Meet the Team

Dr. Kuajien Lual Wechtuor (PhD)

Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of The Naath Institute (NI)

Dr. Kuajien Lual Wechtuor (PhD) is a Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of The Naath Institute (NI) and Legal Counsel (Public Attorney) at the Ministry of Justice and Consti- tutional Affairs in the Republic of South Sudan (2009-present). He was an Intern who conducts research on non-intervention principle in South Sudan civil war (2013-2019) with the Af rican Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (12/2016–02/2017); a Researcher at the University of Hamburg in Germany (2016-2019); and was Civic Engagement Officer (CEO) working for National Demo- cratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), Juba, South Sudan (2009). Dr. Wechtuor holds Doctor of Laws (PhD), in the fields of International, Human Rights, Humanitarian, Refugee and Migration Law, f rom the University of Hamburg in Ger- many (2016-2019); Master of Arts (M.A.) of Public Policy and Good Governance in the field of Public Economics, Law and Politics f rom Leuphana University of Lüneburg in Germany (2012 -2014); and Bachelor Degree of Laws (LLB) in both Civil, Public and Private Laws f rom Haramaya University in Ethiopia (2004-2008). Dr. Wechtuor authored (Books) “Fading Authority of the Non-Intervention Principle: Analysis of Uganda’s Intervention in South Sudan under International Law” (KDP, 2019); “Human Rights and Rule of Law in South Sudan Context: Quest for Strengthening Rule of Law” (Lambert Academic Publisher/2014); a Case Study/research on Criminal Law Application by Ethiopian Courts, titled, “Errors in the Assessment of Guilt and Penalty under Ethiopian Criminal Law” (Haramaya Universi- ty/2008); and co-authored “The Nuer Nation” (Create Space Publication, 2016). Dr. Wechtuor is Scholar who won German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Public Policy and Good Governance Award (Bonn/2012–2014) and Civil Society Foundation Award (2016), among others.

Mr. Albino Gaw Dar Lam

Founder and Deputy Chairperson of Board of Directors for The Naath Institute (NI)

Mr. Albino Gaw Dar Lam is a Founder and Deputy Chairper- son of Board of Directors for The Naath Institute (NI), co-founding member of the Foundation for Youth Initiative and the Upper Nile Institute of Public Health. Currently, he is a senior lecturer in Department of Sociology at University of Juba and the Upper Nile University, a Managing Director of Foundation for Youth Initiative, a Country Program Coordina- tor USADF South Sudan Program. Prior to his current work portfolios, Dar worked as Community Development Officer for GIZ, Executive Secretary of Public Grievances Chamber, Research Officer of Employees Jus- tice Chamber of the government of South Sudan. Dar obtained a B.A in Sociology f rom the University of Gondar, Ethiopia and an M. A f rom the Kampala International University. He also obtained professional certificates: Enterprise Leadership Tools for Organizational Suc- cess f rom the University of Maryland, Washington DC, USA, Public Poverty Index (PPI) and Organizational Capacity Assessment Tools (OCAT) f rom the University of Ghan Ghana, Applying Innovative Mindset to Decision-Making f rom the Global Knowledge Initiative, Washington DC, Ethics in Organization Management f rom the United States Af rican Devel- opment Foundation, Washington DC, and Research Methodology for Ph.D. Candidate f rom OSSREA Institute in Ethiopia.

Mr. Peter Gai Manyuon

Founder and Executive Direc- tor/Secretary General for the Naath Institute (NI)

Mr. Peter Gai Manyuon is a Founder and Executive Director/Secretary General for the Naath Institute (NI). Manyuon is a co-author of “the Nuer Nation” book published in 2016 by ama- zon.com, an investigative journalist, human rights defender, and columnist. Manyuon formerly worked as editor in chief of Nyamilepedia and currently contributing opinion articles for Sudan Tribune and South Sudan Nation. Manyuon has written opinion articles extensively on human rights and democracy in South Sudan since 2009 –to date with various online media houses like Sudan Tribune, South Sudan News Agency and Upper Nile times.net. Manyuon formerly worked for the South Sudan Law Society (SSLS) f rom (2012-2014) as senior infor- mation and communication officer, the citizen newspaper/television as news reporter and Juba monitor as columnist. Manyuon is a co-founder and executive director for the Af rican Centre for Transitional Justice (ACT-J) as well National Consortium of Human rights Defenders-South Sudan (NCHRD-SS). Manyuon researched on the number of issues in South Sudan; researched on media propaganda and conflict in South Sudan, IGAD role in crisis management in Af rica case of South Sudan mediation process and effectiveness of humanitarian Intervention on Ethnic Conflict in South Sudan. Manyuon currently research- ing on rights and media development in South Sudan. Manyuon holds a Master Degree of Humanitarian Action, Cooperation and Development at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT), Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy at Cavendish University Uganda (CUU), Master of Arts in Public Relations and Media Management at St. Lawrence University (SLAU), Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication and Journalism at UMCAT School of Journalism and Mass Communication-Uganda, Bachelor Degree in Mass Communication and Journalism at St. Lawrence University (SLAU) and a diploma in foren- sic f rom Forensic Academy of Guatemala respectively. .

