Meet the team behind GLYP

Open to students entering grades 8 -12, the Global Leadership Youth Program (GLYP) begins on Monday, June 28th and we would like to take time to introduce the program’s Academic Director, Jonathan Shulman and Design Thinking Expert, Dr. Laura Spencer. SDDC has recruited these experts in our community to help create the best possible program.

Continuing his amazing work from our past student programs, Jonathan Shulman, is back! Jonathan’s guidance and invaluable contributions provide students with the tools they need to become impactful citizen diplomats.

In reflection of last year’s student program Johnathan expressed, “It is said that the role of a teacher is to make himself increasingly irrelevant to his students. I would say that by the end of each week’s program, the students had made it clear through their actions and poignant contributions that Jessica, Lulu and I were no longer necessary as they take on the world’s toughest challenges.”

Previously, Mr. Shulman taught at the American School of Milan, in Italy, the Beijing Film Academy, in China, and the Greenhill School, in Dallas, Texas. He also worked as Chief of Staff to the Appropriations Sub-Committee Chair in the Maryland House of Delegates. Currently, Johnathan works as the History Department Chair and Director of the Center for Excellence in Citizenship at La Jolla Country Day School and is head teacher-coach of the Torrey Mock Trial Team, a program that is recognized as one of the best in San Diego County.

 

 

Building off our previous student programs, we are excited to elevate our student’s curriculum by welcoming Design Thinking Expert, Dr. Laura Spencer. In her former roles, she was a classroom teacher, Ed Tech director, and school district administrator. Currently, Laura is a K-12 Charter School Administrator and Designer in Residence for UCSD’s Design Lab. She uses design thinking to transform learning experiences and to mentor young entrepreneurs that want to make a difference in the world. She is also a proud Army veteran and a Navy mom to two daughters.

We have also welcomed a Program Associate to the SDDC team for the duration of GLYP, to assist with the many moving parts within the program and behind the scenes. Kevin Ouellette studied International Relations and Conflict Resolution at San Diego State. After working in the tech field at Citrix he chose to go back to school to obtain his Master’s at USD’s Kroc School of Peace and Justice. He is skilled in negotiations, mediation and diplomatic relations. As a So-Cal native, the beach is his happy place and so is being outdoors in general.

Our upcoming virtual Global Leadership Youth Program gives students valuable skills including negotiation, global awareness, and an understanding of diplomatic processes. We are thrilled to have Jonathan Shulman, Laura Spencer and Kevin Ouellette join SDDC team members Jessica Frank (Program Director) and Lulu Bonning (Program Officer) to bring our community’s young leaders what is quickly becoming one of our flagship offerings at SDDC.