Staff Photos & Bios
14-Day Programs
Program Staff
International Director - Sawyer Uecke
Sawyer was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As part of a gap year program, while attending Tufts University, Sawyer lived with a host family and volunteered in Nicaragua for 9 months. This experience led him down a path as a world traveler and, the following summer, Sawyer was a project supervisor for a service learning program in Costa Rica. He then embarked on a year-long study abroad program in Chile to become fluent in Spanish as a second language. Sawyer's most recent job was as an English teacher in the Canary Islands. He is excited to return to Costa Rica to delve into different aspects of the "Tico" way of life with the GLA students.
Local Director - Sebastian Gomez Guerrero
Sebastian is a traveler, Guide & Scout, nature lover, and world citizen. He was born and raised in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Sebas graduated from the University of Costa Rica with a degree in Ecological Tourism and has worked on many projects including environmental conservation and social impact in rural communities. He loves cultural experiences and nature. Sebas is excited to work hard this summer and make everyone around him feel good and important in the process. He’s thrilled to serve as the Local Director in Costa Rica and provide the context for students to have the best experience in this tropical paradise he calls home. He is a guy who lives a “pura vida” lifestyle (it literally means “pure life”, these words could be used for everything that is nice, easygoing, and chill) and is excited to share one of the best and unforgettable experiences with GLA students!
Mentor - Taylor Spinelli
Taylor was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended West Chester University where she received a B.A. in Education. Since graduating, she has spent time living in Spain as an Au Pair, in New Zealand on a Working Holiday, and backpacking around Europe and Asia. Taylor is a former GLA student [on the Tanzania and Thailand programs]. Last summer, she returned to Thailand to work with GLA in the mentor role. She currently teaches in Philadelphia and can't wait to join GLA students in Costa Rica this summer!
Mentor - Amber Claassen
Amber was raised on a goat farm in the middle of nowhere Ontario, Canada. She grew up loving art and animals. Amber attended Nipissing University where she received a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, she continued on to get her Bachelor of Education, making her a teacher. During her years in post-secondary, Amber discovered a love of adventuring, traveling, and trying new things, starting with crossing skydiving off her bucket list. Amber spent 3 years teaching at an independent boarding school, here she built amazing connections and reignited her passion for the outdoors and experiential learning. Now Amber can be found teaching art, making costumes for theatre productions, or enjoying her many outdoor pursuits.
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.