Diana McCue: Director of Alumni Relations 

In Diana's seven weeks teaching with LE in Hungary and Slovakia, she fell in love with the region's fields of sunflowers, impossible languages and unfailingly friendly people. She loved it all so much that she is planning to study in Prague next spring, and hopes to add a little Czech to her 15-word knowledge of Hungarian. When she is not studying Psychology and Art History at Georgetown, she loves exploring DC and discovering new music on her weekly radio show.

Jordanna Sussman: Director of Fundraising 

Jordanna is one of the newest members of the LE family and is thrilled to be the Director of Fundraising! Jordanna has previous experience in various aspects of fundraising from working at The George Washington University’s Annual Fund. She is thrilled to help the development of a great organization further and hopes to improve and refine our current fundraising efforts. Jordanna is a senior at The George Washington University, majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in Global Public Health and a minor in Spanish. In the spring of 2009 she studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina and hopes to return to South America soon!

Ning Zhu: Technology Director

A seasoned IT professional, Ning has more then 10 years' experiences in large scale software development; more than 5 years' experiences in IT project management, budget management, people management, business development and technology leadership. Ning earned his MBA from the University of Maryland in 2002 and his bachelor degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 1995. As a person passionate for a better future of human kind, Ning served the last seven years as a senior officer for Alexander Street Press, LLC; a company aiming to enhance humanity with the latest IT technologies. Ning believes that his new venture with Learning Enterprises will be challenging, joyful, and rewardable for his career and personal life!

Aysha Bagchi: Director of Media and Communications

A native of Austin, Texas, Aysha joined the LE family in 2008 as a volunteer with the Hungary/Slovakia program. Her teaching experiences in Söjtör and Pókaszepetk proved a rich adventure that left her with a deep attachment to people and places she had never known before.  Aysha returned to LE as Stanford's Campus Director for the 2008-09 year and is excited for new challenges this year as the Director of Communications. Aysha is a junior at Stanford University, majoring in Philosophy and History. She has worked as a news writer, editorial board member, and summer columnist for the Stanford Daily, and has done communications work for other ventures. She enjoys coffee, sports, and discussing current affairs.

Ridge Blanchard: Hungary / Slovakia

Ridge first became involved with LE in the summer of 2009 as a volunteer for the Hungary/Slovakia program. Having a passion for travel and new experiences, he saw LE as a chance to do something exciting and useful with his summer. Without a doubt, LE gave him the summer of a lifetime and allowed him to make memories that he will cherish for years to come. As program director this year, he hopes to spread his enthusiasm and gather a great group of volunteers for this summer. Ridge is currently a junior at Georgetown University where he studies Government and French. He is originally from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana and enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and sleeping!

Toni Skalican: Panama

In summer of 2008 Toni volunteered with LE - Mexico, in the small, rural pueblo of El Walamo, Sinaloa. It was there she discovered her love not only for singing "head, shoulders, knees, and toes" with antsy students, but also for traditional Sinaloan banda music and fresh-picked mangos. After Mexico and her second year at Kalamazoo college, majoring in Anthropology and Sociology, she continued to seek intercultural experiences, and spent the summer of 2009 interning with a Washington, DC non-profit called Through the Kitchen Door. There, she helped coordinate and run life-skills and cooking programs for hispanic and women and youth who had recently immigrated to the US. This summer she is eager to return to LE for a new adventure as the Program Director of the Panama program. Although it will be her first time with the Panama program, she is eager to be a dependable resource for adventurous, enthusiastic, volunteers! Currently she is studying abroad in Caceres, Spain where she delights in Spanish literature, hiking, and her nightly volunteer job in a community home for spunky, elderly Spaniards.

 Jason Reeder: Mexico and Guatemala

Jason came to LE in 2008, when he volunteered in El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico. After a wonderful and dynamic summer he realized much he loved being "Teacher Jason" and decided to return as the Mexico Program Director in 2009. Unfortunately, LE was forced to cancel the program in light of political unrest in Sinaloa. Jason then spent the summer in Guatemala, teaching English and rock music, and scouting for opportunities to start an LE pilot program there. During the summer of 2010, he hopes to lead volunteers back to Mexico to rebuild the program after its year hiatus, and to take a group to Guatemala as well.. Jason is a junior at Brown University concentrating in Linguistics. He is from Oakland, California, and enjoys playing guitar, cooking, backpacking, and long walks on the beach.

