About our team

The IntSam team is made up of our multiple country teams, one in each of the following nations: Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, and the United States. Learn more about our team members below.

Dina del Carmen Alonzo Pérez

RE TE Administrator

Honduras

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Zelalem Bayichekin

Program Coordinator

Ethiopia

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Angelica Cancinos

Program Director

Guatemala

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Yolanda Chacaj

Program Coordinator

Guatemala

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Yeshiwas Chane

Program Assistant

Ethiopia

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Alex Chitop

Purchasing Assistant

Guatemala

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Erika Cuevas

Program Director

Honduras

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Sarah Daniel

International Partnerships Coordinator

USA

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Deysi Díaz Gómez

Field Technician

Honduras

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Selene Enamorado

Field Technician

Honduras

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Kenneth Gardner

2022 IntSam Fellow

USA

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Marilyn González

Information Technology Assistant

Guatemala

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Mary Hall

Business Administrator

USA

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Brooklyn Isbell

2022 IntSam Fellow

USA

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Tavian Jones

Project Coordinator

Jamaica

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Selam Kahsay

Health & Wellness Specialist

Ethiopia

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Renate Krings

Project & Service Manager

Guatemala

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Engida Lemma

Program Assistant

Ethiopia

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Frankie Lizcano

2022 IntSam Fellow

USA

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Alex Maffeis

RE TE Partnership Director

Honduras

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Julia Lopez

Program Coordinator

Guatemala

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Andrew Pawuk

Vice President of Operations

USA

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Daury Pineda Delgado

Field Technician

Honduras

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Andres Quinonez

Administrative Assistant

Guatemala

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Agnes Resto

2022 IntSam Fellow

USA

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Otto Rivera

Accountant

Guatemala

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Sonja Robinson

Program Director

Jamaica

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Ronia Romero

Program Director

Honduras

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Tucker Rossmaessler

Director of Engagement

USA

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Emily Schleh

International Programs Manager

USA

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Mike Tenbusch

President

USA

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Selam Terefe

Program Director

Ethiopia

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Riordan Wickham

Communications Coordinator

USA

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About Us

International Samaritan is a nonprofit organization with the designation 501(c)(3). Our headquarters is located in Ann Arbor Michigan.

info@intsam.org

(734) 222-0701

803 N Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

M-F: 9am-5pm, S-S: Closed

Have a Question?

Shoot us a message using this form and we’ll respond to you shortly. If you’re interested in our service immersions or medical missions, visit our “Serve” page.

Dina del Carmen Alonzo Pérez
RE TE Administrator

Dina was born and raised in the capital city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. She has lived in the same neighborhood of Tegucigalpa since she was ten years old. Dina studied at the National Autonomous University of Honduras, in which she obtained her licensure in Public Accounting. Her professional career has consisted of various roles from assistant accountant, accountant, administrator, and director, amoung others, for both private and international non-profits. Dina’s interests include traveling, going to the beach, helping others, and a lover of animals. Currently, Dina is the Administrator for RE.TE, International Samaritan’s partnership in Honduras. Dina oversees financial administration for the Step by Step Program in both Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

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Zelalem Bayichekin
Program Coordinator

Zelalem is a Psychology graduate from the University of Gondar and he recently joined the International Samaritan Ethiopian team. He is always ready to extend a helping hand to whoever is in need. He is well familiar with the Kore community, having been brought up from it. He understands the struggles and opportunities which reside in the community that is why he is instrumental to step by step program. He is a bookworm and has read over 300 books to date.

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Angelica Cancinos
Program Director of IntSam Guatemala

Angelica received a Bachelor’s Degree in Pedagogy and Education Administration, and has now returned to school and is completing her thesis for a Master’s Degree in Theology. Angelica says that, regarding her work, “she is passionate about the job and about serving and doing the work of Jesus”, and that she feels “fulfilled both as a woman and professionally by what she does”. Outside of work, Angelica describes herself as a lover of nature, a grateful daughter, a loving wife, and a devoted friend. In her free time, Angelica enjoys reading and traveling.

