Staff & Boards

William Ryerson, MPhil
President & Founder

Bill oversees all PMC activity and travels around the world for current and new program development. He founded PMC in 1998 and since 2008, Bill has also served as Chair of Population Institute in Washington, DC, which works in partnership with Population Media Center. He has more than 40 years of experience working in the field of reproductive health, including two decades of experience with social and behavior change communications. He holds BA from Amherst College and a Master of Philosophy in Biology from Yale University.

Ronald Ahirirwe
Country Director, Uganda

Ronald Ahirirwe leads the PMC-Uganda team. Ronald has been involved with social behavior change communication radio show development and production ever since he left university more than 15 years ago in various consulting capacities. Between 2008 and 2011, Ronald led the department of Membership at the Uganda Law Society. Ronald was the head of the secretariat of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Media Freedom before taking over as the Deputy Resident Representative at PMC Uganda in 2018. He holds a Diploma in Law, an Honours Degree in Management and Communications, and a Master’s Degree in Drama for Life from Wits University, Johannesburg South Africa.

Kriss Barker, PhD, MPH
Vice President of International Programs

Kriss oversees all in-country PMC operations with responsibilities ranging from selecting and training PMC’s in-country offices to monitoring research results. Kriss has trained writers and producers for more than 30 TV or radio programs and has authored several chapters and articles. She has over 25 years of experience in health development and communications. She holds a BA from Stanford University, a Master of Public Health from the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and a PhD from the University of Cape Town.

Joseph J. Bish, MS
Director of Issue Advocacy

Joe is an in-house, public-facing expert on population, family-planning, and other global sustainability issues related to PMC’s mission, ensuring Marketing and Communications initiatives include effective and focused advocacy messaging. Monitoring and analyzing new trends in PMC’s focus issue areas, the field of social change communications, and PMC’s operational landscape, he communicates these findings to both external and internal audiences. Joe holds a Master of Science in Environmental Advocacy and Organizing from Antioch University New England.

Lisa Caruso, MFA, MBA
Head of U.S. Content

Lisa oversees all content development and production for the U.S. market. She has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry as a producer, director, screenwriter, and development executive. She helped launch a Discovery network, created several iconic TV series, and led branded web campaigns that have reached millions. A member of the Producers Guild of America, she received a Global MBA at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, an MFA in Directing at The American Film Institute, and a Certificate in Screenwriting from UCLA.

Natalia Cereser
Country Director, Guatemala

Naty is the Director of Professional Services at La fábrica&jotabequ/Grey, a leading marketing and communications agency in Guatemala and around the world. Naty is responsible for making sure that every marketing solution is founded on a sound strategy and achieves results. She leads the account team, planning team, BTL team, and digital team. Naty is a passionate people person who believes in the power of marketing for social good. She leads the PMC-Guatemala team.

Rahul Chatterjee
Creative Executive, U.S. Content

Rahul supports content development, both scripted and unscripted, for U.S. Content. He has over 15 years of experience both in the film and television industries. Along the way he has worked at FOX, NBC, CBS and Showtime networks working on television projects from script to screen. Born and raised in Chicago, he then moved on to Temple University in Philadelphia, where he graduated with a BA in Film & Media Arts.

Scott Connolly, EdD, MPH
Director of Research

Scott oversees PMC research activities for each program and also conducts in-country training workshops to build research capacity. PMC serial dramas involve many stages of research, monitoring, and evaluation. Scott has over 20 years of experience in the design, production, and evaluation of media-based public health programs. He holds a Master of Public Health in Behavior Science and Health Communication from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Vermont.

Hailegnaw Eshete, PhD, MPH
Country Director, Ethiopia

Hailegnaw leads the PMC-Ethiopia team. Before joining PMC, Hailegnaw worked for the International Center for AIDS Prevention (ICAP) at Columbia University as the Director for Ethiopian Population Based HIV Impact Assessment (EPHIA). He has significant experience as a public health consultant for international NGOs and donor organizations. Hailegnaw holds a BSc from Addis Ababa University, a Master of Science in Public Health and a Master of Public Health from Tulane University, and a PhD from American Century University.

Mary Fafard
Digital Marketing and Advocacy Manager

Mary manages PMC digital marketing channels, including social media, web assets, and email campaigns. She also works with PMC departments to collect, create, and share stories from the field. Mary has over four years of marketing and communications experience with a strong background in creating branded content for digital spaces. She holds a B.A. in Communications and Community Media from Northern Vermont University and is an M.B.A. candidate at Castleton University.

