Our Board

Allison Eriksen was born and raised in central California and started her development career as an environment volunteer with the Peace Corps in Dodoma region of Tanzania. She worked primarily in schools teaching an environmental club and a girls' empowerment program. She also worked with women's groups on income generating projects making soap and dyeing batik fabric. Allison holds a M.A. in International Development from American University and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Davis.

When not working or volunteering with Friends of Tanzania, Allison plays clarinet in a local marching band and spends time with her pitbull, Kaylee.

Rita Kamazima is from the Bukoba region of Tanzania and holds a Bachelor's degree Biochemistry from Miami University. of Ohio. There she served as the African Students' Union student organization leader, promoting awareness of the diverse cultures within the Africa continent. She also worked with MedLife Miami helping impoverished families in Ecuador, Peru and Panama improve their health and health seeking behaviors. Rita was a Youth and Community Development Volunteer in Peace Corps Swaziland, where she worked with vulnerable communities implementing HIV/AIDS prevention interventions, teaching life-skills courses, health & wellness and promoting English literacy through a variety of activities such as establishing libraries and debate clubs. Together with her local counterparts she also established multiple girl empowerment clubs to help build resiliency and install confidence among the young girls in her community.

Rita currently works in the Office of Global Health and HIV, at Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC, providing support to both the Health Sector Programming and Training Teams at HQ and in the field. In her role she also co-coordinates training for post staff on topic areas such HIV and PEPFAR, MNCH and Gender & Health.

Rita holds advanced certification in siSwati and is fluent in Swahili and Haya. She is very passionate about international development and youth empowerment, especially in the Africa region. She enjoys traveling, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends

After 38 years as a lawyer and community volunteer, Bob fulfilled a life-long ambition as a PCV volunteer in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.  Bob joined FOT upon his return in 2018, and served on the Projects Committee for two years.  Bob is currently serving as the Board Secretary, and overseeing FOT's Website.  In addition to his work as an attorney, Bob volunteers with several other non-profits, both in the States and in Tanzania.

Bob grew up in California, received a BA in Mathematics from Middlebury College in Vermont,  and his JD from the University of Michigan Law School and now lives in Madison, New Jersey.

Brandon is a RPVC TZ 2018-2020.  He has previous experience in nonprofits and financial administration, with a BS in business administration with an emphasis in finance and a minor in public health from Fresno State, as well as a Masters of Public Administration. Brandon is currently working in Coconino County in Arizona as a budget analyst where his financial responsibilities include complex budgeting, forecasting, payroll and accounting for various county departments.  Brandon is excited to join the Board and to take on the position of FOT’s Treasurer.

Shamis Abdulla is a Zanzabari who moved to the USA in 1998 in Washington DC area. He finished his studies at Montgomery college in graphic design, and lives and works in DC.   Shamis has been active in the Tanzanian community, and is one of the founders of Zanzibar Diaspora Association (ZADIA) which is an umbrella which unites all Zanzibari who are in the USA.  He has also worked with the Association of Tanzanian Community in DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia), as well the Tanzanian Muslim Community in the Washington DC area.  Shamis looks forward to working to connect FOT with more of the Tanzanian community in the DC area and elsewhere. 

Clay Batko served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania from 2016 – 2019 as a sustainable agriculture extension agent.  In addition to training local farmers in sustainable farming practices, Clay served as chair of the Peace Corps Tanzania Projects Committee, where he reviewed and edited 45 volunteer grants and designed, implemented, and evaluated a $250 USAID-funded grant.  His project review experience makes Clay a valuable member of FOT’s Projects Committee.  Clay currently works as a Program Analyst at US Environmental Protection Agency.

Chris Biles currently lives in Washington D.C. and works as a International Program Specialist for the Foreign Agricultural Service. She previously worked for various conservation and environmental education organizations in California and Alaska, and for the United States Peace Corps in Tanzania from 2015 to 2018 where she focused on sustainable agriculture and water management as a Agriculture Volunteer in Njombe and Peace Corps Volunteer Leader in Dar es Salaam. Chris graduated from St. Lawrence University with a BS in Conservation Biology where she studied at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and extensively in the Adirondack State Park of New York. Chris is originally from Western NY, just outside of Rochester, and enjoys music, hiking, ultimate frisbee, and creative writing.

