Curriculum Team

Program Leaders

Katie Chandler

Education:
St. Catherine’s University, BA - French and History

Jagiellonian University, MA - European Studies

Hometown:
Platteville, WI

“The things I love best about Close Up are the diversity of students we work with and that all our instructors share a genuine passion for civic education.”

Jared Conn

Education:
Otterbein University, BA - Political Science

Hometown:
Wintersville, OH

“I enjoy helping students think about and express their own viewpoints about government and what it means to be an active citizen in the US.”

Michael Covin

Education:
Rutgers University, BA - Political Science and History

Hometown:
Clifton, NJ

“The most exciting part of being a Close Up instructor is getting to work with different students from around the country and utilizing different learning environments in DC as a classroom to further expand ways to inform, inspire, and empower students.”

Isaac Shorser

Education:
American University, BA - Justice and Law with Criminology concentration; MS - Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy

Hometown:
River Forest, IL

“I am passionate about empowering kids to be more politically involved through Close Up’s programs. It is never too early to become more engaged in our political system, and I am very fortunate to inspire young people to increase their political efficacy.”

Teacher Program Specialists

Michael Kofi Boateng

Education:
Brigham Young University (Hawaii), BA - Political Science

Norwich University, MA - Diplomacy

Hometown:
Koforidua, Ghana

“My favorite part of Close Up is the unique non-partisan approach to teaching.”

John Cheeseman

Education:
George Mason University, BA - History

Hometown:
Alexandria, VA

“The best part of being a TPS is working with teachers from all across the country and overseas, imparting knowledge of our history and government, and learning from them in return.”

Olivia Dumboski

Education:
University of Arkansas, BA - International Relations

Hometown:
Little Rock, Arkansas

“As a former educator, I enjoy working with Close Up teachers from all over the country as they continue to enrich their dedication to civic education in the classroom.”

Ian Fried

Education:
The College of Wooster (OH), BA - Political Science

The Johns Hopkins University, MA - Political Science

Hometown:
Highland Park, IL

“It is so rewarding to engage Close Up teachers in political and historical discussions as we use the sights and sounds of Washington as our classroom.”

Joe Geraghty

Education:
Le Moyne College, BA - Religious Studies

Hometown:
Yorktown Heights, NY

“I love working at Close Up because I believe that our mission to inform, inspire, and empower the youth of America is vitally important for the future of our great country.”

Dr. Daniel Audwin Wallace

Education:
City College of New York, BA - Political Science

Teachers College at Columbia University, M.Ed. and Ed.D.

Hometown:
Queens/ Brooklyn, NY

“I have worked in all levels of education. What I love about Close Up is creating learning spaces in which teachers can create new ideas and new stories, rethink methodologies, ignite new passions, and use their local communities as living classrooms."

Jacob Israel Chilton

Education:
American River College, AA - Jazz Studies

University of California – Davis, BA - English

Johns Hopkins University, MA - English

Hometown:
Baltimore, MD

“Washington, DC, is rich with history, symbols, power, and contradiction–all ideal objects of examination and analysis. I couldn’t ask for a better classroom to teach in.”

Lauren Ebersole

Education:
Catawba College, BA - Political Science

American University, MA - Ethics, Peace, and Global Studies

Hometown:
Hagerstown, MD

“The best part of working at Close Up is hearing and seeing those moments when students make connections between what they’re learning on program and their own lives back in their communities.”

Julianne Forzano

Education:
West Virginia University, BA - Interdisciplinary Studies; MA - Secondary Social Studies Education

Hometown:
Wheeling, WV

“The best part of working at Close Up is being able to work with and impact students from all over the country with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, especially since youth engagement is so important to our democracy.”

Emily Gibson

Education:
Northern Arizona University, BA - History and Art History

University of Pennsylvania, Teaching Certification

Hometown:
San Leandro, CA, and Phoenix, AZ

“I love working for Close Up because I believe that young people are a vital part of the American political environment. Every week we get to help students to become actively engaged in their communities and the country.”

Kevin Gomes

Education:
Georgetown University, BA - English

Hometown:
Grand Island, NE

“The greatest reward of working with our instructors is witnessing the value of engaged citizens in action; their example inspires me as much as it inspires their students.”

Elisa Ferrara Gunduz

Education:
Boston University, BA - Political Science and History

Hometown:
Hackensack, NJ

“I love working with students through the Close Up Foundation because we are giving them the opportunity to engage in controversial public policy discussions that spark a passion to continue to be active participants in our democracy, while also instilling values of civil discourse and an understanding of how policy affects others.”

Katie Jones-Gray

Education:
University of Kansas, BA - Architectural Studies and History of Art

University of Texas at El Paso, M.Ed. - Special Education

Hometown:
Kansas City, MO

“It's so inspiring to see, week after week, that students can and do have engaging discussions, that they listen and learn from each other, and that they form a community where all members work together to solve the problems we face today.”

Daniel Hastings

Education:
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, BA - History

Hometown:
Geneva, NY

“I love working at Close Up because it uses the Washington, DC, as a classroom, which allows for hands-on learning.”

Sante Mastriana

Education:
University of Pennsylvania, BA - International Studies and Chinese Language and Culture

Hunter College, MA - TESOL Education

Hometown:
Philadelphia, PA

“Every day at Close Up I have the opportunity to change the lives of young people across the country and empower them to change the future. It’s hard to beat that.”

Allen Pinn

Education:
University of Virginia, BA - History

Hometown:
Lynchburg, VA

“I love working with students from all over the country. It’s interesting to see how they interact with one another and how their viewpoints differ.”

Meredith Polm

Education:
University of Maryland, BS - Psychology and Public Health

University of Missouri, MA - Education

Hometown:
Baltimore, Maryland

“I love meeting students with unique perspectives and seeing those perspectives grow as they engage with new people from across the country and experience Washington, DC, together.”

Shawn Ralston

Education:
Binghamton University, BA - English and Literature

Hometown:
Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, NY

“Close Up provides individuals with the opportunity to engage in challenging dialogue with people from all walks of life.”

Katie Whitmire

Education:
University of Virginia, BA - American Politics and History

Hometown:
Yorktown, VA

“I love working with students from across the country and seeing them exposed to different viewpoints that they may not hear in their own communities.”

Meadow Wiggington

Education:
James Madison University, BA - Political Science and Philosophy

Hometown:
Falls Church, VA

“The Close Up Foundation offers immensely impactful programs for students all over the U.S. and I love getting to lead diverse workshops of students who are committed to being open, brave, and honest about their political opinions.”

Our Curriculum Team

Close Up’s Program Instructors are the heart and soul of our programs and ensure students have a safe, rewarding, and fun experience!

Our instructors have over 120 hours of curriculum and methodology training and are certified in First Aid and CPR.

MEET OUR TEAM

Program Leaders

Teacher Program Specialists

Curriculum Team

Close Up is a positive experience for students…

Close Up brought me CLOSER to politics…

I plan to introduce Close Up’s professional development to the teachers I work with…

I think Close Up’s virtual program is an amazing experience…

Subscribe to Current Issues Blog

Our Curriculum Team

Close Up’s Program Instructors are the heart and soul of our programs and ensure students have a safe, rewarding, and fun experience!

Our instructors have over 120 hours of curriculum and methodology training and are certified in First Aid and CPR.

MEET OUR TEAM

Program Leaders

Teacher Program Specialists

Curriculum Team

Close Up is a positive experience for students…

Close Up brought me CLOSER to politics…

I plan to introduce Close Up’s professional development to the teachers I work with…

I think Close Up’s virtual program is an amazing experience…

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Subscribe to Current Issues Blog