Meet our awesome SWF team in the United States of America 

SWF Founder

Dr. Nina Smart is a non-violent human rights activist, sociologist, soroptimist and author who educates people about female genital mutilation (FGM) and works to end the practice in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Dr. Smart founded SWF International on July 13th 2004 and she has been passionate about protecting and promoting girls' human rights.
Her book 'Wild Flower - The True Story of a Romanian Girl in Africa'
tells the story of her escape from FGM and explains why she stands firm in her truth for herself and others.  Proceeds from her book fund SWF programs that prevent others from experiencing this harmful traditional practice.  She loves traveling and everywhere she goes she breaks the silence on FGM and encourages women and men to  end FGM,
She drives a small red car with a California license plate that reads
End FGM

Legal advisor

Mr. Stephen Marley is a human rights lawyer who volunteers his time and expertise to assist legal cases presented to SWF in the United States of America and in Sierra Leone.  Mr. Marley represents SWF at the United Nations in New York City and works pro-bono to help protect girls from the harmful traditional practice of FGM.

SWF Gender Specialist

Dr. Rachael J. Russell is a scholar and women’s rights advocate with expertise in gender equality, women’s empowerment, gender politics, women’s international non-governmental organizations, and social change. Dr. Russell supports the efforts of SWF International to eradicate female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone through various efforts to raise awareness in the United States along with consulting on service-oriented and education-based approaches to furthering the rights of women and girls in Sierra Leone.
 
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   SWF TRAUMA  
      EXPERT

​Eileen deLespinasse works as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2003 specializing in the areas of mental health, trauma, domestic violence, and sexual disorders. She successfully completed her BSW, MSW, art therapy, sex therapy along with other training on trauma, domestic violence and couple's therapy. Her doctoral studies took her to Sierra Leone and Rwanda, where she conducted trauma training and educational workshops with her university. Her dissertation is a Mixed Method study of Sierra Leone aid workers during the 2014-2015 Ebola Epidemic: exploring psychological distress, trauma, coping and resiliency.  She has worked extensively in the public and the private sector treating patients who have suffered from trauma symptoms, as well as advocate for the rights of disadvantaged people locally and globally.