Team 1 — RISSE

Our Executive Team

Daniel Butterworth

Executive Director

Daniel Butterworth is an Albany resident and Capital Region native with 15+ years of experience working for local nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions. He joined RISSE as its Executive Director in October 2021.

Prior to RISSE, Daniel’s work focused on issues including HIV/AIDS services, K-12 education, university-community engagement, nonprofit capacity-building, food security, and environmental protection.

He holds Master’s degrees from UAlbany’s Rockefeller College, in both Political Science and Public Administration with a focus on nonprofit management.

Francis Sengabo

Director of Family Services

Francis Sengabo, RISSE's co-founder and the Director of Family Services/DOJ-accredited representative, has 17 years of experience working with refugees and immigrants in the United States.

Mr. Sengabo worked as the assistant manager for food distribution and non-food at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Tanzania for 5 years. He also worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which was responsible for assisting Rwandans who had left their homes due to violence.

Francis was essential in the creation of the Emmaus Intervention Project for Minorities, which eventually evolved into RISSE.

Mr. Sengabo has two bachelor's degrees: Economics and Logistics Materials Management. He has also worked as a refugee assistance manager in Africa for the United Nations Children's Fund and as an education director for a middle school in a Tanzanian refugee settlement.

Mr. Sengabo is fluent in English, French, Swahili, Kirundi, and Kinyarwanda.

Jane Anyango Gregory

Jane is a Kenya native, raised in Nairobi. She attended Kamwenja Teachers College, studying Primary Education. She was a teacher at an all girls school for more than 10 years.

After immigrating to the United States, Jane received her bachelor’s in Urban Planning and Geography at the University of Albany. She has held leadership roles in a variety of contexts for the last 18 years.

Having a personal, lived immigrant experience, Jane highly values providing holistic care in our youth programs. Jane brilliantly connects with students, bringing a nurturing leader to our after- school program.

Director of Youth Programs

Kaira Kristbergs

Kaira Kristbergs is the Director of Adult Education and has been a teacher at RISSE since 2017. Being a child of refugees resettled in Albany, she is happy to help serve others by helping adults acquire the literacy and language skills they need to navigate life in the Capital District. She is passionate about literacy education and welcoming new neighbors. She believes Albany is for everyone and can’t wait to welcome you.