Women’s Education Initiative

Meet Our Scholars

Kaze

Kaze graduated in 2020 with her Advanced (A1) Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. She then returned to school and graduated again in 2024 with her bachelor’s degree in IT/Information Management. Based in Rwanda, Kaze has big dreams of starting her own business repairing electronics, as well as helping people understand how to use computers and other technology like irrigation systems for cultivation. She also wants to empower women to study IT electronics, and telecommunication, and help students who don’t have opportunities to continue their education learn hands-on technology skills. Read More —>

Davidetta

In 2017, we started sponsoring then sophomore Davidetta to complete her education. She graduated in 2021 with a degree in social work at the Mother Patern College in Monrovia, Liberia. “I am so happy to have received a scholarship from your organization,” Davidetta wrote in a letter to the board, “I promise to perform to the best of my abilities in order to maintain this scholarship.” Board President Cheryl Hatch connected with the school when Hatch was in Liberia covering the Ebola outbreak in 2014-2015. Read More —>

MaryJoy

In 2015, Leah, one of our scholars and now a liaison in the Philippines found us a new scholarship candidate. MaryJoy studied at Governor Alfonso D. Tan College in Tangub City. Women’s Education Initiative was able to pay for Mary Joy’s tuition fees, and she and her mother covered the boarding. The tuition is about U.S. $450, and we sponsored her through four years of school. She graduated in 2019 with a degree in office administration. Read More —>

Alice Anderson (She/Her), Secretary

Alice is a proud Oregonian who fell in love with Maine and has lived there since 2008. She is currently dividing time between Acadia Recording Company as an audio engineer, at WMPG’s Blunt Youth Radio coordinating youth audio programs and doing freelance podcast work. When she’s not in audio land, she enjoys sewing, tending to her community garden plot and beating people at cribbage.

Amanda Spadaro (She/Her), Treasurer

Born and raised near Pittsburgh, Amanda graduated Allegheny College with a Bachelor of Science in biology. After graduation in 2015, she embarked on a career in journalism before returning to graduate school in 2018. She now teaches biology and health at a high school in New York City. When she isn’t working, she enjoys reading and baking; she is currently on a mission to find the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Alexandra Caine (She/Her)

Alexandra grew up in Connecticut, where her father was a professor at University of Connecticut. She attended Johnson & Wales University and earned her Bachelor of Science in marketing with a concentration in psychology. She decided to work first in social services before working in business and spent several years assisting a social service company in Providence, RI.  A lifelong learner, she earned a Master in Science in nonprofit management with a concentration in project management. Her passion has always been in the nonprofit sector. After completing her master’s degree, she served as assistant director of admissions at Pine Manor College, whose mission is to give first-generation students an opportunity to go to college in a supportive community. Alexandra enjoys running, bike riding, drawing, painting, baking and reading.

Nancy Raskauskas-Coons (She/Her)

Nancy works as a Public Information Officer and Grants Writer for a small school district on the South Coast of Oregon. Her previous work includes communication and public relations for nonprofits, marketing and comms for a large university department, and work as a journalist and salmon researcher. She is currently pursing her doctorate. Outside of work and school, Nancy loves the water, and she lives in the perfect place with her husband and kids by the ocean and between four incredible wild and scenic rivers: Rogue, Chetco, Smith and Klamath.