Staff Photos & Bios
14-Day sessions
Program Staff
International Director (Sessions 1 & 2) - Jayme Corcoran
Jayme Corcoran is looking forward to the summer as the International Director for our Sacred Valley program in the breathtaking landscapes of Peru! Hailing from the heartland in central Illinois and now calling Normal, Illinois, her home, Jayme brings with her a wealth of experience and passion to the summer program. With an educational journey at Illinois State University, Jayme has not only earned her undergraduate degree but also two Master's degrees from ISU. Adding to her achievements, she recently celebrated her 20th year as a dedicated Learning Behavior Specialist in an elementary school. Jayme's commitment to education extends to her role as an adjunct professor at Illinois State University for over ten years. Beyond her professional life, Jayme is a loving wife and mother of three incredible adult children scattered across Maine, Texas, and Arkansas. The Corcoran family is a global community, thanks to their welcoming spirit in hosting eight exchange students from around the world. Their shared passion for travel has taken them to corners of the globe, creating a tapestry of memories and experiences. Jayme's adventurous spirit led her to mentor in the Maui Sea Turtle Program last year, showcasing her dedication to environmental education and conservation. Now, Jayme eagerly anticipates meeting and learning from the diverse and wonderful individuals joining the Sacred Valley program this summer in Peru.
International Director (Session 3) - Maria Fernanda Ramos Díaz
Fernanda was born and raised in the mountains of Ecuador. She is currently living in Hungary where she is finishing her Ph.D. in Economics and Regional Sciences. She has a great interest in sustainable development and education. Fernanda's curiosity about the world has taken her to attend formal and non-formal education programs in the US, India, Peru, Mexico, and Spain, to mention a few. She also has experience working with students from different backgrounds during her teaching at university or running volunteer programs at her research ecological garden in Hungary. Fernanda has led programs in Costa Rica, Spain, the Galapagos Islands, and Peru, which was her first program working with GLA in 2016. She is excited to go back to Peru and share with her students her love for the Andes and her passion for learning!
Local Director - Cesar Smith Cuba Castilla
Smithy, as he loves to be called, was born and raised in Cusco City, where he lives with his partner and 5-year-old son. He has been working mainly as a mountain hiking guide and has been involved in the tourism industry as a tour guide and tour manager for the last 19 years; he is passionate about the mountains and the Andean people.
Smithy feels that his career has provided him with such a privilege to get opportunities to show visitors to Peru, and his country as well as be part of their memories. He is looking forward to meeting the GLA Students this summer!
Mentor - Warren Menezes
Warren is originally from Goa but has been raised in Bombay, India. He studied in St. Don Bosco High School and St. Rocks College. He worked with Schlumberger In the Oilfield for 10 years. He has been a boy Scout and has also volunteered for WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature). Warren has done a few endurance treks like Chaadar, Mt. Everest Base Camp, Mt. Ama Dablam Base Camp and Mt. Kala Phatthar Summit. He quit the Oilfield to follow his love for the Outdoors and has been an Outdoor Educator and Instructor for Adventure Sports for 5 years. Warren has traveled and worked in quite a few countries; he interacts and works with a lot of people from different walks of life, nationalities and ethnicities. This is Warren's 3rd season with GLA, and he is ecstatic about experiencing Peru with GLA Students this summer.
Mentor (Session 2) - Eva Bednar
Eva grew up in the forests of Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania and now lives in Eldred, NY, working full-time coordinating the development of school gardens in Sullivan County through the non-profit Sullivan 180. She is a graduate of Penn State University, where she studied photojournalism, outdoor education, and civic and community engagement. Eva has worked with organizations around the globe, leading students of all ages in outdoor education and community building. She looks forward to summer trips with GLA (this is her 4th summer, most recently directing the Utah program last summer) and being re-invigorated by the importance of seeing teens experience the power of adventure, community, & cultural learning. She can't wait to delve into life in the Sacred Valley this summer and looks forward to meeting the rest of the group!
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.