ACADEMY STAFF
Meet the hardworking Academy staff.
ACADEMY STAFF
Meet the hardworking Academy staff.
Executive Director
Musa P. Sheriff is the Executive Director at LEAD Monrovia Football Academy. Musa previously served as the Director of Academics and was recently appointed by the Academy's Board of Directors to serve as the Acting Executive Director of the Academy while the Academy searched for a permanent Executive Director through an open application process. Musa arrived at the football school highly recommended by Mr. Sekou Konneh, an accomplished Liberian academic and a Professor of Sociology at the University of Liberia. He was the first teacher of the Academy when it was established in 2015. Before joining the Academy, Sheriff taught biology at several of Monrovia's high schools, held a post as the Vice President of Student Affairs at one of Monrovia's top schools, worked as a consultant for multiple NGOs, and lectured at Liberia's United Methodist University. In 2014, Sheriff received WHO Ebola awareness training and worked as a community outreach officer for Ebola awareness and sanitization.
Sheriff holds an MPH in Epidemiology from Cuttington University in Liberia and a BSc in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Liberia. His ability, work ethic, and commitment to the lives of young Liberians make him the ideal leader to lead the school through this transition period.
Academic Manager
David Allison is the Academic Manager at LEAD Monrovia Football Academy. Allison previously served as a teacher, teaching General Science, Health, Mathematics, and Agricultural Science to 7th and 8th graders. In his current role, Allison manages the recruitment of student-athletes in addition to the academic and life skills programs. Before LEAD MFA, Allison taught Math and Science to secondary school students ages 8-14. He also worked with the Liberian Education Advancement Program (LEAP) and the Street Child of Liberia, where he focused on improving literacy and numeracy for Liberian children.
Allison holds a BSc in General Agriculture from the University of Liberia (2017) and is currently completing his MA (Online) in Education Leadership and Management at Unicaf University in Zambia. He is a staunch believer in early childhood education. At the Academy, Allison uses his immutable passion for teaching to improve students learning.
Leadership and Life Skills Program Officer
Jee-won Mawein Arkoi is the Leadership and Life Skills Program Officer at LEAD Monrovia Football Academy. Jee-won is a passionate youth development professional with expertise in youth training and mentorship. In her current role as the Leadership and Life Skills Officer at the Academy, she teaches leadership classes and manages after-school programs for our student-athletes. Jee-won has previously contributed as a Future Proof Skills Trainer with USAID Youth Advance, empowering college graduates with essential career skills.
Jee-won is a 2022 graduate of Stella Maris Polytechnic University with a Bachelor of Social Work (Cum Laude), where she is recognized for her facilitation, communication, and project management abilities. Additionally, Jee-won is a published poet and an alum of prestigious programs, including the UNLEASH Global Innovation Lab and the Pan-African Youth Leadership Program sponsored by the United States Department of State.
Teacher
John Mills teaches Social Studies and Language Arts at the Academy. Mills began his teaching career in 2000 and has taught at several primary and secondary schools over the past 17 years. Notably, he taught Phonics, Reading, Writing, and Spelling at J.J. Roberts United Methodist School, one of Liberia’s best schools, from 2006-2011. From 2011-2017, Mills served as a teacher trainer in the southeast of Liberia with IBIS, a Danish education organization. Mills brings experience and expertise to our dynamic teaching staff.
Mills holds a BA in Sociology and Demography from the University of Liberia, as well as teacher training certificates from several international and Liberian institutions.
Teacher
Tom B.N. Soliboah teaches English and Literature at the Academy. Tom is fluent in speaking, writing, and teaching English and has taught at some of the most prestigious schools in Liberia, including AWARE International School and Bethesda Christian Mission School. Tom has also served as an administrator and is one of Liberia's emerging leaders.
Tom holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Public Administration from the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University.
Teacher
Promise Weetor teaches Biology and Chemistry at the Academy to 10th graders. Promise also teaches general science in the junior high division. She has a great dedication towards her teaching duties and a positive attitude to improve students learning.
Promise holds a BSc in Biology from the United Methodist University in Liberia.
Finance Manager
Joseph Kerkula is the Finance Manager at the Academy. Joseph has over 14 years of experience in accounting, administration, auditing, and risk analysis across private, local, and international NGO sectors. He has hands-on expertise in working on USDA and USAID financial systems, making him adept at ensuring compliance and efficiency in resource management. He previously worked in many financial roles – he most recently served as a Finance Associate at Population Services International and Regional Finance and as an Administrative Assistant at Save the Children International Liberia.
