About Us

WYA Headquarters
Francois Jacob, President
Christopher White, International Director of Operations

WYA Africa
Obadias Ndaba, Director
Hezbon Mogambi, Director of Operations

WYA Asia-Pacific
Renelyn Tan, Director
Christine Violago, Director of Operations

WYA Europe
Marie-Caroline Leroux, Director
Agnes King, Director of Operations
Juan Ignacio Fernandez Torres, Director of Advocacy

WYA Latin America
Jessica Baptista, Director
Kateri Salas, Director of Operations 

WYA North America
Amanda Pirih, Director
Emily Matich, Director of Operations

WYA Foundation
Anna Halpine, Founder and Chief Executive Office
Kelly Schulz, Executive Director
Maria Grizzetti, Director of Development
Alexis Kende, Director of Cultural Programs
Emily Dy, Director of Marketing
Miriam Grossman, Scholar in Residence
Caroline Van Horn, Reproductive Health & Sexual Education Program Director
Elyssa Koren, J.D., Director of Advocacy
Dana Becker, J.D., Director of Education 

Francois Jacob, President, WYA Headquarters

 Francois hails from France and has an extensive background in media and management. He interned at the African Bureau of the United Nations for Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in 2002 and earned his Master’s Degree in Management Science at the University of Paris in 2003. He then spent a year as an event planner and two years as a project leader and presenter for a teen-oriented radio show for Radio Notre Dame in Paris. Afterwards, he worked in public relations and media consulting, and earned his Master’s Degree in Media Management. Francois speaks fluent French, English, and German. He enjoys theater, mountain climbing, hiking, skiing, judo, and spending time with his wife and two children.
 
Christopher White, International Director of Operations, WYA Headquarters

Christopher White holds a B.A. in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from The King’s College in New York City and also spent a semester studying European Politics, Culture, and Art in Paris, France. Prior to joining the World Youth Alliance in April 2010, Christopher worked in litigation support for the law offices of Fagenson & Puglisi. His primary areas of interest include Catholic social thought, foreign affairs, and the philosophy of human rights. He has written on these issues in National Review Online, Human Life Review, National Catholic Register, Touchstone, and Public Discourse, among other online and print publications.   

 

Obadias Ndaba, Director, Africa

Obadias Ndaba is from Rwanda, and is the youngest of five children. He was introduced to the World Youth Alliance in 2006 while studying Economics at Kigali Independent University where he graduated with Honors in 2009. Obadias began his work with the World Youth Alliance by volunteering his weekends to organize WYA activities and hosting discussions on WYA's core ideas. Obadias worked for KCB Bank and Inkingi Microfinance prior to joining WYA full time. He speaks Kinyarwanda, Swahili, French and English. 


Hezbon Mogambi, Director of Operations, Africa

Hezbon was awarded the BBC scholarship to study at the legendary Mohamed Amin Foundation for TV broadcast and film production. He graduated in December 2008 with distinction. Hezbon first joined WYA as a volunteer for two days a week, working with organizing the first regional conference and attending UN conferences in Nairobi before representing WYA in drafting the strategic plan for the state ministry for youth affairs, government exchange program to Uganda. He was selected to attend a three-month internship in WYA Headquarters in NY and was in charge of co-coordinating WYA’s participation in the International Aids Conference in Toronto, Canada. Back in Kenya he was chosen as one of the young leaders to represent Kenya in a reality TV show called Imagine Afrika in South Africa in 2007.  “Impossible is nothing” is his life philosophy.


Renelyn Tan, Director, Asia Pacific

Renelyn Tan grew up in Manila, Philippines. In college, Renelyn was active in various student organizations. She graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Political Science in 2003. She spent two years in Xiamen, China, where she worked as an English instructor. In 2005, she returned to Manila to work as Operations Manager of R.J. Lhinet Development Corporation, a real estate firm. It was also during this time that she joined the World Youth Alliance in the externship program of the Asia Pacific region. In between work, she enjoys traveling to different countries and exploring the city with a map in hand. Her exposure to both corporate and non-government work continues to inspire her to work towards improving the lives of different people. She began to work full time as WYA Asia Pacific Director in June 2007.


Christine Violago, Director of Operations, Asia Pacific

Christine Jeanne Violago was born in Makati City, Philippines. She finished her Bachelor's Degree in Development Studies from De La Salle University Manila. She first joined WYAAP as a regional intern back in 2007. As an active member, Christine worked for the Decade of Dignity and Development Conference and World Youth Day membership recruitment program in Sydney. In 2008, she represented WYAAP during the spring international internship in New York. Christine continuously shows her interest in the field of Economics.  In 2009 and 2010, she was chosen as the Philippine Representative for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation's Voices of the Future Program held in Singapore and Japan. This gave her the opportunity to witness various economic forums with world leaders as well as interact with youth from around the world. Just this year, she finished her Masters Degree in Development Economics at the University of the Philippines. Her passion in life has always been to contribute to making the Philippines a better place for all Filipinos. Christine loves to travel, spend time at the beach, watch movies with friends and try out unique dishes from different regions. 


