Sauti Mashinani Lab Team
Stephanie is currently pursuing a Master's in Economics at the University of Nairobi. She is a Certified Public Accountant in Kenya and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Moi University. Stephanie's research interests focus on health, inequalities faced by women and girls, advocacy, and harm reduction. She is a member of the Core Sauti Mashinani Community Team and has experience in both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. Additionally, she brings expertise in financial accounting and is fluent in both English and Swahili.
Millicent holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology and a Master of Arts in Rural Sociology and Community Development, both from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Her research interests include women’s empowerment, women’s health and well-being, community participatory action research, and community development. Millicent has years of experience in qualitative and quantitative research collection, analysis, and oversight. She has managed community participatory action research studies with large community teams and is fluent in both English and Swahili, allowing for effective engagement and collaboration with diverse communities.
Melvine is currently pursuing a diploma in Special Needs Education at the Kasarani Institute of Special Education. She has experience conducting research on the impact of climate change on women's health and has also designed and implemented interventions for intimate partner violence. Her work focuses on helping women create new goals in their close relationships with their partners and address various challenges within those partnerships.
Manuela is a first-year Master of Social Work student at the Columbia School of Social Work. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a minor in Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College in Maine. Her research interests include nature-based and eco-based clinical social work and therapy, community-engaged research with women in global settings, intimate partner violence and women’s healing, climate justice, and queer communities. She has conducted research on climate resilience in South America, possesses bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English, and has extensive experience in qualitative research as well as community outreach and engagement. She is passionate about combining her academic and practical expertise to support healing and resilience in diverse communities worldwide.
Malika is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Health at Columbia University. Her research interests include climate change, health and well-being among marginalized populations, community-engaged research, and quantitative research. Malika brings strong skills in quantitative data analysis and statistical programming in R and Python, along with experience conducting systematic reviews. She is also deeply committed to community engagement, leveraging her academic and technical expertise to address pressing global and public health challenges.
Lyla S. Yang is a PhD student in the Advanced Practice track. Her research examines the intersection of motherhood and sex work among women engaged in sex work (WESW), focusing on how motherhood shapes their decision-making, access to healthcare, and engagement with HIV prevention and treatment services. Lyla’s work highlights the challenges and resilience of WESW as they navigate stigma, economic vulnerability, and competing priorities, while also shedding light on their strategies to assert agency and balance their roles as mothers and workers. Originally from South Korea, she earned a BBA in Finance from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business and an MSW from the Columbia School of Social Work.
Lilian holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations. [Your Last Name]'s research interests include mental health and community-engaged research. She is a member of the Core Sauti Mashinani Community Team and has extensive experience in women’s health intervention and data collection. Additionally, she has a strong background in community engagement and mentorship. Fluent in both English and Swahili, she brings multilingual skills to her work in community-based initiatives.
Lena Moraa Obara is a Doctoral Candidate at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where she also serves as a lecturer in Global Health Perspectives at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Her research focuses on the effects of the environment on the physical and mental health of women and girls, as well as the experiences of gender-based violence, coping mechanisms, and the mental health of women and youth in resettlement communities in East Africa. She earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Makerere University in Uganda and holds a master's degree in Sociology from the University of Nairobi in Kenya.
Kianna Stamps is a dual degree Master’s student at the Columbia University School of Social Work and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Her research and practice interests include community-based interventions that address racial disparities in access to maternal care and birthing outcomes for women of color. Additionally, she is also interested in the intersection between maternal health and intimate partner violence as a determinant of health. She has been with the lab for two years, where she values collaborating with lab members and learning from community partners.
Kevin Medina, a Software Engineer born and raised in Harlem, New York, is passionate about leveraging technology to drive social impact. As a Research Data Engineer at Sauti Mashinani Lab, Kevin architects and implements scalable data pipelines, automating complex data processing workflows to enhance efficiency and data quality. His development of user-friendly interfaces bridges the gap between technical and client users, improving collaboration and enabling research teams to focus on analysis and insights that drive impactful decision-making. A 2024 graduate of Columbia University, Kevin has a robust background in mobile development, full-stack development, and data visualization. His expertise spans cloud-based technologies and scalable software solutions, which have been recognized with a Technical Innovation Award. Kevin’s dedication to using technology to tackle global challenges reflects his commitment to creating meaningful change and advancing social progress.
