About Well Aware

Evans has worked to change the way water projects are executed and managed in developing regions of the world. She has built a team of staff and volunteers who implement and advise on projects that are realistic and lasting through strategic partnerships, true community involvement and empowerment, hygiene and sanitation education, and impact measurement.

Under her leadership, Well Aware’s reputation for project success (100% vs 40% industry average) and cost effectiveness (averaging $15 per person for decades) has prompted numerous collaborations with other NGO’s worldwide to guide their water infrastructure projects. Evans and her teams work with the great potential that already exists in struggling communities while catalyzing development through access to clean water.

Background and Education

Evans spent the first years of her life in rural Australia before moving to a small town in east Texas. Her awareness of—and compassion for—the diverse world around her began to take shape at an early age.

After graduating with honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a communications degree, she attended law school at Southern Methodist University, where she focused on environmental law. Awarded an externship with the Environmental Protection Agency’s water department, Evans also became president of the SMU Environmental Law Society and served as chief editor of the law school’s news periodical.

After positions in lobbying and securities law with respected Texas-based firms, Evans began to pursue her own philanthropic and environmental interests by focusing on the evolving water crisis in Africa. She founded Well Aware in 2008 and Well Beyond in 2016.

Awards and Recognitions Include

Toyota Mother of Invention
Womelle 2023 She’s Possible Award
Fast Company World Changing Ideas Honoree
Fast Company 2022 World Changing Ideas List
2022 Classy Award Winner Social Innovation
Top 100 Innovators and Entrepreneurs Magazine
Austin Woman Magazine’s 2022 Social Impact Award
Austin Business Journal’s Women in Business Honoree
Entrepreneurs Organization Program Graduate
Miller Center Global Impact Accelerator Graduate
eTown Achievement Award Recipient
Texas Women’s Chamber of Commerce Blazing Star Award Recipient
Maria Shriver Architect of Change Award
Rotary International Service Above Self Award
Women in Business Award Finalist
Profiles in Power Award Finalist
Featured in The New York Times, Forbes, People.com, Parent Magazine, MariaShriver.com, USA Today, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Mike Mutuku is a name to remember around here. As one of the most essential members of the team, Mike oversees all of Well Aware’s clean water projects. He first met Well Aware’s founder, Sarah Evans, in 2010 in Kenya while the team was checking on ongoing projects in the area. Mike joined the team quickly after, as he and Sarah got along well due to their shared passion for helping underdeveloped communities. He volunteered in the beginning, and then became Well Aware’s first-ever paid employee.

Clean water projects are not the first impactful thing Mike has done in his life. Mike served 12 years in the military in uniform, and was a PeaceKeeper for 13 months in Yugoslavia in the early 90’s, leading a civil strike while nobly leaving behind his wife and two children.

Being a part of Well Aware has been more than fulfilling for Mike. He relishes in the impact he is able to make by bringing clean water to those in need. In his free time, Mike enjoys tending to his mango and orange trees.

Kathryn E. Bergmann, P.E. graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from University of Missouri – Columbia. She is a licensed engineer with over 9 years of professional experience in project management and expertise in structural design and rural water supply and development. Bergmann began her career in structural engineering at a large Austin firm and later became Vice President of a local Missouri firm before co-founding Well Beyond in 2016, where she dedicated her professional knowledge to help improve the development sector through growing technology. Well Beyond has helped change the lives of thousands around the world through its clean water, sanitation and hygiene tools.

She has worked with Well Aware since 2013 and was additionally a member of the board for 2 years. She is also a founding technical member of Well Beyond, who are setting a new standard for the water aid industry. Through her professional career and her volunteer work in the social impact sector, Kathryn is pioneering innovative technology to develop a new method for engineering in her field. Additionally, she is the co-founder and COO of Well Beyond, a social enterprise SaaS company providing expertise and tools to organizations and governments on water development and health initiatives.

