Elizabeth McGovern

Founder and Executive Director

Elizabeth McGovern is a mom/step-mom of 5 including a son born in Mudula, Ethiopia. She is passionate about the issues of extreme poverty, especially the effects of the water crisis on women and girls. Liz also works as a family physician in a federally-funded community health center serving the urban poor including immigrants and newly arrived refugees.

Molly Pitts

Molly Pitts is the founding director of hope by twelve (www.hopebytwelve.org) She attended Western Washington University and then went on to earn a degree from the Art Institute of Seattle. Molly has owned her own video production business and edited at the Gates Foundation. She and her husband have three young girls whom she hopes will help to be part of the girl revolution.

Jennifer Martin

Jennifer is the proud mother of a son who was born just outside of Mudula. She has a degree in English from the University of Minnesota and a background in Marketing, which she uses to support and promote Mudula Water's projects. Jennifer cares deeply for the livelihoods of the people of Ethiopia. She remains forever changed by her visits to the country and deeply moved by first-hand experience of some amazing programs. She knows it is possible to make a difference and is passionate to make it happen.

Gina DaCruz

Gina DaCruz is a mother to two daughters, one born in Ethiopia. Gina earned a Masters degree from UNH in sociology/family research and a second Masters degree from UMass-Amherst in family therapy. Prior to being a stay-at-home mom/artist, Gina worked in the mental health field as a bilingual family therapist. Much of her work in the field focused on working with underprivileged immigrant families, particularly women and children. She is strongly committed to building ties between adoptive families and Ethiopian culture, and much of her artwork is inspired by her first trip to Ethiopia in 2008. Gina is excited to be a part of Mudula Water and it’s mission.

Denise Faneuff

Denise Faneuff is a mom to two children, both born in Ethiopia. She earned her Masters degree in psychology from Antioch University and is in private practice as a psychotherapist. She is committed to the issues of poverty and hunger and is very excited to contribute to great works of Mudula Water.

Courtney Urick

Courtney Urick is an adoptive parent of a daughter from Ethiopia . She is the Executive Director of Medical Affairs at Boston Medical Center . Ms. Urick is passionate about access to health care for underserved populations and has a strong interest in global health issues. She is excited to use her skills to assist Mudula Water in its important work. Courtney holds a BA from the University of Iowa and is a Registered Vascular Technologist and a Registered Nurse. She will be traveling with the team to Ethiopia in November 2012.

THE TEAM

Habtamu Lamore

Programs Strategic Leader/
In-Country Coordinator

Habtamu was born in Mudula, Ethiopia in 1983. He graduated from Mudula High School (the very first high school in Mudula built in 1995) and attended Bahir Dar University. He has a Masters in Education Psychology, and is now living the US. Habtamu is dedicated to "mobilizing Mudula people and Mudula-born for big changes, reaching people in the grass-root level and addressing their needs, working with Mudula Water to achieve the intended objectives for Mudula!" He will be traveling back to Mudula in 2013 to lead community meetings.

Krzysztof Grabarek

IT Director

Kris designed the Mudula Water website and is contributing to its upkeep as the organization develops. He works as a high school science teacher with a long time interest in African issues. He had the opportunity to travel to Ghana in 1999 and worked with several schools in that country. Kris and his wife are adoptive parents of an older child from Massachusetts. Kris is honored to be working with the leadership team to help support their hard work.

Theodore Trevens

Advisor

Ted Trevens is an adoptive parent of a daughter from Ethiopia. He is a senior Consultant and Founder of Dynamic Solution Associates (DSA), a consulting firm that specializes in assisting nonprofit organizations. He is passionate about assisting start-ups and working on social justice issues. His areas of expertise include strategic planning, financial management, Board development, fundraising, and grants administration. Throughout his career, he has also used his expertise to train nonprofit professionals to become more valuable members and leaders of their organization. Ted holds a BA from New York University and an MBA from Boston College.

Kevin Ferguson

Writer

Three years ago, Kevin Ferguson left a 27-year career as a journalist (NYT, BusinessWeek, et al.) to enter international public health. Kevin now works as a senior writer for Management Sciences for Health (www.msh.org), a Cambridge, MA-based non-profit that works in Ethiopia and 60 other countries. In 2007 he received his MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. Kevin is the proud father of two children, including a boy born in the Silte region of the SNNPR.