Mallory Bressler - Director of Programs
Originally from Lafayette California, Mallory graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007 with degrees in Sociology and Political Science, with a focus on education and social change. Following her undergraduate career, Mallory enrolled in the National Teaching Fellowship program with Citizen Schools through which she received her Masters in Education and became the Campus Director of an extended learning day program in Boston, MA. Following her three years with Citizen Schools, Mallory became an education consultant working with non-profits around the country training young educators, developing curriculum and increasing non-profit capacity. With a passion for travel and education, Mallory believes that local and international service-learning is a key component for youth leadership, community development, and social change. Mallory speaks English and Spanish. Contact Mallory at gseprograms@gmail.com.
Kate Crigler - Director of Communications
From West Sonoma County, Kate graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2008 with a degree in Anthropology. Kate’s internship with Outer Voices in Healdsburg taught her the power of radio media as a mode for sharing models of women-lead grassroots social change in SE Asia and the Pacific Rim. Her love of cultural exploration has inspired her to travel, work and study in China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal and most recently, Tanzania with GSE. Kate has been a supporter of GSE since its founding, and strongly believes in experiential education that orients youth towards the world and engages them in their own communities. Kate speaks English and conversational French. Contact Kate at gsecommunity@gmail.com.
Adam Goldberg – Sonoma County Program Coordinator
A native of Ukiah, California, Adam graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2003 with a degree in Global & International Studies. Following graduation Adam moved to Nagano, Japan to work as an English Teacher at Muraizosha Language School. Following extensive travel and volunteer work in Asia, Central and South America Adam returned to the United States in 2009 to pursue a Masters in International Education at The SIT Graduate Institute. The experiential nature of his program took him back to Japan as a Group Leader for The Experiment in International Living and to Malawi, Africa for his second year practicum, where he worked in organizational development at Kumsala Institute for Agriculture & Ecology. Adam is excited to be back home in Northern California and believes cross-cultural exchange, experiential education, and grassroots community development are at the heart of educating the next generation of changemakers and creating a just and sustainable future for all. Adam speaks English, Spanish, and Japanese. Contact Adam at gsesonomacounty@gmail.com.
Ramon Cedeno Loor - Ecuador Program Director
Ramon has been a biology and chemistry teacher for ten years in Bahia de Caraquez. He has been conducting after school youth leadership, environmental education programs in partnership with the city of Bahia and Planet Drum Foundation for the past six years. Ramon’s lessons and interactions with students are exciting, dynamic and fun. Ramon is committed to environmental restoration and helping students realize their potential to impact the positive change they’d like to see in their local environment and community. Ramon has been a GSE staff member since December of 2010.
Lucas Oshun - Executive Director, Co-founder
Born and raised in Sebastopol California, Lucas Oshun graduated from University of California Santa Cruz in 2007 with degrees in Community Studies and Politics with a focus on International Relations. During his studies he interned at Global Kids in NYC, where he learned about the importance of discussion based workshop education, and international relations education for high school students. He has traveled extensively in South East Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America. Grateful for having had the opportunity to experience different cultures, and to travel internationally, Lucas believes strongly in providing travel, cultural immersion and grassroots organizing opportunities to young people. Lucas speaks English and Spanish. Contact Luke at globalstudentembassy@gmail.com.
Rolando Chevez – Nicaragua Director
Rolando Chevez is a recent college graduate from the region of Chacraseca, Nicaragua. He studied Eco Agriculture at the Public University of Leon, and focused on cooperative organic production. Previously, Rolando worked with GSE’s partner organization, Students for 60,000, to plant bio intensive orchards. Rolando currently works full time for GSE leading garden programs with students of all grade levels at 3 local schools. Rolando loves living in the countryside on his family’s farm and enthusiastically applies those practices to community projects that provide large amounts of organic produce to the Chacraseca community.
