Meet Our Team
Leaders
Each year,
dozens of Team Leaders join LeadAmerica
to be a part of something larger
than themselves. They come from all
over the United States and abroad,
and from nearly every walk of life.
But they all have one thing in common – a
belief that together, we can make a
difference in the lives of young people.
LeadAmerica
TL's are college and graduate level
students from some of the most prestigious
colleges and universities in the
world. In past years, our TLs have
come from Harvard, MIT, Cornell,
Columbia, Boston University, Johns
Hopkins, Loyola, UCLA, University of
Chicago, The Citadel, VMI, and many
other institutions of distinction.
Most have academic and/or work experience
in the conference field of study. Many
are pursuing degrees in education and
have peer counseling, tutorial and
leadership experience. These young
men and women help to deliver the LeadAmerica
experience to our students. They serve
as mentors and role models – and
they are often cited by students as
one of the most important aspects of
their conference experience.
We invite you
to meet a few of LeadAmerica’s
Team Leaders...
Justin
R.
Team Leader
2007-2009
Justin just finished his
first year of law school
at the University of Iowa
in Iowa City, IA. Prior
to this, he received his
undergraduate dual degrees
in Political Science and
Communication from the
University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign in
2008.
Justin attended the Congressional
Forum in 2003. Four years
later he began his summer
job with LeadAmerica as
a Team Leader for the Congressional
Forum at Catholic University.
“LeadAmerica
has allowed me to apply
the skills that I have
learned in my extracurricular
activities and educational
experiences to new situations.
I have been able to expand
my public speaking and
leadership skills through
the use of the programs
at LeadAmerica.”
Stephen
D.
Team Leader
Stephen is a graduate
from Grand Valley State
University. His plan now,
after graduating, are to
serve a year as an Americorps
Member, then enroll in
a Master of Public Health
program in fall 2010.
"I
have worked for LeadAmerica
every summer of my college
career and it is those
memories, experiences and
the lifelong friendships
I have made that I will
never forget,” says
Stephen. "My first
summer with LeadAmerica
really touched me... There
has been no greater feeling
than getting emotional
notes from the four toughest
guys in my Leadership Team
telling the impact I had
on their lives in such
a short time."
"There
is no other opportunity
that defines Leadership
greater than Leading
a group of high school
students for 10 days,
serving as their mentor
and teaching them lifelong
lessons."
 Kristin
G.
Team Leader
2006-2009
Kristen is a senior at
Ohio State University.
She is currently a Biology
Major, Art Minor. Kristen
hopes to pursue a master's
degree in Art Therapy and
continue on to Medical
School after that.
“Working
with LeadAmerica is unlike
any other experience
that I have ever had.
I came into my first
summer with the Medicine
and Healthcare program...I
continue to come back
every year, with the
knowledge that not only
will I impact the lives
of my students, they
will also profoundly
inspire and change me.
This dynamic interplay
of student and mentor
is, in my opinion, one
of the reasons that LeadAmerica
is so successful: Because
it allows the students
to influence you, just
as much as you are influencing
them.”
 Mike
N.
Team Leader
2006 - 2009
Mike
is a 2009 graduate of
Drake University in Des
Moines, IA with a double
major in Politics and English,
a minor in Business, and
a concentration in Law
and Business. In the fall,
he’ll enter a Ph.D.
program in American Politics
at Washington University
in St. Louis.
“I keep coming back
year after year because
I'm continually amazed
by what happens at a LeadAmerica
conference.“ Six
or ten days is such a short
period of time, but, as
I watch students leave
at the end of the conference,
I see the look in their
eyes as they realize how
much they've changed. Of
course, that in and of
itself is great, but I
really enjoy hearing from
my former students about
how they've taken what
they learned at LeadAmerica
and used it to do good
things back home. It is
also great to hear that
some of my students (who
are now in college) are
taking trips to visit each
other; over four years
later, the friendships
they made at LeadAmerica
have flourished.”
“More
importantly, I keep coming
back to LeadAmerica because
it changes me. It makes
me think about what I
stand for, where I'm
going, and who I am.
