Staff Photos & Bios
Program Staff
International Director - Benjamin O'Hanlon
Ben was born and raised on a farm in rural Australia and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and both a postgraduate Certificate and Masters degree in International & Community Development. He wrote his Masters thesis on the role of International-Service-Learning programs, such as GLA, in International Development. After living many years in Latin America leading International-Service-Learning programs, Ben has recently returned to Australia to work in Education. Ben loves philosophy, travel, free-diving hiking and playing music.
Mentor - Josef Mathews
Josef was born in Germany and raised in India and the United States. He is currently a PhD student in philosophy at the University of Georgia. He enjoys natural areas, drum circles, and social dancing. He worked as an English teacher in Mexico and Spain and has been to Central America. He looks forward to working with GLA in Costa Rica this summer.
Mentor - Abigail Gust
Abby was raised in the outskirts of Chicago and attended the 21-day GLA Ghana program herself at age 15, which opened up new worlds for her. Inspired by the trip, she got an IB diploma in Eswatini at UWC Waterford Kamhlaba, then joined Minerva University, living in 7 countries over the course of her studies. Now, Abby is a teacher of Philosophy, Anthropology and World Cultures, working with teens from Korea, Nigeria and Kyrgyzstan. Last summer, she taught high schoolers cultural geography in the Mongolian countryside. This summer, she eagerly awaits partaking in environmental ethics and hands-on stewardship with GLA students in the Costa Rican rainforest.
GLA Staffing - Roles
GLA staff are native to the host country and international, usually from the US, Canada or Europe. All staff are highly qualified adults with college degrees. Most of our staff are educators and/or working professionals with higher degrees of education. All of our staff have extensive experience working with teenage students, international programs and/or a specific knowledge of the program country.
GLA staff consists of a local program director, someone from the host country with extensive experience working with international students and also an international program director, someone from the west with extensive global experience working with this age group, who together bridge any cultural differences. Mentors work with the students on a day to day basis. Staff ages usually range between 25 – 35 years old. In addition, we maintain a student to staff ratio of 6:1.
Local Director
Local Program Directors are responsible for co-managing the overall experience alongside International Program Directors. First and foremost, they protect the health and safety of students at all times, reinforcing standards of safety and community culture. The Local Program Director is also responsible for planning excursions, speakers, and community service projects
International Director
International Program Directors are responsible for co-managing the overall experience alongside Local Program Directors. Along with the Local Director, the International Program Director protects the health and safety of students at all times, reinforcing standards of safety and community culture. The International Program Director is also responsible for structuring a dynamic learning environment by developing curriculum, facilitating the implementation of GLA’s service-learning workshops through group-wide discussions
Mentor
Mentors are also responsible for structuring a dynamic learning environment by working as part of a team to implement GLA’s service-learning leadership curriculum; leading daily discussion, reflection or journaling sessions with small student groups; and helping Directors plan additional workshops and activities to engage students in their “free” time.
Program Administrator
Country Administrators are responsible for managing the overall experience of multiple programs in a certain country. Along with the Local Director, and International Program Directors, the Administrator protects the health and safety of students at all times, reinforcing standards of safety and community culture. The Country Administrator is also responsible for structuring a dynamic learning environment by developing curriculum, facilitating the implementation of GLA’s service-learning workshops through group-wide discussions.
In-Country Coordinator
Our In-Country Program Coordinators are people with close ties to the local community. Their connections are what allow our groups to be welcomed as friends into a community, and their knowledge of the challenges facing local people allow our work to be a meaningful and valued contribution.
Program Manager
Our Program Managers support the International and Local teams over the course of summer programming. The Program Managers have extensive training in risk management, cross cultural communication, student and group dynamics, mental health protocols, staff management and GLA policies and procedures. Program Managers posses and in-depth knowledge of each program site, partner, service activities, and excursion. The Program Managers communicate weekly with each team in the field and provide ongoing support during the summer to ensure safe and successful programs.