Carolyn Gilbert
Senior Program & Partnership Development Associate

Carolyn supports new program development and partnership building at PMC, overseeing a portfolio of projects. Before joining PMC, she supported new business initiatives for a major USAID implementer, managing research and proposal development for opportunities up to $90 million. Born and raised in Vermont, Carolyn holds a BA in International Studies from Macalester College and an MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies from the London School of Economics.

Erica Goldberg, MPA
Program Manager

Erica serves as a liaison between in-country staff and US Headquarters staff to coordinate the successful implementation and financial stability of PMC country programs. Erica has over seven years’ experience managing USAID projects with field work in Armenia, Colombia, Ghana, India, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone and Togo. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies with minors in Women and Gender Studies and Anthropology and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Vermont.

Christina Guérin
Country Director, Haiti

Christina leads a communication agency in Haiti called Village Santé (formerly Bloom SA). Christina feels very strongly about using media for social change, particularly regarding child slavery in Haiti and approached PMC about collaborating on a drama. She is not the traditional PMC Country Director, but she oversees PMC’s Zoukoutap dramas in Haiti.

Bria Holness, MA
Donor Engagement Officer

Bria works on PMC’s Development team, fostering a strong and vibrant community among PMC donors. Bria has over three years of experience in multimedia and nonprofit development, with a strong background in engaging and uplifting the voices of marginalized populations. She holds a BS in Television, Radio, and Film and an MA in Media and Education from Syracuse University.

Fatou Jah, PhD, MPS, MS
Senior Research Analyst

Fatou supports and oversees PMC research activities for each program, focusing on program design, monitoring and evaluation, and quality control. Fatou has over 15 years of experience conducting policy-oriented research to evaluate the impact of population and educational policies and programs. She holds a Master’s in Food Science from University of Guelph. She also holds a Master’s in International Development and Population and a PhD in Demography and Development Sociology, with minor concentrations in Research Methods, and Teaching, Learning and Policy, both from Cornell University.

Susan Jones
Finance Associate

Susan manages project accounting to reconcile and report actual project expense in all countries where PMC operates. She also supports other finance functions for PMC. Susan has four years of accounting experience working in the captive insurance industry. She has her BS in Accounting from Champlain College.

Charles Kalonga, MBA
Country Director, Zambia

Charles leads the PMC-Zambia team. Charles is an accomplished commercial marketing, social marketing, and social enterprise professional with over 20 years of experience. He has led sales and distribution, marketing, and social marketing initiatives for commercial and nonprofit organizations in Zambia and other African markets. Before PMC, Charles worked as Managing Director for Live Well Social Business and as Programs Director at Marie Stopes International in Ethiopia. Charles has a Postgraduate Professional Diploma from The Chartered Institute of Marketing and an MBA from Edinburgh Business School at Heriot Watt University.

Tom Kazungu
Country Director, Kenya

Tom leads the PMC-Kenya team. Tom has been in the world of entertainment-education for several decades with PMC and with other similar organizations. From 1987-1989, Tom was a producer on Ushikwapo Shikamana (“If Assisted, Assist Yourself) and from 1992-1995 worked on Kuelewana Ni Kuzungumza (“Dialogue is the Basis for Understanding”). In more recent years, Tom worked for PMC during training sessions in Botswana, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia and Uganda. He “has a passion for radio drama” and enjoys bringing formative characters to life.

Nancy Lindberg
Human Resources Administrator

Nancy administers human resources functions for the organization. Nancy has more than fifteen years of experience as a HR professional in the healthcare and higher education industries. Nancy holds a BA in Anthropology from University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Saint Michael’s College.

Jean Bosco Ndayishimiye
Country Director, Burundi

Jean Bosco leads the PMC-Burundi team. Before joining PMC, Jean Bosco was a lecturer at the University of Burundi. Since 1997, Jean Bosco has been working as a consultant to international organizations such as UNDP, UNICEF, ILO, World Bank, and CARE. He has a long and rich experience working with rural populations, in action research, and is an expert in participatory evaluation approaches and in communication for development. He holds two diplomas in Development Studies and Clinical and Social Psychology.

Emmanuel Nuwamanya
Country Director, Rwanda

Emmanuel leads the PMC-Rwanda team and has 10 years of experience in the media and communications field. Before PMC, Emmanuel worked as a Public Relations and Marketing Specialist with Rwanda’s Workforce Development Authority. He also worked in Rwanda’s media industry as freelance journalist for The New Times and Radio Salus, and as a TV news reporter with Rwanda Broadcasting Agency. Emmanuel holds a BA in Journalism from the school of Journalism and Communication at the University of Rwanda and a professional certificate in Digital Media Production For Dissemination and Enlightenment from Okinawa International Training Centre.

