BOARD MEMBERS / OFFICERS
Mabel Okungbowa
Executive Director
Mabel Okungbowa is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. She holds Diploma Nursing degree from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria; Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from George Mason University and Master’s degree in Nurse Anesthesia from Georgetown University. Mabel is a native of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria and she immigrated to the United States of America in April 1994. She currently holds a full-time position as a Nurse Anesthetist at Sheridan Healthcare.
Contact the President at president@lynrmii.org.
Pastor Charles Omoregbee
Staff Member
I have a view-from-the-hill perspective to the activities of humanity in the public square. As a principal thespian with considerable professional outreaches to a good amount of nations in the world, I understand by experience what it means to stand on elevations, like a house upon a hill, from where a clearer view of the horizon can be taken. Whether when I was on the stage of performance in Port Novo, Pobe, Cotonou, Accra, Swakopmund, Durban, or throughout the entire geographical zones of Nigeria, that elevated stage allowed me crystal view of the people before me.
Currently, as a Pastor, it becomes even more so that a step higher allows clearer visual, hence Jesus would stand on the bench across boats to speak to His audience.
As an itinerary minister, I see this to be practically true that the view from within is always blurred and distorted. I am an impassioned volunteer on this platform for the reason that I see this as a higher calling. That same view-from-the-hill persuasion that the dire needs of the needy can be better appreciated from a higher realm.
This is what I see; whether when I put my pen on paper as a playwright, stand before a team of Cast to direct a play or put some finesse to dancers’ steps in choreography. It is the same concept that made me want to come out with my first Christian literature, still, in-working, titled “Blessed but not Prospered.”
Eldridge Cleaver in consonance with this mission said “there is no more neutrality in the world. You either have to be part of the solution, or you’re going to be part of the problem.”
Therefore, let the journey begin.
Contact the Vice President at vicepresident@lynrmii.org
Peter Prince, MBA, MSA, BS Finance & Investment
Board Member
Peter Prince Owner and founder of Royal Financial Tax & Financial Services , a company that provides tax strategy and planning for both individuals and businesses. Prior to forming his own business, Peter was a Revenue Administrator for the Florida Department of Revenue; responsible for the revenue of Lake, Sumpter and Citrus counties in Central Florida. Peter holds an MBA ,Masters degree in Accounting and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance & Investment from Bernard Baruch College, Zicklin School of business.
Charlene Y. Douglas, Ph.D., MPH, RN
Treasurer / Board Member
Charlene Douglas is the Assistant Dean of the Undergraduate Programs at the George Mason University School of Nursing in Fairfax, VA, outside of Washington, D.C. in American. She also coordinates the Public Health lecture and clinical programs in the school. A former White House Fellow, Dr. Douglas served as Special Assistant to Secretary Louis Sullivan at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) – the Minister of Health for the United States. Part of that service was helping to launch the Healthy Start Program, aimed at decreasing the infant mortality rate in high-risk areas.
She is currently on the INOVA Home Health Professional Advisory Committee. Previously, she served for three (3) years as the Chair of the Faculty Senate of the entire George Mason University.
She was raised in a church-going family but came to accept Christ as her personal savior in her 20’s when she moved to Baltimore, Maryland for graduate study. She was invited to her first Bible teaching church where she was able to see herself as a sinner who needed to be saved. She has walked with the Lord for almost 40 years. She has given herself to the ministry of work in the Nursery at her church and to the ministry of teaching in her career.
Dr. Douglas received her BA and BSN from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and her MPH and Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD. She began her academic career at the University of Maryland and recently celebrated her 25th year at George Mason University. Dr. Douglas was tenured under Genuine Excellence in Teaching and has been awarded the University Teaching Excellence Award. She is Certified in Online Education, and Certified in Public Health [CPH].
Contact the Treasurer at treasurer@lynrmii.org
Olufunke Abiose, MD, FACOG
Board Member / International Liasion / Medical Mission Director
Olufunke Abiose, MD, FACOG is a board-certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology who received her medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. She then went to complete a residency program at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis Missouri.
Dr. Abiose is currently a physician and consultant at Florida Medical Clinic, Department of OB/GYN. Her professional interests include women’s health, obstetrics, gynecology and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery including Robotic surgery. Prior to enrolling into medical school, she worked as a research student at the prestigious National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland where she honed her skills in biological research and interpretation of data, resulting in a few publications.
She is an active member and fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Christian Medical and Dental Association and the American Medical Association. Her passion is to see Women’s health on the frontlines of Medicine, to improve access to health care for all women and to decrease maternal mortality from all causes.
Keth Ditthavong, Esquire
Board Advisor
Keth Ditthavong, Esq. has passion for socially impactful philanthropy, serving as Board Member of a non-profit, Devotion to Children, which helps economically disadvantaged families with childcare as well as health and educational services. Because of his love of music, he also serves on the Board of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras, a non-profit organization that promotes classical music education for youths.