In her spare time, Kathryn loves completing puzzles with blinding speed, tending to her many plants, and playing with her adorable golden retriever, Margie.

Anna (she/her) is a graduate of Texas State University where she received her Bachelor of Science with Honors in Anthropology and Geography. While at Texas State, she had the incredible opportunity to travel and participate in the semester-long program at Northern Arizona University, Grand Canyon Semester, where she was introduced to many social, political and environmental issues, including water scarcity, surrounding the region. Because of her experience at Grand Canyon, she was compelled to explore the region further when she wrote her undergraduate honors thesis redefining the traditional definition of dispossession as it applies to physical land, and applied it to the dispossession of Native American religious freedom in the face of a proposed Grand Canyon development project. Researching this topic and seeing first-hand the impact of global climate change and how it directly correlates to water scarcity in already water-stressed areas, such as the Southwest United States, is what drove her toward work in the non-profit field. She is beyond excited to work with Well Aware and to help provide clean water to as many people as possible.

Anna is a proud native Austinite and loves living in her amazing hometown. In her free time, she enjoys smothering her tiny cat with unreciprocated love, swimming in any natural body of water, exploring Austin breweries, watching cheesy sci-fi movies and drinking too much coffee.

In addition to ensuring the organization’s activities run smoothly as our Kenya Operations Officer, Jecinta Ann Mwangi is also a mentor to young women in Kenya. Jecinta Ann received an award for her leadership and excellence in humanitarian service to her community in 2019. She holds a BA in International Relations and Disaster Management from Masinde Muliro University.

Jecinta Ann is a humanitarian at heart and believes that we all have a place in the world and have the capacity to uplift each other in different ways, and in turn change the world one day at a time.

A mother, an avid reader, and a passionate soul; Amy is all over the map. Before joining the Well Aware team, Amy worked for World Championship Wrestling in Atlanta, Georgia. Now, as a strong asset as office manager, she is fervent in the pursuit of bringing clean water to East Africa. What she loves most about her job is the team; in her own words, the team is fun to be around, and they have taught her so much.

When she’s not in the office, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, 8-year-old son, and their 2 rescue dogs.

Dennis holds BSC in Civil and Structural Engineering from the University of Nairobi with a specialization in Water and Resources management. He is also a member of the Engineering Board of Kenya (EBK), The Institute of Engineers Kenya (IEK), The Water Service Providers Association of Kenya (WASPA), and The Association of Young Engineers Kenya. He is also a tech enthusiast and software design expert with a Diploma in Information Technology from Mt Kenya University and certification in CAD software (AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, Civil 3D, Revit).

Dennis started off his engineering career working for several construction companies in Nairobi as a Design and Site Engineer on different types of projects including building structures, water supply projects, and road grading projects. One of his goals in life is giving back to the community and passing on his knowledge to the younger generation, which led him to lecturing at The Kenya Water Institute in Water Resource Management and CAD software Designs.

Then, in 2018, he met the Well Aware team, and he says his life has never been the same again. He found a path that was both satisfying career-wise and changes the lives of people at the grassroots by providing the most valuable resource in life – water. “As an Engineer, I am trained to solve problems and so I have been doing by being involved in over 50 Water projects in East Africa and changing the lives of over 50 communities for the better.”

As a Project Associate for Well Aware, he receives and analyzes project requests from different communities and evaluates their viability. He makes site visits to verify information, gets quotations from contractors, and supervises contractors’ work to ensure they align with our design specifications. He also heads project monitoring and Well Beyond App deployment in East Africa.

Mesret is a 5th-year student at Egerton University pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Water and Environmental Engineering. Mesret joined Well Aware as a Project Intern in 2020 and is now working for Well Aware in a full-time capacity as Project Associate. She has proven a vital part of our team. She has helped design our water projects, train partner communities on system maintenance, conduct site visits, and report on project progress and actions needed.