Marie-Caroline Leroux, Director, Europe

Born in Soissons, France, Marie-Caroline has been interested in politics and communication from early on in life. This led her to study History, Foreign Languages and Political Science. During her Masters of European Affairs at the Institute Policy Studies in Lille, she realized the importance of lobbying in conveying citizens’ voices in the decision-making process. Her internships at the French Representation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna and as an Assistant of the Institute for Regional Administration’s Director for international cooperation, allowed her to be better acquainted with the functioning of French and international institutions. After graduation, she discovered the role of media in advocacy campaigns as a public affairs trainee in Paris and worked for three years as a PR officer in Paris. She got to know WYA in 2007, while she was seeking to join young advocates who share her ideal of human dignity. Marie-Caroline speaks French, English, and German. She likes playing and listening to music, wandering around town and country, reading and joking about everything.


Agnes King, Director of Operations, Europe

Agnes King hold a Masters in Political Strategy and Communications from the Brussels School of International Studies and a B.A. in History from Christendom College in the United States. Previously, she has worked in the office of an Irish MEP at the European Parliament and at the European Center for Law and Justice in Strasbourg, France.
 
Juan Ignacio "Nacho" Fernandez Torres, Director of Advocacy, Europe 

Nacho hails from Bilbao, Spain and holds a degree in law and economics from the University of Navarre in Pamplona. In 2010, he spent a semester in New York studying law at Fordham University. Following this, he joined the World Youth Alliance as an Advocacy Fellow at the New York Headquarters, until moving to Brussels in June 2011 to become the first Director of Advocacy for WYA Europe. Nacho enjoys engaging conversations, reading philosophy, politics and history, and spending time with his family and friends. 
       
Jessica Baptista, Director, Latin America

Jessica was born in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. She studied at Anahuac University in Queretaro and holds a degree on International Business. Jessica spent a year studying Chinese at the Beijing Language and Culture University in China, where she also taught English to Chinese children. Prior to joining WYA, she worked as the training coordinator for Krauss Maffe de México in the plastic industry. She has been a longtime member of the Queretaro chapter of WYA and joined full-time in 2011.
 
Kateri Salas, Director of Operations, Latin America
Kateri Salas was born in Costa Rica and holds a degree in International Relations at the Universidad Nacional. She has also studied Sociology at the University of Costa Rica. Before joining the World Youth Alliance, Kateri participated actively in various activities and conferences at the Costa Rican Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship. In 2009, Kateri completed an internship at the Brazilian Embassy in Costa Rica. She was a member of the local World Youth Alliance Costa Rican committee before joining as staff in 2011.
 
 

 Amanda Pirih, Director, North America

Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Amanda is excited to become an official New Yorker.  She attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where she received a Bachelors of Science in Materials Science and Engineering.  She completed three technical engineering internships throughout her college career in companies such as Motorola and General Electric.  However, Amanda made the decision upon graduation to commit three years of service before starting her professional career.  Serving with FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, she has worked as a missionary to train future leaders on the college campuses of Seton Hall University, and as a Director for the programs at the University of Illinois-Chicago and New York University. Amanda enjoys running and training for long distance races throughout the year, playing piano, guitar and hiking.
 
 

Emily Matich, Director of Operations, North America

Emily Matich graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame, where she earned a B.A. in History and minored in Theology.  During a semester of study in Toledo, Spain, Emily was immersed in Spanish language and culture.  Past work experience includes serving as a Research Associate for the Chiaroscuro Foundation, teaching in a private high school for girls, and directing an arts program for urban youth in Washington D.C. Emily, a former World Youth Alliance intern, is thrilled to return to WYA as the North American Director of Operations.
 
WYA Foundation
 
Anna Halpine, WYA Founder, WYA Foundation

Anna Halpine is the founder of the World Youth Alliance and was the WYA president from 1999 to the spring of 2007. She has her Masters in Philosophy of Religion from Yale University (2009), and a Bachelor of Music, cum laude, from Mt. Allison University in Canada (1999). She has studied piano at the Taubman Institute and voice at the Juilliard School. As Founder and past-president of WYA, Anna has traveled and lectured extensively. 
 