Ephraim Okon
Country Director, Nigeria

Ephraim leads the PMC-Nigeria team. Ephraim joined PMC as an Executive Assistant in 2008. He is passionate about using media to confront the significant health and development challenges facing the Nigerian populace – extreme poverty, gender inequality, public health emergencies, climate change, and many others. He holds an LLB degree in Law from BAZE University. He holds a traditional title of Abom 1 of Okon.

Cecilia Orvañanos
Country Director, Mexico

Cecilia has led PMC-Mexico projects since 2015, as well as supporting PMC research in Guatemala and Mexico. Cecilia has worked at the intersection of media and behavior change for over 30 years, including roles with the World Health Organization and BBC World Service Trust. She holds an MA in Educational Research from the Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla, a BA in Communication Research from the Universidad Iberoamericana Mexico City, and diplomas in Business from IPADE, Poverty and Exclusion from AUSJAL, and Fundraising from Indiana School of Philanthropy.

Rajan Parajuli
Country Director, Nepal

Rajan leads the PMC-Nepal team. Rajan is a prominent journalist, media trainer, and communication activist in Nepal. For several years he has worked in radio and television production, organizing mass awareness campaigns in poor and marginalized communities, and training young journalists of Nepal. He served as Program Director at Antenna Foundation Nepal (AFN), an innovative media organization of Nepal. For his work at AFN, Rajan was named as one of 30 inspiring young activists by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

Lindsay W. Reid, MPA
Program Manager

Lindsay serves as a liaison between in-country staff and US Headquarters staff to coordinate the successful implementation and financial sustainability of PMC country programs. Prior to joining PMC, she worked in non-profit administration for a health and human services agency and as a staffing specialist for a provider of international development services. Lindsay holds a B.A. in International Affairs from Florida State University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Vermont.

William J. Rider, CPA
Vice President of Finance

Bill oversees all financial budgeting, accounting and reporting for the overall organization and each individual program. He manages all audit, banking and insurance activity, and he prepares new program development proposal budgets. Bill has more than 25 years of experience in non-profit finance and accounting. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Vermont.

Dominica Ruelas
US Content Development Coordinator

Dominica manages the west coast office for domestic production efforts by supporting the Head of US Content in evaluating materials for potential development, researching original ideas, monitoring industry trends and players, and building necessary materials for projects in active development to take to market. Dominica has held previous positions in the film and television industry at various top-tier production companies, including Imagine Entertainment. She holds a BA in Film and Television Production from the University of Southern California.

Wendi Stein
Program Manager

Wendi serves as a liaison between in-country staff and US Headquarters staff to coordinate the successful implementation and financial sustainability of PMC country programs. Wendi has experience working for mission-driven organizations, including community foundations, higher education, the arts, and sustainable forestry. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Brandeis University.

Stephanie Tholand, MPA
Director of Program & Partnership Development

Stephanie oversees new program development and partnership building at PMC. Prior to joining PMC, she worked in non-profit administration and donor development, as well as working in Kenya in 2010 to advise on internal management strategies as a Pro Corps Volunteer. Stephanie holds a BA from Wake Forest University and a Master of Public Administration from San Francisco State University.

Missie Thurston
Director of Marketing and Communications

Missie oversees all marketing and communication activities, advancing PMC’s brand and mission across a variety of channels. She has more than 15 years of marketing and communications experience and spent the five years prior to joining PMC working in public health. Missie holds a BA from St. Michael’s College and a certificate in Marketing Management from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.

David Walker, MBA
Executive Vice President

David oversees all PMC activity with a particular focus on strategic planning, including the successful implementation of programs and new program development. He has more than 20 years experience leading organizations in the public health and conservation sectors. He holds a BA from Miami University and an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

Carly Wickell, MA
Prospect Research and Database Manager

Carly oversees all database systems as well as prospect research and analysis. Carly has over six years of experience in relational database maintenance, SQL, user-centered research, analytics, and reporting, plus 13 years in customer service and logistics management. Carly holds Master of Arts from University of Washington with a focus on Museology and User-Centered Interaction Design, a BA in Museum Studies from Evergreen State College, and a dual concentration BS in Interior and Apparel Merchandising from East Carolina University.