Cascade Tuholske: Croatia / Romania

In the summer of 2009, Cascade packed his bags and flew halfway around the world to volunteer with LE in Mauritius. Though the delicious curry and white sandy beaches instantly caught his attention, Cascade’s infatuation with LE grew from interacting with Mauritians in the classroom, losing endless games of Carrom, and reading stories to his host sisters. Inspired by his experience in Mauritius, Cascade joins LE as the Croatia/Romania Program Director for 2009. He hopes to facilitate similar experiences for this year’s volunteers and host communities. Cascade is currently a senior at The George Washington University majoring in International Affairs with a double concentration in Global Public Health and Conflict and Security. When not competing for GW’s Varsity Swim Team, he can be found daydreaming about snow-capped Mountains, green rivers, and blue skies that only Montana can offer.

Jacky Fung: China

Jacky first joined LE as a volunteer with the Croatia/Romania Program during the summer of 2009, wherein he was instantly inspired by the honesty of the program's mission and the pluckiness of its volunteers. A first-generation Chinese-American and a life-long student of Chinese culture (read: cooking, i.e., both the undertaking  and happy consumption of), he is returning this year as the Program Director for LE in China, where he plans to lead a crack team of volunteers for an unforgettable ride. As a 2009 alumnus of The George Washington University, he's excited to reconnect with a country he loves before he continues his studies in Law and Urban Planning.  His interests include wondering why cities sometimes look funny, reading outside his comfort zone, navel gazing, and naval gazing.

Katie Lamb: Poland

Katie went to Zakliczyn, Poland as an LE volunteer during the summer of 2009 and could not wait to go back. She loved teaching her students and created great ties with her host family. Though it was her first time in Poland, she was left eager to discover more and continue with the LE mission. Katie is a senior at Brown University concentrating in Classics and Comparative Literature. Her passions include translating Latin, learning, and dancing. 

Daniel Scott Smith: Thailand and Cambodia

Daniel Scott Smith became intimately involved with LE through the Egypt Program in 2008. Not a stranger to service or teaching (he's taught in Thailand and volunteered extensively in high school and college), Daniel instantly became infatuated with the LE mission and started to think of more ways he could truly "expand horizons through global volunteerism." To that end, he inquired about, proposed, and succeeded to create a pilot program in Thailand. After a successful Pilot in 2009, and its subsequent official recognition and sponsorship by LE, Daniel, with the help of many other inspiring people, founded the LE Cambodia Pilot. Currently, Daniel is in Berlin working for the Pergamon Museum (Museum für Islamische Kunst) but will return to Stanford in April. 

Lindsay Trice: Turkey

Lindsay is a recent graduate from Georgetown University with a degree in Theology and Government. While she has not had the privilege of working with LE before, she's excited to come to the organization this year as the program director for the pilot program in Turkey. She has studied in Istanbul, and also spent the summer of 2009 teaching English in the rural south-east, bringing the region's population of Ultimate Frisbee-playing coffee-guzzling redheads to approximately one. Having a mild obsession for languages, she's taken everything from Spanish to Russian, and is working on her Turkish/Kurdish slang so she can more effectively communicate with her new twenty Turkish pen pals. She's looking forward to a fantastic year!

Sindbad Fennimore: Mauritius 

Last summer, Sindbad volunteered with LE in the small town of Chamarel, on the Mauritius Program in. He loved teaching, becoming part of a Mauritian family, and was struck by the beauty of the country and its people. After such an incredible experience, he wanted to help the program continue to grow and flourish. He will be thrilled to return to Mauritius this coming summer (Mauritian winter), after spending a semester studying in France. Sindbad is currently a junior at Georgetown University, majoring in French, with minors in African Studies and Justice & Peace Studies. He hails from the great city of Belfast, Maine and enjoys cycling, sailing, and canoeing.

Alfred Yannucci: At Large (Brown University)

A native of Shirley, New York, Alfred is currently a senior at Brown University studying International Relations with an emphasis on Global Security and an area focus on the Former Soviet States. Alfred first became involved with LE in the summer of 2009, when he served as a volunteer in Russia. The experience was the most interesting and rewarding one he has ever encountered, which encouraged him to share his adventure with others as a Campus Director. In addition to his work with LE, Alfred is also the Department of State Foreign Affairs Campus Coordinator to Brown University as well as a college advisor. His academic interests lie in Human Rights, International Conflict Resolution, Modern Genocide, Political Warfare and National Security. After graduating, he would like to serve again with Learning Enterprises before beginning a career in Public Service.

