Meet The Team
Consultant Team
Joelle Cruz, PhD
Associate Consultant
Dr. Joelle Cruz (She/her) is an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Colorado, Boulder, USA. She is a francophone West African feminist scholar who is passionate about theoretical and practical gender-related challenges on the continent of Africa. She has garnered more than ten years of academic and practical experience in the following areas: African feminisms, gender, and grassroots and activist organizations in Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sénégal. Dr. Cruz brings both deep theoretical expertise in African feminist literature as well as design and implementation expertise in this domain.
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Her academic work in the area of African feminisms has been published in leading journals. Dr. Cruz has worked with various NGOs in West Africa (SAIL Liberia, Alternative Côte d’Ivoire) as well as international organizations (Fòs Feminista, previously known as International Planned Parenthood Federation Western Hemisphere).
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We’re grateful for Joelle's role as a contributor to the team, and she’s excited to support the project with her experience and perspective.
Eric Karikari, PhD
Associate Consultant
Eric is a scholar, researcher, and organizational communication consultant whose work centers on how people lead, organize, and adapt under conditions of uncertainty. Trained in organizational communication and qualitative research, his expertise lies in helping organizations understand how everyday communication shapes resilience, decision-making, and collective action, especially in complex or resource-constrained environments.
As an associate professor and a certified leadership coach, Eric also brings deep experience in facilitation, strategic thinking, and applied research. Whether advising leaders, supporting organizational learning, or designing communication strategies, he approaches consulting as a collaborative process. His work ultimately helps organizations build resilience by centering communication as a core leadership practice rather than a secondary skill.
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We’re grateful for Eric’s role as a contributor to the team, and he’s excited to support the project with his experience and perspective!
Christian Otchere, MA
Data Analyst
Christian is a quantitative and computational social scientist with a strong background in empirical research and advanced statistical methodology. His work focuses on applying rigorous quantitative, computational, and data-driven approaches to address complex problems in the social sciences.
He is currently a PhD student at the University of Connecticut, where he develops and applies advanced methods in statistical modeling, research design, and empirical analysis. Christian has extensive experience working with large and complex datasets across diverse research contexts.
Christian is proficient in analytical and programming tools including SPSS, R, and Python, which he uses for data analysis, visualization, and reproducible research. He regularly writes custom scripts to support end-to-end research workflows, from data collection and cleaning to modeling and interpretation.
His work reflects a strong commitment to methodological rigor, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the use of computational techniques to advance social science research.
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We’re grateful that Christian is volunteering his time with our team, and he’s excited to contribute his experience and perspective!
Tiffany A.
Dykstra-DeVette
Associate Consultant
Tiffany A. Dykstra-DeVette (PhD, Utah) is a scholar and professor of communication at San Diego State University whose work bridges organizational communication, nonprofit organizing, social change and applied research. Past studies have addressed empowerment and disempowerment, neoliberalism, and the rhetoric and representations of activist networks. She is the author of a published study on a Coordinating Council on Homelessness, a project that combined qualitative research, stakeholder analysis, and community organizing.
Tiffany has also applied her analytical and communication expertise in consulting work for the United States Marine Corps, where she supported organizational problem-solving and strategic communication efforts in a high-stakes, complex institutional environment. Across her research and consulting experience, she is known for her ability to synthesize complex information, engage diverse stakeholders, and produce clear, evidence-based recommendations.
Her work has been published in Organization Studies, Southern Communication Journal, and Journal of Social Media Studies. In the past, she has served as the director of debate and as an assistant debate coach at the University of Utah and Texas Tech University respectively.
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We’re grateful for Tiffany's role as a contributor to the team, and she’s excited to support the project with her experience and perspective.
Emmanuel
Addo-Yirenkyi
Data Analyst
Emmanuel is a product leader focused on the power of agentic, automation‑driven flows to transform finance, developer experience, and compliance. For more than a decade, he has worked to empower customers, banks, compliance teams, and developers with tools that help them achieve more with less.
His experience spans Microsoft, where he built for billions of users, Wise, where he led expansion across the Middle East and Africa, and mPharma, where he helped deliver Africa’s first healthcare‑focused integrated point‑of‑sale solution.
Emmanuel holds an MBA from the University of Ghana, a BSc in Biochemistry, and executive certificates from Yale, MIT, and Temple University. He is now focused on enabling the next generation of developers through secure, automated, and cost‑efficient systems.
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We’re grateful that Emmanuel is volunteering his time with our team, and he’s excited to contribute his experience and perspective!
David Kofi Quarshie
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer
David Kofi Quarshie is a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) professional with extensive experience supporting data-driven, donor-funded, and social impact initiatives across Ghana and beyond. He brings a strong background in designing and implementing MEL systems, managing complex data processes, and translating insights into actionable strategies for program improvement and accountability.
David currently serves in senior MEL roles with organizations including One Love Sisters Ghana and Hope Alliance Foundation, where he has led the development of comprehensive MEL frameworks, strengthened organizational capacity, and supported evidence-based advocacy for vulnerable and marginalized communities. His experience spans both NGO and consulting environments, where he has contributed to baseline studies, mid-term evaluations, and large-scale research projects for international clients such as UNICEF, GIZ, USAID/FHI360, and the International Livestock Research Institute.
With a foundation in statistics and advanced training in global health research and evaluation, David is highly skilled in data collection, analysis, and visualization. Known for his strong organizational skills and attention to detail, he excels at supporting multidisciplinary teams, managing workflows, and delivering high-quality reporting in fast-paced, remote, and hybrid settings.
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We’re grateful for David's role as a contributor to the team, and he’s excited to support the project with his experience and perspective.