RONDIL SCHOLARS TEAM
Meet Our Team
Rondil Scholars Hub, LLC was co-founded by PhD scholars from the University of Cambridge with a shared vision to challenge systemic barriers and inefficiencies in traditional education systems and research-based programs. Aware that many existing interventions often promise more than they deliver, the Hub was created to bridge these gaps and reimagine learning for deeper impact and greater inclusion. With over 15 years of combined experience in education reform and student advisory services, spanning pre-university to postgraduate levels across Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa, the founding partners bring interdisciplinary expertise and a proven track record of formulating solutions to drive progress in learning.
Drawing on this wealth of experience and expertise, Rondil Scholars has designed innovative approaches that transcend conventional education and research programs. Our model prioritizes learner agency, co-creation, real-world relevance, and the recognition of multiple intelligences - the many ways individuals learn and excel, ensuring we help each scholar discover and build on their unique strengths. At its core, the Rondil experience promotes future focused and solution-oriented thinking, creating pathways that empower learners and drive meaningful transformation. Supported by a dynamic and top-tier team of educators and advisors from a wide range of disciplines and lived experiences, the Rondil Scholars Hub is committed to nurturing the capabilities of each scholar and equipping them to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
RONALD OMUTHE
Head of Learning Design & Partnerships
Ronald is an education and international development specialist with over a decade of experience spanning Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He has worked with non-profit organizations, consulting firms, and academic institutions to strengthen education systems, broaden access, and elevate the quality of learning in an era defined by rapid global and technological change. His work addresses critical gaps in education through policy, program, and strategic initiatives that shape the future of learning. Ronald is also an active researcher, focusing on equity, efficiency, and quality education. His recent collaborations include working with Cambridge University Press & Assessment to develop the capacity of IGCSE teachers worldwide through quality assurance in virtual training. He has mentored students from Singapore, India, the UK, the USA, and Europe in global pre-university research programs, guiding them to publish in reputable journals and gain admission to top-tier universities. Ronald holds a PhD in Education and International Development from the University of Cambridge and an MA in Education Planning, Economics, and International Development from University College London
DR. SANDILE MTETWA-OMUTHE
Head of Innovation and Applied Research
Dr Sandile Mtetwa-Omuthe is a Cambridge-trained chemist and Gates Cambridge Scholar with research experience in clean and sustainable energy systems. Alongside her scientific training, Sandile brings entrepreneurial experience, having co-directed a small-scale, low-cost manufacturing business focused on innovation. She has also worked in consultancy and international development, with a focus on supporting organizations translate research into evidence-based policy and measurable business impact. Sandile has spent nearly a decade active in outreach and mentoring. She has mentored more than 100 scholars across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America through out-of-school STEM and leadership programs, and has also served as Chair of Africans in STEM, contributing to research visibility, career advisory and network-building efforts. At Rondil Scholars, Sandile is the Co-Founder and Head of Innovation and Applied Research, where she draws on her research leadership, mentoring experience, and equity-centered approach to help scholars develop interdisciplinary research skills, connect their work to real-world challenges, and navigate pathways into higher education and impactful careers. She was recently recognized among Cartier’s 2025 14 Remarkable Changemakers Creating Ripples of Positive Change.
DR. MANUEL KERNEN
Head of Product and Impact Strategy
Manuel Kernen is an educator, researcher, and global youth strategist whose career bridges grassroots activism, nonprofit leadership, and academic inquiry across East Africa, North America, and Europe. He recently concluded a PhD at the University of Cambridge where he investigated the design, effect, and conceptualization of menstrual health and hygiene education – and its potential link to adolescent pregnancy – in rural Tanzania. With a MSc in Global Politics from the London School of Economics and a BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, Manuel brings a deeply interdisciplinary perspective to his role at Rondil Scholars Hub. His work reflects Rondil’s commitment to real-world learning,
inclusive design, and authentic impact: co-founding the Gender Respect Project, directing multi-sector initiatives through the Cambridge Development Initiative, and collaborating with government agencies to bridge evidence with policy. Manuel champions agile, learner-centered approaches that empower scholars to creatively navigate global challenges through collaborative, personalized support systems.
DR. BETH TENNYSON
Science, Policy and Inclusion Expert
Dr Elizabeth (Beth) Tennyson has a background in physics and a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Maryland - College Park. She was a Marie SkÅ‚odowska-Curie Action Research Fellow in the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge from 2018-2021 and named UK's Women in Engineering Society’s Top 50 Women in Engineering in Sustainability. From 2021, Beth worked also a Country Programme Manager with The Centre for Global Equality, working on a UK-government funded research programme (Climate Compatible Growth). She is also co-founder of a UK-based charity, Sustain/Education, providing sustainability-focused learning materials and modules for primary school educators. Beth is passionate about topics related to the energy transition, energy access, resilient communities, and sustainability.
