Our mission is to cultivate community development and economic capacity by empowering families through education, health, and income generating activities.

Our Story
Three Roots is building on existing relationships with the local community in Ethiopia. The Leadership Team has nearly fifteen years of experience working in the same communities with many of the same people. We began Three Roots International to support and expand the work of the local church, while providing skilled partnership to free families from the suffering of extreme poverty. We are highly committed to building local leadership capacity, and 100% of our field staff are nationals.
We are Christian. 
We are Christ-followers who are shaped and motivated 
by our belief in the value of every person.

We are responsive. 
We are driven by the expressed needs of the community, 
and seek to communicate and act with efficiency.
We are focused.  
We are intentional in relationships and strategic 
in execution. 

We are partners. 
We value collaboration and we desire to work and 
learn with others.
Meet Our Team
Susan Conway
Founder and CEO

Susan grew up in Great Falls, Virginia, and first traveled to Ethiopia in 2007. Since 2007, Susan has returned to Ethiopia every year and has built strong partnerships with the local church, which has facilitated the foundational work of Three Roots. She has lived in Africa, led short-term teams to Africa, Europe, and Asia, and holds a Master's degree in International Education and Development, focusing on marginalized communities. Having worked in the education and nonprofit sectors for fourteen years - at World Vision, World Relief and International Justice Mission - Susan now leads the Three Roots team by developing organizational vision and operational strategy, and works collaboratively with the Three Roots Country Director on programmatic implementation in the field. Susan enjoys traveling and photographing the people and places she sees along the way.

​Shelley Thames
Chief Operating Officer​

Shelley grew up in Texas and now calls Northern Virginia home. Her career spans over 25 years, helping organizations operationalize their vision. In this work, she has developed cross-organizational processes and projects, built budgets, led strategic planning, developed functional and healthy boards, and directed functional operations such as HR, Finance, Communications, and global governance. Shelley serves as an advisor and utility player. At Three Roots Shelley serves as Chief of Staff and Operations, working to develop and implement the organizational rhythms and systems for the next season of growth, facilitating enterprise effectiveness and stewarding resources.

Lishan Seyoum
​National Director​

Lishan Seyoum is an accomplished international project manager and development advocate, recognized for her successful leadership and capacity to drive transformative changes in diverse communities. She holds a BA in Economics from Hawassa University and an MA in Development Studies from Addis Ababa University.

Over the past 13 years, Lishan has worked with prominent organizations, including World Vision Ethiopia, Pro Pride, International Development Enterprise (iDE Ethiopia), Remember the Poorest Community (RPC), and Africa Jobs Network. In these roles, she has served thousands of vulnerable individuals—particularly women, youth, and children—in both rural and urban contexts. As the National Director, she is responsible for the strategic implementation of programs and overseeing operations in Ethiopia.
Demissie Tilahun
Community Engagement and Partnership Lead
​
Demissie was born in Central Ethiopia, a few hours south of the country's capital. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Theology, a Master's degree in Theology, and an MBA from St. Mary's University. He has held several senior leadership positions with the Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church (EKHC), the largest Protestant church in Ethiopia. These positions included serving as a missionary in India for three years and serving as a National Board member for the EKHC for six years. Most recently, Demissie served as the General Secretary for the Central Zone, overseeing every EKHC church within the Central Zone of Ethiopia. In his role at Three Roots, Demissie focuses on casting a vision and leading the work forward in community leadership and transformational development.
Betty Kiros
Director of Operations
​
Betty was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. With an educational background in language studies and social work, she has worked in several positions in different organizations for the last 15 years. She has a BA in English Language and Literature from Addis Ababa University and a MA in Social Work from Indira Gandhi Open University. Her experience ranges from journalism to leading projects designed to support vulnerable groups in communities. Most recently, she has worked as a Communications, Outreach and Partnership Coordinator at the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission. 
Mekdes Yohannes
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer and Care Group Supervisor