LeadAmerica has made
me a more positive person,
a better leader, and a
more caring friend. LeadAmerica
has helped me to reflect
upon the person I was yesterday,
to become the person that
I am today, and will continue
to shape who I am tomorrow.”
 David S.
Team Leader
Kindergarten Teacher, NM
"Learning from
each other is the key to a stimulating LeadAmerica
experience," says David S. (affectionately
know as D.E.), one of LeadAmerica's
veteran Team Leaders. You should
know, D.E. is referring to what he learns
from LeadAmerica students!
"These are some
amazingly-talented young people. I
learn from them everyday." And
after talking with LeadAmerica
students, David reciprocates this exchange
of ideas. Since David spends the school
year teaching Kindergarten, his patience
and hands-on approach to learning are
appealing to middle and high school
students as well.
David attributes LeadAmerica's
students' success to the format of
its curriculum, "Students are able
to learn more from one day of simulations
than from an entire year of classrooms
and books. They just get it
and it clicks."
David has been a
TL for LeadAmerica's
Leadership University, Law & Trial
Advocacy, Intelligence, Defense & National
Security and Congressional Forum conferences.
 Suzanne C.
Team Leader
The Citadel, Class of 2004
Being a mentor
and leading by example are par for
the course for our star Team Leader,
Suzanne.
She paved the way at the Citadel Military
College of South Carolina as a student
in one of the first classes of women
AND forming the first Women's Golf
Team in school history.
Suzanne was
a four-year letter winner, a member
of the dean's list and maintained
a 3.77 GPA. She graduated The Citadel
in May 2004 with a Bachelor of Science
in Business Administration.
Now, it's off
to law school. Suzanne has chosen
the Charleston School of Law in her
hometown.
Suzanne's experience being a TL was
typical. If you call rewarding, motivating
and life-changing typical...
Because she wanted
to see her students reach their potential,
Suzanne formed relationships with the
every member of her group. Suzanne
recalled a special student at a conference
this year. He was struggling the first
day. He didn't think he fit in or belonged
at the conference. Suzanne's motivation
was able to turn him around. In just
a few days, he was one of the leaders
and inspiring others. We are proud
to have Team Leaders like Suzanne.
They are the heart and soul of our
conferences.
 Tina M.
Team Leader
Harvard University, Class of 2005
A senior at Harvard University, a
self-proclaimed leadership junkie,
and a proficient public speaker, Tina
is an aspiring trial lawyer.
Tina is a very ambitious young woman.
She is the captain of Harvard's Mock
Trial Club, a member of the Parliamentary
Debate Club, works in the campus library
and conducts research in the psychology
lab. After she graduates, Tina plans
to attend law school and pursue a career
as a trial lawyer and youth speaker.
Tina has a
real passion for people. She said
that being a LeadAmerica TL was the
best summer experience ever. "The
kids at LeadAmerica are amazingly dedicated, " she
said. "It was incredibly rewarding."
Tina has continued her friendships
with fellow TLs in Cambridge and plans
to help some of her students with their
Harvard applications. Wow. That's networking
- and an example of how the LeadAmerica
community continues to support its
students, even after their conferences
are over.
 Courtney W.
Team Leader
Arizona State University, Class of 2003
This Team Leader
has quite an entrepreneurial spirit.
While investigating a position as
a full-time event planner for LeadAmerica,
Courtney landed a summer job and became
one of our outstanding Team Leaders.
Her summer with LeadAmerica proved
to be a rewarding experience. She led
her teams well at several Business
and Entrepreneurship conferences in
2004.
Courtney's
degree from Arizona State University
in International Business and Finance
has certainly prepared her for the
real world.
Courtney is
currently back home with her family
in Virginia. Along
with her Mom and Dad, she runs the
family business, Heirlooms of Clifton
Forge. This distinctive antique and
gift store also has a café in
the back. Courtney spends her days
creating eye-popping window displays,
ordering merchandise and managing the
finances of the store.
While the family
business keeps Courtney in demand,
she has big plans for the future.
She is interested in a career in
Wedding and Event Planning and is
considering relocating to a large market
to achieve her goal. We
have no doubt Courtney is a leader
for life.
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