Mr. Biel Boutros Biel

Founder and Director of Research for The Naath Institute (NI)

Mr. Biel Boutros Biel, is a Founder and Director of Research for The Naath Institute (NI); he worked for NDI (2007 – 2011), and founded South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy (2011 -2021) and founded Biel & Co Advocates (2017- 2021). Mr. Biel holds LLM, PG Dip. LP, LLB(Hons), Dip. Law and Dip. Jour- nalism. He conducted many researches and practices

Mr. Gatkuoth Riek Lam

Founder and Director of Peace and Security Programme for The Naath Institute (NI)

Mr. Gatkuoth Riek Lam is a Founder and Director of Peace and Security Programme for The Naath Institute (NI). He has 12 years experience working with humanitarian organizations, including the Catholic Relief Services, the Carter Center, German International Cooperation (GIZ), Food for Hunger International and Executive Director in the Office of Deputy Minister, Ministry of Information, Communication and Postal Service, Republic of South Sudan and a Founder and CEO of INTERCEDE for Development Initiatives. Mr. Lam holds M.A. in Security and Strategic Studies, M.A. in Peace and Governance, (MPP of Public Policy in Progress, LLM in Laws in progress) and a BA in Development Studies. His Expertise are Peacebuilding, Gov- ernance, Security, Peace and Development and his Research strength includes traditional governace, traditional conflict resolution mechanism, peace and security, internally displaced persons protection, roles of the UN peacekeeping forces in civilian protection, etc.

Mr. Kayier Ruot Reat

Founder and Director of Policy and Advocacy for The Naath Institute (NI)

Mr. Kayier Ruot Reat is a Founder and Director of Policy and Advoca- cy for The Naath Institute (NI), motivated and efficient professional lawyer with over 10 years’ experience in legal research ; humanitarian operations ; long serving in protections and human rights arena. He is a systematic well organized and result-oriented leader with great attention to details in delivering high quality outputs. He is a South Sudanese renowned lawyer and humanitarian worker with various International and National Non-governmental Organizations, UN n both the protection of persons at risks and access to justice for Gen- rvivors in the last 10 years. Mr. Reat attended and received his Bachelor ohn Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology (South Sudan) in 2012. Subsequently, he had his postgraduate Master of Laws [LLM] at Riga Gradu- ate School of Law [Latvia, Eastern Europe] in 2016, where he specialized in Public Internation- al and Human Rights Law. He is currently a Doctor of Philosophy potential candidate at Pre- toria University, Australia.

Dr Gatluak Ter Thach

The Naath Institute’s Advisor for Fund and Resources Mobilization

Dr. Gatluak Ter Thach (PhD) is The Naath Institute’s Advisor for Fund and Resources Mobilization, Adjunct Professor of Leadership and Nonproﬁt Management at Tennessee State University, a founder and President/CEO of Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE) and he is also a refugee and immigrant rights activist who serves on board of directors for several organizations, include Sudanese Human Rights Organization, Advisory Council of Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, Mayor’s New American Council, Tennessee for All of Us, Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, Sudanese Presbyterian Church, Alliance for South Sudanese in Diaspora, South Sudan Relief Rehabilitation Agency – USA, and Volar Collegiate Academy, among others. Dr. Thach authored My New American Dream and Life of the Leader and Life of the Leader. His upcoming books include: “The Successful Integration and Why My People Continue to Suffer in South Sudan.” Dr. Thach is an expert in community and organizational development, program and budget planning and management, strategic planning, collaboration and partnership building, resource development (grant writing), executive coaching for new executive grassroots’ leaders, and strategic advocacy. Dr. Thach earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science with minor in mathematics from Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN. A master’s degree in public service from Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN, where he graduated with Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in social science, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with emphasis on Strategic Planning from Argosy University in Nashville, TN. Dr. Thach received numerous awards, including White House Champion of Change Award from President Obama, CEO of the Year Award, Distinguished Service Award, Human Right Rising Advocate Award, Power of Inclusion Award, Community Empowering Award, New Immigrant Leadership Award, Peace Ambassadors USA Award, among others.

Dr. John Chuol Kuek (PhD, LMFT, CCTP )

