Our Interns and Ambassadors
 Colleen MurphyPR Intern |
 Kylie DrokeLEAD Local Intern |
 Alden TreadwayCampus Ambassador |
 Madeline StivenderCampus Ambassador |
 Meg GheeslingCampus Ambassador |
 Paige BiringerCampus Ambassador |
 Seth GuidryCampus Ambassador |
 Carrie DealCampus Ambassador |
 Ches FowlerCampus Ambassador |
 Emily DeJarnettCampus Ambassador |
Name: Colleen Murphy – PR Intern (cmurphy@GlobalLEADprogram.org)
School: University of Georgia
Major: Public Relations/History
Year: 4th
Hometown: Damascus, MD
About me (140 characters or less):
Considered a Yankee by some I am a Maryland girl but truly a Georgia peach at heart. Now a loyal Dawg fan, I am a senior at UGA!
• My Best Idea Ever…Attending the University of Georgia for my college education. UGA has not only helped me succeed, but has provided me with lifelong friends and memories I will cherish. Go Dawgs!
• Ah-ha Travel Moment…Happened in Peru after I performed with my baton team at an orphanage. One little boy presented me with a handmade headband as a gift. These children who have so little gave us so much in love and appreciation. This experience showed me the kindness of humankind.
• Secret Talent…Baton twirling. I have been twirling since I was 7 years old and am currently the majorette captain in the Redcoat Marching Band at UGA. A self-proclaimed band nerd, I love performing for the bulldog nation between the hedges in Sanford Stadium.
• Last Read…“Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. This story of faith is inspirational and moving on many levels. It keeps life in perspective and encourages me each and every day.
• Superpower…Flying. I am actually terrified of heights, but if I had a special power, I know I would get over it. I would also save on plane tickets and be able to travel anywhere in the world on a whim!
• Why Global LEAD…Because it is the perfect combination of travel and education for a young college student. The best part of the experience is that the fun does not stop overseas – Global LEAD helps students stay connected on campus and takes part in philanthropic community efforts right in our own backyard.
Name: Kylie Droke – LEAD Local Intern (kdroke@GlobalLEADprogram.org)
School: University of Georgia
Major: Child and Family Development; Terry College of Business Certificate in Personal and Organizational Leadership
Year: Senior
Hometown: Douglasville, Georgia
About me (140 characters or less– twitter style):peace sign throwing,adventure junkying,personal space invading,craft making,music listening,blonde hippie who wants to make a difference in the world one life at time
• My Best Idea Ever… “Maybe I should not pick my nose while driving or fix a wedgie when I think no one is watching…Play it off, Kylie, Play it off!!!”
• Ah-ha Travel Moment…Working in the Sir Lowry’s Pass on the Global L.E.A.D. Cape Town 2010 trip. I really connected with young girl named Ronel who had experienced a lot of the same things I did growing up. It showed me that even though we are diverse and live half a world a way, people still connect through love and experiences. This ah-ha moment changed my life and career goals.
• Secret Talent…I can guess guys height down to the quarter inch and I am an awesome bargain shopper!
• Last Read…Captivating by John and Staci Elredge
• Superpower…Make a seed to plant and grow a money tree in order to have enough money to alleviate poverty and give all children a chance for a fair, opportunistic education.
• Why Global LEAD…Plain and simple: The people. The founders, the executive staff, the leadership speakers, the teacher assistants, the students, the alumni, the people we serve, the people of our countries we travel to….all of us have a heart for service, a heart for unconditional love, and a stronghold on how important it is to globally develop our next generation of leaders.
Name: Chesleigh Fowler (cfowler@GlobalLEADprogram.org)
School: Wake Forest University
Major: Political Science/Women’s & Gender Studies
Year: 3rd
Hometown: West Hartford, CT
About me:
I’m outgoing, and I love to meet new people. I love to travel, and I am a huge fan of Global LEAD!
• My Best Idea Ever…Going to Cape Town this past summer with Global LEAD
• Ah-ha Travel Moment…Bloukrans Bungee jump in South Africa- it was the most exhilarating and empowering thing I have ever done!
• Secret Talent…I absolutely love to cook, and I find it very relaxing when I’m getting overstressed.
• Last Read…“The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
• Superpower…Superhuman reach – I’m very tall.
• Why Global LEAD…Global LEAD is much more than a travel abroad experience, it’s a program that is specifically designed to help its students return home as more developed and engaged students of the world. There’s nothing else like it!
Name: Carrie Deal (cdeal@GlobalLEADprogram.org)
School: University of Georgia
Major: Business: Marketing0Advertising
Year: 3rd
Hometown: Johns Creek, GA
About me:
Live each day like it’s my last, not be afraid of something new & embrace what’s different from myself. Scatterbrained, yet somehow together.
• My Best Idea Ever…A year ago a friend’s Dad passed away after a battle with cancer. At the end he said he was grateful for all the time he was given. Ever since, I try to start every day with gratitude. Each day I remind myself how grateful I am for the friends and family that helped me get to where I am, no matter how that day starts.
