brodie is a senior academic executive and educator with more than twenty-five years of experience leading mission-driven institutions at the intersection of student-centered learning, interdisciplinary inquiry, and experiential education. His career reflects a sustained commitment to expanding access, fostering creativity, and preparing students to thrive amid uncertainty and complexity.
Dr. Brodie currently serves as Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Innovation and as Deputy Chief Academic Officer at Red Rocks Community College, where he provides executive leadership across a large, multi-campus academic enterprise. In this role, he advises the Vice President and on academic strategy, institutional effectiveness, accreditation, and sustainability, while advancing high-impact, applied, and technology-enabled learning pathways. His work emphasizes ethical integration of emerging technologies, including AI, into teaching and learning, grounded in human judgment, mentorship, and real-world engagement.
Throughout his career, Dr. Brodie has championed experiential and field-based learning as essential to a rigorous liberal arts education. As Senior International Officer and Director of Global Study Abroad and International Programs at Saint Augustine’s University, he led globally embedded curricula, faculty-led field experiences, and international partnerships that expanded access to immersive learning for first-generation and underrepresented students. He has studied and worked abroad in England, Italy, and China, and his academic and professional work has spanned North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Dr. Brodie’s leadership experience bridges academic and student affairs, global education, institutional strategy, and nonprofit governance. He has served as a president, academic dean, senior international officer, professor, and executive consultant, and has taught both undergraduate and graduate students. He is known for building collaborative cultures that value faculty creativity, student agency, and shared governance, while remaining attentive to financial realities and organizational resilience.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University, Dr. Brodie earned his doctorate in global education from the University of Southern California through a distributed, international program of study conducted online and in Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Qatar. His leadership development includes fellowships with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education’s Western Academic Leadership Academy, the Salzburg Global Seminar, Harvard University’s Project Pengyou Leadership Fellows Program, and the Institute for International Public Policy.
Dr. Brodie continues to present nationally and internationally on experiential learning, global education, leadership development, and student success. His work is driven by a belief that higher education, at its best, cultivates imagination, serves the historically marginalized, encourages ethical responsibility, and fosters the desire to pursue meaningful and impactful lives
Joanna Larsen is a nonprofit strategist and grant development leader with expertise in securing transformational funding, building collaborative partnerships, and advancing mission-driven impact. She currently serves as Director of Grants Administration at Family Tree, Inc., where she oversees a robust grants portfolio to support families experiencing child abuse, domestic violence, and homelessness. Previously, she served as the first full-time Grant Development Officer at Hope House Colorado, where she increased grant funding to expand services for teen moms. Joanna’s international nonprofit experience includes designing a girl-centered empowerment curriculum still used across rural India. She brings her passion for equity, cross-cultural engagement, and sustainable growth to her role on the Rooted Wisdom Africa Board. In her spare time, Joanna enjoys exploring new breweries with her husband, hiking 14ers, serving as treasurer on the board of her local library, and leading a small group at her church.
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