A better future and hope for DR.Congo

Joel Kapapa

Director of Ethical Servant Leadership Center

Joel Kapapa, is a Fulbright Program alumnus with extensive experience in education and ethical servant leadership development. Joel holds two Master's degrees: one in philosophy from the Catholic University of Congo, where he served as vice president of the student body; and his second in political philosophy from the State University of New York at Albany, USA, where he specialized in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ethical leadership and the common good. He was also an adjunct lecturer, in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures while he attended SUNY Albany. Mr. Kapapa has published multiple articles and authored three books: The power of love, not the love of power (2024), Ethical leadership for greater happiness (2022), and Thomas Aquinas notion of Leadership as a response to the political crisis in the Congo (2019). Joel's proven track record includes teaching, training and empowering young leaders in the DRC and Nigeria. His vision for an ethical servant leadership center stems from his dedication to addressing the leadership crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo by training ethical servant leaders who embody integrity, love and servanthood in the promotion of democracy, good government and the creation of a just, stable and prosperous Congo.

Richard Sasa

Program Managerof Ethical Servant Leadership Center

Richard Sasa is an experienced human resource professional with diversified experience across various functional areas in administration (public and private) within multiple industries (manufacturing, food processing and nonprofit). He has a master’s degree in human resources management from Utah State University (Utah, USA) and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Catholic University of Congo (UCC, Kinshasa/DRC). He has extensive experience in employee relations, talent acquisition and development, learning, performance management, HR-Business Strategy and organizational leadership and development. He is well-versed in non-profit leadership and development, in an academic environment, especially in international students’ recruitment and retention. He is a skilled, multilingual communicator and leader seeking to bring out the best in others and build a positive, balanced, and successful corporate culture. Richard, for this project, will design, plan, and execute workshops, conferences, and educational activities, ensuring that strategic and educational objectives are met.

Alice Musele

Logistics Manager of Ethical Servant Leadership Center

Alice Musele (Canada) Logistic Manager. Alice holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and biology from the University of Alberta, Canada and has extensive experience in leadership and administration.

Jada Lobela

Key Member

Cyrille Kayembe

Partnership and Fundraising officer of Ethical Servant Leadership Center

Cyrille Kayembe Asagnion (USA) : Fundraising officer. Cyrille is very friendly and has an ability to create lasting intercultural connection, and relationship. He has a bachelor degree in Philosophy from Saint Augustin University (in Kinshasa), a bachelor degree in Theology from Saint Eugene Mazenod Institute ( in Kinshasa), and a Master’s degree in Ethic of Peace, Law and Health Education from Bari University (in Italy). He has a certificate in Korean Language and culture (South Korea). As a polyglote, he speaks 9 languages . Also Cyrille has leadership experience in training youth and counselling married couples .

Emmanuelle Kapita

Monitoring and Evaluation Manager of Ethical Servant Leadership Center

Emmanuelle Kapita-Mba holds a master’s degree in International Commercial Law. With over 15 years of experience in legal practice, compliance, and project management, she is dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical governance. She supports initiatives that empower leaders to serve their communities with integrity, aligning with the Servant Leadership Center's mission to foster collaboration, ethical decision-making, and commitment to the common good.

Simone Balibuno

Financial Resources Manager of Ethical Servant Leadership Center

Simone Balibuno, a financial officer, manages the budget, accounting and compliance with the project's requirements. Simone holds a bachelor's degree in financial management and has professional experience in financial analysis, budget management and project coordination. Her solid analytical skills and her experience as a financial advisor in some companies make her an asset for financial operations. Simone's responsibilities are essential for all phases. She speaks French fluently and quite well English.

Isaac Kaba

Training Facilitator: Responsible for experts or trainers leading workshops and conferences on various topics, including leadership, integrity, and personal development. Isaac Kaba is a seasoned educator and researcher with expertise in designing and delivering training programs that bridge academic rigor and practical application. He holds a BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Toledo and is currently pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at the University of California-Berkeley. Isaac has experience as a Graduate Student Instructor, where he effectively teach and communicates complex concepts to diverse audiences. He is also fluent in French and English.

Thomas Nkanshama

Communication and outreach officer of Ethical Servant Leadership Center

Carmel Lulihi

Partnneship and Event coordinator of Ethical Servant Leadership Center

Carmel is a seasoned public procurement and project management professional with a decade of experience in infrastructure projects across sectors such as education, health, and energy. Holding a Master of Public Administration (MPA), he will bring a strategic approach to managing the center’s projects in general. Furthermore, his expertise includes training and youth mentoring, which will enhance the center's best practices and overall development.