Mekdes was born in Halaba Kulito, a town outside of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Mekdes holds a Bachelor of Science degree as a Public Health Officer from Jimma University and a Master’s degree in General Public Health from Adama Hospital Medical College. She has held roles as a Senior Public Health Officer, a Training and Capacity Building Officer, a Project Manager, a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, and a Project Coordinator at numerous government and non-government humanitarian organizations. Mekdes is now the MERL Officer and Care Group Supervisor for Three Roots. Mekdes is inspired to work with Three Roots because she wants to support the community in their fight to end extreme poverty. ​
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Robel Tafere
​Social Worker

Robel was born in Bahirdar, in the northern part of Ethiopia, and grew up in the town of Deberezeit/Bishoftu. Robel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Social Anthropology from Admas University College. Prior to joining Three Roots, Robel worked as a Social Worker with the Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church on a number of development projects. Robel is inspired by the relevant and holistic approaches of the Three Roots programs and wants to impact the communities he is serving.
Mule Adeba
Community Health Officer

Mule was born and raised in Nekemte town in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. She earned a BSc in Midwifery from Samara University and is currently a candidate for an MA in Project Management. She has more than six years of professional work experience in various positions with different organizations, including INGOs like the International Rescue Committee and Compassion International, in the capacities of Health Officer, RH Clinical Mentor Officer, Women Protection and Empowerment Officer, and Child Survival Program Implementer. She has also worked in a government hospital as a Junior Midwifery Professional. Mule is passionate about serving the most vulnerable people and communities struggling with poverty and related adversities. 
Daniel Boko
Babogaya Primary School Director

Daniel was born in Wellega, Oromia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Educational Planning and Management from Haramaya University and a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Management from Addis Ababa University. He has worked in leadership positions for over 13 years in several schools in Addis Ababa. During that time, he gained experience in school principalship, supervision, management, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, psychosocial support, and counseling. Daniel believes that all children have the right to a quality education. He is motivated and excited to be a part of Three Roots. ​
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Samantha Cave
Operations and Engagement Lead

Samantha claims Seattle, Washington, as home, but her early years were spent in the Middle East, which cultivated in her a love for languages and cultures other than her own. In 2009, she joined the staff of McLean Bible Church in Washington, DC, where she served as the Associate Director for Global Impact World Missions, coordinating and caring for dozens of short-term teams and long-term missionaries serving worldwide, and later as Director of Membership Services. Sam most recently worked at the Slingshot Group, overseeing NextGen candidate recruitment, CRM updates, and administrative services. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Human Services. Samantha is the Operations and Engagement Lead for Three Roots, filling a crucial role in US Operations, Partnership and Donor relations, and coordinating our Trips to the Field. She lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband Ryan and their four children.
Casey Sharperson
Marketing and Communications Lead
​
Casey is an award-winning international speaker, brand strategist, and the Founder and CEO of Sharperson Solutions. With a bachelor's degree in Marketing and minor in Spanish, from Claflin University, Casey has always had a passion for people and connection. She has worked at the Advisory Committee, K12 Insights, and EON, across marketing and business development projects, and at Claflin University as a Philanthropy Specialist. Casey is the author of the book, Dream, Build, Repeat: Harness Fear to Confidently Pursue Your Biggest Dreams and the podcast host of a show by the same name. In her role at Three Roots, Casey is dedicated to amplifying the impactful work being done on the ground in Ethiopia and highlighting the ongoing efforts for those supporting the organization’s mission. Outside of work, Casey serves as an indoor rowing instructor and as the director of the children’s ministry at her local church.
Holly Downing
Events and Administration
​
Holly grew up in the midwest and holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations and Biblical Theology from the University of Northwestern. During her undergraduate time, she spent four months living in east Africa where she fell in love with the people and the culture. She has spent her professional career working for international nonprofits that are fighting violence and poverty all around the world. She lives in the Washington DC area with her husband Ed and their two children.

Board of Directors

Christine Conway, PhD, CPC
Owner, By Still Waters

Susan Conway 
Founder and CEO, Three Roots International
​
Amber Corson
General Manager, Valcourt Building Services

Erin Masters
Chief Strategy Officer, Envision Radiology

Dennis Mwangwela
​Global Director for Integral Mission, World Relief

Heidi Scholz
Teacher, Retired

Andy Shaffer
Program Manager, Battelle Memorial Institute

Andrea Wells
President, New Hope Foundation