Summer Staff

Chris Federer – Country Director, Argentina
Kenyon College, B.A. International Relations & Environmental Studies
A travel enthusiast, Chris is entering his fifth year with Global Works and his fourth year as Argentina’s country director. Since graduating from Kenyon College in 2005, Chris has specialized in several industries including: ESL education (in Colombia), coaching, ski instruction, emergency medicine, community development (in Paraguay), architecture/planning, and microfinance (in Peru).  Chris now resides in Salt Lake City where he remodels residential homes. While at Kenyon, Chris spent a semester abroad in Argentina, and he loves being able to return each summer with Global Works to share this unique South American culture with others. (In photo: Chris on right with co-leader, Jessy, on left.)

Marisa Mellizo - Trip Leader, Spain
University of Colorado, Denver, M.A. ESL

Marisa grew up in a Spanish-speaking household in Wyoming - quite a random mix! She has always loved the Spanish language and culture and developed a love for traveling at an early age. Because teaching runs in her blood, she moved to Colorado 12 years ago to be a Spanish teacher at Fairview High School. Marisa also studied at CU-Denver and received her Master's degree in ESL.  Without a doubt, teaching is one of her passions, along with traveling to anywhere she can.   When she is not teaching she enjoys spending free time in the beautiful outdoors of Colorado.

David Jackson - Trip Leader, Ecuador
University of Wales, M.A. Zoology with Marine Zoology
Nelson and Colne College, B.S. Human Biology, Chemistry and Sport Science
A qualified zoologist from the UK that has lived and worked in South America for the past 7 years specializing in the conservation of Andean Spectacled Bears. He is involved in the rescue, rehabilitation, and, where possible, release back to the wild of bears and numerous other animals. He runs educational projects in rural communities enabling underprivileged children to attend high school and has taught indigenous Amazon people to become community tour guides. He also speaks Quechua, the indigenous language of the Andean people.  He loves being around nature and showing those around him the wonders of our world's wilderness. An expert with a machete, he has cleared hundreds of trails to the most remote regions of the Ecuadorian cloud forest and Amazon either in search of bears or other animals or just for the joy of exploration. David is a keen sportsman partaking in a wide range of sports. He has competed in the British Student Surf Championships on two different occasions and has summited a number of 10,000 plus foot mountains. He loves an adventure, thrives on adrenaline, and lives for the day!

Lyssa Haldeman - Program Director, New Zealand/ Fiji
University of Montana, B.A. History

Lyssa is polishing her gumboots and practicing the taki taki to get ready for another summer in New Zealand and Fiji.  Lyssa is no stranger to the concept of working and volunteering to see the world. She has slung fish in a cannery in Alaska, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, worked in a fly-fishing shop in Missoula, Montana and traveled with students to Japan and to Washington D.C. for President Obama’s inauguration. She currently is working on her Master’s degree in linguistically diverse education and teaches middle school in Colorado. In her school’s outdoor education program she gets to take her students on rafting and backpacking trips in Colorado and Utah helping challenge them and to explore the possibilities that they possess. She is looking forward to getting her hands dirty but also the adventure that awaits in the southern hemisphere.

Daniel McDonnell - China Country Director

University of Wisconsin, B.S. Biology & B.A. Education

This is Daniel’s 12th season leading with Global Works and he continues to bring his energy and care to each detail of the trip and our participants. He’s traveled around the world, led Global Works programs in Costa Rica, China, and Ecuador, and is excited to be spending the spring and summer with our groups in countries around the world.  Born and raised in Wisconsin, Daniel now calls San Francisco home. When not leading and planning Global Works programs, he teaches ESL, environmental science, and sustainable living practices to high school students. As an activist, traveler, and story teller, and avid rock-climber, Daniel brings a broad perspective to his programs.

Emily Havens - Trip Leader, Spain
Colorado College, B.A. Environmental Anthropology

A joyful explorer of international cities and high alpine peaks alike, Emily is committed to adventure and creating community worldwide. She has worked with youth teaching Environmental Education in Ecuador, helped create a community-based sustainable farming program in Belize, promoted pediatric AIDS education in Kenya, and studied globalization and its resistance in Bolivia and Peru. Emily is most comfortable in the mountains of Colorado where she has been working as a wilderness instructor for youth, facilitating growth and self discovery through challenge and adventure!  In her free time, Emily loves doing yoga, attempting to play her ukulele, and baking bread. (In photo, Emily is on the left with co-leader, Katelyn, on the right.)