Freddy Nzamba

partenership and fundraising officer of Ethical Servant Leadership Center

Social worker , professional humanitarian and entrepreneur! Founder of Health Rehabilitation and Human Promotion- web. HRHP.org ( HRHP- Salt Lake City)and Makasi Rescue Foundation(MRF)- www.makasireacuedoundation.com ( Kampala Uganda ). He holds a bachelor degree in philosophy( Urbaniana University-Rome) ; leadership Westside Leadership institute( Utah University-US ); leadership in Salt Lake Community College ( Utah-Us). With over 12 years of work experience in Nonprofit organizations first as the Executive Director of MRF and currently as case manager for International Rescue Foundation( IRC-US)focusing on refugees and immigrants. He strives to promote the social cultural and economic right of refugees and immigrants through employment search , accessibility to credit for economic empowerment towards their self-reliance .

Sammuella Mbita

Vice Budget Manager

Mr. Riobart E (Rob) Breen

Dr. Ríobart É. Breen is the Director of the Institute for Transformational and Ecosystem-Based Climate Adaptation (ITECA), which is dedicated to transformational adaptation to climate change by promoting climate justice and equity, advancing nature-based and behavior-based solutions, and preparing the next generation of climate change leaders, including through community engagement and service learning. He is also a lecturer and faculty advisor for the Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy program. He led the Climate Adaptation Team in the Office of Climate Change at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and was an Environmental Policy Analyst for the Ocean and Great Lakes Unit of the New York State Coastal Management Program. Dr. Breen's interdisciplinary work addresses the "complex problems" of adaptive, resilient, and sustainable community transitions in the face of anthropogenic climate disruption and hyperdevelopment, with a focus on biodiversity conservation, urban and community forestry, coastal watershed management, collaborative adaptive governance, and generational equity. He holds an MA and PhD in Environmental and Natural Resource Policy and Administration. Creator of the climate change simulation and scenario game EarthQuest, he is a member of the ecoregional think tank Anam Circle and has led the White Mountain Youth Corps and the Coconino Rural Environment Corps. He is also the founder of the Anam Earth Center for Sustainability and Culture, a community-based nonprofit organization. Dr. Breen lives at Glendara Homestead with his family and practices regenerative agroecology and sustainable living. Research Interests Natural Resource Policy and Planning Environmental Policy and Planning Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Nature-Based Solutions Environmental Governance and Leadership Sustainability Climate Justice and Environmental Equity

Mr. Daniel J. Forte

Dan holds a Master’s Degree from SUNY New Paltz in Education. He served as an elementary school principal, an assistant director in charge of educational and professional development for a large multisite adult educational facility for the developmental disabled, helped develop and implement leadership training for a national not-for-profit organization working with international students and scholars and assisted pastors in developing church leaders. His present passion is developing loving servant leadership in the international church.

DR. Steve R Branson

Dr. Steve Branson is a distinguished retired pastor with an illustrious 48-year career in ministry. He served as the pastor of Village Parkway Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, for 29 years, where he provided steadfast spiritual leadership to his congregation. Even in retirement, Dr. Branson remains actively engaged in ministry, preaching in churches worldwide and teaching at Baptist seminaries in Havana, Cuba, and Arusha, Tanzania. A committed educator, Dr. Branson has served as an adjunct professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for 20 years and previously held a similar role at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas. His academic contributions extend internationally, having been invited to speak at the prestigious Oxford Round Table at Oxford University in 2004 and 2007. Dr. Branson’s leadership extends beyond the pulpit. For 25 years, he served as Chairman of the Board for Life Choices Medical and Pregnancy Care Center in San Antonio, demonstrating his dedication to community service and support for families. In recognition of his advocacy for religious freedom, particularly for men in the military, he was honored with the Jonas Clark Award by the Family Research Council in 2014. Dr. Branson is married to his wife, Jan, and is the proud father of three children and grandfather to eight grandchildren. He has had a lifelong commitment to faith, education, and service.

Mrs. Susan J. Forte

Susan has served in leadership roles in several not-for-profit organizations primarily providing services and care to individuals with developmental disabilities. In her last leadership role in this area, she served as the Director of Staff Development for an organization with 1200 employees. She oversaw the staff training component of the organization working with the various departments in the provision of mandated state and federal trainings and those necessary for the orientation of new employees. Susan also created and implemented leadership development curriculum and follow-up for all levels of leadership throughout the organization – from middle managers to senior leaders. In addition, Susan designed and facilitated a multiple agency program for employee orientation that remained in effect for many years. Recently Susan helped develop and launch a leadership training curriculum for a national not-for-profit Christian organization working with international students and scholars. She currently has a passion for developing and implementing national and international leadership training programs.