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Yolanda Chacaj
Program Coordinator

Yoli graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computing with a Business concentration in 2012, then returned to school in 2017 to pursue her Master’s of Social Work, which she is currently partway through. Yoli has worked at International Samaritan for four years as an Administrative Assistant. Outside of work, Yoli lives in Guatemala city with her family, and enjoys spending as much time with her family “every moment that she can”, because “they are her main motivation for everything that she does”.

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Yeshiwas Chane
Program Assistant

Yeshiwas Chane is a former IntSam scholar who joined Team Ethiopia after graduating from college in Marketing Management. He will be working as a bookkeeper for our program. Yeshi is a highly organized and committed young professional and he has supported our program in different ways before even joining us as our bookkeeper.

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Alex Chitop
Purchasing Assistant

Alex started with International Samaritan in Guatemala in 2022. He works in the area of Supply Purchasing to ensure scholarship recipients have everything they need to thrive academically. In his free time, Alex enjoys playing soccer, listening to music, and drawing. In the future, Alex desires to study Agricultural Engineering at the university level. Alex lives with his mother and younger sister. His mother is the most important person to him is his mother as she ensured that Alex grew up well.

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Erika Cuevas
Program Director of IntSam Honduras - SPS

Erika has a degree in Management and Social Development. She is the  Program Manager at International Samaritan’s partnership organization, RETE, in the town of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Erika has been working with International Samaritan since 2016. Prior to her work with I.S., Erika worked with children and youth at-risk for thirteen years. Her work consistently focused on eradicating child labor in the municipal garbage dumps.

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Sarah Daniel
International Partnerships Coordinator

Sarah received a M.A. in Educational and Global Leadership from Western Michigan University and a B.A. in Spanish from Adrian College. During college, she studied abroad in Sevilla, España, for a semester and became an advocate for international education. She has been working at International Samaritan since 2015 and is passionate about social justice, women’s rights, fair trade products, and cultivating globally aware citizens. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys kayaking, paddle boarding, traveling, swimming, and spending time “up north”.

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Deysi Díaz Gómez
Field Technician

Deysi is a member of the San Pedro Sula team in Honduras. She has been working with RETE Honduras, International Samaritan’s partnership in Honduras, as a Field Technician for the Step by Step Program since 2019. Deysi Works closely with scholars, conducting home visits and ensuring program participants have the resources they need to thrive. Deysi was a graduate of the Step by Step Program in 2018 with a focus in Science and Humanities.

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Selene Enamorado
Field Technician

Selene is a member of the San Pedro Sula team in Honduras. She has been working with RETE Honduras, International Samaritan’s partnership in Honduras, as a Field Technician for the Step by Step Program since 2019. Selene works closely with scholars, conducting home visits and ensuring program participants have the resources they need to thrive. Selene was a graduate of the Step by Step Progream in 2016 with a focus in Science and Humanities and Information Systems.

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Kenneth Gardner
2022 IntSam Fellow

Kenneth Gardner is the Director of The Loyola High School Work Experience Program for 11 and 12 graders. He attended Cass Technical High school in Detroit, MI. He graduated from the University of Michigan and spent 36 years in the automotive business working for Dana Corporation, Johnson Controls, and International Automotive Components. Kenneth is looking forward to his fellowship with INTSAM to Serve, Learn and Grow.

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Marilyn González
Information Technology Assistant

Marilyn is a Step by Step Program beneficiary. She graduated high school in 2015 with a focus in computer technology and scientific orientation. Marilyn is enrolled at the University Mariano Galvez of Guatemala where she studies Educational Psychology. She lives with her mother and three siblings. Marilyn has been working with International Samaritan Guatemala since 2019 in the area of Information Technology, ensuring Step by Step students have the technology resources they need in order to succeed in their studies. In her free time, Marilyn enjoys listening to music and riding motorcycles.

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Mary Hall
Business Administrator

Mary joined International Samaritan “temporarily” more than ten years ago, but found the mission so rewarding that she never left. Mary holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and developed her skill set in a variety of business management roles in commercial and residential real estate organizations prior to joining International Samaritan. Outside of work, Mary enjoys coaching FIRST Lego League with her husband Steve, studying history and spending time with her family.