Monica Martinez - Trip Leader, Spain

Colorado College, B.A. Romance Language – Spanish, French, Italian
Raised in a bilingual and bicultural household Monica has always loved travel and cultural exchange.  While a student at Colorado College she studied romance languages and economics.  During this time Monica worked with youth through campus and community organizations.  Currently she works at an elementary school as a community liaison (bilingual social worker) which allows her to speak Spanish and encourage community building.

Jake Stein Greenberg - Program Director, Spain & Costa Rica
Northeastern University, B.A. Political Science
Lewis and Clark College, M.A. Education

This will be Jake's sixth adventurous summer with Global Works He studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain in 2004 and is very excited to return to the land of tapas, flamenco and the World Cup champions! Jake recently earned his Master’s from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR and he currently teaches history in Moorestown, NJ while living in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA. Always engaged in promoting community service, Jake also loves photography, hiking and going to see good live music.

Emily Dark - Trip Leader, Puerto Rico
Hartwick College, B.A. Anthropology, Minor Environmental Science and Policy
Emily has been living in Vieques, Puerto Rico for four and a half years and has fallen in love with Puerto Rico. She loves to explore the rainforests, snorkel and SCUBA dive in the coral reefs, and ride her horse on the beach. Emily has been doing volunteer work at the Humane Society and at the Conservation Trust in Vieques and enjoys working with children and sharing her love for the outdoors with them. Emily graduated from Hartwick College with a degree in Anthropology and Environmental Science and was just recently accepted to a graduate program in the fall for Tropical Conservation Biology. She hopes to travel the world as a scientist, writer, and photographer. She loves sports and played lacrosse in college. Emily has worked for Global Works for three years and feels extraordinarily lucky to be able to share her knowledge and passion for the environment, community service, and different cultures with children and wouldn't trade it for the world! It will be an exciting season of Global Works trips and she can't wait to get started!

Tyrone Moore - Country Director, Puerto Rico

Interamerican University, B.A. English Education
Tyrone is a native of Puerto Rico. He currently lives in Luquillo and is a high school ESL teacher and boat captain. This will be Tyrone’s sixth year with Global Works. He believes in the enlightenment of young minds by helping his own community while also helping GW participants understand his culture. Tyrone is a hard worker and a fun person to be around. Always excited for the adventures GW has in store, he is sure to make the trip interesting and fun! He is very knowledgeable of the sea – in the past he has worked on a catamaran and he is a SCUBA dive master. He recently started a position conducting team building activities for many companies from across the globe.

Jordan Bailey - Trip Leader, Peru/ Ecuador & Costa Rica

University of Redlands, B.A. Business
Jordan Bailey is originally from Redlands, California but now calls Boulder, Colorado his stomping grounds.  He has been living off and on in foreign countries (especially Latin America) for the last six years.  His first experience came when he studied abroad in Australia for one semester.  From there he wanted to challenge himself with a two and half year stint with the Peace Corps in Ecuador where he worked with youth on a variety of projects: habitat conservation, English classes, trash management, sports teams, and many more projects. Apparently Jordan could not get enough of the Latin Culture because he decided to work for a non-profit, Philanthropiece, where he lived in a small, off the grid fishing camp in Baja, Mexico for one year.  He currently works for Philanthropiece as the Field Coordinator and spends about three to four months out of the year working in Mexico and Guatemala in the field of international community development and empowerment.  Jordan comes from a large family of five children and absolutely adores his nieces and nephew: Amira (9)-soccer studette, Tse(7)-flash lightning and soon to be on "Dancing with the Stars", and Sydney (1)-still blowing bubbles like her favorite uncle.

Molly Robbins - Trip Leader, Peru/ Ecuador

Swarthmore College, B.A. Political Science, Minor Sociology & Anthropology
An international relations junkie with a serious adventurous streak, Molly has experience with a variety of human rights and education nonprofits.  She worked for a community development organization in Guatemala for a year and a half and led two Global Works trips while there.  Maine-raised but a convert to the Mountain West she has led youth backpacking trips in Wyoming and is currently enjoying the slopes of Park City, UT.  Molly graduated from Swarthmore College with a degree in Political Science and Sociology and Anthropology.  She believes deeply in the combination of service cultural exchange and humor and is psyched to help students connect to communities.