Jennifer Kron is a Senior National Intelligence Service officer in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, currently serving in Canberra, Australia. She has worked for the U.S. Government for over 20 years in leadership roles spanning budget, policy, mission, and information technology and is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award (Meritorious) and the National Intelligence Superior Service Medal. Ms. Kron graduated from Princeton University (bachelor's) and Harvard University (master's). When not Down Under, she resides in Washington DC with her husband. She has supported Friends of Tanzania in a variety of roles since 2008.

Ross was introduced to Tanzania at the age of two when he lived in Dar es Salaam with his family. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer and science teacher in Kenya 2005-2008 and returned to Tanzania in 2011 when he studied Swahili at the State University of Zanzibar. Ross worked as a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department and a Crisis Counselor with CCSI.  He has lived in Botswana, Finland, Kenya, and Mexico. Ross earned his BA at St. Mary's College of Maryland and his doctorate in Neuroscience from the University of Iowa.

Andrew is a RPCV – TZ 2014-2016 and is currently Senior Program Manager at Digital Green.  He also worked for One Acre Fund in Tanzania from 2016-2019. Andrew is an active member of the FOT Projects Committee.  Andrew is currently working for a global development organization that empowers smallholder farmers to lift themselves out of poverty by harnessing the collective power of technology and grassroots level partnerships. He and his wife, also a RPCV-TZ, live in Brownsville, Texas.

Lindsay began serving as a PCV in 2019 as a secondary math and science teacher before being evacuated in 2020.   She joined FOT shortly after her return to the States, and for the past 2 years has served as the Chair of the Projects Committee.  Lindsay is currently in a Masters of Public Health, Global Health program at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, in Atlanta. 

Maureen served on the FOT Board in 2016, and is now returning at a Board member. She has also been assisting with the FOT social media presence, including its Instagram account  Maureen is an administrative professional with several years of member management and engagement experience at professional organizations, and currently serves in an Association whose ultimate goal is student success. Maureen views her position on the Board as way to assist FOT in providing access for communities in Tanzanians to much needed resources.

David served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania from September 1991- December 1993, and then worked in Tanzania and South Africa until 2001.  Among other activities, he made several films of safari areas in Swahili to be shared with Tanzania students.    David also owns and runs a cross-cultural safari company, Aberdare Adventure Safari, which he started  in 1996, through which he organized camping, lodging, and combination lodging/camping safaris for clients in Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa.  He returned to the U.S. in 2001 and continues to lead safaris to Eastern/Southern Africa most summers as well as throughout the year.  As part of the safari experience he encourages his clients to understand the local culture, and has utilized donations from clients to undertake projects in the local villages.  During most of the year David teaches 1st-5th grade science and 1st-4th grade computer skills in Falcon Ridge, Kuna, Idaho.

Jackline is a Tanzanian native and a proven FOT member and volunteer over the past several years. She's a creative-entrepreneur, Owner of JKanule Boutique, that provides African fashion and arts that channel the richness of Africa. Jackline is also a nonprofit professional, currently working at NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and is a big advocate for mental health and wellness. Jackline has served in various capacities in community organizations, including previously serving as an Executive Secretary and board member on a Tanzania non-profit in the New York City area, New York Tanzanian Community (NYTC), Inc. She embraces the concept of Ubuntu. She has engaged with other organizations that champion Tanzania and has been a member of DICOTA (Diaspora Council of Tanzanians in America). Jackline lives in the Washington, DC area, but her current business ventures lead her to travel frequently back to her home country. 

Jessica served with Peace Corps Tanzania in 2010-13 as an environment volunteer in the Mbeya region and extended with a USAID malaria project in Mwanza.  She has extensive professional fundraising and grant experience and, in addition to serving on the Board,  volunteers her skills with FOT’s fundraising strategy and the Projects Committee.  She is currently employed as grant manager for non-profit affordable housing organization in Columbus, Ohio