Dr. Jon Mandle, PHD

His main interests are in contemporary political philosophy and ethics, as well as their history. He is co-editor, with David Reidy, of the Cambridge Rawls Lexicon (2015) and A Companion to Rawls (Blackwell, 2014), and the author of three books: Rawls's A Theory of Justice: An Introduction (2009), Global Justice (2006), and What's Left of Liberalism? An Interpretation and Defense of Justice as Fairness (2000). He has published articles on the work of John Rawls, global justice, public reason, Rousseau, Kant, metaethics, and other topics. He teaches, among other topics, contemporary ethical and political philosophy, the history of ethics and political philosophy, and global justice. He was Chair of the Department from 2004 to 2013. REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS "Pragmatism and Human Rights" in Bloomsbury Handbook of Global Justice and East Asian Philosophy, Janusz Salamon and Hsin-Wen Lee, eds. (Bloomsbury, 2024). "Maxims: Responsibility and Causal Laws," Kantian Review 29 (2024). "The Meaning of Justice" in John Rawls and the Common Good, Roberto Luppi, ed. (Routlege, 2022). "Wealth Should Be Redistributed" in Problems in Value Theory, Steven Cowan, ed. (Bloomsbury, 2020). Co-edited with David Reidy, The Cambridge Rawls Lexicon (Cambridge University Press, 2015).

Dr. Michael Elliott PHD,

Director of International Student and Scholar Services International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), Center for International Education . As Director of ISSS (International Student and Scholar Services), Michael Elliott brings almost 30 years of experience in the field of international education. His areas of interest and research include international student and scholar success, leadership development, and strengths-based education. Michael earned his PhD in leadership studies and his master’s degrees in both international studies and education. He is also a lecturer in the departments of Educational Policy and Leadership, Globalization Studies, and Undergraduate Studies. Michael presents at NAFSA conferences, co-authored "From Departing to Achieving: Keys to Success for International Students in U.S. Colleges and Universities," was a Fulbright Scholar-Administrator Japan award recipient, and taught high school biology/physics in Peace Corps Kenya. ISSS Associate Director.

Mr. Charles T Kriss

Esq Attorney at Law; New York, USA

Miss Yelena Kuchma, New York, USA

Partner

Mr. Paul Schlett

In obeying his earthly father and his heavenly Father, Paul earned a Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Engineering at Missouri Science & Technology (formerly University of Missouri at Rolla) in 1972 and a Master of Divinity at Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary in 1993. He developed refractory products at Harbison Walker Refractories for 9 years and then worked for Exxon Research & Engineering and Valero Energy for 17 years. He served as a bi-vocational pastor in the inner city of Schenectady, NY. As a refractory engineer, he taught courses and provided refractory lining system designs in oil refining equipment in 21 countries. His greatest joy in life as husband, engineer and pastor has been to apply God’s wonderful truths from both creation and the Bible in every aspect of life. God is so good!

Mr. Travis Weber

Vice President for policy and Government affairs, Family Reasearch Councel, Washington DC

Travis S. Weber, J.D., LL.M., is Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at Family Research Council, where he oversees research, policy development, and engagement with government officials in championing FRC’s core mission priorities of faith, family, and freedom.

As part of his role, he has overseen the strategic development of numerous written submissions and filings to government bodies, including international organizations, federal agencies, and the U.S. Congress. Travis has written and spoken widely on policy and legal issues related to faith, family, and freedom both in the U.S. and around the world. He has testified on religious freedom before the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Service Committee, conducting religious freedom and human rights training in places like Iraq, and led pro-family and freedom conversations at strategic dialogues and conventions at a regional and global level. In the course of his work, Travis has examined the impact on religious freedom within the United States that has arisen from shifting cultural attitudes toward faith and family values. Globally, he has raised awareness about cases of genocide around the world, examined the effect on international human rights law when it is detached from its moral and religious grounding, and surveyed the impact on family and moral values that comes from shifting religious trends in a society.

Before joining FRC, Travis practiced law in the areas of civil rights, criminal defense, and military law. He holds a J.D. from Regent University School of Law, where he served as the Notes & Comments Editor on Law Review. Travis also graduated with an LL.M. in International Law (with distinction) and a Certificate in International Human Rights Law from Georgetown University Law Center.