Nhaca Le: Georgetown University

Nhaca was born in a beautiful coastal town in South Vietnam and immigrated to Seattle, WA at the tender age of 2, never to venture outside of the USA again until the summer of 2009, when she got the opportunity to be a part of the LE Thailand Family. There, she spent 8 weeks in a rural village, eating phad se yew off banana leaves, hanging out with the locals, and teaching adorable Thai children. Though she misses Thailand immensely, Nhaca is excited to continue her work with LE as Georgetown’s Campus Director. Nhaca is a sophomore majoring in International Politics, and enjoys honey chamomile tea, foam parties, and long walks down the Potomac.

Kirsten Chen: University of Maryland

Kirsten Chen is currently an Operations Management major and Chinese minor at the University of Maryland and is excited to bring LE to terrapin-nation for the very first time! Last summer, Kirsten traveled to Jiangxi, China with LE and had the time of her life. If her experience teaching Chinese children wasn’t enough to make the whole trip a success, the food, scenery, and LE volunteers certainly were! After her first trip beyond the western hemisphere, Kirsten is confident that LE China provided her with the attitude and skills needed for future endeavors.  Kirsten is certain that her enthusiasm for the experience and belief in the core values of LE will help expand LE’s college horizons. LE 2010, here we come!

Brett Hebert: At Large (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Brett is currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in Philosophy and Legal Studies and is terrified of his impending graduation! He believes strongly in LE's mission and would love nothing better than to convince college students across the nation to jump on board with LE! When he's not slaving away on papers in the library Brett enjoys late nights at the Memorial Union Terrace, game days at Camp Randall Stadium (Go Badgers!) and chilling out on Bascom hill. He's also been known to play basketball a time or two. Brett knows this is going to be a banner year for LE and is ecstatic to be part of the team.

Camille Webber: Temple University

In the summer of 2009, Camille joined the LE family as a volunteer in Hungary and Slovakia, which was without doubt the most exciting summer yet! Camille met lifelong friends and learned important skills, like how to make the best goulash, the proper consistency for wild boar meat, and Croatian border police etiquette. She is thrilled to return this year as Temple University’s first campus director, and can’t wait to get other Temple students excited about volunteering. Camille is a junior studying Economics and Political Science with minors in French and Spanish. When not researching think tanks, she enjoys trying new food, exploring Philly neighborhoods and spreading szabadság wherever she goes.

Alison Zinna: Duke University

Alison is a sophomore majoring in History at Duke University, originally from northern New Jersey. She first became involved with LE as a volunteer in Hungary this past summer and hasn’t stopped talking about her experience since. She is very eager to get more Blue Devils involved in this program. On campus, Alison works with the school of Public Policy’s Program in International Development. In her spare time, she is learning to belly dance (with mixed success), a hobby she picked up at a Hungarian folk dancing camp this August.   

Dina-Marie Pitta: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dina Marie Pitta is the new LE Campus Director for the University of Wisconsin at Madison. In her fourth and final year at the UW, she is majoring in Neuroscience and French Literature, and planning to attend medical school. Aside from her love affair with science and medicine, she has  a strong interest in foreign languages and cultures. After living in France in high school, she has spent a lot of time travelling college, volunteering abroad and working with bilingual children in the Madison area. In her opinion, volunteering is an opportunity to make a large positive impact through a small time commitment, and she can’t wait to begin the search for next summer’s volunteers!

Amber Lee: Brown University

Amber’s first experience with LE was through her summer teaching in Romania. Somewhere between the lush thermal baths of Budapest, teaching her students the Macarena (a lesson on the body parts of course), and visiting “Dracula’s” (Vlad the Impaler) castle, she fell in love with both Romania and LE. Inspired by the simplicity, warmth, and grassroots nature of LE, she is enthusiastic about continuing her work for the organization. As Brown’s Campus Director, she is also excited to help connect future talented volunteers to caring LE host families around the world. Amber Lee is currently a sophomore at Brown University pursuing her B.Sc. in Civil Engineering. Between endless numbers of problem sets she enjoys teaching ESL classes in the Providence community, reading, and spontaneous dance parties.

Yan Slavinsky: George Washington University

Volunteering with the LE Hungary/Slovakia Program last summer was the most amazing time of Yan’s life. Not only did it help steer his path at college, but also opened his eyes to a completely different world. His facebook is loaded with pictures of Slovakian children, learning the rules of baseball or ice cream flavors but, what the pictures don't show is how a home stay and an authentic living and teaching environment changes the way one perceives a culture and the priorities one has when he or she returns to campus! Yan is a senior at The George Washington University where he manages his fraternity’s philanthropy and is an active participant in alternative spring and winter break trips. Yan believes that LE is for anyone and hopes to recruit record numbers of GW students this year!