Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham, RN PhD (Project Lead)
Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham is a Professor and Dean of Nursing at Trinity Western University, Canada. Her research is in the area of plurality and equity in healthcare, focusing on the intersections of religion, spirituality, race, class, and gender. She leads an international, interdisciplinary program of research on albinism, spiritual/cultural beliefs, and human rights. See more
Barbara Astle, RN PhD (Project Co-Lead)
Barbara Astle is a Professor and the Director of Graduate Studies at the School of Nursing at Trinity Western University, Canada. She has focused her academic career in the field of global health and health equity. Using critical perspectives and qualitative/participatory action research methods, she has published extensively on nursing and global health education, global health education partnerships, competency-based curriculum in global health, and principles for global health research. She is the Co-Director of the TWU Centre of Equity and Global Engagement and the Co-Chair for the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) Global Health Competency Sub-committee. See more
Ikponwosa Ero, JD (Project Co-Lead)
Ikponwosa Ero, herself a person with albinism, is a Human Rights lawyer. She was appointed as the first United Nations (UN) Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism from 2015 to 2021. She is currently the Director, Human Rights Advocacy for Under the Same Sun (UTSS) and Senior Adviser and founder, Africa Albinism Network (AAN). She has worked extensively on issues about the human rights of persons with albinism, including serving as the international advocacy and legal officer for UTSS in Canada and Tanzania. She was instrumental in the writing and adoption of nine international human rights resolutions on albinism, including at the Human Rights Council, at the General Assembly, and at the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Ramadimetja Shirley Mooa, RN PhD (Project Co-Lead)
Ramadimetja Shirley Mooa is a professor and head of the Nursing Science department at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Her research areas are on women’s health, violence against women, African knowledge systems, Afrocentric epistemologies, African-centred methodologies, and Multi-inter-trans-disciplinary and inter-professional (MITI). Her research methodology expertise is on qualitative (ethnography), quantitative, and mixed methods.
Project Coordinators
Meghann Buyco, RN, MSN, PhD nursing student. Trinity Western University, Canada.
Innocentia Mgijima-Konopi, LLM in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy. Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity South Africa (AFHESA) at Tekano 2021.
For inquiries, please email our project coordinators: meghannangelie.buyco@twu.ca or i.mgijima@up.ac.za
Project Team
Mary Ani-Amponsah, PhD, University of Ghana, Ghana. Senior Lecturer, Maternal & Child Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Lydia Aziato, PhD, Professor and Vice Chancellor, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana.
Lori Beaman, PhD, University of Ottawa Canada. Canada Research Chair in Religious Diversity and Social Change.
Kwame Andrews Daklo, Advocacy Manager, Africa Albinism Network, Ghana.
Marethe De Waal, PhD, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Duncan Dixon, Assistant Librarian, Trinity Western University, Canada.
Bonny Ibhawoh, PhD, McMaster University, Canada. Senator William McMaster Chair in Global Human Rights.
Elvis Imafidon, PhD, University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies.
Jennifer Kromberg, PhD, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Professor Emeritus, Department of Human Genetics.
Michael Lang, PhD, Digital Storytelling Specialist, Mike Lang Stories, Canada.
Ronell Leech, PhD, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Associate Professor in Nursing.
Nomasonto Mazibuko, Albinism Society of South Africa, South Africa. Community Research Coordinator, Gauteng, South Africa.
Muluka Anne Miti-Drummond, United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism.
Dianah Msipa, PhD, Manager, Disability Rights Unit.,Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Tintswalo Victoria Nesengani, PhD, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Lecturer for Community Health Nursing and Primary Care Nursing.
Lillian Akorfa Ohene, PhD, University of Ghana, Ghana. Senior Lecturer, Department of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Kendra Rieger, PhD, Trinity Western University, Canada. Associate Professor in Nursing.
Perpetua Senkoro, LLM, Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition. Tanzania Knowledge Translation Coordinator.
Sonya Sharma, PhD, University College London. Lecturer in Sociology.
Eunice Siaity-Pallangyo, PhD, The Aga Khan University, Tanzania. Academic Head, School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Landa Terblanche, PhD, Trinity Western University, Canada. Associate Professor of Nursing, Assistant and Dean Clinical Supervision.
Wisdom Tettey, PhD, President and Vice-Chancellor, Carleton University, Canada. Professor of Political Science and Development Studies.
Maxwell Thabethe, PhD, [In Memoriam] University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Community Research Coordinator, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Mpho Tjope, Founder #ICanBe Campaign & Albinism Advocacy for Access, South Africa. Community Research Coordinator, Northern Cape, South Africa.
Boateng Wiafe, MD, Technical Adviser-Operation Eyesight, Ghana.
Research Staff
Ingrid Watts, MSN, RN, Trinity Western University, Canada. Research Associate.
Jessica Wilson, MSN, RN. Trinity Western University, Canada. Research Associate.
Current Students
Tumisho Mokwele, MNurs, PhD nursing student. University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Karen Larochelle, MSN, PhD nursing student. Trinity Western University, Canada.
Student Interns
Cohort 2025-2026
Tunu Kibe, Trinity Western University, Canada.
Kizito Koinet Kileu, Aga Khan University, Tanzania.
Nsindiso Masiya, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Anitha Francis Mganga, Aga Khan University, Tanzania.
Malesolo Yvonne Mogano, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Lisa Fanuel Ompeshi, Aga Khan University, Tanzania.
Cohort 2024-2025
Anita Dianatinasab, University of Toronto, Canada.
Augustine Gerald,
Aga Khan University, Tanzania.
Ackremson Majaliwa
Aga Khan University, Tanzania
Samkelo Mindebele, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Rutendo Mugabe, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Definitely Mutsvangwa, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Suhuyini Sulemana Seidu, University of Media, Arts and Communication, Ghana.
Cohort 2023-2024
Rebecca Kyeraa Amankona, University of Ghana.
Kiel Mayich, Trinity Western University, Canada.
Emmanuel Osei, Central University, Ghana.
Nazifa Rashid, University of Toronto, Canada.
Cole Siebert, Trinity Western University, Canada.
Adzeglo Tugbe, University of Ghana.
The following are previous students who have contributed to the project.
Acknowledgements: We would like to thank the following people who have engaged with our project in various capacities such as interpretation, cultural liaison, and coordination.
Reverend Cannon Thomas Godda, Annabahati Gwacha, Tshego Keitsemore, Mahenda Kulwa, Berthasia Ladislaus, Busisiwe Mahlaba, Clara Maliwa, Kristi Panchuk, Ester Rwela, Kondo Seif, Lorraine Tshuma, Kondo Seif, Jane Waithera
Visual Design
Justin Chase, Web Product Specialist, Trinity Western University
Mothering & Albinism 