The Naath Institute’s Advisor of Health Unit

Dr. John Chuol Kuek (PhD, LMFT, CCTP ) is The Naath Institute’s Advisor of Health Unit; the ﬁrst East African culturally competence therapist to practice in San Diego County; he currently works for La Maestra Community Health Centers as A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; as the ﬁrst East African therapist in the state he has been providing therapy to families, individuals, children, and couples with psychological issues from all walks of life; as a mental health provider, he is a Director of Integrated Community Services; from 1998 – 2001, he worked as a certiﬁed nursing assistant for Internext Homecare – now Front Porch Home Care – a retirement community facility in San Diego; he became interested in the health ﬁeld as a result of his work with Médecins Sans Frontières in Ethiopia’s Itang refugee camp from (1990-1991) provided interpretation between Ethiopian doctors and Sudanese patients; he is Country Director of Relief Organization for South Sudan in United States, Board Secretary of La Maestra Community Health Centers and a Visiting Lecturer/ doctoral dissertations committee member, University of San Diego, CA. and Lemon Grove District Board Committee Member, San Diego, CA; from 2000 – 2001, he was a community health advocate with the New Americans Health Advocacy Program of Project Concern International’s California Initiative. He played an integral role in the implementation of the New Americans Health Advocacy Project that aimed to bridge the cultural and linguistic gaps that impede access to health care and education for East African immigrants and refugees in San Diego. He helped his community ﬁnd and utilize health services and provide basic health education and referrals. His interest in health, his outgoing personality, and his enthusiasm was a tremendous asset to this program; from 2001 – 2006, he worked as a project coordinator for Project ESSEA – The Ethiopian, Sudanese, Somalian, and Eritrean in Africa – a behavioral health project founded by Dr. Gebaynesh Galila Gashaw-Gant to serve the needs of East African populations in San Diego, CA. The project aimed to provide a therapeutic approach that was ﬂexible and culturally appropriate, providing educational materials and outreach efforts that de-emphasized the stigma associated with behavioral health problems and treatment. Through his work with this project, he became interested in changing careers from nursing to psychology. Dr. Kuek is Architectural Engineering Housing Development Training Institute at the California Polytechnic State University, Cal Poly Pomona –November 12, 2018 – May 24, 2019 and holds Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD), with concentration in Transpersonal Psychology, Soﬁa University, Palo Alto, California (2013); Master of Science in Counseling, Marriage, Family and Child Therapy (MSC), University of Phoenix, San Diego (2010); and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BA), with minor in Counseling, National University, San Diego, CA (2007). Dr. Kuek authored “South Sudanese Com- munity Insights: A cross-generational cross-cultural rescue model for families and family counselors” (Create Space Publication, 2012); “Culture, Trauma and Transpersonal Psychology: A Contemporary Study of South Sudanese” (Create Space Publication, 2015); “Culture and trauma: An ethnographic study of transpersonal approaches to trauma recovery from a Sudanese perspective. Palo Alto, CA: Soﬁa University” (Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, Pending Publication/2013); and Dr. Kuek, J. C., Velasquez, R. J., Velasquez, R. D., Jeanett C., Nogales, E. (2014) co-authored “Hunger for an Education: A research Essay on the Case of South Sudan and the Voices of Its People” (FIRE. Forum for International Research in Education, (1) 2-31, 2014).

Dr. Isaac Kueth Gang (PhD)

The Naath Institute’s Advisor of Information and Communication Technology System and Statistics Programme

Dr. Isaac Kueth Gang (PhD) is The Naath Institute’s Advisor of Information and Communication Technology System and Statistics Programme, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science & Outreach Coordinator at Texas A&M University-Commerce College of Science and Engineering, Department of Computer Science. He joined A&M-Commerce faculty in Fall 2017 from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor where he taught Computer Science and Engineering for 6 years. Before coming to UMHB, Gang was an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Computing. His current primary teaching responsibilities at A&M-Commerce include teaching Algorithms Design, Advance Computer Games Programming and Introduction to Database. He is Outreach Coordinator for Department of Computer Science, as well as the Coordinator of the BS in Information Systems Program. Dr. Gang earned Doctor of Philosophy in Computational Science from the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 2010; Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 2008; Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 2005; and an Associate of Arts degree in Computer Science from Hinds Community College, Raymond, Mississippi, in 2000. His primary research agenda involves Cyber Security (Ransomware & Steganography), Big Data Analytics, Image Processing, Signal Processing, Information Systems Security and Computer Science Education.

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Dr. Kuajien Lual Wechtuor (PhD)

Mr. Albino Gaw Dar Lam

Mr. Peter Gai Manyuon

Mr. Biel Boutros Biel

Mr. Gatkuoth Riek Lam

Mr. Kayier Ruot Reat

Dr. Gatluak Ter Thach (PhD)

Dr. John Chuol Kuek (PhD, LMFT, CCTP )

Dr. Isaac Kueth Gang (PhD)

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Dr. Kuajien Lual Wechtuor (PhD)

Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of The Naath Institute (NI)

Mr. Albino Gaw Dar Lam

Founder and Deputy Chairperson of Board of Directors for The Naath Institute (NI)

Mr. Peter Gai Manyuon

Founder and Executive Direc- tor/Secretary General for the Naath Institute (NI)

Mr. Biel Boutros Biel

Founder and Director of Research for The Naath Institute (NI)

Mr. Gatkuoth Riek Lam

Founder and Director of Peace and Security Programme for The Naath Institute (NI)

Mr. Kayier Ruot Reat

Founder and Director of Policy and Advocacy for The Naath Institute (NI)

Dr Gatluak Ter Thach

The Naath Institute’s Advisor for Fund and Resources Mobilization

Dr. John Chuol Kuek (PhD, LMFT, CCTP )

The Naath Institute’s Advisor of Health Unit

Dr. Isaac Kueth Gang (PhD)

The Naath Institute’s Advisor of Information and Communication Technology System and Statistics Programme