Our Team

Lawrence has been with the institution for 18 years, spearheading the Center’s outreach efforts, and has organized campaigns to reach African Missions and Ambassadors, churches, schools and senior centers. To date Mr. Ekechi has successfully met with 47 African Permanent Missions to the United Nations, governmental agencies, civic leaders, enlisting support for the Center and its work. Within the Education Department, his responsibilities have also included working with school groups, and organizing aspects of public and educational programs. Prior to joining the Center’s staff, Mr. Ekechi held positions at JFK International Airport and at Holman Nigeria, where he was the company’s Shipping Controller. He holds a diploma in Industrial Relations Management from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and a diploma from the Royal Society of Arts, London. He has also studied Business Management at The Cardiff Institute of Shipping Management, Lagos, Nigeria, an affiliate of Cardiff Institute, London. He has completed a one-year course in Professional Development with The Northern Manhattan Fellowship-Center For Community Leadership at the JCRC-NY, as well as the Civic Engagement & Leadership Development course at The CUNY Murphy Institute.

Von Pitts is the Program Operations Manager for The Global Africa Gateway, housed at The Africa Center. They received their B.A. jointly in Theater and in History & Literature (American Studies focus)  from Harvard University. After graduation, they spent a year abroad in Accra, Ghana on a post-graduate traveling fellowship. Von's previous work experiences have included serving as a Production Assistant at The American Repertory Theater and as a Producer for the Office for the Arts at Harvard College. In their tenure at The Africa Center, Von has also served as the Executive Assistant to the former CEO, Uzodinma Iweala, and as the Programs and Exhibitions Coordinator.

Velky Valentin is the Center’s Controller, and she manages key aspects of the financial and accounting functions for the capital campaign and the annual operating budget. She has over seventeen years of experience in book-keeping, non-profit management and finance from Dance Theater Workshop, where she worked as the Finance Associate, Associate Director of Finance and as the Controller, as well as a position as the Controller of the David Lynch Foundation. Ms. Valentin holds her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Baruch College.

Camille Wanliss is a communications specialist and writer. With 20 years' experience in the public and private sector, she has developed and executed public relations and marketing strategies for a number of cultural and media organizations, including New York Public Radio, The International Center of Photography, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, En Foco, Inc., and The Children's Art Carnival. She received an MFA in Creative Writing and a BA in Communications from the City College of New York.

Nazreth Yemane is the Associate Director of Public Programs at The Africa Center. Prior to this, Nazreth served as a Program Associate at Accountable Africa in Tanzania, an investment management and advisory firm, focused on promoting and making sustainable and transparent investments across Africa. She is passionate about transforming the narrative surrounding Africa and in amplifying the role of the diaspora in doing so. Nazreth has experience supporting events and initiatives with the United Nations, British Red Cross, and Shrine World Music. Nazreth holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from The City College of New York and an MA in International Studies & Diplomacy from SOAS, University of London.

Vance Whitfield is a senior investment and trade advisor, partnership facilitator, strategic communicator, project manager, and entrepreneur with 20+ years’ experience leading large-scale and high-profile development projects and transactions across emerging markets and developing economies in Africa (North and Sub-Saharan Africa), Latin America, and Caribbean across key sectors.

He brings expertise and deep networks across key ecosystems vital to the Global Africa mandate, including development finance, small and medium enterprises, chambers of commerce, startup ecosystems, business alliances, capital markets, private wealth, project sponsors, and subnational government agencies. With expertise in project finance, venture capital, impact investment and blended finance, Vance has led in financial analysis, due diligence, and risk assessment across key sectors, including healthcare, energy, mining, agribusiness, infrastructure and real estate.

From 2023-2025, Vance was a Transaction Advisor with Prosper Africa, a U.S. Presidential initiative that catalyzed US-Africa two-way trade and investment deals in key sectors where he supported 34 closed investment and trade transactions valued at $1.26B from 2023-2024, also originated and advised on 125+ bankable deals valued at $2B+ bankable deals.

From 2011-2021, Vance was Sr. Communications Specialist and Sr. Project Manager on a $80M U.S. Centers for Disease Control-funded global health project that invested in health equity partnerships in oncology, health information systems and digital health. Beginning his career in community development and rural health as a Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador, Vance has continued his commitment to social impact across his career. As cultural and language competency have been pillars to his success, Vance is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese with intermediate proficiency in French and currently studying Arabic. He is skilled in Diasporan affairs and a Global South interlocutor.

He holds a BA in International Relations from Ursinus College and MSc in Media and Communications from London School of Economics. Project Finance and Public-Private Partnership Professional Certificate from the New York Institute of Finance.