Staff Photos & Bios
Program Staff
International Director - Ryan Buchanan
Ryan is originally from Glasgow, Scotland, and is passionate about travelling, volunteering and learning about world cultures. He graduated with an MA in Hispanic Studies and International Relations from the University of Aberdeen in 2015. Ryan has 13 years of experience working with non-profits throughout the Americas and the UK that focus on women’s rights, education, youth development, leadership and environmental conservation.
Ryan has lived full time in Latin America since January 2016. He currently lives and works in Costa Rica where he teaches Global Politics, History and Theory of Knowledge at United World College, Costa Rica.
During the summers of 2021 and 2022, Ryan worked as Mentor with GLA in Costa Rica. Last summer (2023) He was the International Director for the Inaugural Costa Rica: The Ultimate Adventure program with TTN (GLAs sister company). Ryan is thrilled to be working for GLA once more, this time as the International Director on GLAs Spain: Spanish in the Land of Don Quixote program
In his free time, Ryan enjoys going on walks with his 2 dachshunds, singing, reading, travelling and having engaging conversations. Ryan's experience with education informs his belief that young people are best placed to bring about positive change in the world.
Local Director - Marta María González Sanz
Marta, a citizen of the world raised in vibrant Madrid, has embarked on an exciting journey from a young age. She's toured Europe and America, immersing herself in various creative and environmental projects that deeply inspired her. She has a degree in Sociology and received an award for her outstanding research in Sustainable Development and the 2030 Agenda. After returning to her beloved Spain, Marta continued cultivating her passion for the environment and her creativity. She specialized in Environmental Education and Photographic Production. Today, Marta resides in the charming city of Cuenca, declared a world heritage site. She is excited to open the doors of her country to GLA students this summer and share with them her passion for culture, sustainability, and the beauty of Spain.
Mentor- Sophia Rehmus
Sophia has worked as a mentor for GLA for the past six years, previously in Costa Rica and Peru. She has also served as the international resident assistant for a university campus in Mexico, a career coach for young adults in Boston, and a consultant for nonprofits in Honduras, Zimbabwe, and Cameroon. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Women, Violence, and Conflict at the University of York. As of last year, she has served as a Fulbright Specialist in collaboration with host institutions working on education projects across the globe. In her free time, Sophia enjoys collaging, reading and writing, yoga, singing, photography, and of course, traveling!
Mentor - Maria Emilia Manriquez Ponce
Born in Chile, Maria Emilia has a degree in political science from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, specializing in international studies and public relations. She is a lifelong enthusiast of education, conservation, humanitarian aid, and community engagement work with more than six years of experience, including working abroad in multicultural environments, research, and education. She wants to continue traveling and meeting new communities to keep learning from them and grow even more as a person and as a professional. Currently, she is living in Southeast Asia working with international students in sustainable and conservation programs.
Mentor - Catherine Crane
Catherine was raised in Tucson, Arizona. She attended Northern Arizona University where she majored in Secondary Spanish Education with a minor in Latin American Studies. She has been teaching high school Spanish for five years and loves traveling! She worked with GLA last year in Costa Rica and is excited to return to the program in Spain. She is very easy going, positive, and loves a rainy day. She can't wait to meet this years participants.
Mentor - Jesus Galvan
Jesús grew up in Belvidere, Illinois and did his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he received a B.S. in Exercise and Movement Science. Initially, Jesús was planning to become a physical therapist but ended up changing his long term plans to work towards a career in school counseling. As such, he decided to do a gap year and joined Eagle Rock School in Estes Park, Colorado as a Residence Life Fellow via AmeriCorps Public Allies. After his gap year, he attended DePaul University in Chicago to attain his Master's of Education in Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling. Jesús currently works full-time as a Bilingual School Counselor at Belvidere North High School, where he graduated high school. He has had experience traveling around Latin America and Europe and is eager to share this experience in Spain 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.
Country 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.