• Ah-ha Travel Moment…
When I came into consciousness after jumping off Bloukran’s Bridge in South Africa! I never thought signing up for the trip I would EVER have done it, and up until I was arguably thrown off the bridge did I think I would, but I felt so accomplished after overcoming my fear of heights that held me back for so long!
Secret Talent…
In high school, I could run a 5:19 mile and even considered running at a small college in Virginia. I’m far from capable of that now, but I’d like to start training again soon. My fellow Global LEAD student Darby Thompson inspired me to start training again for a 5k this fall!
• Last Read…
“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith wasn’t my last read, but it is definitely one of my all time favorites. It’s a classic coming of age novel that shows a young girl’s fight for her right to education, and the importance of family and people above material goods and a lavish lifestyle.
• Superpower…If there is one superpower I wish I had, it would be being able to speak any language on command. In South Africa I loved getting to meet the children, especially the young ones who would do nothing but smile and reply in Afrikaans and I would have loved to know what they were saying!
• Why Global LEAD…No other program gives you more than just a class in a foreign country like Global LEAD. Global LEAD offers the opportunity to meet 100+ people, to give back and push you to face your fears and obstacles. They give students the freedom to explore the city, while still experiencing it through more than just the eyes of a tourist.
Name: Seth Guidry (sguidry@GlobalLEADprogram.org)
School: Louisiana State University
Major: Mass Communication – Political Communication/History
Year: 4th
Hometown: Galliano, LA
About me:
Senior at LSU– Enjoy moonlit walks on the beach. Not really, but I do enjoy the beach, eating (no lie, I’m Cajun- it’s what we do), fishing and traveling. Geaux Tigers (both), Dawgs, etc.!
• My Best Idea Ever…Eating Popeye’s in the Atlanta airport right before we departed for Cape Town and having the same meal when we got back to the states.
• Ah-ha Travel Moment…Just about everything I did while I was in Cape Town with Global LEAD. From touring Robben Island with Ahmed Kathrada to cage diving with the sharks, every moment I spent in South Africa leading up to the World Cup was truly life changing.
• Secret Talent…I’m a wealth of somewhat useless and LSU information- which sometimes comes in handy, but most times is just useless. Not to be confused with useless LSU information, but I know some of that too.
• Last Read…“Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” by John Berendt, “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins and, of course, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in preparation of the premier of the second movie, duh.
• Superpower…Due to my over-involvement, I would love to be able to be in more than one place at once.
• Why Global LEAD…The company’s mission statement goes far beyond that of any other study abroad program I’ve ever heard of – “Transformative experiences abroad” – that is definitely representative of my experience.
Name: Alden Treadway (atreadway@GlobalLEADprogram.org)
School: University of Mississippi
Major: Psychology/ minor in English
Year: 3rd
Hometown: Atlanta
About me: An easygoing person- love reading, running, and doing things that make a difference. “You make a living by what you earn, you make a life by what you give.”
• My Best Idea Ever…The best idea I’ve ever had was to step outside of my comfort zone and go to a school where I didn’t know anyone. It has really made my college experience a good one! Hotty Toddy!
• Ah-ha Travel Moment…This is NOT a cliché answer. I had more than enough Ah-ha travel moments in Cape Town on Global LEAD this summer, but I will have to narrow it down to one. Sir Lowry’s Pass was the first township I have visited and when my new friend Hugan told me how I had impacted his life, I realized that his impact on me was much greater. Ah-ha!
• Secret Talent…I am an excellent speller. I’m convinced it wasn’t acquired, but that I was born with the gift to spell. I was always in the spelling bee in elementary school, but got beat out every year by the kid who studies too much. Now that I say this I hope I haven’t misspelled anything…
• Last Read…The last novel I read was “The Help.” Yes, I got sucked into reading it by my mom and girlfriends. Given that it is about former Ole Miss students, I felt it was an appropriate read. It was a meaningful book and I recommend it to everyone!
• Superpower…My superpower is to be Matilda. She’s my idol and she’s only 12. I want to be able to look at an object with my eyes, shake my head and make the object fly. Prime example, when Matilda threw Mrs. Trunchbull across the room with her eyes simply because she was being hateful.
• Why Global LEAD …The feeling of satisfaction with who you want to be, and un-satisfaction with how much more you can accomplish in the world, can only be understood by Global LEAD alumni. So go on Global LEAD and see what I’m talking about! I guarantee it will change your life.
Name: Madeline Stivender (mstivender@GlobalLEADprogram.org)
School: University of Alabama
Major: Business Marketing
Year: 3rd
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
About me: “Hold on to what you try to be, your individuality. When the world is on your shoulders, just smile and get it go.” S Club 7
• My Best Idea Ever… Choosing to room with three people I had never met on my Global LEAD experience. I enjoy meeting new people and no better way to do so than live with ‘strangers’ for five weeks. They are now three of my best friends.
• Ah-ha Travel Moment… Jumping out of a plane at 9000 feet in the beautiful city of Cape Town to accomplish the number one dream on my personal bucket list!
