Linda Sills: Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors Chairperson
Linda Sills is a dedicated lifelong learner and global citizen. She earned her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley followed by a teaching credential from San Francisco State University. She went on to earn a Masters in Educational Leadership from Harvard University with a concentration in Administration, Planning, and Human Development. Years later, she graduated with a Masters in Counseling School Psychology from Tufts University. She has been working as an innovative educator with youth for over forty years.
Linda began her teaching career in Oakland, California within the public school system. She continued her work as an international educator, as a teacher, guidance counselor and school psychologist in schools around the world; beginning in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Thailand, Morocco and Israel. After 32 years working directly in schools as an educator/guidance counselor, Linda was chosen to lead the educational professional development for the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS). While serving as the Executive Director of EARCOS, she developed Global Issues Network programming and curricula for the region. In 2005 she established the Global Citizen Award for the East Asia Region. Presently, Linda is the Chief Executive Officer of Global Issues Network (GIN), working with students, educators and organizers around the world who are addressing global issues in their local community on five continents.
Contact Linda at : linda@globalissuesnetwork.net
Russ Jones: Board of Directors Secretary
Russ Jones’ 32 year career as an educator was inspired by the belief that educating and empowering youth is the foundation upon which societal growth and development depends. Having come of age in the 60’s and 70’s and having grown up in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California, Russ’ core values are grounded in living responsibly, ethically and in harmony with the delicate interdependence humanity shares with all inhabitants of our planet.
A highlight of Russ’ career was the opportunity he had while serving as Superintendent of the American School of Lima, Peru to participate in hosting the 2011 Global Issues Network Conference, the first of its kind in Latin America. GIN’s mission and vision statements speak powerfully to the role of youth in identifying, investigating and helping to solve our shared global issues. Who better to address the urgent needs of our time, than those whose future will be shaped by finding and implementing sustainable solutions to these challenges?
Russ is honored to serve on the GIN Board of Directors and is immensely proud of the students and educators he is privileged to support.
Contact Russ at : russ@globalissuesnetwork.net
Brendan Havenar-Daughton: Board of Directors Treasurer
Born and raised in Oakland California, Brendan is passionate about the diverse San Francisco Bay Area that has helped shape his worldview. As a longtime student of Sustainability, Brendan has experience designing, implementing and evaluating programs and projects ranging from tropical reforestation for carbon sequestration and rural economic development to the deployment of Distributed Energy Resources in the Bay Area. Brendan holds a duel Masters degree in Natural Resources & Sustainable Development and International Affairs. Brendan is currently an Energy Manager at Contra Costa County. He finds peace and joy spending time in the garden with his family and loves to cook.
Contact Brendan at : brendan@globalissuesnetwork.net
Ashley Sills: Executive Director
US Local-Global Citizen: 15+ Years Track Record of Empowerment
*Please note, that ALL Global Issues Network Programs/ Activities/ Teams listed below are co-led and developed with teams of GINetwork Student Leaders: GIN Conference, Projects, School Programs Director on 5 Continents, Local-Regional-Global GINetwork Builder, GIN In-Class Curriculum Builder, Student-Led & Co-Developed Virtual GIN Class Mentor & Co-Developer, GIN Platforms Program and Projects Co-Developer and Supervisor, GIN Climate Action Network Co-Developer and Supervisor… and hopefully much much more in the years to come!
Since her GINternship for EARCOS in 2007, Ashley has supported the Global Issues Network as: a GINetwork administrator, GIN mentor for local-global student teams, GIN community organizer, and a co-developer of GIN programming.
Internationally born and raised, Ashley is the daughter of two lifelong international school educators. Ashley identifies as a local-global citizen who is constantly and continuously inspired by the GINetwork collective: students, educators, community organizers, scientists and activists; who engage in empathetic action and are committed to developing inclusive and sustainable systemic solutions in answer to our shared global issues. Ashley is committed to building opportunities for young local-global citizens to learn how to engage, build and lead community-centered impact.
With GIN Students at the helm as leaders of today, the mentorship of GIN Educators, and the support of GIN School communities, Ashley is proud to be part of a global team who continues to build a platform, learning processes and pathways for collaborative empowerment of our global network.
Ashley sincerely thanks the GIN community for all of their hard work and brave commitment. Thank you for being a global community of positive change-makers. It takes teamwork to make the dream work!
Contact Ashley at : ashley@globalissuesnetwork.net