Board of Advisors

James Tooley is Professor of Education Policy at Newcastle University, England, and has spent the past decade studying the thousands of low cost private schools across the developing world. He is a tireless advocate for edupreneurs; his most recent book The Beautiful Tree: A personal journey into how the world’s poorest are educating themselves, (Penguin, 2009), vividly recounts his journey from initially discovering their existence to currently championing their cause.

For his ground-breaking research on private education for the poor in India, China and Africa, Tooley was awarded Gold Prize in the first International Finance Corporation/Financial Times Private Sector Development Competition in September 2006. Following on from this, he was founding president of the Education Fund, Orient Global. Living in Hyderabad, India, for two years, he helped create a chain of low-cost private schools and associated educational infrastructure. Since then he has helped set up educational chains in China and Ghana, with a further company in India. Prior to joining Newcastle University, Professor Tooley previously taught and researched at the Universities of Oxford and Manchester, England; Simon Fraser University, Canada; and University of the Western Cape, South Africa. His Ph.D. is from the Institute of Education, University of London. His first job was teaching mathematics at a high school in Zimbabwe.

James’ relevant expertise: Being the world’s foremost authority on affordable private schools in the developing world. He is expert on developing curricula, learning methods, and innovative technology laboratories for impoverished schools in Africa and India. He also has much experience in marketing these schools to parents, as he has started or acquired over 40 such schools in India, Ghana, and China.

Miriam Ofosu Appeah is the owner and founder of St. Mary’s Preparatory School in Ghana. She purchased the land in 1998, taking small-business loans to build and grow her school. Today it is one of the best run, private, low-cost Christian schools in Ghana. With over 720 students currently enrolled, Miriam continues to expand her school’s offerings to include technology-based learning. With a love for her Savior and an aggressive plan to see children educated, Miriam aspires to change the face of education in Ghana. Miriam studied early childhood education at Ghana Education Services.

Ken Blanchard is the author or co-author of more than 35 books on leadership, including The One Minute Manager, Raving Fans, and Gung Ho! Ken is widely recognized as a premier thinker and writer on leadership. The Ken Blanchard Companies, with approximately 300 employees, are among the foremost business trainers in the world. In 1999, he co-founded the organization Lead Like Jesus in 1999. Its passion is “to glorify God by inspiring and equipping people to lead like Jesus.” He and Phil Hodges are the co-authors of Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time. Ken is a Ph.D. graduate of Cornell University.

Loren Cunningham is the co-founder of the international Christian missionary organization Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and the University of the Nations. In 1960, at the age of 24, he founded YWAM with his wife Darlene. YWAM has more than 20,000 full-time missionaries in 140 countries and 533 primary schools – many in the developing world. Loren has visited every country in the world. He is also the co-founder of the Global Accreditation Association, which accredits Christian schools around the world.

Rod Dammeyer began his business career with Arthur Andersen & Co. and was admitted to partnership in 1970. He subsequently served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Northwest Industries, Inc. After which he became senior vice president and chief financial officer of Household International, Inc. From 1985 –1995 he was CEO of Itel Corporation which merged into Anixter International; and served as managing partner of Equity Group Corporate Investments from 1995 until 2000.

Rod Dammeyer is chairman of CAC, a private company offering capital investment and management advisory services. He is a member of the boards of directors of Stericycle, Inc. and Quidel Corporation, in addition to being a trustee of Invesco Funds and Van Kampen Investment Funds. He also serves on the boards of California Charter Schools Association and High Tech High Charter Schools in San Diego (4,500 students). He is committed to fighting global poverty and promoting education through various micro-finance organizations. He is a graduate of Kent State University.

Kwabena Darko is the founder of Darko Farms & Co. and Director of the Bank of Ghana. Kwabena received a microfinance loan 45 years ago. Over time, he parlayed that loan into one of the most successful private enterprises in Ghana. Since 2001, he has served as a Director of the Bank of Ghana, the nation’s central bank. As founding chair of both of Opportunity International’s microfinance entities in Ghana, he has helped over 100,000 Ghanaians work their way out of poverty in the name of Jesus. He was chair of Opportunity International’s Global Network from 1997 to 1998. Kwabena founded and presides over a 600-member Christian church in Kumasi, Ghana. He holds a Diploma in Poultry Science from the Rupin Institute, Israel, and an honorary Doctorate from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

Brian Fikkert is the founder and Executive Director of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development, a research and training center that is dedicated to helping churches and missionaries to declare the
kingdom of God by bringing economic development and spiritual transformation to the poor. Dr. Fikkert is also a professor of economics and community development at Covenant College in Georgia. Brian received a Ph.D. in Economics with highest honors from Yale University. Specializing in Economic Development and International Economics, Brian has been a consultant to the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the United States Agency for International Development. He recently co-authored the book When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor. . .and Yourself.

Mary Kamanzi is the founder of the Arise and Shine School and National Director of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) for Rwanda. The Arise and Shine School is among the premier private primary schools
in Rwanda and has a vision to disciple the nation of Rwanda by laying a strong foundation through quality Christ-centered education, so as to promote creativity and freedom by empowering children to become honorable, capable and servant leaders that will impact all spheres of society. Mary has worked in education in South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda. Mary was appointed to a government commission: Committee for Unity and Reconciliation. She also sits on the board of Vessels of Honor, a ministry to women leaders in Rwanda. Having graduated from the Uganda Teachers College in 1985, Mary went on to earn degrees in Child Social Services and Family Ministries from the University of the Nations.