Global Student Embassy Staff
Lucas Oshun - Executive Director, Co-founder
Born and raised in Sebastopol California, Lucas Oshun graduated from University of California Santa Cruz in 2007 with degrees in Community Studies and Politics with a focus on International Relations. During his studies he interned at Global Kids in NYC, where he learned about the importance of discussion based workshop education, and international relations education for high school students. He has traveled extensively in South East Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America. Grateful for having had the opportunity to experience different cultures, and to travel internationally, Lucas believes strongly in providing travel, cultural immersion and grassroots organizing opportunities to young people. Lucas speaks English and Spanish.
Kate Crigler - Community Outreach Coordinator
From West Sonoma County, Kate graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2008 with a degree in Anthropology. Kate's internship with Outer Voices in Healdsburg taught her the power of radio media as a mode for sharing models of women-lead grassroots social change in SE Asia and the Pacific Rim. Her love of cultural exploration has inspired her to travel, work and study in China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal and most recently, Tanzania with GSE. Kate has been a supporter of GSE since its founding, and strongly believes in experiential education that orients youth towards the world and engages them in their own communities. Kate speaks English and conversational French.
Jasper Oshun - Co-founder
Jasper Oshun was born and raised in Sebastopol, California. He studied Geology and International Relations at Brown University, graduating in 2005. In the fall of 2003, he took a leave of absence from his studies to become a volunteer in Zurite, Peru. Here, Jasper realized the power and potential of youth participation in international volunteer exchange programs. Since 2003, he has built strong friendships within the Zurite community and has facilitated GSE's exchanges in Peru. Currently he is pursuing a Ph.D. in groundwater hydrology with a focus on developing water resources in developing regions of the world. Jasper speaks English and Spanish.
Bridget Connolly - International Programs Coordinator
Bridget joins the GSE team from a rural community outside Philadelphia, where she grew up intimately connected to her natural environment. She worked with youth in urban Philadelphia and went on to study International Relations at Stanford, deepening her commitment to building resilient communities all over the world. Bridget has worked previously in Ecuador, South Africa, Bali, and Mexico, and brings a passion for the Spanish language and cross-cultural exchange. Bridget is an aspiring documentary filmmaker, sustainable agriculturalist, and futbolista. Bridget speaks English and Spanish.
Molly Oshun - Fund Development Coordinator
Molly Oshun has worked with her brothers Jasper and Lucas to grow GSE since its' founding in the fall of 2008. She shares a love of travel and a commitment to environmental stewardship and youth empowerment. Molly received her degree in Environmental Engineering from Stanford, where she organized her community to improve sustainability across campus. Molly enjoys beach volleyball, fresh veggies, and dancing to cumbia. She will continue her work with GSE while she pursues a passion for urban sustainability and transportation. Molly speaks English and Spanish.
Nathaniel Monroe - Tanzania Volunteer Program Coordinator
A Sonoma County native, Nathaniel Monroe graduated from Sonoma State University with a degree in Psycology in 2010. An avid volunteer at GSE's Village Park Garden, Nate became inspired to continue work with Global Student Embassy in Tanzania. Nate has been working hard to coordinate garden programs at Mzumbe and Kilakala Secondary Schools and manage the Morogoro Youth Training Center for the past year.
Ramon Cedeno Loor - Ecuador Program Director
Ramon has been a biology and chemistry teacher for ten years in Bahia de Caraquez. He has been conducting after school youth leadership, environmental education programs in partnership with the city of Bahia and Planet Drum Foundation for the past six years. Ramon's lessons and interactions with students are exciting, dynamic and fun. Ramon is committed to environmental restoration and helping students realize their potential to impact the positive change they'd like to see in their local environment and community. Ramon has been a GSE staff member since December of 2010.