• Secret Talent… Water-skiing. I wish I had a neat talent that would surprise everyone but sadly I am not that special. Last summer I began teaching myself to ski and now I love to slalom.
• Last Read… “Jesus Calling.” A 365-day devotional to help dive into the Word everyday. I am in the middle of the study now, but it is amazing to see how each devotion is applicable to the day’s occurrences.
• Superpower… I wish I had the ability to snap my fingers and be anywhere around in the world. I would visit a new country every weekend.
• Why Global LEAD … Global LEAD gave me the opportunity to make friendships of a lifetime; people who were passionate about service, leadership, friendship, positivity and having a great time. Global Lead opened my eyes to see the world in a new light and to finally recognize that one smile has the power to change another’s day.
Name: Emily DeJarnett (edejarnett@GlobalLEADprogram.org)
School: University of Georgia
Major: Psychology, Communication Studies
Year: 2nd
Hometown: Madison, Georgia
About me: I’m a little obsessed with Athens, still in mourning that I’m not a freshman anymore, and missing Africa more than anything.
• My Best Idea Ever… Deciding to go on Global LEAD the summer after my freshman year. It has totally changed the way I’m approaching the rest of college not to mention feeling like I’m actually an adult.
• Ah-ha Travel Moment… Standing on Bloukran’s Bridge in South Africa this past summer after I had just bungee jumped. It was that moment that I decided I could do ALL the things I had always told myself were completely out of my reach.
• Secret Talent… I can fall asleep anywhere at anytime in about 2 seconds. My roommates get mad that I literally will fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow in mid-sentence.
• Last Read… “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett. I had to re-read it before the movie came out! Couldn’t put it down.
• Superpower… If I could have any superpower, it would definitely be the ability to transport myself to any place in the world instantly. Love to travel to new places but I would give anything to be able to get there without the long plane rides and layovers.
• Why Global LEAD … Global LEAD isn’t just taking regular academic classes in another country. It’s about learning things that are going to push you ahead in any aspect of your life. Not the mention, becoming like “family” with the most amazing people and pushing yourself to do things you’d NEVER thought you’d do.
Name: Paige Biringer (pbiringer@GlobalLEADprogram.org)
School: University of Tennessee
Major: Kinesiology
Year: 2nd
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
About me: Some of my favorite things to do are travel, meet new people, and watch sports. I developed my passion and desire to travel from my father who shares the same dream of seeing the world.
• My Best Idea Ever… was to go on Global LEAD this past summer because it changed my life. It gave me an opportunity to do things that I have always wanted to do and Global LEAD also gave me the courage to be a leader back home. I met so many incredible people, made some lifelong friendships, and had an unforgettable time.
• Ah-ha Travel Moment… Standing at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and knowing that I am basically at the edge of the world. That moment was indescribable because standing there looking towards Antarctica it felt so unreal. Definitely a moment I will never forget.
• Secret Talent…As I have grown up over the years my family has traveled to many different countries, and because of this I have taught myself various phrases so I can communicate in several different languages.
• Last Read… was “Something Blue” by Emily Griffin. It is the sequel to “Something Borrowed” and in my opinion it was one of those books that you just cannot put down.
• Superpower…I would love to be able to fly because I want to see the whole world without having to pay the expensive airfare.
• Why Global LEAD … Global LEAD is an incredible study abroad program located in the coolest places. Each program is filled with adventure, service, college credit, new friends and tons of fun! If you have the chance, go because Global LEAD changed my life and I would go back in a heartbeat.
Name: Meg Gheesling (mgheesling@GlobalLEADprogram.org)
School: Auburn University
Major: Secondary English Education
Year: 3rd
Hometown: Atlanta
About me: I find bliss in the small things and beauty in imperfection. All I really want to do is see the world and impact lives.
• My Best Idea Ever…Besides going on Global LEAD? Possibly the moment I decided to stop being afraid and pursue my photography as a career.
• Ah-ha Travel Moment…The feeling I had after I bungee jumped off of Bloukrans Bridge. It’s indescribable and something I hope everyone can experience one day. Also, the love you feel while serving others in the local communities is unlike any love you have ever witnessed before.
• Secret Talent…Totally double jointed throughout my body. I wouldn’t be quick to say it’s a talent; it’s quite gross not going to lie. I can also spit a mean rap game; if you’re lucky you may be able to witness such a gem.
• Last Read…I’m notorious to read multiple books at one time (life of a literature major), just finished “Life” by Keith Richards, and I reread “Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne and “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Pipe
• Superpower…Teleportation for sure. Only because I want to be able to be with the people I love whenever, wherever I want. And every Saturday I could go back to the Old Biscuit Mill for some crepes and shopping.
• Why Global LEAD…Global LEAD is way more than a study abroad program, you learn more about yourself in these 5 weeks than you will in your whole life. Cape Town, the people I met, and Sir Lowry’s Pass changed my whole life completely and they will forever have my heart.
