Check out our 2015 Leadership Team:
BELIZE
Alexandra Schiffrin B.S. Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, with Distinction; J.D., University of Michigan Law School. Studied and volunteered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Taught English in Gondar, Ethiopia for six months. Traveled to Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Panama, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Also traveled in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Enjoys white water rafting, hiking, biking, yoga, barre, baking, and crossword puzzles.
Kelsey Smith B.A. Cultural Anthropology, San Francisco State University; Wilderness First Responder, First Aid/CPR certified, Lifeguard Certified (2 ocean rescues to this date!) Private English/Spanish teacher, Surf instructor. Traveled, worked, and volunteered in Central/South America and Europe. Favorite travel experience was living with the Machiguenga tribe in the Peruvian Amazon. Kelsey was named after a surfer, his name means “victory at sea”, and he lives at the beach.
ECUADOR
Alison Sever B.A. Linguistics (Honors), University of Vermont, Magna Cum Laude; Wilderness First Responder. Lifeguard Certified. Leadership experience in Costa Rica, Peru, and the backwoods of Vermont. An alumna of a 2008 Global Routes gap semester program, she has studied, lived, and traveled in Central and South America, Europe, and East Africa. Fluent in Spanish and fascinated by Latin American history, culture, and cuisine. Aspiring polyglot, yogini, ukuleleist, and salsa dancer. Program Coordinator for Global Routes since May 2014.
Dan Shafto B.A. Spanish, Northeastern University. Wilderness First Responder. Guides fitness hiking trips throughout the US. Wrote an educational book about the celebration of Carnival across cultures. 5 years experience teaching English in Spain and Mexico. On a semester with Sea Education Association, sailed from Key West to Cape Cod, and in 2013, hiked 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago through France and Spain to the Atlantic. Fluent in Spanish. Loves growing vegetables, doing yoga, canoeing, playing guitar, studying Buddhism, and listening to music from around the world.
Raul Cabrera coordinates our service projects and homestays in the San Luis de Pambil area. When not working with Global Routes, he is very committed to the organization he and his brother Carlos founded and now run, which focuses on reforestation and “green progress” or sustainable community development in over 200 communities. Raul is also an Ashoka social entrepreneur and is excited about projects that improve quality of life without damaging the surrounding environment. Raul likes working with Global Routes because the groups bring a lot of energy and support to important community projects. 16 years with Global Routes.
Carlos Cabrera manages certain program logistics in Quito and provides community support when needed. In addition to all his work in the area of reforestation, he is widely recognized as an expert in organic production and rural sustainable development and has consulted with the Ecuadorian government on such matters. Carlos believes that the Global Routes groups help create positive relationships with villages that he and his organization can build upon the rest of the year. 16 years with Global Routes.
Washington Villamarin coordinates our orientation activities in and around Otavalo. He and his family love spending time with the group, and every year they are a real highlight of many of the group’s excursions. Washington is the director at an Otavalo-based Spanish language institute and is also dedicated to a project that he has initiated in the cloud forest where volunteers can spend time at several rural, under-resourced schools. 13 years with Global Routes.[divider scroll_text=”Back to Top”]
THE GRENADINES
Tricia Bennett B.S. Outdoor Education, University of New Hampshire, Cum Laude; National Outdoor Leadership School Hiking Instructor Certified, NOLS. Wilderness First Responder. Lifeguard Certified. Wilderness Therapy Guide. Wilderness Trip Leader. Traveled and worked in India. Traveled, lived and worked in UK and Ireland. Traveled and Studied in Patagonia. Extensive time living, traveling and working in New England.
Carlos “Flaco” Hincapie Hernandez B.A. Industrial Design, Javeriana University, Colombia. Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician. LifeGuard certified. Swift Water Rescue certified. Rock Rescue certified. First Aid Instructor. Rock Climbing Instructor. Wilderness Risk Management Instructor. Studied, worked, volunteered and traveled throughout South America, Canada, USA, England, Scotland and Malawi. Fluent in English. Spends his free time looking for new adventures, rock climbing, kayaking, playing the ukulele and learning new skills.
PERU
Kimberly Daglen M.A. Foreign Language and Literatures in Spanish, University of Nevada, Reno; B.A. Environmental Studies/minor in Women’s Studies, University of Oregon. Current Spanish instructor at the College of Western Idaho. Trip leader for student semester in India, Nepal, Ecuador, Belize, and Costa Rica. Peace Corps Panama environmental education volunteer 2002-04. Yoga instructor. Studied, worked, volunteered and traveled throughout Central America, Europe, India, Mexico, and Morocco. Fluent in Spanish. Spends her free time practicing yoga, running, reading, playing frisbee, hiking, hula hooping, singing and snowboarding.
Isaac Segura B.S. Chemistry (in progress), Fort Lewis College. Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certified. First Aid/CPR and Lifeguard Certified. Science and math tutor. Photographer. Volunteered and traveled through Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Guatemala, and Mexico. Spanish Speaker. Spends free time rock climbing, adventuring, and river running in the American Southwest, as well as photographing the wondrous beauty of people and landscapes, reading, writing, and riding everywhere on a bicycle!
TANZANIA
Matthew Shamey B.A. Political Science, Grinnell College. Wilderness First Aid. Assistant Director of Global Education at Hampshire College. Accomplished trail runner and certified Baptiste Yoga Instructor. Studied, worked, and trekked throughout Latin America and the Carribbean. Works closely with international students and scholars at Hampshire. Spends free time tending his salsa garden and jousting with his boxer, Kingston.
Mary Heinemann B.A. Communications and Women’s Studies, Colorado State University. Returned Peace Corps Health Volunteer in Tanzania 2012-2014. Lived and worked in a rural village of Tanzania for two years focusing on sustainable health related projects, including income generation, gender equality, Malaria, HIV/AIDS, food security. Public Relations Liaison and filmmaker for the Gender and Development Peace Corps committee. Fluent in Swahili. Spends her free time watching good films and keeping active with volleyball, hikes, traveling, and friends.
Mohamed Idd Msechu coordinates and manages our service projects and homestays in the Arusha area. He also lives alongside our groups in the host communities where he participates as a cultural liaison and translator. When not spending time with the groups, “Mo” (as the students like to call him) is a cook for two different safari companies and also leads some of his own safaris. He enjoys working with Global Routes because he feels that the students help the people of Tanzania meet some of their many needs. Three years with Global Routes.
Hussein Omary coordinates our accommodations, transportation, and safaris. He works on the Tanzanian side of a safari company that Global Routes has partnered with for many years in Kenya. Hussein thinks the Global Routes leaders are great people and really likes working with them. He also believes that working with Global Routes has been a unique way for him to help the poor people in his country. Three years with Global Routes.[divider scroll_text=”Back to Top”]
