PROFILE OF: Elizabeth Mamai Korpo Sele Mulbah, RN, BSN, .MA, FWACN, PHF
Elizabeth was born on May 11 1947 in Bolahun, Lofa County, Republic of Liberia. She is from a polygamous family and does not know the exact number of brothers and sisters. She grew up knowing about fifteen of them. Elizabeth attended the Holy Cross Mission School system from K-12 and later enrolled at the Cuttington University College where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She is married with five children, two step children and several adopted children, and many grandchildren. She feels very blessed by her GOD through the many friends and professional colleagues she has been privileged to meet, know and work with.
Elizabeth is of the class of 1977; Graduate College of Nursing in Nursing Service Administration, University of Iowa. She served as Visiting Scholar there in 2002-2003 at which time she drafted her Autography under the Eva Erickson educational grant. She hopes to have it published in the near future. The book Blessed Tears, tells the story of her life and the rich experiences she has had, her contributions to nursing, church and state. She beautifully describes her journey from nowhere as a struggling child with eleven stepmothers to the Eminent Woman she has become, nationally and internationally and as she says, through the grace of God.
Elizabeth has served in the following areas; classroom and clinical instructor, Curren Lutheran Hospital and School of Nursing and Midwifery, and later Nursing Service Director in Zorzor Lofa County, Dean, department of Nursing Cuttington University, Program Manager, and later Executive Director Christian Health Association of Liberia, Community Development Specialist with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and with the program for the Reconstruction of Rural Housing in Liberia. Her activities included sensitization of community dwellers embittered by over 12 years of devastating civil war in the area of trauma healing and reconciliation, community leadership, and community health, safe water and sanitation. She produced a draft Training Manual for Community Development and Leadership Training Program under the supervision of the head of her project unit. Another training manual on Trauma Healing is dedicated to her and three other women for their commitment to furthering wholistic healing in Liberia and is wildly used at home and in other parts of Africa.
Community Health Development Officer in the Demobilization Unit of the United Nations Observer Mission to Liberia and is credited for the development she brought to these institutions and people. She is a recognized Peace Promoter and has been involved in peace initiatives at home and abroad. She once co-facilitated a four-day peace meeting of leaders of warring factions in her country. She is a founding member of the Mano River Women Peace Network that has found a place for women in her region of Africa in the search for peace. This initiative takes her and her members, (who are all women leaders, especially from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone) all over the sub region to meet with presidents and their cabinet ministers; she is a Foundation Fellow (1981) of the West African College of Nursing (with membership of 16 English and French Speaking West African States). She served as her country's Chapter and Government representative on the regional committee of Advisers on Higher Professional Nursing Education of the College, 1982-1989 and President, 1999-2001, council member 2001-2003.
She is one of the first tow women to be inducted into the Rotary Club of Monrovia and the first Liberian to be inducted into the Gamma Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing at the College of Nursing, University of Iowa, USA. She is a public speaker and has many unpublished speeches. Her speaking engagements and training in community services have taken her to the United States of America to the Carter Center in Atlanta, International Peace Academy in Washington, the Institute of Peace in New York, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Mali in Africa to name a few. She serves on the Boards of several professional Organizations in different positions and capacities (see list attached). Her home has been a refuge for hundreds of people during the civil war. She has been honored by Cuttington University College (President's award for her contribution to the college), her church and her National Nurses Association.
2. Elizabeth Currently serves as one of the five Commissioners of the Governance Commission which is charged with the responsibility of promoting good governance by advising, designing, and formulating appropriate policies and instructional arrangements and frameworks required for achieving good governance and promoting integrity at all levels of and within every public and private institution. She has over site responsibility for Civic Education-national identity, Civil Society Engagement.
3. She prays that what she does reflects who she is since it is not possible to give what one does not have. She endeavors to serve with sincerity.
5. Elizabeth sees herself as one of the privileged few with the challenge and responsibility to promote the advancement of more women and girls.
6. What she thinks of women leaders is that they are only given the opportunity to bring out the leadership quality that has been silenced for years by culture and traditions but that they should not make the mistake of thinking, “ we can do it alone.” We must work with the men.
7. what she would like to see happen regarding Liberia’s growth and development in the near future is emphasis on building the capacity of the citizens, and advancement in education, health, food production and infrastructure especially roads. Construction of government offices including houses/compounds for superintendents with support of the County citizens. Change in perception of who government is from the president to every citizen.
8. She says what drives or inspires her is her relationship with the Lord through Jesus Christ and her desire to be like Him. What she hates is exploitation of any kind. “We should strive for a win-win situation in all relationships and at all times everywhere,” she says.
9. Elizabeth says she humbly believes that God has blessed her to be an asset to her people and country and prays that though there is only one of each of us, we find more people with like minds, who will make themselves available for the Lord to use.
10. Asked how she strikes the balance in her life? People think she is one of those 24/7 if you know what she means. But she finds time for reading and enjoy music and making friends.
11. She has experienced challenges from some family members, friends, as a result of my emancipation but because of God’s grace these are far less than those who support me and encourage me, I consider my self a winner.
12. She says her message as a role model to the many young girls (and adult women) some of who she know and some she does not, is simply this, they should have a purpose for their lives, have faith in God, stand to be counted. Strive to be remembered for contributions made to their country and people even if they are not recognized. Cultivate patience, and the art of forgiveness. Find something positive in everyone, everything, and every situation.