OUR TEAM
Julie Ghrist
Founder and Director, Art of Conservation
(2006 to present)
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A., Julie is a life-long lover of art, animals, children, and nature. In college, she studied children's book illustration, color theory, and textile design. She began her career working in New York City, illustrating the children's book series, Taelly's Counting Adventures, managing the Gabrielle Sanchez Studio, and designing for Sleeping Partners, Inc. She later established and managed the Julie Ghrist Studio designing jewelry and sculptures. In 2005, she moved to Africa to volunteer with different conservation organizations, including the Earthwatch Institute in Kenya, Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund in Cameroon, Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia, and International Gorilla Conservation Programme in Rwanda. In 2006, she was inspired to start her own organization in Rwanda, which combined her passions and so Art of Conservation was born.

Amy Clanin
Director of Development
(2011 to present)
Amy has an educational background in Primate Behavior & Ecology and Anthropology. Following her passion in conservation education, she began her career by giving tram tours at the Knoxville Zoo and facilitating guided observations of world-renowned signing chimpanzees at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute. She has experience studying monkeys in Costa Rica and working on great ape projects in Uganda, Borneo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Additionally, she designed and managed an education and outreach project on chimpanzees as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal. Amy most recently provided leadership in managing programs, operations, and fundraising efforts with the Bonobo Conservation Initiative. Currently, she is a Teacher with the Friends of the National Zoo, developing and executing weekend conservation workshops for children. She also serves as AoC's Director of Development in Washington, DC, leading the effort to increase the organization's funding base, while promoting its mission and conservation programs in Rwanda. View Amy's portfolio.

Valerie AKUREDUSENGE
Executive Assistant, Teacher, and Translator
(2006 to present)
Valerie grew up in the Gakenke District in the Northern Province of Rwanda. In 2005, she worked as a translator and guide for Amahoro Tours, a community-based tourism company based in Musanze. During her studies at the Institut d'Enseignement Superieur de Ruhengeri, she interned with the Rwandan Parliament, translating and interpreting speeches and government documents. She also conducted an independent study, Interpreting Problems Faced by Guides in Cultural Tourism, which focused on the importance of proper training for guides who work in community-based tourism. In 2007, she received a Bachelor of Translation and Interpreting. Since 2006, Valerie has been working closely with Julie, the AoC director, assisting with administrative tasks, as well as teaching and translating lessons in the classroom.

Eric MUTABAZI
Art Instructor
(2006 to present)
Eric grew up in Musanze District, Northern Province, Rwanda. He attended secondary school at the School of Art Nyundo in Gisenyi, Rwanda and has worked mostly as a graphic artist producing logos and signage for a variety of clients, including the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, The Gorilla Organization, and other NGOs, businesses, and eco-tour operators. He also created monumental sculptures for the Rwanda Development Board and throughout the Musanze District. He is among the most talented, well established working artists in Rwanda. Eric enjoys working with all types of media, especially acrylics. He is well known for the paper mach̩ animal masks he creates for AoC, particularly his mountain gorilla masks. He presently is AoC's head art instructor, leading students in lessons about drawing, painting, color theory, and other art topics. Currently, he is preparing to exhibit his work in Kigali, the capital, and plans to form a group with other artists and create an art gallery in Musanze, while continuing his work with AoC. Since Eric has worked with AoC, he has gained a greater understanding of how he can play an important role in teaching conservation through art.

Innocent UWIZEYE
Teacher, Translator, and Alternative Cooking Fuel Consultant
(2009 to present)
Originally from Rutsiro District in Rwanda's Western Province, Innocent attended the Institut d'Enseignement Sup̩rieur de Ruhengeri (INES-Ruhengeri)along with Valerie, who also studied Translation and Interpreting. During his studies, he completed a two-month internship in the Translation Unit of the Prime Minister's Office. He was also elected as a member of the Executive Committee of INES Students Union in charge of Protocol and Security. Additionally, he served as Chief Editor of INES Top Bulletin, INES students magazine. After receiving his degree (Upper Second Class Honors), Innocent worked as an English teacher at Coll̬ge Saint Wenceslas in Rubavu District. He started working with the AoC team in May 2009 as a Teacher and Translator, and then received training in production and use of briquettes. This training led to a new role as an Alternative Cooking Fuel Consultant.

Olivier Habimana
Staff Manager, Teacher and Translator
(2010 to present)
Olivier was born in Nyabihu District in the Western Province of Rwanda. He completed his university studies at the National University of Rwanda where he served as the student representative for the National University's Faculty of Arts and Humanities. After graduating in 2008, he worked with the Ministry of Education as a secondary school teacher and assisted in a nationwide effort to train primary and secondary school teachers in English Language Studies. He joined the AoC team in early 2010 and is now serving as AoC's staff manager, teacher and translator. Olivier also continues to train teachers with the Ministry of Education in Musanze in addition to his work with AoC. After one year of experience working with AoC, Olivier has learned a lot about conservation and health education. He has also strengthened his teaching, management and IT skills with the organization.

Eusebe Mwizerwa
Studio Artist and Teacher
(2010 to present)
Eusebe was born in the Musanze District, the Northern Province of Rwanda. In 2005, after completing his secondary studies in Art at ETO Kicukiro, he pursued his career in design at the Imprimerie Nouvelle du Rwanda, a printing company, located in Kigali, the capital. Starting in 2006, he worked with several different organizations as a graphic artist, including the United Nations Populations Fund and the Ministry of Youth and Culture. In 2010, he began working with AoC as an Art Instructor and Studio Artist, working with Eric on creating paper mach̩ animal masks and teaching art. He enjoys his work with AoC and draws cartoons for fun.

Abbas Mugabe
House Manager
(from 2009 to present)
Mugabe grew up in Kampala, Uganda. He attended primary and secondary school in Uganda. In 2006, he completed his secondary studies in Human Sciences at the Mitiana Secondary School. He started working with AoC in September 2009 as a House Manager. Mugabe has gained valuable experience pertaining to his job, including managing the house staff. He has also developed other attributes like teamwork and caring for animals, especially dogs.

Phocas Ntuyahaga
Gardener
(2006 to present)
Phocas was born in 1976 in Cyuve, Musanze District, Nothern Province, Rwanda. In 1995, he worked as a gardener with the International Committee of the Red Cross and with Doctors Without Borders. In 1997, prior to working with AoC, he assisted with building houses in Musanze. At AoC, Phocas works as a gardener and takes care of the dogs. Since he joined the organization, he has gained an appreciation of conservation and is playing a vital role in the organization by planting trees, shrubs, and flowers, which helps prevent soil erosion, creates a natural habitat for animals, and beautifies the schools where AoC works.

Board of Directors
Julie Ghrist, President
Amy Clanin, Vice President
Carlene Hinds, Treasurer
Mary Ghrist James, Interim Secretary
Cheryl Stockton
Lori Howe
Tracy Levine
Virginia Croskery
Christina Ellis
Richard Lozier, Counsel to the Corporation

Advisory Council
Bunny Bruning, United States Professional Tennis Association - Missouri Valley
Mary Burns, Archaeological Consultant
Gerard "Ged" Caddick, Terra Incognita Ecotours
Mike Cranfield, DVM, Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, Inc.
Susan Garrison, Greenwood Elementary School
Magdalena Lukasik-Braum, DVM, University of Pretoria
Jan Ramer, DVM, Indianapolis Zoo
Carole Reichardt, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
Martha M. Robbins, Ph.D., Max Planck Institute
Chad Robertson, Independent Artist
Joyce Stanley, Legacy Foundation
John Terpkosh, United States Tennis Association - Missouri Valley

Rwandan Steering Committee
Gabriel Ntirenganya
Donat Sebashyitsi
Emma-Marie Uhoracyeye