Kurt founded TDS in 2008 with his wife, Jeanine. In addition to serving as President, he is also a Distinguished Engagement Professor in the Department of Public Administration at Northern Illinois University.​

Edith is the Director of the Illinois Education and Career Success Network at Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University and led the launch of the 4-H Career Pathways program in the Mara region.

Tricia had a 30 year career in the healthcare field, starting as a registered nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago and later in Pittsburgh. After earning a Master Degree in Public Management at Carnegie-Mellon University she accepted positions in health administration and in medical research. She is a firm believer in the value of sharing talents through volunteering and has been serving as TDS Treasurer since 2012.

Joan recently retired from a career in healthcare administration and finance in Madison, Wisconsin. She is now an active volunteer with St. Vincent DePaul and coordinates the Willmann Scholarship program.

James is an Presidential Engagement Professor of ESL/Bilingual Education at Northern Illinois University. He is a Fulbright Specialist and has been awarded multiple times in the areas of education, social justice, and diversity. 

Maiga is currently pursuing his PhD in African Studies at University of Illinois. He is originally from Musoma and previously served as the first full time Program Coordinator for the 4H Career Pathways program. 

Andrea is a library information specialist serving middle school students in Deerfield, Illinois, with 27 years of experience as a public educator. She taught at Nyegina for two weeks in the summer of 2022 as a Fulbright-Hays Grant Scholar through Northern Illinois University, which inspired her to join TDS as a board member and continue to support education in rural Tanzania.

Now retired, Paul spent 37 years working in state and federal government, as well as the nonprofit sector.  Through his career, he worked on programs focused on supporting low income families and social justice reform.

Helen worked at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics for 18 years before retiring from nursing. She currently teaches Medical Surgical Nursing at Edgewood College. 

​Eric joined the Board in 2023 and served as the Executive Director in 2024. Traveling with TDS to Tanzania in 2022, along with the successful summit of Kilimanjaro was a peak experience for him: it included the realization that big problems can be overcome with small steps, pole pole.

Now retired, Terry spent 43 years working for universities and private industry. Through his career, he worked on program development, performance and training, and economic and financial education.  In the later years of his career, Terry focused on growing teacher education international partnerships. 

Renée Jones is the Founder of Red Hills Consulting Group, where she advises mission-driven organizations on strategy, organizational transformation, and sustainable impact. She serves as Chair of the Evaluation Committee for Tanzania Development Support, overseeing program impact and scholarship evaluation to ensure strong outcomes for youth, especially girls, through education. Renée brings deep expertise in strategic planning, governance, and organizational effectiveness, with a strong commitment to advancing opportunity for young women.

Jason joined the board and served as Vice President from 2016-2019 after studying abroad in Tanzania and Kenya in 2015-2016. He served as the first Executive Director from 2019 to 2023 before returning to the board.  Jason currently works as an Environmental Sustainability Coordinator in the Chicago metropolitan area and is pursuing his PhD at University of Illinois Chicago in public finance and budgeting. 

Solonge Robinson is the Director of Asset Management at the Chicago Housing Authority, where she is part of an amazing team dedicated to the preservation and long-term sustainability of affordable housing for thousands of families. With more than 15 years of experience in public housing and community-focused leadership, she is passionate about strengthening neighborhoods and expanding opportunity. She is also a children’s book author and co-owner of ASA Books—ASA meaning “beautiful”—with a heartfelt goal of creating something beautiful in this world for children through stories that promote confidence, curiosity, and self-discovery. A committed community advocate, she has been an active member of the Woodlawn Community Garden for nearly a decade and serves in various local leadership roles. Most importantly, she is the proud mother of two amazing children who inspire her daily.