U.S. Board of Directors
Rachelle Joseph
Rachelle serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Flip Flop Foundation. She is currently a Director of Development for the Annenberg School at USC. She has over ten years of experience in business development, strategy and marketing for investment management firms. Most recently, she was a Director of Marketing for Perella Weinberg Partners. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and International Relations from the University of Southern California. Rachelle's commitment to philanthropy began in high-school and was cemented when she was an ambassador, as a member of the Royal Court, for the Tournament of Roses in 1995. She has also volunteered for iMentor, Habitat for Humanity and the Red Cross.
Shira Rohde, PhD
Shira is the Executive Director of the Flip Flop Foundation, and also serves as a member of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee in Zambia. Shira founded the Flip Flop Foundation in 2006 shortly after completing a six-month term as a Pfizer Global Health Fellow in Zambia. Shira has worked at Pfizer Inc since 1997 holding positions in both the Safety and Regulatory Affairs departments. She maintains her position at Pfizer while simultaneously overseeing the operations of the Flip Flop Foundation. She travels between the US and Zambia several times a year. Shira holds a PhD in Pharmacology from Columbia University. Previously, Shira had volunteered her time with various West African dance organizations in New York City.
Ileen Roos
Ileen has worked at Pfizer since 2002. She has a Master’s of Science degree in Philanthropy and Fundraising from NYU and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She has volunteered for numerous organizations including a reading/math tutoring program in her NYC neighborhood, the New York City Marathon, and the Red Cross at Ground Zero from September-December 2001. Although her international travel experience heretofore has been limited to Western Europe, she hopes to travel to Africa, specifically Zambia, in the near future. Ileen serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Flip Flop Foundation.
Richard C. Hubbard, MD
As a member of the Pfizer External Medical Affairs group, Rick is involved in medical relations with governmental health bodies, public health associations and professional medical societies. His areas of particular interest are public health and medical capacity building in developing countries, research ethics, health disparities, medical and scientific literacy and support of US public health organizations. He has been with Pfizer since 1992, initially in Research and Development, where he was involved in the clinical development of new drugs for pulmonary and allergy, arthritis, gastrointestinal and analgesic compounds. Rick is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, received his medical training at Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York City, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine. Prior to joining Pfizer, he spent several years at the National Institutes of Health, NHLBI-Pulmonary Branch, where he conducted clinical research in lung diseases, inflammatory mechanisms, and experimental pulmonary therapeutics. He is currently serving on the FDA Pulmonary and Allergy Advisory Committee as the pharmaceutical industry representative. Rick has served on several advisory boards of social organizations, including the Abraham Lincoln Center, a social services center on south side of Chicago, BeHIV, an HIV support group in Evanston IL, and on the Board of Directors of the Campaign for Public Health, in Washington, DC. He lives in New York City and Evanston IL, and is married and has two children.
Joe Jessup
Joe Jessup is the Global Head of PMO for News Technology at Thomson Reuters. He has been working in various technology roles for the last 13 years, most recently focusing on the discipline of project management. Joe first became involved with the Flip Flop Foundation in 2010 while working on a global business project as part of his MBA from the Johnson School at Cornell University. He also holds a BA in Management Information Systems from Wright State University and a MA in Computer Information Sciences from Brooklyn College. Joe is dedicated to helping the world’s poorest achieve a higher sustainable standard of living through green microenterprise.
Keith LaScalea, MD
Keith is a physician on faculty with Weill Cornell Medical College since 2002. He works as a general internist and Assistant Professor of Medicine. He did his residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital and received his medical degree from The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. In addition to his clinical practice, he is actively involved in medical student education. During his time spent delivering care in a regional hospital in Tanzania and at a clinic in western Ghana, he became aware of the critical importance of basic supplies, such as shoes and malaria nets, in preventing disease and promoting health. Towards this end, he is working in fundraising and raising awareness for the Flip Flop Foundation through his marathon pursuits. He has been on our Board of Directors since 2008.
