Our Leaders
Doreen M. Zimba
Executive Director
Along the journey of starting a university, Mrs. Zimba found her passion for women as she saw how much Zambian women were eager to serve God but often lacked a place of spiritual growth through in-depth study of the Word of God and fellowship. She believes that one of the key ingredients of effective ministry and impact in our communities is a dedication to study God’s word, which results in a transformed mind, heart, and soul.
She served at NU as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for 18 years, sits on several advisory boards, leads an interdenominational women’s Bible Study group, enjoys engaging women one on one, spending time with family and friends, cooking, and reading. She has a special liking for flowers and appreciation of space, as to her, both reveal the grandeur of God’s ingenuity.
Debra J. Stroupe
Board Member
Mrs. Debra Stroupe has been involved in women ministries for many years serving as a teacher, mentor, and program leader. Debbie has partnered with Northrise University for over 10 years and been active in supporting a number of student programs and community programs.
Tracy Goble
Board Member
Mrs. Tracy Goble found her first connection to Zambia when she heard the inspiring personal story of how God raised up Doreen and Moffat Zimba to become the founders of Northrise University. Having been taught that when you see God working, join Him in that work, Tracy and Jeff did just that.
In 2011, they had their first trip to Ndola to see the work God was doing through Northrise University. Since then, they have served on the Board of Trustees, and Jeff serves on the Board of Regents. They have been to Ndola numerous times when she has taught at Pastor’s wives conferences and mentored students from NU. When Mrs. Zimba shared the vision for Mercy House, she could sense God asking her to join Him at work with the women of Ndola.
“Mercy House holds a special place in my heart, because God hears the cries of those asking for help to not get a handout, but a hand lifting them up! We can accomplish so much in the lives of these women by sharing tools and transformational education to help them become the best version of themselves. I am humbled and honored to serve on the Mercy House board.”
Tracy is a retired elementary school teacher, and volunteers her time mentoring young women, teaching Bible studies, and leading Alpha course small groups. She is a great believer in the power of education to empower people to rise up. Tracy has been married to Jeff since 1984 and reside in Scottsdale, Arizona. They have 3 children and 5 grandchildren (and counting!).
Charles Stroupe
Board Member
Charles Stroupe has been engaged in the work of Northrise University in Zambia for over 10 years and currently serves on its Board of Regents. Mr Stroupe is active in his local church serving presently and having served in several capacities, supports several NGO organizations, and additionally, is committed to mentoring young men.
Elizabeth M. Nonde
Board Member
Mrs. Elizabeth Nonde is a result-oriented and experienced public health specialist with a proven track record of managing and coordinating health programs as well as facilitating the use of strategic partnerships, particularly in Safe Motherhood, HIV/AIDS, and Cervical Cancer programs.
Elizabeth has also been involved in Christian women’s ministries of teaching, mentoring, and psycho-social counselling for many years at Woodlands Baptist Church before recently moving into Ndola Baptist Church. The love of preaching Christ to women and seeing that women are empowered spiritually as well as with skills to sustain themselves and their families has encouraged Elizabeth to support Mercy House Ministry in the enhancement of the lives of local women and their families in Zambia.
Elizabeth and her husband currently live in Ndola, Zambia, and have 3 children and 1 grandchild.
Mildred Mutesa
Board Member
Mrs. Mildred Mutesa leads Zambia’s largest mortgage finance institution, Zambia National Building Society (ZNBS). With over 15 years work experience, she has worked across several sectors including, audit assurance services, manufacturing, and the financial services sector.
She holds a Master of Business Administration with distinction from Herriot Watt University, a Bachelor of Accountancy Degree from the Copperbelt University, and a professional accounting qualification, ACCA. She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and a Fellow of the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accounts (ZICA).
Prior to the appointment as Managing Director, Mildred worked as a Finance Director of the ZNBS. Her role would see the issue of the first
listed term notes for a public entity to support housing finance in
Zambia. On her clock, she has driven home ownership performance harder as ZNBS focuses on getting more Zambians to have roofs over their heads in the most affordable manner through products such as Nyumba Ya Banja (A Home for the Family) which requires a zero percent deposit as she targets to empower Zambians.
Mrs. Mutesa is married to Dr. Chilao Mutesa and they have three adorable children.
Dr. Moffat Zimba
Board Member
Dr. Moffat Zimba is a warm and distinguished Zambian Christian leader and pastor who is passionate about impacting generations with the Gospel. He was a satisfied Accountant until one day he and his wife, Mrs. Doreen Zimba, strongly felt the call of God upon their lives to start a university. In faith and total obedience, they left their home country to Australia and the US in pursuit of higher degrees.
Dr. Zimba and his wife returned to Zambia in 2003 and co-founded Northrise University where he currently serves as President and Vice-Chancellor.
Passionate about his faith in Christ, the pursuit of excellence, and the spreading of the gospel to touch and serve lives, he fervently serves on multiple boards both in Zambia and the US.
Dr. Zimba is a strong voice for authentic leadership and servanthood, a mentor to pastors, organizational leaders, and young men. He also currently serves as an Elder at Ndola Baptist Church (NBC).
He enjoys bible studies, reading, and spending time with his wife. He is an ardent supporter of Liverpool. His daily confession is Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, the life that I live now in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Brandon Arneson
Board Member
Brandon Arneson has been connected with Northrise University since 2012 serving in multiple capacities and is currently the Treasurer for Northrise University Initiative in the USA and the Treasurer for Northrise University serving on the Board of Regents.
He and his wife Kimberley and four children have served in Ndola alongside the students of Northrise four times since 2013.
Brandon received his degree in accounting from Arizona State University in 1999 and has worked in finance industry since graduating. He has spent the last 18 years with a real estate investment firm and is currently its Vice President.
Brandon has served as an elder and deacon in the local church and enjoys teaching God’s Word.