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Teacher Comments
“I wanted to let you know that the conference was awesome! I was so thrilled that I was able to make it there. The speakers were so incredible. It was a fantastic experience and a gift to a tired and overworked teacher.”
- Diane Reitmyer
“It was a pleasure to attend the amazing conference today. I loved learning so much and being in the presence of such distinguished speakers…I am using a lot of the information I got Saturday in my classes today”
- Susan K Hollier
Teacher HS/Geography
The Woodlands High School, Conroe ISD
“Thanks for all the work this weekend. I learned a lot of new things. It was well worth it.”
- Elias Bongmba
Professor Religious Studies
Rice University
"I just wanted you to know how wonderful I thought the Teach Africa Program was."
- Marlene Slobin
University of Houston, College of Education
"The media aspects are wonderful. It will help show my students that Africa is so much more than disease, poverty and depression."
- World Geography & U.S. Government Teacher
Clear Creek Independent School District
This was Awesome. Thank you so much for putting this together. I spent 3 months in Zimbabwe in 1993 and fell in love with the continent then. I teach Africa with passion and love and the new information you provided to me through this program is wonderful. My heart was both lifted and broken again.
I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Ambassador Ruhee personally and found him to be delightful. I also was thrilled to spend time after the last break out session with the Ret. Brig. Gen. He was so compassionate and passionate about what PFP is doing. He encouraged me to pursue some things that are on my heart towards the African continent.
I realize it was a monumental task putting this all together. There was such a diverse group of presenters, each with their own unique talents and views. And then getting that many teachers together in one place (without complaining), WOW.
I really appreciate that WAC cared enough to bring this program to us. I do believe many African nations are on the brink of great things, but I also see there are still many with outstreatched hands in need of further assistance.
It is always good to be reminded that there is much work to be done all over the globe in terms of humanitarian aid and support for emerging governments. As a World Geography teacher I am continually encouraging my students to "do good" in the world; to discover their personal gift for the world, perfect that gift (through education), and then purpose to use it to change things for the better. This conference just echoed that message and encouraged me by introducing me to others of like mind.
Thank you again and I look forward to the next time I am able to attend a WAC function.
- Tammy Koonce
Klein Forest HS
Click here to view her presentation
Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili is Vice President of the Africa Region at the World Bank. A Nigerian national, Oby Previously held several positions in the Nigerian Government including advisor to the President of Nigeria on Budget Monitoring and Minister of Solid Minerals Development. In this last position she worked on reforming Nigeria's mining sector to internationally recognized standards, especially in the area of policy transparency.
Oby served as one of the founding members of Transparency International as Director, Africa. She has also served as the Chairperson for the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, pioneering the voluntary sign-on of Nigeria to the EITI Principles, as well as the first ever audit of the oil and gas sector.
Since June 2006, Oby has been the Minister of Education where she was tasked with leading the country's on-going comprehensive reform strategy within the education sector. Oby holds a Masters in International Law & Diplomacy from University of Lagos, along with a Masters of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard. She is also a chartered accountant.
Keerteecoomar Ruhee became ambassador of Mauritius to the United States on Feb. 16, 2007. Ambassador Ruhee previously served as chief of staff to the prime minister of Mauritius. Other postings within the government include minister of economic planning and development, minister of civil service and employment, and minister of agriculture.
Ambassador Ruhee was also an associate professor at the University of Mauritius and senior partner responsible for business development in Africa at De Chazal Du Mée and Co., a firm that represented Arthur Andersen in the southeastern region of Africa. In addition, he has held several board memberships, including founding member of Transparency Mauritius and of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mauritius.
Ambassador Ruhee was educated at Louisiana State University and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and holds a master’s of science degree in agriculture with statistics as a minor.
North Carolina State University, Ph.D., Yale University
Dr. Kenneth P. Vickery is an Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Advising in the History Department at North Carolina State University, where he has taught for almost 30 years. He received his B.A. degree with Phi Beta Kappa honors at Duke University and went on to study sub-Saharan African history at Yale University, where he earned his Ph.D.
During his tenure at NC State, he has been a visiting professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Meredith College. In 1993, he was awarded a Fulbright fellowship and served as a Fulbright Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Economic History of the University of Zimbabwe in Harare.
Professor Vickery is also an acclaimed author. His book Black and White in Southern Zambia: The Tonga Plateau Economy and British Imperialism, 1890–1939 was a finalist for the Herskovits Prize, given annually by the African Studies Association for the outstanding book in African studies. He has published numerous articles and reviews in such publications as Comparative Studies in Society and History, the International Journal of African Historical Studies, the Journal of Southern African Studies, and American Historical Review .
An award-winning instructor, Dr. Vickery was inducted into the Academy of Outstanding Teachers at North Carolina State in 1986. In 2005, he was named Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor, the university's highest teaching honor.
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