Meet our new board member, Grace Umerani!

We’re pleased to introduce the newest member of Water for South Sudan’s Board of Directors. Welcome, Grace Umerani!

Originally from Nzara, South Sudan, Grace knows all too well the struggle to access clean water. She recalls spending hours every day walking to gather water as a young girl, and is excited to bring a new perspective to WFSS while helping advance our mission. After scoring the highest in the country in South Sudan’s National High School Graduation exams, Grace was awarded a scholarship to study in the U.S. Currently a senior at the University of Rochester studying public health and psychology, Grace began her college journey on a pre-med track. During her time in a Public Health 101 class, she began to realize that many of the topics covered in the curriculum are major health issues for people in her community in South Sudan. This motivated Grace to learn more about public health in order to find tangible solutions to health issues in her home country. After graduation this spring, Grace plans to pursue her Masters in Public Health at Boston University, with a concentration in either global health planning and infectious diseases or epidemiology. As a member of WFSS’s board, Grace will help guide our work through a public health lens. 

Grace first connected with WFSS as a freshman in college, when WFSS director Lynn Malooly gave a presentation at an event celebrating water at the University of Rochester. Grace had decided to attend because she would receive participation points for her dance class, and was pleasantly surprised to learn about a Rochester-based organization that empowers communities in South Sudan. 

In her spare time, Grace loves to cook, travel to new places around the U.S., and take long bike rides on the Erie Canal and Genesee River Trail. We’re so excited to welcome Grace, and are grateful to have her as a member of our team!