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Meet the Team

Washington Monument student learning Shadow

Get to know the people behind Close Up’s work!

At the heart of each Close Up program are more than 100 dedicated staff members in over ten departments who work together to make it all happen. Our executive officers, senior staff, program staff, and outreach staff are highlighted here, with the rest of the Close Up team working tirelessly behind the scenes to give students and teachers the experience of a lifetime.

 

Senior Leadership

 

Scot Wilson
Vice President of Academics 
Jodi Stewart Miteva
Vice President of Business Development
John Sturm
Vice President of Program Operations 
Shannon Ahrens
Vice President of Educational Outreach
Porsche Johnson
Senior Director
of Finance 
Luke Stallings
Senior Director of Account Engagement
Blake Kohn
Executive Director of NNSP & Senior Advisor

Curriculum and Student Programs

 

Close Up curriculum staff form the core of our programs, ensuring that students have a safe, rewarding, and memorable experience with us. Our program leaders, student program specialists, and program instructors come to us from all over the country, some of the nation’s top universities, and distinguished programs such as Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Teach for America. Together, they undergo over 120 hours of training in our curriculum and methodology, certification in First Aid and CPR, and ongoing professional development to build students’ skills and mindset for civic engagement. 

 

Emily Gibson
Director of Curriculum and Training
Katie Whitmire
Director of Student Program Logistics
Katie Chandler
Manager of Special Programs
Katie Jones-Gray
Manager of Curriculum Design
Nicole Toliver
Manager of Student Programs
Reese Arthur
Manager of Student Programs
Sante Mastriana
Manager of Professional Development
Shawn Ralston
Manager of Curriculum Design
Anna Bauder
Program Leader
Carlos Peredo
Program Leader
Madeline Scully
Program Leader
Marlin Rooks
Program Leader
Michael Covin
Program Leader
Danny Hastings
Curriculum and Training Specialist
Ellen Crofts
Curriculum and Training Specialist
Jodie Grief
Curriculum and Training Specialist
Kevin Gomes
Curriculum and Training Specialist
Rebecca Lewis
Curriculum and Training Specialist
Wendy Low
Curriculum and Training Specialist
Abby Manning
Special Programs Coordinator
Andrew Michels
Senior Program Instructor
Elana Wade
Senior Program Instructor
Lauren Pickens
Senior Program Instructor
Maria Perez
Senior Program Instructor
Nichole Erwin
Senior Program Instructor
Storey Mason
Senior Program Instructor
Aidan Novins
Program Instructor
Declan Bigger
Program Instructor
Harry Ferguson
Program Instructor
Julian Mayers
Program Instructor
Nadeen Ghazy
Program Instructor
Gabriella Keil
Program Instructor
Dan Jackson
Program Instructor
Colin Czubaruk
Program Instructor
Jesse Wesso
Program Instructor
Jonathan Muhler
Program Instructor
Erykah Joseph-Valentine
Program Instructor
Avery Renshaw
Program Instructor
Shwe Einthe
Program Instructor
Noah Thirkill
Program Instructor
Salvatore Fullon
Program Instructor
Jordan Smith
Program Instructor
Mark Partick Mahon
Program Instructor
Lillian Clepper
Program Instructor
Joseph Padgett
Program Instructor
Kellen Minick
Program Instructor
Zephania Mireles
Program Instructor
Henry Allen
Program Instructor
Erik Harrington
Program Instructor
Kennedy Raynor
Program Instructor
Fatima Hassan
Program Instructor
Serena Aguilar
Program Instructor
Omarr Peters
Program Instructor
Makayla Jeffries
Program Instructor
Elise Blake
Program Instructor
Andrew Rankin
Program Instructor
Michael Gentilucci
Program Instructor

Civic Fellows

 

Patrick Britti
Civic Fellow
Rakan Buhulaiqa
Civic Fellow
Adriana Cericola
Civic Fellow
Madeline Doze
Civic Fellow
Michael Figueroa
Civic Fellow
Roberto Flores
Civic Fellow
CJ Funes
Civic Fellow
Hannah Goldstein
Civic Fellow
Kyra Hill
Civic Fellow
Caroline Kuntzman
Civic Fellow
Will Malcomson
Civic Fellow
Miles Matthews
Civic Fellow
Jake Pavao
Civic Fellow
Maria Peterson
Civic Fellow
Emiliano Sanchez
Civic Fellow
Aubrey Sellman
Civic Fellow
Alexa Uriostegui
Civic Fellow
Vanessa Toic
Civic Fellow
Maggie Westover
Civic Fellow
Thanish Yalamanchili
Civic Fellow

Teacher Programs and Professional Development

 

Dr. Daniel A. Wallace, Ed.D.
Director of Teacher Programs
Joe Geraghty
Teacher Program Coordinator
Michael Boateng
Teacher Program Coordinator
John Cheeseman
Teacher Program Historical Guide
Bobby Hunter
Teacher Program Specialist

Educational Outreach

 

Julie Pace
Director of Educational Outreach
Melissa Williams
Regional Manager of Educational Outreach
Lauren Rumski
Regional Manager of Educational Outreach
Mariza Padilla
Senior Educational Outreach Coordinator
Jon Gerst
Manager of Business Development
Sarah Strum
Program Development Specialist
Cory Gassett
Business Development Coordinator
Cameron Haag
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Erica Darce
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Erin Burney
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Hywet Yonas
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Jared Conn
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Jess Smith
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Katie Lustig
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Michelle Faucher
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Olivia Dumboski
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Timothy Cleasby
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Thomas Devine
Educational Outreach Coordinator

Partnerships & External Affairs

 

Heather Arnold
Director of Academic Initiatives
Maura O'Brien
Director of Communications
Shelby Buckman
Manager of Grants and Partnerships
Susan Van Wickler
Manager of Government Relations and Scheduling
Amada Robles
Social Media Coordinator
Kevin Rohrbaugh
Partnerships and Communications Coordinator
Kyle Ashworth
Speakers and Partnerships Coordinator
Rachel Armstrong
Partnership Support Coordinator

Account Engagement

 

Natasha Williams
Account Relations Manager
Alejandra Quinonez
Account Relations Coordinator
Chris House
Account Relations Coordinator