Highly accomplished Research, Innovation, and Education Leader with a Ph.D. and extensive experience in designing academic programs, leading research, and managing multi-stakeholder development projects. Proven expertise in grant acquisition, curriculum design, and strategic partnerships, driving impactful outcomes across university, NGO, government, and private sectors. Committed to strengthening research ecosystems and translating knowledge into actionable innovations that address national development priorities.
Faculty and Capstone Manager, Department of International Business and Trade
Kigali, Kigali Province, Rwanda
→
Summary
Led the design, coordination, and evaluation of capstone research projects and academic programs, ensuring rigor and alignment with industry and community needs at African Leadership University.
Highlights
Supervised over 100 undergraduate capstone research students, providing comprehensive guidance on research design, detailed feedback, and assessment to ensure academic rigor and project alignment with industry needs.
Co-designed and implemented 5+ departmental courses, aligning with Quality Assurance standards and enhancing the learning experience and development for students.
Contributed to institutional policy and research integrity as an active member of the Academic Senate and Research Ethics Committee.
Facilitated faculty development sessions in research methods, supervision, and academic writing, mentoring junior colleagues to significantly improve research outputs.
Engaged in ongoing research and publication in business leadership and educational technology, contributing to regional and international scholarship.
Founder & Strategic Lead, Research and Academic Governance
California, California, US
→
Summary
Founded and strategically led Open Christian University, a non-profit 501(c)(3) institution, and its publishing arm, Open Christian Press, to deliver online Christian education and promote scholarly outputs globally.
Highlights
Established and secured licensing for Open Christian University as a non-profit 501(c)(3) private post-secondary institution in California, expanding online Christian education and transnational study centers.
Provided strategic leadership for academic direction, research priorities, quality assurance, and institutional partnerships across continents.
Co-founded and governed Open Christian Press, an open-access multi-journal publishing arm, overseeing editorial processes and providing regional author support.
Mentored early-career researchers, offering editorial guidance and capacity building in scholarly publishing to foster academic growth.
Developed Open Christian Ministries, a Christ-centered ministry supporting global Christian education, and founded Center for Faith and Work (CFW), a Rwanda-registered social enterprise.
Curriculum Design Consultant (Contract)
Mauritius
→
Summary
Designed and delivered a comprehensive "Leadership and Management" course package as a consultant, aligning with Sand Technologies' leadership capability needs.
Highlights
Designed and developed the "Leadership and Management" course as a consultancy engagement, meticulously aligning it with Sand Technologies' specific leadership capability requirements.
Delivered a complete course package, including detailed learning outcomes, session plans, learning activities, and assessments, which received strong positive feedback from participants and stakeholders.
Microwork Project Coordinator
Kigali, Kigali Province, Rwanda
→
Summary
Coordinated Kumwe Hub activities, including stakeholder engagement, fundraising, and reporting for a digital microwork initiative, generating operational insights for livelihoods and youth employment.
Highlights
Coordinated Kumwe Hub activities, encompassing stakeholder engagement, fundraising efforts, and reporting for a digital microwork initiative.
Designed, piloted, and evaluated a microwork project for 30 urban refugee youth, successfully enabling income generation through mobile image annotation and digital labor.
Generated critical operational insights relevant to innovation in livelihoods, digital work, and youth employment, informing future program strategies.
Child Protection and SGBV Officer
Nyanza, Southern Province, Rwanda
→
Summary
Led the implementation and coordination of child protection activities at Nyanza Reception Center, ensuring adherence to national and international standards.
Highlights
Led the implementation and coordination of child protection activities at Nyanza Reception Center, ensuring strict adherence to national and international standards.
Developed and facilitated comprehensive training for in-camp and host-community partners on prevention and response strategies.
Managed multiple child protection projects (UNHCR, UNICEF, BPRM), overseeing planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation, and building strong networks with NGOs, government agencies, and community leaders.
Emergency Youth Empowerment Program Officer
Rwanda
→
Summary
Provided technical leadership and capacity building across youth empowerment interventions, playing an active role in fundraising and project reporting.
Highlights
Played a pivotal role in securing funding through active participation in fundraising proposals and project reports, providing technical leadership across youth empowerment interventions.
Provided regular capacity building for staff, volunteers, community structures, partner organizations, and local leaders, enhancing program delivery effectiveness.
