Paul Burneko, Director, Curriculum

B.A., Government and Politics, George Mason University
Designed curriculum for our community based programs
Freelance documentary and educational film writer and researcher

Catherine McCall, Training & Curriculum Specialist

MEd, Social Studies Secondary Education, University of Maryland
Director of leadership workshops for middle school students
Primary architect of our middle school program innovations

Kelly Carmichael, Manager of Teacher Programs

B.A. Psychology, minor in Women’s Studies, Carleton College
Pursuing MA in Social Foundations of Education at the University of Virginia
Creates and implements professional development workshops for teachers
Writes curriculum and trains adult program leaders

John Cheeseman, Teacher Program Specialist

B.A. American History, minor Middle Eastern History, George Mason University
Native of Alexandria, Virginia and 18 year veteran with Close Up
Developed and implemented educational field trips for the University of California's Washington Center for Academic Programs and Street Law Inc, Supreme Court Summer Institute.

Sam Swift, Teacher Program Specialist

Graduate of George Mason University
Worked more than 600 program weeks with over 60,000 Close Up participants
Worked on agriculture issues in a Senate office, also for National Voter Contact, Inc., a political consulting firm, and served in political campaigns

Rosanne Steller, Teacher Program Specialist

BS Family Studies, University of Maryland

Curriculum developer, trainer and teacher in Seoul, South Korea

Ran a young voter campaign in Columbus, OH in 2004

Managed student programs for NGOs in DC, Ghana, Appalachia

Enjoys traveling, my bike and yoga are the other things that keep me busy

Rachel Talbert, Academic Director, Student Programs

Hometown: Arvada, CO
B.A., International Affairs, concentration Russian Language

M.A., Religion, concentration in Ethics, The George Washington University

Has worked every program we offer
Climbs 14ers and hikes when she's not civically engaging students

Luke Stallings, Program Leader

Hometown: Tampa, FL
Graduated from the University of Florida
Learned to swim and walk before I was 14 months old
Prefers bow ties

Kelly Ann Horst, Program Leader

Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Enjoys outdoors activities like crabbing and camping
Believes the best sports teams are the Orioles and the Ravens
Studied abroad in Seville, Spain - language and current events
Created a Model EU Conference for high school students while at Ursinus College

Scot Wilson, Program Leader

Hometown: Depoe Bay, OR
Was born on the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Grew up almost entirely overseas
Graduated from The George Washington University
Loves to travel and has visited over thirty countries

Sara Walkup, Program Leader

Hometown: East Lansing, Michigan
Has traveled to: Spain, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Venezuela, Portugal, Morocco, Mexico,and Canada
Loves to sing, travel, play tennis, golf and go skiing

Julianne Ball, Program Leader

Hometown: Savannah, TN
Master's degree from McGill University
Volunteered in a Bulgarian orphanage
Can repair and restore bathtubs

John Sturm, Program Leader

Hometown: Stephens City, VA
Attended the University of Virginia
Has run a marathon and half marathon
Enjoys coin collecting and winter sports
Fan of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres

Sarah Crawford, Program Leader

Hometown: Richmond, VA
Attended the University of Mary Washington
Is a professional clown
Has lived in 4 states and been in all 5 Great Lakes
Has lived in the countries of Georgia and Spain

Whitney Weathersby, Program Instructor
Education: BA Film -University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Interned for Avant Garde filmmaker Abigail Child on a documentary that was screened at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival in NYC
Has made two 15 minute documentaries“

Kristen Feezer, Program Instructor
Education: MA Candidate in International Communication - American University

BA International Studies - American University

Minored in French and spent a semester in Paris
Ran the Marine Corps Marathon

Katie Smith, Program Instructor
Education: BS Education / History - Pensacola Christian College

Taught English as a Second Language
Was a U.S. Army, Civil Affairs Specialist and education advisor at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq
Has been a camp counselor and piano teacher

Anniki Laine, Program Instructor
Education: BA Political Science / History - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Worked on political campaigns and in a legislative office in the MN State Senate
Studied abroad in Shanghai, China and has circumnavigated the globe on a floating university while studying and traveling

Owen Foley, Program Instructor
Education: BA Political Science – Duquesne University

Worked as a Corps Member for an AmeriCorps' City Year
Was a Teachers Assistant in a DC public elementary school
Worked as an Editorial Intern for a policy magazine

Jordan Cooper, Program Instructor
Education: BA Political Science - Vassar College

Interned for Louisiana a Congressman’s Office and a political advocacy non profit
Contributing Political Staff writer for the Baltimore Chronicle (online)
Worked as a Tennis Pro for 5 years

Jennifer Wong, Program Instructor
Education: MA Student Affairs Administration -Ball State University
BA History / Political Science - Sonoma State University

Worked as a Congressional Intern
Enjoys running (1/2 and full marathons), swimming, cycling, and reading

