Rita Sondengam was recently appointed by the general assembly of AFOAKOM USA to serve as the Ombudswoman of the Association, or the principal watch-dog officer of AFOAKOM USA. Rita brings a lot of institutional memory and experiences to this position, having previously served as the Secretary General of AFOAKOM USA for two (2) consecutive terms (2010 -2014).

Professionally, Rita possesses the gravitas to competently serve in this position as she has managed several programs in the non-profit world; including, at Montefiore Medical Center of the University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she managed HIV and TB Co-infection Research Studies in South Africa; at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center where she managed Research studies relating to HIV Prevention; and Treatment, and presently at Columbia University – ICAP,  where she is the Senior Survey Coordinator for HIV Impact Assessment Surveys conducted in several African countries.

Ms. Sondengam is a holder of a Bachelors of Arts Degree in History from the University of Buea, a Maitrise in Modern History and International Studies from the University of Yaoundé I and a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from New York Medical College.