She is from a community called Marsabit, in the Northern part of Kenya, where she has experienced firsthand the challenges that come with scarcity of water and other resources.

“I understand what it means to go without water or walking for miles in search of water and coming back with none. Being a change to these communities is my drive.”

Joe recently graduated from Chuka University, Kenya, with a B.Sc in Community Development. To him, community development serves as a channel to express his passion for helping others and serves as a platform for him to advocate for gender equality which he is a staunch believer in.

He is excited to put his degree to work by building relationships with Well Aware’s partner communities, and ensuring they are able to thrive with clean water.

Dani holds a BBA in Business Management with a focus on Human Resources from Texas State University. She started her journey with Well Aware as an intern in 2020 and transitioned onto staff after gaining experience in the software industry’s sales sector. Dani started full time as a Development Associate, where her enthusiasm and expertise in marketing swiftly propelled her to the role of Marketing Manager. In this capacity, she oversees all communications for Well Aware and also leads the Classrooms to Clean Water initiative, connecting students in the U.S. with those in our partner communities in Kenya. Additionally, Dani enjoys aligning companies’ CSR initiatives with our clean water work.

Committed to driving meaningful engagement and delivering high-quality content that resonates with Well Aware’s audience, by continually refining our processes and strategies, she strives to expand the organization’s visibility and make a difference in the communities we serve. Originally from Houston, TX, Dani has a deep love for all dogs, particularly her own and the dogs at the animal shelter she volunteers at. In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, diving into thrilling murder mysteries, or practicing yoga.

Geofrey is a hydrogeologist with a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Nairobi. He has vast experience in geological surveying for drilling, groundwater exploration, researching integrated water resource management, well logging and sampling, and he even helped supervise an emergency borehole drill during the pandemic.

Lucy Boyani Mokaya graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Geology from University of Nairobi – Kenya. Finishing on her Master’s degree in Marine geosciences from the University of Haifa – Israel. After graduating, she was able to get into various field of geology including hydrogeology that involved the ground water prospecting and exploration, data analysis, report writing, and borehole drilling supervision to completion, gold prospecting at the south western part of Kenya and other geotechnical works. She had the opportunity to supervise the massive emergency borehole drilling during the pandemic.

“I am honored to be part of the group that brings change to our communities and providing long-lasting suitable water.”

Yvonne holds a degree in Community Development from Chuka University in Kenya. She has vast professional experience in project management and youth empowerment. She is a lover of peace and is dedicated to humanity service and mental health work. Yvonne is also passionate about the environment and charitable work, doing her part in making the world a better place. She thrives working with and for communities and is fascinated by the similarities and differences among communities, while enjoying interacting with different people. In her spare time, she loves traveling, watching movies, and taking care of her plants.

Harper graduated from Texas State University with a BFA in Theatre and a minor in Honors Studies. She has a passion for storytelling and helping others’ stories be told. She has been a force to be reckoned with when it comes to social media presence in many different industries including student housing, small businesses, and even “Not Today Pal” a Your Mom’s House Studio podcast hosted by Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler. She first started as a Contractor with Well Aware during #ShowerStrike2024 and fell in love with the Well Aware mission and our partner communities. She hopes that through digital marketing she can make people more aware and passionate about the water crisis through the stories told by those affected.

Outside of Well Aware, you can find Harper either hiking with her blue heeler, Skylar, spending time with loved ones, or a reading a good book. She also loves cooking and is a part-time chef for a networking club in Austin where she is able to bring people together through food.

Jessica graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a BS in Business Administration and a concentration in Nonprofit Management. She began her journey with Well Aware as an Executive Intern, where her dedication and passion for our mission quickly became evident. Her commitment to supporting the organization’s leadership and eagerness to learn led her to transition into the role of Fundraising Intern, before being promoted to her current position as Executive Assistant. In this role, Jessica supports the Founder and executive leadership by overseeing donor pipeline management, Board of Directors coordination, travel arrangements, brand and public relations tasks, and various administrative functions.

