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The ICI-UMass Boston partners with the US Department of State on the Professional Fellows Program. We are reviewing this website to ensure compliance with recent executive orders and other guidance.

Professional Fellows – Fall 2025 Cohort

Meet our Fall 2025 Cohort of Professional Fellows! This group of 10 accomplished disability professionals from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will travel to the US to participate in an intensive four-week Fellowship Program from September to October 2025.

Learn more about our Fellows, their backgrounds, and their proposed follow-on projects.

  • Daphine Kiwala

    An African woman with short hair, wearing a blazer, smiles at the camera.

    Founder, Mothers' Alive Foundation (MAF)
    Law Student, Cavendish University

  • Derrick Mpagi

    An African man, bald with a slight beard, smiles at the camera.

    Director & Program Manager, MIGHT Foundation

  • John W Mwangi

    An African man with black hair wearing glasses smiles at the camera.

    Founder and CEO, Psychosocial Development and Response (PDRO-KENYA)

  • Kelvin E Mkude

    A light-skinned African man with red hair, wearing glasses and a black shirt that reads 'WINNING NATURE IN CHARISMA, Difference is Value' smiles at the camera.

    Founder and Executive Director, Winning Nature in Charisma

  • Mai Nambooze

    An African woman with shoulder-length brown braided hair, smiles at the camera.

    National Coordinator, Association of Care Leavers Uganda (ACLU)

  • Maria S Muneeni

    An African woman with braided hair looks into the camera.

    Co-Founder, Shield Maidens
    Advocate-In-Training, Kenya School of Law

  • Rajab S Mpilipili

    An African man with short hair poses for a photo.

    Executive Director, Youth with Disabilities Organization (YoWDO)

  • Roselyne W Mburu

    An African woman with long braided hair, wearing glasses, big gold earrings, and a blazer, smiles at the camera.

    Program Coordinator, Down Syndrome Society of Kenya (DSSK)

  • Sadath A Mwamsema

    An African man with short hair, wearing a suit and tie, smiles at the camera.

    Teacher and Executive Secretary of Community Development Watch (CODEWA)

  • (Mponye) Zerida Namponye

    An African woman with long braids smiles at the camera.

    Director and Curriculum Coordinator, ​​​​​Bluemoon International School