Staff Photos & Bios
Program Staff
International Director - Amanda Mallory
Amanda was raised in Florida where she received her MS in Emergency Management before traveling to work in disaster response and on community projects in various countries across Europe, the Middle East, North and South America. For the past few years she has been on a green building and education project site in rural Guatemala. Last summer she was the International Director on GLAs Ocean Conservation and Surf program in Costa Rica. She is really excited to return to this role and beautiful country to experience Parismina and sea turtles with new students.
Local Director - Jason Taylor
Jason was born and raised in the small Caribbean coast town of Parismina, where he created his own sustainably-built ecolodge (where our students stay!) He is a community leader who is dedicated to protecting the environment, wildlife and educating the community on sustainable systems and paths. Jason has been working with GLA since 2017 in the Local Director role and he is excited to welcome this summer's groups to his hometown and share his passion for the natural world, wildlife protection and sustainability.
Mentor - Julio Bermudez
Julio Bermudez is a Building and Facilities Manager at Son of a Saint, a mentoring program for fatherless boys in New Orleans. Born in La Ceiba, Honduras, he migrated to New Orleans in the summer of 2002 with his mother. Julio's prior experience includes organizations like Reaching for the Stars, Juma Ventures, and Groundwork New Orleans. He graduated from The NET: Central City in 2015 and has been a part of his alma mater's growth by serving on the Board of Directors for EQA Schools. Julio's nonprofit career started as early as 14 years old for Son of a Saint as an intern and mentee. Now, Julio is involved in his community in several ways through fundraising coordination, operations consulting, and event planning. Julio hopes to bring equitable opportunities to the youth of the city of New Orleans by consistently engaging with community partners and engaging community members in public policy. Julio has traveled to Canada, Ghana, and Honduras.
Mentor - Rebecca Richins
Becca grew up in Oregon and Arizona and now calls Southern Utah home. She is passionate about the outdoors and has worked multiple seasons as an outdoor educator with students in the United States and Australia. Becca enjoys traveling the world, being outside, painting, and the art of mindfulness and meditation. She's excited to share incredible experiences with GLA Students this summer!
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 8:1.
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.