Get to Know Jordan and Ivan

Aspire Academy project Directors (Rwanda)

 

Ivan Mbaraga

Aspire Academy-School Director/Founder

I was born and raised in Uganda. Rwanda’s history is quite intricate and a story of a resilient people–fast forward, my family left Rwanda for Uganda back in the 1950s. In 2009, I returned to Rwanda after graduating from University, reclaimed my nationality, and started a new chapter of life teaching at a local international school in Kigali. Two years into it, I thought I was passionate about education and its power to transform a life, a community, and an entire generation until I met Jordan. She was a young, vibrant girl who had just traveled from the US to intern in a different culture. Fascinating, right? We are married with four children, and our spark for transforming and impacting lives through education has ever since grown stronger each day.

I have a BSC in Biological Sciences with Education and an MBA in Organizational Leadership and Development from Oklahoma Christian University. For the most recent five years, I have been privileged to serve on the leadership team of a local Christian international community school as a director of operations. My role focused on translating the school’s vision, mission, and values into internal school policies, procedures, systems, and processes operating the school.

I will apply this experience in teaching and school leadership to provide leadership for Aspire Academy.

 

Jordan Mbaraga

Aspire Academy-Academic Advisor/Founder

I am Jordan Ruddell (Mbaraga). I came to Rwanda on a 10-day mission trip through my church in New Mexico. I absolutely fell in love with the country and the people. During my last semester at University, I did my teaching internship at an international school in Rwanda. That is where I met my now husband. During our time at that international school and then at another local international school, we have continued to be inspired by the transformation that education brings to communities, especially communities recovering from tragic circumstances. In Rwanda's case, The 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

 

I received my master’s degree in Educational Leadership in 2019. With my love for education and the most vulnerable, I want to serve Rwandans through education. My heart is for the most vulnerable as they are usually the most overlooked and under-helped, yet Jesus calls us explicitly to serve and help those very people. Building a school will allow us to do just that and bring the love of Jesus to every student who attends the school.