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Brooklyn Isbell
2022 IntSam Fellow

Brooklyn received her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in the Social Sciences (secondary education) from Michigan State University. After receiving her degree, she began working in Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) helping students plan and pursue their post-secondary plans. She received her master’s degree in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University in May 2021. She is currently a school social worker in DPSCD. She is passionate about providing support to students and helping them succeed. When she’s not working, she loves spending time with her family including her fiancé, bonus daughter, and new baby boy.

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Selam Kahsay
Health & Wellness Specialist

Selam is a public health expert who is passionate about working with vulnerable communities, especially adolescents and their families to address their Health and Wellness issues. She has many years of experience working closely with neglected patients from the poorest sections of the city, which consequently set the tone for her professional decision to always work in close proximity with overlooked communities. “Beauty from Ashes” is her motto, so she strives to see people rise up from unfortunate situations. She is particularly interested in Nutrition and Psychosocial support.  Prior to joining International Samaritan, Selam worked as a consultant for a Non-profit called Lifebox that works to make surgery and anesthesia safer on a global scale. Selam holds a Master’s in Public Health from Addis Ababa University.

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Renate Krings
Project & Service Manager

Renate Krings is the former Founder of Wanderlust, a company that helps connect local artisans with buyers and economic opportunities. She is a Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative Fellow, a US Department of State program that enables young entrepreneurs to develop joint business and social entrepreneurship initiatives. In Wanderlust, Renate aimed for recognition and respect to artisans and their work so that others may become more aware of the cultural history behind each product. She has experience in craft and product development, research, and design. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Product Design from the Universidad Rafael Landívar and is passionate about art and creating social impact.

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Engidawork Lemma
Program Assistant

Engida has over 13 years of experience working with adolescents and youth on issues related to leadership, personal development and sexual reproductive health rights. He facilitates and provides trainings on peer-to-peer education, life skills development, and youth-centered communication strategies geared toward vulnerable populations in high schools, universities and out-of-school settings. He will be working as program assistant for International Samaritan Ethiopia program. I have got the chance to attend many of Engidawork’s trainings and mentorship programs for young groups. He is an excellent facilitator, dependable, hardworking and a people- person.

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Frankie Lizcano
2022 IntSam Fellow

While Frankie is currently at the University of Michigan, he originally comes from Toledo, Ohio. He graduated from St. John’s Jesuit High School in 2020. He’s now studying in the U of M computer science program.

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Alex Maffeis
RE TE Partnership Director

Alex was born in Rome, Italy. He has been working in the area of development aid for over 25 years. Since 2009 he has streamlined programs between International Samaritan and RETE NGO Honduras, supporting children living near the garbage dumps of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Alex says the greatest rewards of his efforts have been to oversee the work of International Samaritan’s Step by Step Scholarship Program and support the program beneficiaries to attend university or acquire decent work.

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Julia Lopez
Program Coordinator

Julia is a former scholarship recipient of International Samaritan from the Paso a Paso program, and through International Samaritan was able to graduate with a technical accounting degree from Perito Contador in 2015. She has now been working at International Samaritan for 3 years, primarily handling accounting. Julia lives in Guatemala City with her father and brothers, and she enjoys listening to music in her free time.

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Andrew Pawuk
Vice President of Operations

Andrew holds a Masters Degree in International Studies from Ohio University and has two B.A. Degrees from Miami University in International Relations and Spanish. He was also part of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Peru before joining us at International Samaritan. He has been with International Samaritan for over a decade, making him our longest-tenured employee. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys ornithology and spending time with his wife and two-year-old daughter, Anna Claire.

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Daury Pineda Delgado
Field Technician

Daury is a member of the San Pedro Sula team in Honduras. He has been working with RETE Honduras, International Samaritan’s partnership in Honduras, as a Field Technician for the Step by Step Program since 2019. Daury works closely with scholars, conducting home visits and ensuring program participants have the resources they need to thrive. Daury was a graduate of the Step by Step Program in 2018 with a focus in Science and Humanities.

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Andrés Quiñonez
Administrative Assistant

Andrés is currently studying Automobile Business Administration at the Galileo University. He is in his third year of studies. Andrés lives with his mother and sister. He is passionate about cars and serving others. Andres has been with International Samaritan since 2019. His biggest dream to is open an auto repair shop.

