Founding Board Members
Anastasia Marks, President & Executive Director
Anastasia Marks’ commitment to women’s health began when she joined the board of an organization supporting obstetric fistula surgeries around the world. Through that work, she met Dr. Musa Kayondo, whose bold vision to end fistula in Uganda deeply inspired her. Moved by his leadership and the resilience of the women he serves, Anastasia and her father made a promise to stand with him and help expand access to care.
Seeing the impact of this work—women sleeping through the night in a dry bed for the first time in years, or young girls returning to school free from stigma—gave Anastasia a deep sense of purpose. After visiting Uganda in October 2024, she began laying the groundwork for The Musa Project in late January 2025, officially launching the organization in May 2025. Building and leading the nonprofit has been both the hardest and most fulfilling work of her life, made especially meaningful by doing it side by side with her father and dear friend Mike Nohr.
Today, Anastasia leads The Musa Project with a commitment to compassion, transparency, and locally led care—working alongside Ugandan medical leaders to help women heal, reclaim their dignity, and return to their communities with hope.
Hal Tilbury, Treasurer
Hal Tilbury has spent his life rooting for the underdog and answering a call to service guided by faith, compassion, and a belief in human dignity. After a long and successful business career, Hal felt compelled to give back in a deeper way, bringing his leadership and experience to organizations serving those most in need.
He spent seven years as Chairman of the Board of The Galilee Center in the East Coachella Valley, where he helped expand services for migrant and local farm workers and their families. Under his leadership, the organization also provided a dignified and compassionate welcome to tens of thousands of asylum seekers entering the United States. Through this work, Hal gained deep experience supporting communities facing poverty, displacement, and systemic barriers to care.
After stepping down from the Galilee Center board at the end of 2024, Hal traveled to Uganda, where he met Dr. Musa Kayondo. Inspired by Dr. Musa’s bold vision and the resilience of the women he serves, Hal felt called to add new purpose to his life. Working side by side with his daughter to help end the suffering caused by childbirth injuries has been both meaningful and profoundly fulfilling.
Today, Hal brings his business acumen, nonprofit leadership, and steady commitment to service to The Musa Project, helping build sustainable, locally led solutions that restore health, dignity, and hope for women and families across Uganda.
Mike Nohr, Secretary
Mike Nohr is driven by a deep sense of purpose and a heartfelt commitment to helping those in need. Known for his generosity and kindness, Mike has long been passionate about giving some of the most vulnerable women in Uganda the chance to heal and reclaim their lives.
Mike first traveled to Uganda in 2015 as a volunteer with MedLend. After just one week assisting on a medical mission, he was hooked. Over the past decade, he has played a crucial role in raising significant funds for MedLend and has participated in seven medical missions to Uganda, demonstrating unwavering dedication to improving access to life-changing care.
Often described as the heart of the organization, Mike brings joy wherever he goes. His most cherished traditions in Uganda include handing out soccer balls to children and gifting handmade dresses to fistula patients as they prepare to return home—small acts that reflect his deep compassion and belief in dignity for all. With an extensive network of connections in both the Bay Area and Uganda, Mike is deeply committed to helping as many women as possible find hope, healing, and a new beginning.
Board of Directors
Candace Sage
Candace Sage has always believed in the power of compassion and presence to change lives. More than a decade ago, she volunteered with hospice, spending time with individuals and families during some of their most difficult days—an experience that shaped her belief that small acts of kindness can restore dignity and peace.
Professionally, Candace spent her career working at NASA and practicing law, bringing integrity and thoughtful leadership to complex work. Now retired, she has chosen to devote her time to service-driven causes.
When health challenges made it difficult to continue hospice work, Candace began searching for another way to serve. After learning about The Musa Project, she felt an immediate connection to its mission.
Guided by her values of love, justice, and service, Candace is passionate about helping women in Uganda heal from birth injuries and reclaim their place in their communities—living out her belief that lasting change begins with compassion in action.
Christopher Nyce
Christopher Nyce is a career diplomat and public policy professional with more than twenty years of experience advancing international cooperation across environment, science, technology, and global health. He joined the board of The Musa Project to support its mission of restoring dignity and access to care through locally led, sustainable solutions.
He currently serves as a Diplomatic Fellow at the Institute of the Americas. Previously, he was the United States Department of State Regional Environment Officer for East Africa, where he led strategies and initiatives focused on environmental policy, health security, and sustainable development. Over the course of his career, Mr. Nyce has served with the United States Department of State in the United Kingdom, Nicaragua, Malawi, Iraq, Chile, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, including senior leadership roles with the United States Mission to the African Union. His work has consistently centered on building partnerships across governments, civil society, and international institutions to address complex challenges and create lasting impact.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Nyce served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda, an experience that deeply shaped his commitment to service and to the region. Living and working alongside local communities gave him a firsthand understanding of how access to care, opportunity, and trust can transform lives. That perspective continues to inform both his professional work and his decision to serve on The Musa Project’s board.
He holds a degree in biology from Reed College and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University. His service has been recognized with multiple Meritorious and Superior Honor Awards from the United States Department of State. He brings a global perspective, regional experience, and a deep commitment to equity and service to his role on the board.
Konica Jacobsen
After many years in corporate law, Konica was inspired to support The Musa Project and its mission of empowering women and strengthening communities. She joined the board to contribute her legal background and perspective to a cause that creates tangible impact.
A graduate of Northwestern University, where she earned dual degrees in Industrial Engineering and Economics, Konica went on to earn her JD from the University of Chicago Law School. Starting in 2007, she has practiced corporate law in a variety of areas and settings, advising clients through complex business challenges.
Konica now spends much of her time to volunteer and community work, particularly in education and animal welfare. She brings her insight, practical perspective, and dedication to service to her role on The Musa Project’s board.
Dr. Lauren Wood Thum
Dr. Lauren Wood Thum is a board certified urologist and fellowship trained specialist in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. She joined the board of The Musa Project to bring her clinical expertise and global health experience to a mission focused on restoring dignity and access to care for women affected by childbirth related injuries.
Dr. Wood Thum earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Virginia. She completed her general surgery internship and urology residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, followed by a fellowship in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of California Los Angeles.
Her practice centers on complex pelvic reconstructive conditions. She has also participated in surgical mission work in Uganda in 2018 and 2019 with Dr. Musa Kayondo and a team from UCLA led by Dr. Tom Margolis, an experience that strengthened her commitment to equitable access to specialized care. Dr. Wood Thum brings a patient centered and outcomes focused perspective to The Musa Project’s board.