Joseph is currently pursuing an Advanced Diploma at the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain (CIPS) in the UK. At LEAD MFA, Joseph leverages his expertise to enhance financial processes, ensure compliance, and drive organizational success.
Athletics Manager
Coach Robert N. Lartey Sr. is the Athletics Manager at the Academy. Coach Lartey is an accomplished football professional with over 31 years of coaching experience at both national and international levels. He holds a CAF License A and is a certified CAF Coach Instructor, having received his instructor license in Dakar, Senegal, through the Liberia Football Association. As the Head of Local Coaches Instructors for the Liberia Football Association, Coach Lartey has led multiple coaching courses, including three CAF License C and two CAF License D programs, and has co-facilitated a CAF License B course. His contributions to football development extend beyond instruction, as he also serves as the Head of National Team Coaches within the Coaches Association of Liberia.
Coach Lartey has coached some of Liberia's top football clubs, including BYC, LISCR, Bea Mountain, Monrovia Club Breweries, and Determine Girls FC, achieving numerous championships. On the national stage, he currently oversees the U-17, U-20 (male and female), and senior women’s national teams, while also serving as Deputy Coach of the senior men’s national team. His extensive experience includes participation in prestigious tournaments such as the CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup, CAF CHAN competition, and WAFU tournaments. Recognized for his excellence, Coach Lartey has earned multiple awards, including five Best Coach honors in Liberia's First Division. As the Athletic Manager at LEAD MFA, he continues to share his expertise, guiding the next generation of football talent.
Assistant Football Coach
Florence Monboe is widely known as the best female footballer in recent Liberian history. As the former captain of the women’s national team and one of four women in Liberia with a FIFA ‘C’ coaching license, Monboe brings a wealth of leadership and expertise to MFA. In addition to participating in sessions with the entire group, she joins Naomi Peters and works closely with a few of MFA’s female student-athletes.
Student Wellbeing Manager
Jonathan K. Suah is the Student Wellbeing Manager at the Academy. Jonathan brings extensive training and experience in social work and counseling to this role. He previously worked in other capacities, including as a social worker, counselor, and a classroom teacher. He taught at the primary, junior and senior high levels of the Liberian school system before joining the Catholic Education Secretariat of the Archdiocese of Monrovia, where he served as a school counselor for four years. He also interned as a social worker at the SOS Children's Villages Liberia and as a counselor at the E.S. Grant Mental Health Hospital in Paynesville, part of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Liberia.
Jonathan is a clinical social worker driven by his passion to help others, especially young people, overcome challenges and achieve personal growth. He holds a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from the Mother Patern College of Health Sciences (MPCHS), obtained in 2023, and a bachelor’s degree in social work (Magna Cum Laude) from the same institution, earned in 2019.
Dean of Boys' Dormitory
Winston Browne is the Academy’s Dean of Boys' Dormitory. Prior to joining the Academy’s staff in September 2018, Browne was the head of the Academy’s Parent Association. After retiring from careers as a community worker and builder, Browne was reinvigorated to return to work upon seeing the Academy’s impact on his son and daughter, both of whom joined the Academy in September 2016.
Social Welfare Officer
Sametta Thomas is the Social Welfare Officer at the Academy. Sametta brings many years of experience as a social worker to the Academy. She has worked for renowned institutions, including USAID and the Peace Corps Liberia, where she worked as a counselor for staff. In addition to her current work at the Academy, she also serves as the Country Facilitator for the Mental Health Leadership and Advocacy Program (mhLAP) in Liberia.
Sametta holds a BSc in Social Work, and she has a certificate from Harvard Medical School for research training in Mental Health Needs and Assessment.
Director of Catering
Sharon Ajavon prepares LEAD MFA’s lunches. As a young woman, she learned to cook under the tutelage of her mother, who is a renowned chef within the MVTC community in Paynesville. Since then, she has run a catering business and been the head chef at the Monrovia Vocational Training Center's restaurant. Ajavon has a wonderful rapport with the student-athletes, and we are lucky to have her.