With CRM proficiency, Jessica helps streamline communications and optimize internal processes, contributing to Well Aware’s mission. Outside of her role at Well Aware, she enjoys hiking, traveling, trying new foods, and spending time with friends and family.

Evans has worked to change the way water projects are executed and managed in developing regions of the world. She has built a team of staff and volunteers who implement and advise on projects that are realistic and lasting through strategic partnerships, true community involvement and empowerment, hygiene and sanitation education, and impact measurement.

Under her leadership, Well Aware’s reputation for project success (100% vs 40% industry average) and cost effectiveness (averaging $15 per person for decades) has prompted numerous collaborations with other NGO’s worldwide to guide their water infrastructure projects. Evans and her teams work with the great potential that already exists in struggling communities while catalyzing development through access to clean water.

Background and Education

Evans spent the first years of her life in rural Australia before moving to a small town in east Texas. Her awareness of—and compassion for—the diverse world around her began to take shape at an early age.

After graduating with honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a communications degree, she attended law school at Southern Methodist University, where she focused on environmental law. Awarded an externship with the Environmental Protection Agency’s water department, Evans also became president of the SMU Environmental Law Society and served as chief editor of the law school’s news periodical.

After positions in lobbying and securities law with respected Texas-based firms, Evans began to pursue her own philanthropic and environmental interests by focusing on the evolving water crisis in Africa. She founded Well Aware in 2008 and Well Beyond in 2016.

Awards and Recognitions Include

Toyota Mother of Invention
Womelle 2023 She’s Possible Award
Fast Company World Changing Ideas Honoree
Fast Company 2022 World Changing Ideas List
2022 Classy Award Winner Social Innovation
Top 100 Innovators and Entrepreneurs Magazine
Austin Woman Magazine’s 2022 Social Impact Award
Austin Business Journal’s Women in Business Honoree
Entrepreneurs Organization Program Graduate
Miller Center Global Impact Accelerator Graduate
eTown Achievement Award Recipient
Texas Women’s Chamber of Commerce Blazing Star Award Recipient
Maria Shriver Architect of Change Award
Rotary International Service Above Self Award
Women in Business Award Finalist
Profiles in Power Award Finalist
Featured in The New York Times, Forbes, People.com, Parent Magazine, MariaShriver.com, USA Today, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Ashley Patek, MBA is a fiercely curious and results oriented marketing director at Whole Foods Market, leading the Global Prime Loyalty Program for the company. With more than a dozen years’ experience across multiple private, public and non-profit brands, experience leading cross-functional teams, managing multi-million-dollar P&Ls, and running global digital and omnichannel marketing campaigns, Ashley brings an unparalleled combination of passion for the mission and business knowledge.

Before her tenure at Whole Foods Market, Ashley graduated with an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, has lived and worked in Milan and London, and has spent time volunteering specifically in water access projects in both Africa and India.

Fun fact: Ashley is a self-proclaimed wanderlust. She spends her time traveling, running, eating, reading, volunteering, and living life in downtown Austin with her husband, Daniel, and their goldendoodle, Lester James. She is currently training for her 17th marathon this fall in Sydney, Australia.

Now involved in a strategic and executive advising capacity, Kareece is the former Executive Director of Well Aware, serving from 2018 to 2022. After a career in the biotech industry, her tenure as an intern at Well Aware led her to a full-time position as the organization’s Director of Operations. Her passion for international development, combined with her commitment to excellence, earned her the most executive leadership position at Well Aware after just two years.

Prior to graduating from UT-Austin with a focus in Geography and Business, Kareece spent her youth on frequent humanitarian missions in overlooked communities in the U.S. She found her passion for philanthropy at an early age, and she continues to approach her leadership with a lens of community involvement and pragmatism.

