Staff Photos & Bios
Program Staff
International Director - Katerina Pata
Katerina is from Athens, Greece. She studied her BA in Education and MA in Outdoor Education in Cyprus, England, Norway and Germany. Since then she travelled across South America, Africa and Europe for work but also for joy. She has worked amongst others as a raft guide and a sandboard instructor. She has spent in Peru quite some time and is excited to do it again with GLA students.
Local Director - Hector Deza Delgado
As a tour guide in Peru, Hector's mission is to share the natural beauty and culture of the region with people from all over the world while maintaining - and restoring - Peru's natural ecology. Hector has over 10 years of experience in tourism, including being a tour guide. His formal education in anthropology provided a strong foundation of knowledge of the Inca and Pre-Inca cultures, which Hector enjoys sharing with visitors on his tours. In addition to working in tourism, he has a part-time bachelor's in Environmental Engineering and leads projects to restore the natural ecosystems in the Cuzco region by planting native tree species and regional government from Cusco.
Mentor - Janay Wigley
Janay was raised in Woodville, Texas and attended the University of Oklahoma where she received a B.S. in Architecture/Environmental Design. Janay currently lives in Texas and teaches at a public high school. She has traveled around Asia and Europe and is excited to explore Peru 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 6:1.
In-Country Program 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.
Local Program 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 Program 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.
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.