Hayley is a 2nd year graduate student at Columbia School of International and Public Affairs with an undergraduate degree in International Development from UCLA. She is studying Finance, Economic Policy and Data Analytics and pursuing a career in impact investing. Hayley has previous experience working with a policy think tank in Ghana and a consulting firm in NYC where she worked with civil rights organizations in the nonprofit space. She has recently completed a consultancy with a nonprofit that finances renewable energy projects in climate and conflict vulnerable countries. Hayley has been with the lab since last year as a research assistant and is grateful to be a part of the incredible community and important work that the lab is engaged in!
Hale is a graduate researcher at the Sauti Mashinani Lab and a Master’s student in Climate Science and Policy at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Their research examines the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on mental health and community wellbeing. Hale has worked across global mental health, climate resilience, and policy advocacy, including leading international dialogues and research initiatives on psychological resilience in climate-vulnerable communities.
Hailey is a second-year Master of Social Work student at the Columbia School of Social Work. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Legal Studies from Brandeis University. Her research interests include intimate partner and domestic violence, microaggressions and covert abuse, structural barriers for survivors, coercive control, the role of the law in addressing sexual violence, human sexuality, queerness, and sex therapy. Hailey's previous work includes a senior honors thesis on minimizing microaggressions and their correlation with physically overt acts of violence. She has conducted research on treatment interventions and their effects on the recidivism rates of sex offenders, explored religious barriers to legal justice for survivors, and advocated for alternatives to the criminal legal system for survivor support. With two years of experience as a medical advocate and rape crisis counselor, she has directly supported survivors by providing emotional and practical assistance within medical and legal systems. She has also worked as a forensic social worker at The Legal Aid Society and currently practices psychodynamic relational therapy at MindClear Integrative Psychotherapy in Manhattan.
Gi Un Shin is a master's student at Columbia University School of Social Work. Her research interests include community-based interventions for women who have experienced violence, with an emphasis on improving access to mental health and violence-related services among marginalized or disenfranchised communities.
Francesca is a Master of Social Work candidate at the Columbia School of Social Work in her second year. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with an emphasis on Public Relations, and minors in Legal Studies and Philosophy from the University of Oregon. Francesca's primary research interests include intimate partner violence, perinatal & maternal mental health, intersections of sex work & motherhood abroad and in the US, sexual violence prevention & education, intersections of maternal mental health & immigration in the US, liberation-based ancestral healing practices, and somatic approaches to healing. She previously worked as a student director for the University of Oregon's Sexual Violence Prevention and Education office focusing on community-specific education for college students on IPV, sexual violence & healthy relationships. She has experience in the supportive housing sector, public & media relations, and is currently an Advanced Clinical Intern with Women's Mental Health in the Ob/Gyn Department of Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Enoch Boafo Amponsah is a PhD Candidate at the School of Social Work, Rutgers University. His research focuses on sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adolescents, interpersonal violence prevention, and technology-facilitated violence of women and children. Enoch has ten publications in leading social work peer-reviewed journals and has used data from Ghana, the United States, Australia, and Kenya. Prior to joining Rutgers, Enoch completed a masters in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation at the University of Oxford.
Ebuka is a doctoral student at the Columbia University School of Social Work. His research focuses on fathers' roles and family well-being, emphasizing child and adolescent development, gender dynamics, masculinity, and mental health. He also explores issues of poverty, income inequality, race, ethnicity, culture, and environmental justice, aiming to advance interdisciplinary solutions that promote equity and holistic well-being. Before moving to New York City, Ebuka worked in international development, with lived experiences in Lagos, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; and Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds a B.Sc. in Communications and Multimedia Design (Advertising concentration) from the American University of Nigeria and earned his Master of Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University. When he is not working, Ebuka loves to sleep and spend quality time with his immensely gifted wife, Naa Okaikor.
Dr. Susan Witte earned a BA in Public Policy with a Certificate in Women's Studies from Duke University, an MSW from the University of Connecticut, and a PhD in Social Welfare from Columbia University. Her research focuses on global and community-engaged health and mental health initiatives, emphasizing intervention and implementation science at the intersections of women’s sexual and reproductive health, HIV risk, partner violence, and economic empowerment. Dr. Witter co-leads the Sauti Mashinani Lab and is committed to advancing equitable and impactful health solutions through collaborative, community-centered approaches.
Dr. Sam Winter holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University, a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Science from Stanford University, a Master of Social Work, and a PhD in Social Work from Rutgers University. She also completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Global Health at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Dr. Winter’s research focuses on climate, environmental, and ecological justice, particularly in informal settlements in East Africa. She examines the climatic, environmental, and social determinants of women’s health and access to services like water, sanitation, and health/mental health care. Her work also includes community-based prevention and response to gender-based violence and community-level interventions to improve health, mental health, and overall well-being. She co-leads the Sauti Mashinani Lab and is passionate about collaborative, community-driven research.
