The Future is EDUCATION.

Ferdinand Bizimana is the Veterinarian in Faculty at the Rwanda Institute for conservation Agriculture (RICA) with twelve years of experience working and teaching in veterinary universities. Bizimana specializes in veterinary medicine and animal production with very deep expertise in surgery and Animal reproductive technologies. Bizimana is responsible for educating the future animal scientists on animal production technologies and clinical animal health management. Bizimana is a powerful force in the veterinary workplace and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. In his free time, Bizimana likes to travel on foot and join animal rights promoters. He can be reached at fbizimana@rica.rw

Tibebe Belete Chane is the Biology Instructor of the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Dry Land Crop and Horticultural Sciences from the University of Ethiopia and a Master of Science in Plant Breeding from Haramaya University in Ethiopia. Mr. Chane received his doctoral degree in Plant Protection from the Selcuk University in Turkey. His prior experience includes serving as a lecturer and researcher at the University of Ethiopia including field research experience with agricultural crops, and isolation and characterizations of plant pathogens. He can be reached via email at tchane@rica.rw

Maria Fausta Dutuze is the One Health Instructor and Curriculum Thread Coordinator of the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). She holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and a Masters of Science in Public Health both from the Inter-State School of Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Dakar in Senegal. She received her doctoral degree from the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at Louisiana State University in the United States. She is focused on prevention of infectious disease through increased awareness and collaborative, quality education as it relates to the One Health paradigm. Her prior experience includes education and research at the University of Rwanda and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. She can be reached via email at mfdutuze@rica.rw

Fritz Elango is an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) specialist at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He received a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the University of Sierra-Leone, and a master’s and doctoral degree in Plant pathology from the University of Guelph and McGill University respectively in Canada. He specializes in bacterial and fungal diseases of tropical crops.

His past experiences include agricultural research in Latin America – on Cassava (Manihot esculenta) in Colombia and on Irish Potato in Peru and later in Burundi, East Africa. Dr. Elango has held faculty positions at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad & Tobago and EARTH University in Costa Rica. He can be reached at felongo@rica.rw

Lark Hovey is a Communications Thread and Curriculum Coordinator at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). Ms. Hovey holds a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Spanish from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in TESOL and Linguistics from Ball State University. Her prior experience includes serving as a lecturer and curriculum consultant in higher education at RICA, she is responsible for teaching communication courses, as well as monitoring and advising the implementation of RICA’s global outcomes for the Communications Thread across the curriculum. She can be reached via email at lhovey@rica.rw

Dr. Angelique Kangondo is the Agricultural Economics Lecturer of the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). She holds Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and Agri- business from the University of Rwanda, a master’s degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics and a PhD degree in Agricultural Economics from Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania. Her prior experiences include being an Assistant Lecturer at both University of Rwanda and Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania. Dr. Angelique was a Research Fellow at The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture & IFAD and at the Program of Accompanying Research for Agricultural Innovation -PARI. She also worked as a Consultant at the National Agricultural Export Development Board in Kigali, Rwanda. She can be reached out at akangondo@rica.rw

Celestin Munyaneza is the Dairy Production Instructor and Enterprise Lead at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). Dr. Munyaneza holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Veterinary Medicine from the Interstate School of Veterinary Medicine, a Master of Science Degree in Livestock Production and Sustainable Development from the Cheikh Anta Kiop University of Dakar, and a doctoral degree in Animal Science and Production from Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro, Tanzania. He has served as an Assistant Lecturer of Animal Production and the Academy Secretary of the Faculty of Agriculture, Environmental Management and Renewable Energy at the University of Technology and Arts of Byumba. His focus is on animal husbandry and animal production. He can be reached via email at cmunyaneza@rica.rw

Dominique Savio Nkunda is the Food Processing Instructor and Enterprise Lead at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a Food Science Engineer degree from the National College of Food Industry (ENSIA) in France, a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the National University of Rwanda in Butare and a master’s degree in Food Science from Michigan State University in the United States. He earned his doctoral degree in Retail Supply Chain Management from Washington International University in the United States. Dr. Nkunda’s focus includes food processing, value and supply chain, and international food safety standards. He has more than 20 years of experience as an instructor. He can be reached via email at dnkunda@rica.rw

Samuel Nshutiyayesu is the Conservation Ecology Instructor at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). Mr. Nshutiyayesu holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the National University of Rwanda and a Master of Science in Management and Conservation of Terrestrial Ecosystems from the University of Burundi. He previously was a researcher and lecturer focusing on biology, botany and conservation at the University of Rwanda. He’s mentored hundreds of students and has contributed to the design and development of relevant teaching programs in the biology conservation field. He can be reached via email at snshutiyayesu@rica.rw

Birasa Nyamulinda is the Agricultural Business Instructor at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). Dr. Nyamulinda holds a Bachelor of Science in Development Economics and a Master of Science in Applied Economics from the University of Rwanda, and a doctoral degree in Economics from the University College Dublin in Ireland. He specializes in agribusiness, financial analysis, strategic planning, value chain analysis, impact assessment, entrepreneurship and project evaluation. Dr. Nyamulinda’s previous experience includes serving on the Rwanda Development Board and as an agribusiness investment advisor. He can be reached via email at bnyamulinda@rica.rw

Eva Liliane Ujeneza is a math instructor for the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from the National University of Rwanda, and post-graduate diploma in Mathematical Sciences and a Master of Science degree in Environment and Geographical Sciences (climate modeling) from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She also holds a doctoral degree in Mathematics with a focus on modeling infectious disease from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. Dr. Ujeneza’s previous work includes serving as a teaching assistant for undergraduate and graduate level courses, and a faculty member for biennial workshops organized by the International Clinics on Infectious Disease, Dynamics and Data Program (ICI3D). Dr. Ujeneza is an active volunteer and member of academic associations. She is the co-founder and former vice president of the Rwandan Association for Women in Science and Engineering (RAWISE). She is also the founder and co-chair of the Rwanda Young Academy of Science (RYAS). She can be reached via email at eujeneza@rica.rw

Layton Ullman is the Irrigation and Water Management Lecturer, Enterprise Lead and Internship Coordinator at the Rwanda Institute for conservation Agriculture (RICA). Dr. Ullman holds a Bachelor’s degrees in Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering from Cornell University and Texas A&M University. He also holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science from Duke University and a doctoral degree in Biological & Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M University in the United States. Dr. Ullman’s most recent work was as a physical science researcher for the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and as an associate research professor in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Utah. He has more than two decades of experience as a researcher and educator in agricultural engineering. Dr. Ullman is a member of the Soil Society of America, the American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, and the American Chemical Society, as well as other professional organizations. He can be reached via email at: jullman@rica.rw