Staff Photos & Bios
Program Staff
International Director - Abby Romm
Originally from upstate New York, Abby's wanderlust was sparked at the age of 15 during a transformative year in Italy. Pursuing her interest in global affairs, she studied International Relations at American University and embarked on a semester in Costa Rica. Post-graduation, Abby backpacked through Latin America for 18 months, cherishing the opportunity to reconnect with her Costa Rican host family. Afterwards, she received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Guadalajara, México from 2022-23. With a profound affection for Latin America, the ocean, and marine conservation, Abby eagerly anticipates welcoming students to Costa Rica this summer.
Local Director - Nabil Garcia
Nabil was born and grew up in San Jose, Costa Rica. He graduated with a Bachelor's in Social Work from The Universidad de Costa Rica & with a Specialization in Human Resources Management by The George Washington University. This year he will be the new Local Director to nurture GLA International education and service-learning themes.
He wants to continue involving students into various local communities projects and causes with passion and responsability. In his free time, Nabil enjoys going to hikings, beach trips, reading books and training at the gym. As a proud Costa Rican (Tico), Nabil is excited to share more about his country and culture with GLA students!
Mentor - Meghan DiGiovanna
Meg was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended the University of Colorado where she received a degree in Sociology. Following graduation, Meg spent 3 months backpacking Europe. Upon return to the US, she began work as a Program Coordinator at YMCA Camp Orkila on Orcas Island off the coast of Seattle, Washington. There, she managed the Outdoor Environmental Education program and spent lots of time watching the Orca whales that are native to the Salish Sea. This winter Meg spent time in Honduras where she got her Advanced Open Water scuba certification. Most recently, she has begun work at YMCA Camp Surf in San Diego, California where she will also be facilitating outdoor education for kids and local schools. Meg is excited to be returning to Costa Rica with GLA for the second summer in a row and is looking forward to helping students experience nature and the outdoors.
Mentor - Julius Gomes
Hello! I'm Julius. A friendly and dependable guy who loves nature, sports, and people and loves learning and teaching about our beautiful earth. I was born and raised in suburban Mumbai, India, As a child I loved running around in the fields nearby, climbing trees and swimming in wells and ponds, playing sports and appreciating nature in its rawest form.
I studied and graduated through an open learning institute, focused on doing things I liked as a child and a teen, and turned those interests into my job. I traveled extensively through India until 2018 mostly on a motorbike and sometimes on a bike doing jobs that I dreamed of as a child. I reached a point where I decided it was time to see the world now that I've seen my own country. I have been working as an outdoor educator since 2018 and have based myself in Hong Kong since 2022 facilitating youth outdoor adventure programs.
I'm very excited to work and share my experience as a professional and as a person, and to learn about all the students as well!
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.