Desai holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a focus on Epidemiology and a certificate in evidence-based intervention from HOPE Worldwide Kenya. He is passionate about human development, mental health, and the intersection of climate change and health. Currently supporting evaluation and community engagement for Sauti projects at the Columbia Global Center, Desai brings expertise in data analysis, intervention implementation, and monitoring health programs. Fluent in English and Swahili, he combines precision and a global perspective to advance impactful public health solutions.
Dennis Mwanthi is a finance professional with a bias toward Insurance. He has a Bachelors in Communication, Diploma in Insurance and is currently doing his MBA. Before joining CGC, Dennis was in the insurance industry for 8 years. Dennis joined CGC | Nairobi in June of 2022 as a Finance and Project Coordinator. He mainly oversees all financial and administrative obligations for the research projects being led by the Sauti Mashinani team from the Columbia School of Social Work.
Chloé holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Psychology from Cornell University and a Master of Social Work from Columbia University, where she specialized in International Social Welfare and Services to Immigrants and Refugees, following the Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming track. Driven by her passion for empowering communities through socially-minded technology, she has years of international experience in writing, operations, and team-building across the technology and nonprofit sectors. Through her work with the Sauti Mashinani Lab, Chloé has deepened her expertise in community-based participatory research and strengthened her commitment to fostering collaborative, human-centered solutions.
Brittney is a fourth-year student at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a BA in Health & Societies with a concentration in Public Health and a minor in Chemistry. Her research interests include chronic disease epidemiology, nutrition, maternal and child health, and community health. Brittney has gained valuable public health experience through her internship with the Summer Public Health Scholars Program at the Mailman School of Public Health and the Columbia WHO Center for Global Mental Health. She has also worked with community-facing organizations to support the long-term well-being of West Philadelphia residents. As a volunteer, she has helped bridge barriers to accessing public health resources, such as SNAP and Medicaid, through a weekly student-run hotline. Additionally, her work with FReSH involves combating food insecurity and food waste by collaborating with local Philadelphia restaurants to provide packaged meals for unhoused adults and children.
Azeezat is a Research Assistant for the Sauti Mashinani Lab, contributing to research on disability justice in informal settlements. She recently contributed to the research article: Longitudinal Study of Climate Vulnerability and Disability Justice Among Women Living in Informal Settlements in Nairobi. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, specializing in Urban and Social Policy and Data Analytics. Azeezat’s academic and professional interests center on maternal health, reproductive health, women’s well-being, and transforming research into meaningful policy solutions. Azeezat has experience with a range of analysis tools, including Dedoose, NGP VAN, GIS, STATA, and R. She has worked alongside research teams on issues such as Black maternal health, housing inequities, and economic disparities. Her previous roles include supporting the Justice, Housing, and Health Study at Yale University and as a Reproductive Rights Intern with the Harris-Walz campaign on reproductive rights initiatives. Fluent in English, Yoruba, and French, Azeezat is dedicated to the importance of inclusive research and policy advocacy. She is committed to addressing systemic inequities and advancing outcomes for underserved communities through thoughtful research and collaboration.
Anna is a third-year PhD student in the Advanced Practice track at Columbia University and holds an MSW from the same institution. Her research focuses on best practices in anti-oppressive partnerships between U.S.-based NGOs and local community-based initiatives, with a particular emphasis on the Dominican Republic, where she has extensive practice experience in community development and partnerships. Over the past two years, Anna has worked with the Sauti Mashinani Lab, where she has deepened her expertise in partnership practices and community-based participatory research approaches. She has also developed additional research interests in women’s health and environmental justice, further enriching her commitment to equitable and impactful collaborations.
Aishworya is a first-year Social Work PhD student in the Advanced Practice Track. Her research interests are sexual abuse prevention, systemic inequality, tech for social work, and community interventions. She has an MSW from Tribhuvan University and is the founder of two NGOs - Heart of Nepal and Antardhoni - based in Nepal, providing free mental health services across the country and empowering 1500 Dalit families through education, economy and leadership.
Agness Mchome is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Health Systems Management at the School of Public Administration and Management, Mzumbe University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Systems Management from Mzumbe University and a Master of Public Health with a focus on Epidemiology from Georgia State University, which she attended through the esteemed Fulbright Foreign Exchange Program. Her research interests encompass a range of topics, including infectious disease control, disease modeling, maternal and child health, and the evaluation of initiatives aimed at underserved populations, particularly children with special needs and adolescents.