Board of Directors
Susan Fine
Chair
Susan is an experienced international development leader who began her career as a Peace Corps Volunteer and subsequently worked in multiple sub-Saharan African countries and Washington, DC with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Among her achievements, Susan guided a ground-breaking resilience program in Niger and Burkina Faso and, as Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning and Learning, elevated the development voice in national security policy. She holds a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a BA in Economics from Colby College. Susan now resides in Sunapee, NH and is involved in environmental conservation and other international development activities in addition to her work with RAIN.
Alison “Sunny” Coady
Vice Chair
Sunny is a graduate of Colby College. She is a retiree of Verizon where she was trained as a programmer and retired as HR Director of the IT department (then NYNEX). A Board member of Easterseals Massachusetts since 1983, she served two terms as Board Chair, chaired many committees, and is currently an active Lifetime Board Member. Additionally, she served two terms on the National Board of Easterseals and, most recently, was chair of their Emeritus Board during the 100th Anniversary year. Sunny’s world travels have covered five continents, most recently Africa. She currently resides in New London, NH.
Michael Murphy
Treasurer
Michael is a licensed CPA, is a Partner at Murphy, Powers & Wilson, Certified Public Accountants, P.C. in Hampton, New Hampshire. He has been in public practice for 38 years with his own firm. Michael is a graduate of UNH, with a Master’s in taxation from Bentley College. His specialty areas include tax preparation and audit review-compilation services. He is Treasurer/Past President of The Joe Yukica N.H. Chapter of the National Football Foundation, John Clark Officials Award recipient 2015, Trustee of the City of Dover Trust Funds, and Treasurer of the Joan G. Lovering Health Center, New Hampshire SPCA – Stratham, and Hospice Help Foundation.
John Uniack Davis
Secretary
John directs the Strategic Leadership Team at Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian organization with a large program in Niger. From 2016 through early 2024, he served as Regional Director for West Africa for the public health NGO Helen Keller International, based in Dakar, Senegal, supervising seven country offices, including Niger. He has also served as CARE Country Director in Turkey, working on the Syria humanitarian response, and in Madagascar; as a Deputy Regional Director, based in Accra, Ghana; and as Assistant Country Director for Mali. Previously, he worked for the U.S. Embassy in Niger and consulted for a variety of international organizations. John holds a Ph.D. in political science from Michigan State University, an M.S. in agricultural economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a B.A. in political science from Keene State College. He began his career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Burkina Faso.
Rebecca Black
Member
Rebecca recently returned to the US after 25 years with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Most recently, she was Mission Chief in Cambodia, managing a diverse assistance portfolio with emphasis on governance and health. Prior to that, she served as Mission Chief in Mali during a period of turmoil following a Coup d’Etat and rebel take-over of the northern two thirds of the country. She also co-led a $2.5 billion assistance program in Afghanistan, and managed economic development and urban environment programs in India, South Africa, and Eastern Europe. Rebecca has a Masters in City Planning from MIT.
Erica Holzaepfel
Member
Erica is a skilled strategy, research, and organizational learning professional with more than 20 years of experience across 30 countries. She has deep technical expertise in forced migration, sustainability, humanitarian emergencies, food security and livelihoods. She possesses a strong entrepreneurial spirit with a record of business development through writing winning proposals, establishing new service lines, forging critical client and partner relationships and identifying niche growth opportunities. Erica received her B.A. from St. Lawrence University, her M. A. in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School and an M.S. in Food Policy and Applied Nutrition from the Friedman School at Tufts University. Erica is currently the Senior Director of Global Business Development for Mathematica Policy Research, where she leads the USAID growth strategy. She resides with her husband, two young daughters, and Portuguese Water Dog, in New Castle, NH.
Nick Krakoff
Member
Nick developed an interest in Niger from serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger from 2008-2010, where he lived in both the capital, Niamey, and Badaguichiri, a town in the Tahoua region. His work there focused on working with community based organizations to develop income generating opportunities and teaching in elementary and middle schools. During that time he traveled extensively around West and North Africa. With New England roots, Nick currently lives in Manchester, NH and works in Concord, NH as an environmental and energy lawyer for a New England-based non-profit. Nick has a B.A. in economics from McGill University in Montreal and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Allison Reedy
Member
Allison is a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State currently serving in Portsmouth, NH. A native of New England, Allison has traveled to over 100 countries and loves to learn about and experience different cultures. Her prior posts include Guatemala City and Bogota, Colombia. Prior to joining the State Department, she worked extensively in project management in the technology sector and also for various non-profit organizations (including RAIN!). She graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in French and Anthropology and earned a master’s degree in demographics from Georgetown University. She is fluent in French and Spanish. She travels the world with her husband and two teenage daughters.
Mariame Sano
Member
A native West African, Mariame developed a deep passion for charitable work when she was only a teenager. Her experience witnessing economic disparities, extreme poverty, and the lack of education equity in Guinea has given her a deep appreciation for the role nonprofits play in bridging societal gaps widened in part by capitalism. As a first-gen, it took her some time to make peace with pursuing her passion full-time but eventually, she made a pivotal career change and entered the nonprofit field as a Development Manager for the Boy Scouts. She is now a Sr. Manager of Corporate & Community Partnership with Make-A-Wish Massachusetts & Rhode Island. She has over 7 years of fundraising experience and went on to get her Master’s in Nonprofit Management with a concentration in Global Studies at Northeastern University.
Ali Sekou
Member
Ali was born and raised in rural Niger. Prior to immigrating to the U.S. in 2012, Ali worked with the U.S. Embassy in Niamey and managed the Bitinkodji tourist site. Now, Ali is the Manager of Community Engagement & Inclusion at New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. He was elected to the Concord City Council in November 2023 as the youngest member and the first Muslim and Black member. He also serves as the Mayor Pro Tem (Vice Mayor). Ali serves on numerous community boards including the Islamic Society of Greater Concord, Organization Refugees Immigrants Success (ORIS), the Advisory Board of NHTI, and NH Community Loan Fund. He is a 40 under 40 Award recipient and a graduate of Leadership New Hampshire. Ali holds an associate’s degree from the New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI), a bachelor’s degree from Plymouth State University, and a master’s degree in Community Development Practice and Policy from the Carsey School of Public Policy (UNH).
Advisory Board
Hassana Alidou, PhD
Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Niger to the United States and Canada
John Ahlgren, JD
Attorney, Hoefle, Phoenix, Gormely & Robets, PLLC
John Hutchison, PhD
Emeritus Professor of African Languages and Linguistics, Boston University
David (D.J.) Shaugnessy, CFA
Portfolio Manager, HM Payson
Abdoul Salam Bello
Alternate Executive Director, World Bank Group