David E. Reilly
David brings over 22 years of experience in the founding, development, operations and governance of not-for-profit organizations to the board. In addition to the Flip Flop Foundation, David currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Alexian Brothers AIDS Ministry and as the Chairman of their Development Committee as well as 4 other board positions and ex-officio board positions. David has a strong commitment to social justice causes in the areas of sheltering, HIV/AIDS and orphaned children and has made advocacy in these areas his avocation. He is currently Vice President of InnerWorkings, a publicly traded corporation based in Chicago. His past work experiences includes positions as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of several corporations in the printing and publishing industries.
Zambian Executive Committee
Elijah Ngoma
Elijah was born in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia, and speaks Bemba, Nyanja, and English. He comes from the Ngoni tribe of Eastern Province. Elijah serves as the Local Director of the Flip Flop Foundation in Zambia. He is also the key driver for the Flip Flop Foundation, and as such, he helps with all purchases and distributions, and assists Shira in negotiations and translations with local vendors. According to Elijah, "Nalitemwa Zambia pantu chalo chandi." (I love Zambia because it's my home country." Bemba). In 2007, Elijah obtained a certificate in computer literacy. Elijah serves as Chairman of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee.
Conwell Mwakoi
Conwell was born in Lusaka and is from the Lozi tribe of Western Province. He speaks Lozi, Tonga, Nyanja, Bemba and English. He is a trained coach, and is the Sports Director for the Tiyanjane Football Club, a part of the Tiyanjane Theatre Organization. He also writes social drama plays which are performed by the Tiyanjane Theatre Organization for the community. He holds certificates in peer education, counseling, leadership skills, and community mobilization and advocacy. He is Chairman of the Health Centre Committee, and sits at the district level for Neighborhood Health Committees and Reproductive Health. When Conwell attends Flip Flop Foundation distributions to sites throughout Lusaka, he draws from his Tiyanjane experience to share ideas. Conwell serves as Vice Chairman of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee.
Augustine Phiri
Augustine is from the Chewa tribe of Eastern Province. He was born in Lusaka, and speaks Nsenga, Bemba, Nyanja, and English. He is the Chairman of Tiyanjane Theatre Organization, the Neighborhood Health Committee in Chawama, and the Phiri Culture Music and Dance Organization. He has worked with the University of Zambia for ten years as a musician and dance choreographer. He holds certificates in peer education, counseling, community mobilization and advocacy. When Augustine attends Flip Flop Foundation distributions to sites throughout Lusaka and relays his experience in Tiyanjane’s community dance and theatre program, he often receives requests for performances. Augustine serves as Treasurer of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee.
Rodgers Mwanza
Rodgers was born in the Copperbelt Province. He comes from the Nsenga tribe of Eastern Province, and speaks English, Nyanja, and Bemba. He serves as the office assistant for the Flip Flop Foundation, and also helps with the purchase and transport of supplies. He has 7 children. According to Rodgers, “Nikonda Zambia chifukwa nina ba dwa mu Zambia”. (I love Zambia because I was born in Zambia.” Nyanja). Rodgers serves as Secretary of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee.
Eugene Mulemwa
Eugene was born in Mongu in Western Province. He comes from the Lozi tribe of Western Province and speaks Lozi, Tonga, Nyanja, Bemba, Luvale, and English. He previously worked as a security guard, and is currently in training to become an automechanic. He helps the Flip Flop Foundation during the purchasing and transporting of supplies. Eugene is a member of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee.
