As the chief financial and operating officer at Boise State University, Alicia Estey managed a $743 million institutional budget and led 37 campus financial and operations units. But she found additional purpose in international education development.
Estey, who recently announced a transition to the University of Vermont as Vice President for Finance and Administration, holds a diverse educational background, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accountancy from Boise State University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho, and a Master of Public Health from the University of Massachusetts. This multidisciplinary background has shaped Alicia Estey’s approach to problem-solving in higher education administration and international development work.
Alicia Estey and The Gorongosa Partnership
Estey’s work with Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique was part of the university’s commitment to human development in an area facing severe economic challenges. The program aims to build educational foundations for children who might otherwise miss out on school entirely.
“It was one of the most important aspects of my work at Boise State, even though I spent a very small amount of time on it relative to all of my other work,” Estey notes.
Boise State University’s relationship with Gorongosa National Park began years ago through biological and anthropological research conducted by university faculty and graduate students. The university later expanded its involvement to include supporting the park’s Human Development staff in supporting preschool programs.
“The university has a long-standing relationship with Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, by and through an Idaho philanthropist, who has invested millions into restoring the national park,” Alicia Estey says. “It was battered for decades by civil war. The animal population declined by roughly 95% – elephants, lions and hippos were slaughtered for meat and trade, adds Estey.
Efforts to eradicate poaching and restore the park’s wildlife have impacted families’ living in communities outside the park’s boundary, most of whom are subsistence farmers. This ecological reality prompted a holistic approach that included community development alongside conservation. Education became a critical component, particularly for reaching girls, 50% of whom drop out of school by 5th grade.
How Alicia Estey Supports Teacher Development
The Gorongosa preschool program launched in April 2022 with more than 210 children aged 4-5 from the communities of Nhambita and Vinho. Fourteen facilitators, trained in child development fundamentals, introduce children to language, literacy, mathematics, the arts, and creativity.
Boise State University is committed to professional development for educators and expanding regional resources. The program emphasizes sustainable practices appropriate for the local context, with teachers creating educational materials from locally available resources.
“We provide professional development for the facilitators as well as materials and supplies to support teaching and learning” Estey says. The program focuses on long-term sustainability. Facilitators are encouraged to use local resources to create dolls, books, math games, and other learning tools from natural and recycled materials. In partnership with the Boise School District, Boise State supplements these efforts with essential supplies, including stencil kits, bookbinding machines, doll-making tools, and laminators. They also provide books in Portuguese, clothing, shoes, and art supplies to support children’s learning and well-being.
Building on their success with the preschool programs, Alicia Estey and her team began exploring ways to support education beyond the preschool level. “We hope to eventually provide professional development to the primary school teachers,” said Estey. The goal is to establish consistency in the learning experience as children move through school. “The preschool programs are being replicated across Mozambique” Estey adds. “We would like to continue to support these efforts,” said Estey.
For Estey, whose primary responsibilities include overseeing university finances, operations, and major capital projects, the Gorongosa work provided a meaningful balance to demanding campus responsibilities.
“This is always something I really look forward to, and it really fills my cup, because the work that I do is often challenging, especially over the past five years.” Alicia Estey explains.
The program continues to expand, with plans to extend beyond the initial communities of Nhambita and Vinho to reach Nhamatanda, Dondo, Cheringoma, Muanza, and Marínguè — all communities located within the Park’s Sustainable Development Zone.