Facilities Manager
Samuel Dennis oversees the security and ensures the effective functioning of the Academy’s facilities. Samuel is a trained electrician, and, before joining the Academy, he worked for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) for three years as an electrician. In his current role, Samuel supervises the repairs of the Academy’s facilities and helps develop and implement a facility management program that includes preventative and corrective management strategies.
Directors
The Academy's Board of Directors.
Directors
The Academy's Board of Directors.
Board Chair
Clara Doe Mvogo is the former Mayor of Monrovia.
During the Ebola Virus Disease crisis, Ms. Doe Mvogo served as Co-Chair for the Montserrado County Incident Management System for Ebola and as Chair of the Medical Waste Management System for Ebola Response Committee. From 2007-2012, she served as the National Technical Coordinator of the West Africa Quality Programme for ECOWAS and UEMOA, implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). In that position, she established the National Standards Laboratory of Liberia for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. She has also worked as a consultant on multiple studies on gender issues.
Ms. Doe Mvogo is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Sinkor, Liberia, and serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the AME University in Liberia. Ms. Doe Mvogo was the keynote speaker at the 2015 European Development Days Pre-Opening Program. She has also chaired several high-level panels at major conferences, such as the 7th Africities Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, the 2016 Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York, and the 2016 World Bank meeting for Least Developed Countries in Dublin, Ireland.
Ms. Doe Mvogo holds a Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry and is a registered Medical Technologist.
Co-Founder & Board Member
William Smith is the Co-Founder & Board Member of LEAD Monrovia Football Academy. Inspired by his participation in President George Weah’s 2013 Liberian Peace & Reconciliation football match, Smith co-founded LEAD MFA in 2015 to establish the first school in Liberia to combine high-quality education with elite football training. Under Smith’s direction, LEAD MFA’s rigorous leadership development model has been recognized by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as an “exciting, innovative approach to academic and leadership training that must be watched.”
In addition to his board role at LEAD MFA, Smith is the Founder & Board member of LEAD MFA’s primary partner organization, LEAD Edu. Beyond his work with the LEAD family, Smith manages Charter Oak Advisory, a social impact advisory firm that supports global leaders on their social impact journeys. He holds an MSc in African Studies from Oxford University, BA in Government and French from the College of William & Mary, and a degree in social entrepreneurship from Santa Clara University. He is one of 35 members of the Barça Foundation and UNICEF’s Working Group on Sport for Development.
Board Member
Graham Albert was a student-athlete at the College of William & Mary from 1999-2003. He enjoyed both team and individual success at the highest level of American college soccer, earning Division 1 Scholar All-American honors his senior year. In addition to his background as a player, Albert has always been passionate about soccer coaching, development, education, and administration. His father, Al Albert, is a hall-of-fame college soccer coach and former President of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Albert lives and works in New York City as a financial analyst at MP Securitized Credit Partners, an investment fund specializing in mortgage bonds. He wants to leverage his connections and professional experience to help MFA leadership achieve their ambitious goals on and off the field.
Board Member
Stephen Glass is the Director of Resort Real Estate for Thor Urbana, a real estate development firm based in Mexico City.
Since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003, Glass has worked in a variety of institutions around the world. After finishing at Penn, Glass consulted on a report for the United Nations Development Programme that focused on building technological infrastructure in developing countries. He then spent four years in the Business Development Group of Bessemer Trust, where he was the firm’s lead analyst for fundraising activities.
Glass received his MBA from Columbia Business School in 2010, where he was awarded the Feldberg Fellowship, the school’s most prestigious full-tuition scholarship. While at Columbia, he was elected Co-President of the Real Estate Association and was an International Development Club project member for Liberia Housing Finance Company, an institution specializing in providing loans for housing in Liberia.
After graduating from Columbia, Glass consulted on Playa Grande, a resort development project in the Dominican Republic, and later served as the Director of Investor Relations at Penn Square Real Estate Group, where he managed investor relations and capital raising efforts for real estate private equity funds. He later served as Chief Operating Officer at MONIQUE PÉAN, an award-winning sustainable fine jewelry company.
Board Member
Saycon Sengbloh is an award-winning actress whose riveting performance as Wife Number One in Eclipsed at The Public Theater earned her an Obie Award and Drama Desk Award, as well as a Tony Award nomination on the Broadway stage. Eclipsed is a critically acclaimed play that was the first in Broadway history to feature a story on Liberian women during the civil war.