Professionally, Keth co-founded an Internet start-up in the early ‘90s using his expertise as data and telecommunications engineer. His love of entrepreneurship remained in tack after attending law school and working at boutique and major law firms. In 2000, he co-founded his own law firm, presently known as Ditthavong & Steiner, P.C. — with offices in Washington, D.C., New York, San Diego, and Taipei. He grew the firm from 2 people to over 60 employees and positioned the firm as an international powerhouse in intellectual property. He also pursues other business ventures in film and music, fashion, beverage, as well as software. His biggest accomplishment has been assembling the people he gets to work and collaborate with each and every day. He strives continually to give back.
Dr. Odemari S. Mbuya
Board Member/Agricultural Specialist
Dr. Odemari Stephen Mbuya is a professor of Agricultural Sciences, Director of the Center for Water Resources at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), and a Courtesy Professor of Agronomy at the University of Florida/IFAS, where he teaches Statistical Research Methods, Plant and Soil Sciences. With broad and extensive knowledge in agriculture, life sciences and sustainable ecosystems for the past thirty years, Dr. Mbuya leads the faculty effort in integrating all concepts of sustainability in innovative research and teaching at FAMU. With his extensive education and research career he has trained undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral researchers. He has worked as a research scientist in Tanzania, a visiting researcher at the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) in Colombia, a consultant and volunteer representing the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and FAMU in South Africa and India, and a delegate of Institutions of Higher Learning from United States to the Netherlands. Dr. Mbuya holds a M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Florida (USA), and a Bachelor of Science in Crop Science from Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania).
Dr. Mbuya joined FAMU in 1996 as a Research Associate and as an Assistant Professor in 1998 where he has served in academia for over 22 years, of which he has continued to receive research funding, totaling over $5.2 million. He has received funding form the following agencies to mention a few: US Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service, US Environmental Protection Agency, USDA-CSREES, USDA-NIFA, USDA-SARE, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and US Department of Energy. He has served in numerous national and international committees representing water, climate change, agricultural production, ClimateSmart Agriculture and biofuels. His employment and professional experience includes; i) Faculty Director, FAMU Sustainability Institute, ii) Director, Center for Water Resources-FAMU, iii) Director, Florida Climate Institute-FAMU, iv) Director, Center for Water and Air Quality-FAMU, v) Program Leader, Agronomy, Soil and Water Sciences-FAMU, vi) Chair, ASA-CSSA-SSSA Minority Committee – USA, vii) Faculty Senator, FAMU Faculty Senate, viii) President, Southeastern Region Soil Physics Group – USA, ix) Academic Director, School of International Training – Brattleboro, Vermont-USA, and x) Head Bean Research Agronomist, Tanzania Agricultural Research Organization. Dr. Mbuya is the recipient of the following awards: i) Distinguished Scholar Award by the European Journal of Scientific Research, ii) Teaching Excellence Award at FAMU, iii) Research Excellence Award at FAMU, iv) Research Mentor’s Award at FAMU and v) Paul Robin Harris at the University of Florida in recognition of outstanding quality in agronomic research reflecting concerns for the environment.
Education：
Ph.D. Agronomy/Soils, University of Florida,1996
M.S. Agronomy, University of Florida, 1990
B.Sc. Agriculture – Crop Science, Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania),1984
Diploma in Crop Production, Ukiriguru, Mwanza (Tanzania), 1980
Certificate in Basic Radiation Safety, University of Florida, 1992
Fields of Specialization:
Nutrient and Water Management, Water Quality, Watershed Processes, Irrigation, Phytoremediation, and Computer Simulation Modeling.
Edilma D’Avilar, RN, BSN
Board Member
Edilma holds a BSN degree from Long Island University and has been a nurse for over 20yrs.
With my Seventh Day Adventist faith background, I am reminded by Christ himself that we should love one another, feed, clothe, and visit the sick and those in prison. And that all acts of kindness to others are acts of kindness to Christ. Therefore, I am greatly humbled by this great command from our master Jesus Christ, which gave me the privilege to participate in numerous faith-based community outreach programs to positively impact the lives of others.
I am excited to be a part of Love Your Neighbor Rescue Mission International, in response to that call.
Contact the Activity Director at activitydir@lynrmii.org
Chris Sealey, ME, BE, CSM
Director of Technology / Board Member
Chris Sealey is a highly experienced Information Technology Management professional with over 20 years of developing and supporting solutions incorporating a wide range of software applications in a variety of industries including Government IT, healthcare, e-learning, and Internet services. He holds a Masters of Engineering degree from Rochester Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Engineering degree from City College, City University of New York. He is also a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) in agile software development methodologies. He is also a published author on the topic of Christian stewardship and has also written many articles on that topic.
Chris had this to say about the opportunity to be a part of Love Your Neighbor Rescue Mission International, “I am greatly humbled by this wonderful opportunity to be a part of Love Your Neighbor Rescue Mission International and to allow the Lord to use my technological experience and skills to further the mission and vision of this organization.”
Contact the Director of Technology at technology@lynrmii.org