Created and supported 134 refugee youth groups, fostering their growth through mentorship and linkages to private-sector partners, strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Emergency Livelihood Programme Officer
Rwanda
→
Summary
Led the implementation of a DFID-funded livelihoods, education, and youth empowerment project in Mahama refugee camp, benefiting 1,989 refugee entrepreneurs.
Highlights
Led the successful implementation of a DFID-funded livelihoods, education, and youth empowerment project in Mahama refugee camp.
Conducted comprehensive market assessments in collaboration with government and private sector actors to align training and enterprise support with real economic opportunities.
Designed and delivered entrepreneurship training to 1,989 refugee entrepreneurs, facilitating access to start-up grants, ongoing mentorship, and business development services.
Business Extension Agent
Rwanda
→
Summary
Built the capacity of refugee groups in business and financial literacy, and supported promising business ideas within a "Livelihood and Economic Inclusion" project.
Highlights
Built the business and financial literacy capacity of refugee groups, empowering them with essential entrepreneurial skills.
Participated in the selection and funding of promising business ideas, providing implementation and evaluation support within a "Livelihood and Economic Inclusion" project.
Executive Director
Rwanda
→
Summary
Developed project concepts and proposals for youth development and self-employability, while building a national network of youth structures.
Highlights
Assisted in developing impactful project concepts and proposals focused on youth development and self-employability strategies.
Engaged local government and multiple organizations to establish a national network of youth structures, significantly increasing membership and visibility through organizational literature development.
District Coordinator
Rwanda
→
Summary
Supported local authorities in preparing policy matrices and identifying results indicators, while introducing a capacity-building strategy for youth labor market skills.
Highlights
Supported local authorities in preparing policy matrices, including logical framework analysis, and identifying key results indicators for effective program planning.
Introduced and implemented a capacity-building strategy designed to equip youth with essential labor market skills, enhancing their employability.
→
PhD
Religious Studies
→
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Business Administration
→
PhD
Entrepreneurship and Branding
→
Bachelor
Divinity
→
Doctor of Christian Business Administration
Christian Business Administration
→
Master
Theological Studies
→
MA
Online and Distance Education
→
MBA
Business Administration
→
BSc (Hons)
Rural Development and Agribusiness
Awarded By
African Leadership University
Recognized for outstanding contributions to research supervision.
Awarded By
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
Awarded a scholarship for distance learning studies.
Awarded By
University of Rwanda
Awarded for participation in the study "Feeding practices and factors for children less than five years of age in Musanze district, Rwanda."
Awarded By
University of Rwanda with Washington State University and California University
Recognized as a Research Fellow for a collaborative study on child nutrition in Musanze district, Rwanda.
Published by
Various Academic Journals
Summary
Authored over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts across business, entrepreneurship, educational technology, and Christian business ethics, significantly contributing to academic discourse.
Published by
Open Educational Resources
Summary
Created over 600 educational blog articles and 1,000+ educational podcast videos, serving as open educational resources for students, practitioners, and church communities.
Published by
Various
Summary
Consistently engaged in curriculum development, online and distance education design, and digital scholarship, reflecting ongoing contributions to the field.
Published by
Various
Summary
A comprehensive list of publications and links to journals available upon request or via professional website, showcasing extensive scholarly contributions.
Grant Acquisition, Donor Reporting, Financial Stewardship, Project Coordination, Program Implementation, Strategic Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation, Livelihoods Programs.
Academic Program Design, Online Course Development, Curriculum Design, Digital Education, Learning Experience Design, Educational Technology, Quality Assurance, Academic Governance.
Research Leadership, Institutional Research Policies, Research Ethics, Scholarly Publication, Innovation Management, Research Ecosystem Development, Capstone Project Supervision, Academic Mentorship.
Strategic Leadership, Partnership Building, Stakeholder Engagement, Community Engagement, Team Mentorship, Organizational Development, NGO Management, Cross-sector Collaboration.
Entrepreneurship, Business Development, Social Enterprise, Financial Literacy Training, Market Assessment, Start-up Mentorship, Youth Empowerment.
Child Protection, SGBV Prevention, Refugee Support Programs, Community Development, Policy Matrix Development, Results Indicators.
Academic Writing, Blog Articles, Podcast Production, Digital Scholarship, Technical Report Writing, Consultancy Reporting.
Programme Manager MMP, North West University Business School: theresa.lisita@nwu.ac.za
HoD International Business and Trade, African Leadership University: emurungu@alueducation.com