Sengbloh will be seen as Nora in the upcoming feature film Double Play by Ernest Dickerson. She has also starred in the Broadway productions of Holler If Ya Hear Me, Motown the Musical, Fela!, Wished, Aida, The Color Purple, Hair, and the nation tour of Rent. Sengbloh originated the roles of Rita Marlet in Marley at Baltimore Center Stage and Toyia in Katori Hall's Hurt Village (NYC). Television/film credits include Good Wife (CBS) and The Night Of (HBO), American Gangster (Universal Pictures) and Funny Valentine (BET Starz).
Sengbloh attended Agnes Scott College and is a longtime advocate for education, girls, and underprivileged children in Liberia. She is eager to use her platform as a successful actress/artist to support the Academy and serve as a role model for our female student-athletes.
Board Member
Musa Shannon is a former member of the Liberian national team who starred in Division 1 college soccer at Robert Morris University before playing professionally in the MLS, Portugal, and China. Since 2010, Shannon has served as Vice-President of the Liberia Football Association. He also runs one of the most popular beach resorts in Liberia, Nana's Beach Resort, located in Robertsport City.
Shannon's background as a student-athlete created the foundation for his belief in the ability of sport and education to transform the lives of young people – especially in his country, Liberia, where a quality education is a rare commodity. As a former footballer and current football administrator, Shannon is keen to change the definition of success for athletically gifted boys and girls in Liberia. He is excited to help bring the Academy from the start-up phase to sustainability.
Board Member
Richard Fahey served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia during the 1960s. He then returned to the United States for graduate school, earning his JD from Northwestern University. He subsequently specialized in Environmental, Energy, and Natural Resources law for more than 35 years. In 2010, he retired from one career and started another, attending Harvard University as an Advanced Leadership Fellow. That experience gave rise to a new organization called the Liberian Energy Network (LEN), which distributes solar lights to businesses, schools, and families in Monrovia. As the Founder and CEO of LEN, Fahey travels periodically to Monrovia to ensure LEN continues its move to scale. Fahey has already devoted a large amount of time to MFA, and his experience working in Monrovia will certainly provide important insights as MFA moves forward.
Board Member
Medina Wesseh has over 35 years of experience in journalism/communications and legal, political, and international relations. She constructs and supports socio-political systems in Africa through innovative contributions toward economic development and regional cooperation for peace, security, and the rule of law.
From 2017 to 2022, Mrs. Wesseh served as Secretary General for the Mano River Union (MRU) Secretariat. During her tenure, she helped transform the organization through strategic planning and her experience in managing complex and fragile systems across West Africa. She is committed to state-to-state collaboration, effective communication, building and maintaining government relationships, and, most importantly, gender equity. Before working at the MRU, she worked as Presidential Envoy on Special Assignments from 2006 to 2016 during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She also served from 2006 to 2009 as Director General of the Cabinet/Executive Assitant to the President's Cabinet Rank.
From 1980 to 2005, Mrs. Wesseh worked in many positions across Africa, including Editor for the Liberia News Network in Liberia, Media Monitoring Expert for the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation in Ghana, and Project Coordinator of the West Africa Democracy Radio Project by Open Society Initiative of West Africa in Senegal. Additionally, she worked as Consultant/Community Development Officer for UNIFEM/UNHCR to design a program aligned with the United Nations system and practices to assist internally displaced women and refugees in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
Mrs. Wesseh has an LLB in Law from the University of Liberia, a graduate diploma in Communication Studies from the University of Ghana, and a certificate from the Executive Leadership Program for Women Waging Peace and Inclusive Security from the John F. Kennedy School of Governance at Harvard University. She is well-versed in sustainable development issues and is dedicated to improving people's global well-being in a secure, safe, and peaceful environment.
Board Member
Patrick Burrowes is one of Liberia’s leading historians.
In 2022, he delivered the Black History Month address at the Library of Congress and appeared on Book Breaks, the interview series sponsored by the Gilder Lehman Institute of American History. The Smithsonian magazine and the Washington Post featured stories on his recovery of a document relating to Liberia’s founding that had been missing for almost a century.
Among other positions, Burrowes served as the Carter G. Woodson Distinguished Professor at Marshall University. His books include Between the Kola Forest and the Salty Sea: A History of the Liberian People to 1800 and From Virginia Slave to African Statesman: Hilary Teage (1805–1853). His research has received awards from the Communication Association and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.