Jonathan Mungandi
Jonathan was born and raised in the Western Province of Zambia, and is from the Lozi tribe. He speaks English and Lozi, and also understands Nyanja, Bemba, and Tonga. He studied gardening which led him to a gardening position at Maranatha Grassroots Institute, and ultimately to the level of Executive Director of the Maranatha Grassroots Institute. Maranatha Grassroots Institute targets youth and women for empowerment by training them in a multitude of vocational skills. It also supports orphans as part of the HIV/AIDS impact mitigation program. Jonathan also has a certificate in psychosocial counseling, which is applicable in his work at the Institute. Jonathan is also Vice Chairman of the Kaoma District HIV/AIDS Task Force, and serves on the National Liaison Committee for ZNAN (Zambia National HIV/AIDS Network). Jonathan coordinates Flip Flop Foundation’s work in Western Province. Jonathan is a member of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee.
Josphat Mwale
Josphat was born in Lusaka and is from the Chewa tribe of Eastern Province. He has received extensive training in facilitation & peer education; organizational development; leadership and management; computer skills; and business planning, marketing, entrepreneurship and financial management. He also has extensive training in the health field, including training in physiotherapy and palliative care by the University of Zambia School of Medicine, and training as a spray operator in the anti-malarial Indoor Residual Spraying programs run by the Ministry of Health. Josphat was awarded a certificate as an influence network agent by the Zambia Emory HIV Research Project. Josphat serves as the General Secretary for Tiyanjane Theatre Organization, and is a member of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee.
Shira Rohde, PhD
Shira is the Executive Director of the Flip Flop Foundation, and also serves as a member of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee in Zambia. Shira founded the Flip Flop Foundation in 2006 shortly after completing a six-month term as a Pfizer Global Health Fellow in Zambia. Shira has worked at Pfizer Inc since 1997 holding positions in both the Safety and Regulatory Affairs departments. She maintains her position at Pfizer while simultaneously overseeing the operations of the Flip Flop Foundation. She travels between the US and Zambia several times a year. Shira holds a PhD in Pharmacology from Columbia University. Previously, Shira had volunteered her time with various West African dance organizations in New York City.
Charles Soko
Charles was born in Zambia, and is of Zimbabwean and Zambian descent. He comes from the Chewa tribe of Eastern Province, and speaks English, Nyanja, Chewa, Bemba, Shona and Ndebele. He is an accountant by profession. His community activities involve recreation activities and livelihood skills training for youths. He is a founding member and Program Manager for Community Youth Sport Association, and the current Secretary for Munali Youth Sport Association. Charles feels fulfilled by helping others, and believes that "you keep what you give away and lose what you keep". Charles is a member of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee.
Misheck Tembo
Misheck was born in Ndola in the Copperbelt Province, and comes from the Chewa tribe of Eastern province. He speaks English, Chewa, Bemba, Swahili and Tonga. He is a Christian member of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Misheck is an accountant, and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. He works for a USAID-funded program called CHANGES-2 (Community Health & Nutrition, Gender, & Education Support). He has previously worked for other NGOs, including Population Services International and Family Health International (Zambia Prevention, Care, and Treatment). Misheck first met the Flip Flop Foundation team in 2008, and joined the team in 2009. He serves as a member of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee.
Nsamwa Tembo
Nsamwa comes from the Nsenga tribe of Eastern Province and speaks Nyanja, Bemba, and English. She studies Social Work at the University of Zambia. She joined the Flip Flop Foundation team because she enjoys helping people. Nsamwa is a member of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee.
Zambian Staff
Shira Rohde, PhD
Shira serves as the Executive Director of the Flip Flop Foundation, and also sits on the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee in Zambia. She works closely with the local Zambian team to execute all aspects of the mission.
Elijah Ngoma
Elijah was appointed as the Local Director of the Flip Flop Foundation in 2009, and also serves as Chairman of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee. He was instrumental in the early growth of the Flip Flop Foundation, having worked closely with Shira since the organization's inception.
Rodgers Mwanza
Rodgers was appointed as the Office Assistant for the Flip Flop Foundation in 2009, and also serves as Secretary of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee.
Charles Soko
Charles was appointed as the Financial Director for the Flip Flop Foundation in 2010, and also serves as a member of the Flip Flop Foundation Executive Committee.