Board of Directors
Emily Tummons, Board Chair teaches Kaqchikel Maya at the University of Kansas. Her research in linguistics focuses on a grammatical class of roots in Kaqchikel called positionals. In addition to her duties as board chair, she also serves as translator for Wuqu’ Kawoq medical providers while in Guatemala.
Brent Henderson, Secretary is an assistant professor at the University of Florida where he teaches linguistics. His primary interests include the morphology and syntax of Bantu and Afro-semitic languages, syntactic theory, biolinguistics, andvsecond language acquisition. He also coordinates a large language documentation project on Chimiini, an endangered language spoken in Somalia.
Russell Rohloff, Treasurer is a professional engineer practicing in New England who specializes in water and sanitation design. He also brings to Wuqu’ Kawoq many years of experience managing the finances of small nonprofits. He serves as main technical advisor on all of Wuqu’ Kawoq’s water and other infrastructure projects.
Pat O’Brien has a background in Physical Education and later became the owner of an agricultural business which he has operated for 25 years. As a young boy he spent five years in the Canadian arctic before moving back to central Alberta, Canada. Pat enjoys spending time with his family, the outdoors, photography and travel. As a past president of the Rotary Club of Sylvan Lake, he has the experience and passion to assist Wuqu’ Kawoq with its work in Guatemala.
Pedro Mateo Pedro received his PhD in linguistics at the University of Kansas. His research centers on the acquisition of the verb inflection in Mayan languages, with special focus on Q’anjob’al. He is a native Q’anjob’al speaker and also speaks Kaqchikel. He coordinates many of Wuqu’ Kawoq’s linguistics projects.
Advisory Board
Brent Metz is an Assistant Professor in anthropology at the University of Kansas. He is an expert on indigeneity in Guatemala. His work has focused primarily on the Ch’orti’ Maya of eastern Guatemala, and he has written several books and articles on this theme. He also speaks Ch’orti’. Brent advises Wuqu’ Kawoq on ethical, cultural, and anthropological issues.
Jane Streigel practices pediatrics and pediatric nephrology at Carle Hospital/University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. She advises Wuqu’ Kawoq on medical ethics and medical program delivery and quality improvement.
Juan Ajsivinac Sian is research coordinator for Kaqchikel Cholchi’ (Guatemalan Academy of Mayan Languages. He advises Wuqu’ Kawoq on best practices in language service delivery.
Laura Hernon is the founder of Link for Health, which aims to improve the long-term health potential of individual Guatemalans by initiating and supporting collaborative efforts among health care providers, development organizations and other non-profits. She joins Wuqu’ Kawoq to assist in Strategic Planning and Donor Relations initiatives.
Melinda Dabrowski practices obstetrics and gynecology at Carle Hospital/University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. She advises Wuqu’ Kawoq on medical ethics and medical program delivery and quality improvement.
Malcolm Hill practices pediatrics and adolescent medicine at Carle Hospital/University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. He advises Wuqu’ Kawoq on medical ethics and medical program delivery and quality improvement.
Nicole Henretty is a registered nutritionist with extensive work designing programs in impoverished areas. Currently she serves as staff nutritionist at Edesia, LLC, a world leader in the development of nutritional technologies for use in development work, and she advises Wuqu’ Kawoq on all aspects of our nutritional programs.
Robert Henderson is a PhD student in linguistics at the University of California Santa Cruz. His research on Mayan languages includes work in Kaqchikel, K’ichee’, Tz’utujil, and Uspanteko. Robert advises Wuqu’ Kawoq on many aspects of our linguistics programs.
Tyrone Melvin practices pediatrics and pediatric nephrology at Carle Hospital/University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. He advises Wuqu’ Kawoq on medical ethics and medical program delivery and quality improvement.