As one of the youngest executives in the water charity sector, Kareece earned a certification in Sustainable Development Goal 6, was quoted in national publications, and was a member of the Rural Water Supply Network and the Young Nonprofit Professional Network of Austin.

From the moment she heard about Well Aware, Kareece has been deeply involved with the cause and fight for clean water. She looks forward to the long journey ahead with this team of strong, inspiring women.

Fun Fact: Kareece grew up in New Braunfels, Texas and has lived in Austin since 2012. Her hobbies and interests include binge-watching Friends, eating too much pizza for most meals and petting stranger’s dogs for uncomfortably long periods of time.

Rushika is a seasoned technology leader with 25 years of experience in Austin-based companies, leading high-performing global teams, creating strategic advantage, and fostering key partnerships. She specializes in Business Intelligence, Data Platforms, and Front Office solutions.

Born in Mombasa and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, she has deep roots, connections, friends, and family ties in the country. Although now firmly established in Austin for over three decades, she remains deeply connected to her cultural heritage. Five years ago, she found her passion for philanthropy at Well Aware, aligning her values and offering an opportunity to reconnect with her roots.

Currently, Rushika oversees the family real estate business, founded in 2007. She continues to enjoy traveling with her husband Maulik and daughters Megha and Nidhi, finds joy in practicing and teaching yoga, and experiments with diverse cuisines in her cooking adventures.

Jacquelyn Birdsall is the Senior Engineering Manager of the Fuel Cell Integration Group at Toyota Motor North America Research and Development. The mission of her group is to improve quality of life by developing fuel cell solutions to replace gasoline and diesel engines. Birdsall specializes in hydrogen infrastructure, high pressure hydrogen systems and associated standards and regulations. Prior to joining Toyota in 2012 Birdsall held several roles in the automotive industry. She has over twenty years of experience in hydrogen, including a thirteen-month assignment at the Toyota Motor Corporation Global Headquarters in Japan working on the 2021 Toyota Mirai.

In addition to her activities in hydrogen, Birdsall takes personal interest in promoting STEM learning and diversity within the industry. She serves on the University of Southern California Sustainability Board and the Governing Board of Directors for Well Aware, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization bringing clean water systems to East Africa. Birdsall received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University (previously General Motors Institute).

Angela Hudson is a Vice President of Human Resources at GID Investment Advisers, LLC, overseeing employee relations, performance management and professional development for GID and its affiliated companies. Angela came to GID in 2018 from The Princeton Review, where she spent 10 years in a number of roles, including managing sales and operations, overseeing all of the Texas sites, and as VP of Training and Development.  She has a M.A. in Counseling Psychology and is a Certified Professional Coach.  She brings a great passion for helping leaders create inclusive environments where everyone’s talents are able to be utilized and celebrated.

Claire Snodgrass is a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin studying International Business in the McCombs School of Business. In addition, she is working towards a certificate in Human Rights and Social Justice. After graduation, Claire hopes to establish a career in non-profit work focused on social justice and education for women.

Apart from her work with Well Aware, Claire is also a mentor for high school girls in East Austin and a research assistant at a local law firm. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, doing puzzles, and playing board games with her eight roommates!

Yaremi Alonso is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin, studying Sustainability Studies, Spanish language and literature and pursuing a minor in Architectural Studies. Her career goal after graduation is to use the knowledge gained in order to bring more sustainable options accessible to low-income populations. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Master’s in Architecture and use it to create more sustainably and energy efficient buildings.

During her free time, Yaremi enjoys walking her dog, kayaking, trying new food spots and going to bingo! She also enjoys spending time with friends and traveling!

Zara Nevill is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Sustainability Studies with a minor in Chinese and Anthropology. Growing up in Dubai, Shanghai, and Singapore, she developed a passion for traveling and aspires to build a career in international environmental work, focusing on human impact.

In Zara’s free time, she enjoys reading, making art, and exploring nature. She also likes spending time with friends and family. Zara is so excited to be joining the Well Aware team and support their mission!