Helen Bryant, Program Instructor
Education: BA Archaeology / History

Worked as an Executive Assistant for a Fortune 500 company
Taught English in Yamagata City, Japan for almost 2 years
Enjoys reading, biking, volunteering

Gwen Wright, Program Instructor
Education: MA Public Administration - Baruch College, City Univ. of New York BA Public Administration - Shaw University

Was a Program Director with the Faith & Politics Institute on Capitol Hill
Managed Racial Justice and Race Relations Program with National League of Cities

Christine Beresniova, Program Instructor
Education: MA International Education - George Washington University

BA Sarah Lawrence College

International Student Advisor
Enjoys knitting, reading historical fiction, and traveling

Gerald Taylor, Program Instructor
Education: BA History / African American Studies

Was a corporate English Teacher in Costa Rica
Worked as a Student Life Coordinator in a Public Charter School in Washington, Has been a History teacher and Head Track Coach

Elisa Ferrara, Program Instructor
Education: -BA History / Political Science -Boston University
Studied abroad at Oxford University - history and politics of Great Britain

Worked for the Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs in New Jersey
Enjoys photography, professional football, traveling, and baking

Danielle Kiefer, Program Instructor
Education: BA Political Science

Interned for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security
Studied the Congressional response to nuclear proliferation in the former U.S.S.R.
Lived in Israel while studying the Arab-Israeli Conflict at Tel Aviv University
Has been past the “green line” into the West Bank to do volunteer work.

Chad Bascombe, Program Instructor
Education: BA Interdisciplinary Studies: Communication, Law, Economics, Government

Worked as a Reporter for New York Resident Magazine and WAMU NPR 88.5
Was an Investigative Intern for DC Public Defender Service

Lou Kolodner, Program Instructor
Education: BA History

Worked as a Congressional Intern
Taught Social Studies at a Public Charter School
Worked as a Camp Administrative Director

Marlana Ashe, Program Instructor
Education: BA Psychology

Was an AVID Academic coach
Volunteered in a Family Maternity Center
Enjoys laughing, writing poetry, singing, listening to music, and reading

Sheena Shirakhon, Program Instructor
Education: BA Middle Eastern / Asian Language and Culture -Columbia University

Was Executive Director for Iranian Alliances Across Borders
Interested in Persian and Arabic literature
Enjoys improvisational theater

Sara Peterson, Program Instructor
Education: BA History - Northwestern University

Worked with the orphan ministries in Ukraine
Plays piano and violin
Enjoys learning languages

James Sheehan, Program Instructor
Education: BA History - Marist College

Was a substitute teacher,
Did primary source research at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library
Enjoys cooking, traveling, guitar, kayaking, hiking, and playing soccer

Matthew Freeman, Program Instructor
Education: BA Government & History - Georgetown University

Interned on Capitol Hill
Worked on a local campaign
Played rugby for Georgetown University for 4 years

Michelle Slaughter, Program Instructor
Education: BA Public Relations - Western Kentucky University

Has worked on political campaigns
Enjoys making jewelry, cooking, and Women’s Basketball

Aaron Braverman, Program Instructor
Education: BA Political Science & Communication Studies - University of Iowa

Studied in London
Worked as a Camp Counselor and a Youth Advisor
Enjoys traveling, writing, and the outdoors

Kahlea Berry, Program Instructor
Education: BA Political Science, Pre-Law - Michigan State University

Worked as a Substitute Teacher
Enjoys snowboarding, hiking, snowshoeing, softball, cooking, kayaking, music, writing, and traveling

Erin Kesler, Program Instructor
Education: BA Political Science - Regis College

Studied abroad in Ireland and England
Worked as an English teacher in Salamanca, Spain
Enjoys cooking and theater

Zodiac Maslin, Program Instructor
Education: BA African Studies minors: French, World Religions

Has traveled to over 25 countries in Europe, Middle East, Thailand, Australia, North Africa, Senegal, Costa Rica
Co-led a group of students on a community service and cultural exchange program
Enjoys painting, stained glass windows, gardening

Jessica Jones, Program Instructor
Education: BA Anthropology - University of Virginia

Worked as a Substitute Teacher
Enjoys cheerleading, crocheting, music, and running

Chimere Becote, Program Instructor
Education: BA Anthropology - University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Lecturer in Introduction to Anthropology
Worked in the Office of International Programs at UNCC
Enjoys making jewelry, playing the flute, oboe, and clarinet

Angel Gonzalez, Program Instructor
Education: MA Latin American Studies - Georgetown University
BA International Affairs - James Madison University

Interned for a New York Congressman’s Office
Has studied abroad in Chile, Spain, and Australia
Enjoys running and reading

Gary Ajello, Program Instructor
Education: BA Political Science - St. Bonaventure University

Worked for the American Red Cross in Disaster Services and Training
Has played rugby since 14 and coached college men and women
Enjoys playing the guitar and studying languages