Kelly Schulz, Executive Director, WYA Foundation

Kelly holds Master’s degrees in political science and German from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and a Bachelor's degree from Converse College in South Carolina. During three semesters studying in Freiburg, Germany and Salzburg, Austria, she traveled throughout Europe. Kelly's graduate school course work focused on international affairs. Her particular interest in diplomacy, human rights, and the role of the United Nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) led Kelly to her current position as the executive director of the World Youth Alliance Foundation. Since moving to New York in 2007, Kelly has also worked as a grant writer for the Institute for American Values.
Maria Grizzetti, Director of Development, WYA Foundation

Born in Munich and raised in Rome, Maria first encountered the World Youth Alliance in 2000 during her participation in the Beijing +5 proceedings at the United Nations. In 2001, she was awarded a scholarship tour of Medieval Italy to study the writings of Dante Alighieri and Italian Renaissance Art. She graduated from Fordham University, New York in 2002 with a BA in Philosophy, Ethics and Italian and began what would become three years of teaching honors Italian at the Montfort Academy for boys in Katonah, New York. Maria has traveled extensively through Europe visiting England, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Spain, France and Italy with her family and husband, Christopher. She has studied Spanish and Latin, and is fluent in Italian and English. Maria joined the WYA staff part-time in 2003 and became the full-time Director of Development in 2005.  
  Alexis Kende, Director of Cultural Programs, WYA Foundation

Born in New York, Alexis previously worked for New York City Opera at Lincoln Center, first as a grant writer and then in the Special Events department.  She received her A.B. in 2005 from Princeton University, with a major in religion and a minor in violin performance. Alexis began her violin studies at age five, was accepted for professional training at the Juilliard pre-college program at age 12, and pursued graduate work in violin performance and pedagogy at the Peabody Conservatory.  She has since enjoyed teaching private violin students in New York, Princeton, and on Long Island.  Currently, Alexis performs as a member of The Kende Trio, a string trio she formed with her two younger sisters in 1996.  She also performs as a violinist in the Salome Chamber Orchestra, a conductorless ensemble of young people that performs frequently in Manhattan. 
 
  Emily Dy, Director of Marketing

Emily Dy graduated with a Master's Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from the University of Asia and the Pacific. Her 5-year experience in the marketing communications industry cover a mix of market research, public relations and advertising. Professionally, her interests revolved around the areas of corporate social responsibility, advocacy communications and social media. Outside of work, she is also a strong advocate of Social Entrepreneurship, Responsible Tourism and Nation Building in her home country, the Philippines. Emily did her New York internship with WYA in 2007. Since then, she has served as Philippine National Committee member to WYA Asia Pacific all the way until joining WYA Foundation as full time staff.  
   
 
  Miriam Grossman, Scholar in Residence

Miriam Grossman MD is a physician with training in pediatrics as well as child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. The author of three books about sexual health, she has been on over 200 radio, news, and television shows. Dr Grossman has spoken internationally to parents, students, educators, policy makers and health professionals. In March 2010 she spoke at the United Nations Council on the Status of Women. Dr Grossman graduated with honors from Bryn Mawr College and from New York University Medical School.  She completed an internship in pediatrics at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City, and a residency in psychiatry at North Shore University Hospital – Cornell University Medical College, followed by a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the same institution. Dr Grossman is board certified in psychiatry and in the sub-specialty of child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr Grossman lives in Los Angeles, California with her family.  
 
  Caroline Van Horn, Reproductive Health & Sexual Education Program Director

Originally from Houston,Texas, Caroline comes from a close-knit family of six. She attended Cornell University where her studies allowed her to spend time in Italy, China and Switzerland. Upon graduation with a B.A. in Architecture she moved to New York City to work for architecture firms focused on high-end residential projects. In search of her passion, she left architecture to explore the freelance world of NYC - graphic designing, babysitting, dog walking, and teaching middle-school girls about their fertility. Caroline began working with the World Youth Alliance in 2011 as the Reproductive Health and Sexual Education Program Director. At the WYA, she has found her true passion assisting in the development of programs to uphold the dignity of the human person through genuine healthcare and education.  
 
  Elyssa Koren, J.D. Director of Advocacy

Elyssa holds a B.A. in International Relations from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, in addition to a Masters in International Relations and a J.D. from the University of Toronto. A native of Miami, Florida and Cuban-American in origin, Elyssa is fluent in Spanish. She resided in Canada for seven years while attending university, and now lives in New York City with her husband, Michael. She joined the WYA staff full-time as Director of Advocacy in October 2011.  
 
  Meghan Grizzle, J.D. Research and Policy Specialist

Originally from Orange County, CA, Meghan graduated from Harvard College with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Linguistics in 2007. She then spent a year teaching English on a Fulbright at a high school in Berlin, Germany. In 2011, she graduated from Harvard Law School. Her passions are defending religious liberty and the culture of life, learning languages, and spending time with her fiancé in Tampa, FL, where she will live after she gets married in the fall of 2012.