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Agnes Resto
2022 IntSam Fellow

Agnes is one of the fellows in our newly established International Samaritan Fellowship, representing St. Mary Student Parish. She’s a mechanical engineering PhD student at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor researching early human development. She loves Puerto Rican coffee and enjoys painting in her spare time.

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Sonja Robinson
Program Director for IntSam Jamaica

Sonja holds a PhD. in Workforce Development and Education from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master’s in Communication for Social and Behavior Change from the University of the West Indies. With a transdisciplinary professional background, she has played the role of counsellor, mentor, trainer and educator. Sonja believes in living a life of purpose and service.

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Ronia Romero
Program Director for IntSam Honduras (Tegucigalpa)

Ronia serves as International Samaritan’s Program Director in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and has a degree in Foreign Languages with an orientation in English from Universidad Autonoma of Honduras.  For many years she has dedicated herself to expand opportunities for children, adolescents, and adults who work in the Tegucigalpa municipal dump.

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Tucker Rossmaessler
Director of Engagement

After living in Southeast Asia, working as a teacher, Tucker moved back to Michigan to start a family and begin his career working in nonprofits. He spent 7 years leading a campus ministry at the University of Michigan, rallying staff, volunteers, and donors to live out Jesus’ incarnational approach, to introducing college students to Jesus and helping them grow in their faith. Tucker is an energetic team player and is helping International Samaritan take the next step toward growth. Tucker and his wife Alex live in the Old West Side of Ann Arbor where they are raising their three kids, Bo, Linden, and Porter.

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Emily Schleh
International Programs Manager

Emily holds a M.A. in Global Youth Development from the University of Montana and a B.A. in Psychology, with minors in Leadership Studies and Spanish, from Marietta College.  She served two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Costa Rica as a Youth Development Coordinator. Her service primarily focused on sustainable program development and capacity building for youth and families in a low income, rural community. Emily is passionate about service-learning and grassroots initiatives that make a global impact. Outside of work, Emily enjoys baking, running, and traveling.

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Mike Tenbusch
President & CEO

A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Mike co-founded Think Detroit with Dan Varner in 1997, which was named Crain’s Detroit Business Best-Managed Non-Profit in 2004 and merged with Detroit PAL in 2006. After serving on Detroit’s school board, Mike then led an effort at the United Way for Southeastern Michigan to move graduation rates from less than 60% to 80% or higher in the region’s most historically challenged high schools. Most recently, he served as the founding executive director of the SAY Detroit Play Center and interim CEO of the Detroit Parent Network. He is also is the author of The Jonathan Effect: Helping Kids and Schools Win the Battle Against Poverty, called a “moving, inspiring and important book” by best-selling author Dan Heath. Mike and his wife, Maritza, have three children, Grace, Julia, and Jacob.

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Selam Terefe
Program Director of IntSam Ethiopia

With degrees in law, management, sociology, and “Peace, Security, and Development”, Selam has over five years experience in international development and aid with a track record of career advancements. Her education and career has given her a thorough and in-depth knowledge of gender, legal, social and political issues of East Africa with a special focus on Ethiopia. Over the years, she has demonstrated skill in project management, research, leadership, monitoring and evaluation and diplomacy. Selam has remarkable communication skills across age groups. Selam is passionate about development in Africa and a strong believer in effective use of partnership.

Riordan Wickham
Communications Coordinator

Rory is the Communications Coordinator for International Samaritan, which includes handling IntSam’s publications, photography, videography, blogs, and this website. Rory received their Bachelors of General Studies from Eastern Michigan University. Their degree had three concentrations: Media Production & Entrepreneurship, Political Advocacy, and Health Policy & Administration. They also studied abroad at the University of Glasgow, where they studied International Law. Before coming to International Samaritan, Rory worked for a mix of nonprofits and government agencies that focused on mental health and suicide prevention and they bring their passion for health and social justice to their current position. Outside of work, Rory enjoys working in their home art studio and spending time with their fiance, Alexandria, and their many, many pets.

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