Travis previously served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was captain of the Intercollegiate Sailing Team and a two-time College Sailing All-American.

Mr. Robert Osburn

Robert Osburn was the founder (2009) and Executive Director of the Wilberforce International Institute until September 2020 when he became Senior Fellow. Wilberforce International Institute is an organization whose mission is to train college students, especially international students, to be redemptive change agents in their home societies and workplaces. Under the auspices of the Institute, he has personally mentored 35 students from 17 different countries, most of them graduate students or visiting scholars, and has organized many conferences for students and academics. Over the past 29 years, he has traveled to 29 countries, primarily to meet and advise mentees. Previously, he was the Executive Director of The MacLaurin Institute, a Christian study center serving the University of Minnesota campus community, from 1996 until 2009. Prior to that, he served as Director of International Programs from 1993 to 1996. Under his leadership, he organized three international conferences: World View for World Healing Conference (1998), Mini-World View for World Healing Conference (1999), and African Nation-Builders Workshop (2000), and invited over 40 Christian scholars to lecture at the University of Minnesota. He speaks on comparative worldviews, Christians and academia, bribery and corruption, and nation-building from a Christian perspective. He has taught courses as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Minnesota, including a course on religion, ethics, and educational policy (2008-2014) and another on religion and international development (2010-2011). He was also an adjunct faculty member at William Carey International University where he served as a PhD adviser. He teaches online courses on comparative worldviews and anti-corruption through The New International University and Wilberforce International Institutte. From 1985 to 1990, he served as a campus minister with International Students, Inc. in the Twin Cities, and from 1990 to 1993 as Twin Cities Director. Based on his research on the religious experiences of Buddhist, Muslim and Christian international students, he received his PhD in comparative and international development education at the University of Minnesota in November 2005. He holds a BA (1973) from the University of Michigan and a Master’s in Theology (ThM) (1978) from Dallas Theological Seminary. He has been published in The Minnesota Daily, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, University of St Thomas Journal of Law and Public Policy, Mission Frontiers, American Experiment Quarterly, and Journal of Church and State. In May 2016, his book on bribery and corruption, Taming the Beast: Can We Bridle the Culture of Corruption? was published. More recently, his research “Religious, Frustrated, and a Long Way from Home: Religiously-Active International Students and Academicians’ Responses to Religion” was published in the 2017 edited volume Christianity and the Secular Border Patrol: The Loss of Judeo-Christian Knowledge. His most recent book is Developing Redemptive Change Agents: Discipleship That Helps Nations Flourish Rather Than Flounder. His areas of research include religion and educational policy, intellectual diversity in higher education, poverty, international higher education, corruption and bribery, and religion and international development. He blogs at www.wilberforceii.org. He has served as a board member with the Association of Christians Ministering to Internationals (1994-1996, 2006-2012), where he served as Vice Chair (2010-11); with the International Council for Education Development (as a board member, 2003-2014, and as Chair, 2003-2007); with the Consortium of Christian Study Centers (2008-present), for which he is also a founding board member and secretary; and with Trinity Education Global (board member 2014-present). He has served in numerous volunteer positions at Grace Church of Roseville (1989 - 2018) and NAFSA: Association of International Educators (1993-2008). He has been an Advisor to Truth in Business, a student organization at the U of Minnesota (2006-2013), and has been a member of the Council of Religious Advisors (1987-1999) and of the University Christian Ministers Association (2000-2010). He has also served as a board member of the latter organization (2005-2008), the last year of which he served as the president. He served on the planning committee for the November 12-14, 2012 International Student Ministry Global Consultation in Chicago. He was a member of the Comparative and International Education Society (2013- 2024), the International Network for Christian Higher Education (2001-present), the Society of Christian Scholars (2018 – present), and the Association of Christians Ministering among Internationals (1989 – present). He is the father of four sons, grandfather to thirteen, and has been married to Susan for 50 years. Bob and Susan reside in Stillwater, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities. Darrow Miller, author of many books including Discipling Nations (1996) and Emancipating the World (2012), has offered this unsolicited testimonial: “Dr. Osburn’s life and vision is a gift from God to so many international students studying in the United States.”

Antonio Piizii

Antonio Piizzi. Born in Italy, Catholic, lawyer, expert in labour law and in administrative law, liturgical music choral singer, film critic, passionate about international politics, music, literature, painting. Against all forms of racism.