Episode #25 Storytellers

Our storytellers in Episode 25 are:

Gila Cohen-Shaw

Gila is a speech-language pathologist living on Long Island, New York, practicing over 25 years with a specialty in Early Intervention, children ages zero to three years of age. Her passion is empowering families to help their children reach their full potential. Gila has served on Global Volunteers St. Lucia and Tanzania programs, and is instrumental on the Reaching Children’s Potential Advisory Committee.

Mindy Lull

Mindy holds a B.A. in anthropology with minors in both biology and chemistry from St. John Fisher College. She earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Penn State University College of Medicine in 2009. Dr. Lull has been teaching at St. John Fisher College since 2010 and her current laboratory research focuses on the effects of environmental toxins on the brain. She is a member of the Reaching Children’s Advisory Committee and chairs the RCP Clinic subcommittee. She has served with Global Volunteers in Montana, Tanzania, and Peru, and has also organized students to serve on Global Volunteers programs.

Jeff Rogo

Jeff, a retired real estate professional, joined his first Global Volunteers team in 2003, seeking solace in service after the death of his wife. He discovered that teaching conversational English in Puglia, Italy launched his healing journey. Since then, he’s become a Global Volunteers team leader in Cuba, Vietnam, and on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana.

Chemida Popo-Cox

Chemida handles the day-to-day logistics and volunteer management of our St. Lucia program. Formerly teacher and acting principal at Anse la Raye Primary School, Chemida has lent support to volunteer teams since Global Volunteers’ partnership in Anse la Raye began in 2012. Born and raised in St. Lucia, Chemida has dedicated over 20 years to educating the children of Anse la Raye. She received her associate degree in Teacher Education and Education Administration from Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in St. Lucia. In 2011, she graduated magna cum laude from New York City College of Technology, with a Bachelor’s degree in Teachers Technology Education.

Carol Conzelman

Carol is a culture anthropologist at the University of Colorado-Boulder. She is the Associate Director for the Global Studies Academic Program, Faculty-in-Residence for the Sustainability and Social Innovation Academic Program, and directs a summer study abroad program in the Yungas of Bolivia. Carol serves on the Global Volunteers Board and chairs the Reaching Children’s Potential Committee.

Samantha Pinakoulaki

Samantha was born and brought up in the south of England and graduated from a London school of performing arts with honors. She spent ten years traveling the world with various dance groups. Her last group took her to Crete in Greece, where she met her husband of 16 years. They now have five children. Samantha volunteers to help children with mental and physical disabilities in her hometown.

Dan Curran

Dan is a plastics engineer, an inventor (several patents in innovative alternative energy producing products), and now works with a different kind of alternative energy — an energy healer. This is his second service program – he served in St. Lucia and now Tanzania. While in Tanzania, Dan built an oven and molds that will allow garden boxes, a key element for RCP and getting nutrition to families in Ipalamwa. Dan lives with his wife in San Diego. He has a son who is getting his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines.

Robi Kronberg

Robi Kronberg earned her Master of Arts in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado and her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Minnesota. She resides in Colorado where she works to create and sustain inclusive school communities. Robi has served on two Global Volunteers service programs, including our inaugural program to Ipalamwa, Tanzania in July 2017. She is already registered to serve again in Tanzania in 2018.

Michele Gran

Michele Gran co-founded Global Volunteers in 1984. She earned a Master’s Degree in International Communications, and previously worked in the government, nonprofit, and private sectors. For the past 33 years, Michele has served as Global Volunteers’ vice president and director of marketing. She’s led more than 50 service programs and serves on the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors.