Our Dedicated Team
We are a 100% volunteer run organization. Every dollar contributed goes to the students we serve.
Stephen Mutisya, PhD
Co-Founder, President & CEO
Stephen is a Semiconductor Engineer at Intel Corporation. Before becoming an engineer, Stephen spent several years teaching at Chesapeake Bay Governor's School where he was privileged to teach Physics to bright, motivated high school students. It was during this time that he saw firsthand how transformative it is to nurture talent early, especially when students have the right support and resources.
Growing up in rural Machakos, Kenya, Stephen was once a direct beneficiary of the generosity of community members who provided financial support that enabled him to complete his K–12 education. That generosity changed the trajectory of his life. Today, he considers himself fortunate to pay that gift forward by helping students who stand where he once stood, full of potential but facing barriers beyond their control.
Stephen is a former student athlete and Track/CrossCountry athletic scholar who pursued higher education in the United States. He holds a PhD in Physics from East Carolina University. Also holds B.S. & M.S. in Physics and MEd in Gifted Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Mutisya is first person from the Koma Rock community in Machakos County, Kenya, a community of approximately ~5,000 residents to earn a doctorate degree. His educational journey serves as a source of inspiration to young people in the community, demonstrating that with determination, hard work, and the support of others, even students from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds can achieve the highest levels of academic excellence.As the CEO of the foundation, he leads efforts to promote education and sports for vulnerable children in rural Kenya. He oversees fundraising, build partnerships, ensure effective program delivery, and support scholarships, school projects, and student development.
He remains an active runner and occasionally runs alongside student-athletes from our partner schools, continuing to mentor and encourage the next generation. Stephen is also an avid gardening enthusiast who particularly enjoys experimenting with plant grafting in his mini backyard orchard, where it is not uncommon to find a single cherry tree producing five different varieties of cherries, a reflection of his curiosity, creativity, and passion for cultivating growth both in nature and in people. Above all, he treasures spending time with his wife Rachel and four sons, whether playing, exploring, or simply making memories together.
Rachel Mutisya, MSc
Co-Founder, Treasurer
Rachel spent several years teaching high school mathematics in Georgia, Hawaii, and North Carolina, working with students across a wide range of abilities and learning needs. Her experience included supporting students with special needs and individualized accommodations through IEP and 504 plans, as well as teaching advanced learners in International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus. During her college years, she served as a tutor and mentor with Upward Bound, a federally funded program supporting high school students from low-income families who aspire to become first-generation college graduates. Her experience with Upward Bound showed her firsthand how meaningful educational support and encouragement can change the trajectory of a student’s life. Her years teaching in Title 1 schools also gave her a personal understanding of the challenges faced by students from underserved and economically disadvantaged communities, perspective that continues to deeply inform her work with the foundation.
Now the mother of four sons, Rachel has spent the years since her time in the classroom actively caring for, educating, and nurturing her children. Motherhood has further strengthened her passion for education and helping children reach their full potential, while deepening her appreciation for the vital role that education, encouragement, and opportunity play in shaping a child’s future. Although her path took her away from the traditional classroom, her commitment to supporting students and expanding educational opportunities has remained an important part of her life and continues to inspire her work with the foundation.
Rachel holds a BS in Mathematics & Statistics and as a BSEd in Mathematics Education from University of Georgia as well as an MS in Mathematics & Statistics from Georgia Southern University. At MEF, she oversees foundation's financial transactions, management and reporting. She also manages the foundation's website, social media platforms, and fundraising campaigns. She enjoys traveling and cherishes spending time with her husband, Stephen, and their four sons.
Fedelis Mutiso, PhD
Secretary
Fedelis is a Principal Biostatistician at Novartis Corporation. At MEF, he keeps Foundation records as well as leveraging data to ensure transparency, accountability and continuous improvement of organization initiatives. He also hails from Machakos Kenya and former student athlete and beneficiary of Track/CrossCountry scholarships in USA. Fedelis holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Clayton State University, an M.S. in Mathematics & Statistics from Georgia Southern University, and a PhD in Biostatistics from the Medical University of South Carolina. He remains an active runner and is a mentor to the student-athletes in our partner schools.
Charles Nzioka
Director of Operations (Kenya)
Charles is a K-12 teacher and coordinator of the Mutisya Education Foundation in rural Kenya, plays a vital role in implementing the foundation’s programs on the ground. He coordinates all foundation activities across partner schools in Kenya, ensuring effective collaboration and consistent program delivery. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Kenyatta University, he brings valuable experience in teaching, mentoring, and uplifting vulnerable learners. Charles actively supports student development through both academics and extracurricular activities, including coaching ball games in the schools where he teaches. Beyond the classroom, he also serves as a pianist at his local church, reflecting his commitment to community engagement and holistic development.
Norina Mbuvi
Assistant Director of Operations (Kenya)
Norina is an experienced elementary school teacher in rural Kenya, plays a crucial role in the foundation by helping the organization understand and respond to the needs of vulnerable learners. Through her many years of teaching, particularly working with marginalized children and girls, she is able to identify students facing poverty, discrimination, school dropout risks, and other educational barriers. Norina documents their needs, develops proposals, and recommends practical ways the foundation can support them through school supplies, mentorship, scholarships, and other targeted assistance. Her close connection with learners, families, and schools helps ensure that the foundation’s resources reach the children who need them most.
Joshua Bbanda
Director of Community Outreach
Joshua serves as a director of the Mutisya Education Foundation, bringing exceptional leadership, international experience, and a lifelong passion for youth development through sports. As a ranking specialist in the United States military and a former student-athlete, he provides strategic guidance and mentorship to the foundation's sports initiatives. Joshua is also the founder of the Mityana Athletic Club in Uganda, an organization that has nurtured talented but underprivileged athletes, many of whom have progressed to international competitions, including the Olympic Games. Through his extensive network in athletics, he helps identify outstanding talent within the Mutisya Education Foundation and connects promising young athletes with training, competitions, and scholarship opportunities abroad, creating pathways for them to achieve both academic and athletic success.