Katie Morrow - Country Director, Peru/ Ecuador

San Jose State University, M.A. Pupil Personnel Service
University of California Santa Cruz, B. A. Communities Studies
Katie’s passion for other cultures and volunteer work, as well as her travel fever, have led her to live in Britain, France, China, Mexico, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica as well as led her to travel in over 50 countries.  Katie is from Santa Cruz, California, although she seldom finds herself there. She received her Bachelor’s in Communities Studies when she was 18 years old from UC Santa Cruz, and later earned a Masters in Social Work from San Jose State.  Katie has led nine unforgettable years of Global Works trips in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador and Guatemala.  When Katie is not working for Global Works she is fully committed as the Executive Director of Limitless Horizons Ixil (LHI), a Guatemalan NGO she founded in 2004 to create sustainable development and provide educational opportunities to the highly impoverished Mayan town of Chajul.  In free moments from work, Katie sneaks out to salsa dance herself dizzy in which ever country she happens to find herself.  Katie looks forward to leading your group on a fun, adventurous and productive journey with Global Works!

Jay Lively - Trip Leader, New Zealand/ Fiji

Warren Wilson College, B.A. Human Studies, Global Issues Concentration
During his senior year in high school Jay got his first taste of adventure travel when he journeyed to Nicaragua and Guatemala to study Latin American history and experience the culture. Those adventures as a teenager changed his life and he never lost his love of exploring the world around him. When he's not teaching World History Jay is seeking out new adventures. His travels have taken him to four continents and more than 30 countries including extended visits to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Peru, Greece and Morocco just to name a few! Having double-majored in Journalism and Global Studies, Jay has also participated in three documentaries based in Spain and Mexico. You might even catch a glimpse of him on The National Geographic Channel hiking the Camino de Santiago on the Iberian Peninsula. Jay's other interests include playing basketball, finding waterfalls, and working with homeless youth in his community. This December, Jay will be happy to have finally completed his Master’s in Education from Western Carolina University.

Jessica McCormack- Trip Leader, France

Beloit College, B.A. French & Music
Jessica McCormack is a social, fun-loving and Francophone-adoring "animatrice". Since her return from teaching English in a French High School in Bretagne, Jessica is a resident of Brooklyn, NY where she teaches French at a Montessori School, volunteers with refugees at the International Rescue Committee, and enjoys the abundant multicultural and artistic aspects of NYC. Jessica completed a BA in French and Music at Beloit College where she had the fortune of studying abroad in Bretagne, France and Dakar, Senegal. She enjoys sports, yoga, any type of game, and is always open to new adventures - especially in France. She is enthusiastic about her interpersonal and cross-cultural relationships and is eager to return annually to her favorite culture with a team of interested American teens.

Stephanie Maltarich - Trip Leader, Peru, Ecuador, & Costa Rica

University of Colorado, B.A. Sociology
Stephanie is a native and proud Coloradoan. She went to college and studied Sociology at the University of Colorado in Boulder. While at CU she discovered her love for international travel and community service during a semester abroad in South Africa. After graduating, she felt the need to wander the globe for a little while and found herself teaching English in the wonderful country of Ecuador. Her travels continued to Peru, Colombia and Argentina. Needless to say South America holds a special place in her heart! She balances her time working for outdoor education programs, teaching snowboarding, and leading Global Works trips! When not working, you may find Stephanie exhaling deeply in yoga, trying to perfect her telemark turns, or sleeping as many nights under the stars she possibly can.

Luiz Bertolo- Trip Leader, Costa Rica

University of Northern Colorado – M.A. Sports & Outdoor Education
Towson University – B.A. Management, Minor Sports Business
Luiz is originally from the Baltimore-DC Area via Bogota, Colombia and Sao Paulo, Brazil. He graduated from Towson University with a degree in Sports Management and moved to Fort Collins last year to pursue a Masters in Physical/Outdoor Education. He loves adventure travel and has had amazing experiences in Brazil, Colombia, Thailand and New Zealand, to name a few. His favorite outdoor adventures include mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking and camping. Luiz thoroughly enjoys time spent teaching and playing soccer, supporting the local and global music/arts and being active in social and environmental movements. His two most prized possessions are his lab named Banksy and his growing collection of vinyl records.

Simon Bowden - Country Director, Australia

Aukland Institute of Technology, Exercise Science
Manukau Polytechnic, Recreation and Sports

A native “Kiwi,” Simon is an all-around sports enthusiast. He has been involved in a wide range of activities in New Zealand, including volunteering with the Onehunga Community and instructing with the Outdoor Education Camp of Motutapu Island. Simon loves diving into any outdoor pursuit, and enjoys the social interaction and personal growth that stems from sports and teamwork. He is always excited to introduce his country and culture to Global Works participants, while fostering a fun and challenging atmosphere. For the past nine years, Simon has been leading Global Works trips all over the South Pacific- in his home country of New Zealand, as well as Australia and the Fiji Islands.