The EPN Team

Fr. Jame Ojo, Founder

Father Ojo grew up in the rural state of Kogi, Nigeria. He was educated at Catholic schools in the diocese of Idah, ultimately becoming involved in pastoral ministry and school administration. Fr. James was ordained a priest in 1995. Hemoved to the US In 2011 where he joined Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston as a staff chaplain while remaining in residence at St. Mary of the Assumption parish in Brookline. In August 2020 Fr. James began a a full-time parish ministry at St. John the Evangelist and St. Gerard Majella parishes in Canton, MA.

Fr. James was a beneficiary of the kindness and generosity of the Nigerian Catholic Church in his educational development. This inspired him to establish EP Nigeria in 2018 to help the children of Kogi State, Nigeria. Fr. James believe that the best gift any one can give a child is education. (Email: jojo@epnigeria.org)

Trustees

Thomas J. Corcoran, Chairman
Tom is a retired executive. Most recently, he served as the Executive Director of the law firm, Rackemann, Sawyer and Brewster in Boston. He currently serves on the board of directors of Brookline Music School and is also chair of the Finance Council of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Brookline, MA. He is a former board member of the Judge Baker Children's Center and the Cannonball Foundation. Tom earned a B.A. from Boston College and an M.B.A. from Northeastern University. (Email: tcorcoran@epnigeria.org)

James Barron, Treasurer
James has spent 35 year in banking/global markets, working with financial institutions and corporations. He has worked in many volunteer positions at Massachusetts organizations such as St. Sebastian's School, Mount Alvernia Academy, the City of Boston and St. Lawrence Church. He is a graduate of Stonehill College and attended the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administracion in Caracas Venezuela where he also lived and worked. (Email: jimbarron@epnigeria.org)

Martha B. Rizzoli, Secretary
Martha spent 25 years in the banking industry in New York City and Boston. She retired as a Director from the Citibank Private Bank in 2005. Martha is a docent at the Boston College McMullen Museum of Art and she volunteers for various local organizations including Dexter Southfield School and The Lincoln Elementary School in Brookline. She previously was a trustee at The Eliot School in Boston. Martha is a graduate of Brown University. (Email: mrizzoli@epnigeria.org)

Ruth Delfiner
Ruth Delfiner is a Jewish Staff Chaplain at the Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston. She is an ardent supporter of Education Partners Nigeria for the sake of the students it empowers, the nation it strengthens through education infrastructure, and most of all for the visionary integrity of its founder, Father James Ojo. Ruth particularly appreciates the meticulous and the fiscal responsibility EPN demonstrates, making it an extraordinarily effective 501(c)3 organization.

MaryKate Hegarty
MaryKate Hegarty, a native of the Boston area, is a Nurse Director at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. She has been in healthcare for over twenty years and during that time she has educated nurses, advocated for quality patient care, and has dedicated her career to serving others. MaryKate worked closely with Fr. James Ojo during his tenure as staff chaplain at BWH. She earned a B.A from Boston University, a B.S.N. from Johns Hopkins University, and a M.H.A/ M.S.N. from Regis College.

Mary Amatangelo
Mary Amatangelo is a Nurse Practitioner in the Neuroscience ICU for Neurology, Stroke and Critical Care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston. She has been a strong advocate for her patients and nursing colleagues for over 30 years. Mary met Fr. James while working collaboratively in the ICU and she has been committed to EPN since that time. Mary earned a BSN from Emmanuel College, MSN from Georgetown University, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Simmons College.

Brian Hurley
Brian has over 25 years sales and marketing experience with both start-up and fortune 500 companies. He holds a B.S. in Marketing from Stonehill College, is a father of four children, and is a proud supporter of Catholic schools
(Email: bhurley@epnigeria.org)