Komera Leadership Transition Announcement

Komera announces appointment of Jacquelyn Spade as its new Interim Managing Director with the departure of Lauren Mason.

Dear Friends and Partners,

Change is never easy, but it is a healthy part of every organization's growth. We are writing to share the news that Komera’s US Managing Director, Lauren Mason, is transitioning from her role in the coming weeks after 8+ years of dedicated service. We wish her all the best as she continues her career supporting a nonprofit organization in her community in Boston, MA. 

The Board appreciates Lauren’s many contributions to the growth of Komera, including efforts to support the completion of our Leadership Center in Rwanda. We hope you will join us in wishing her the very best in her future endeavors.

Komera Communications and Development Manager, Jacquelyn Spade, has been appointed as Interim Managing Director. We know you will feel equally confident that Jacquelyn’s experience and passion will drive our mission forward. We encourage you to reach out to Jacquelyn directly to introduce yourself as she settles into this role.

We want to assure you that our entire Board of Directors and Rwandan Leadership are unified in the commitment to our mission and the important work we are doing together. We remain on track to carry out all of the exciting initiatives and programs we have planned, and are excited about the many opportunities we have to make an even greater impact in our community in Rwanda.

Thank you for your ongoing support for Komera and for girls education globally. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Ali Samadi and Kristen Gengaro
on behalf of the Komera US Board of Directors 

Some parting words from Lauren…

Friends and Partners,

It has been an honor to lead Komera US for the past three years, and count myself among the incredible team at Komera since joining the organization eight years ago in 2015. I am immensely proud of what Komera has achieved during my time, from growing our networks of support across the country to San Francisco and Chicago, to the opening of the Komera Leadership Center in 2022, to this past year doubling the number of scholars in our program. It has been a joy to grow this organization alongside you. I believe the future for Komera is bright.

These past eight years have been some of the most professionally fulfilling of my career. I am proud of the ways that Komera has adapted and evolved to meet the challenges at hand, with continued optimism for our collective work to develop self-confidence in young women across Rwanda.

I hope to connect to many of you before my departure, but for now, I will take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation for your support to me and Komera. I will continue to advocate and champion the work of Komera whenever and however I can.

In gratitude,

Lauren Mason