Kathleen was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Benin, West Africa from 1975 to 1977.  As a health education volunteer, she trained primary school teachers to deliver a new national curriculum of lessons on nutrition, personal hygiene, and disease prevention. Kathleen worked in global health for more than a decade, managing projects throughout Africa and Asia. She earned an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management and has nonprofit, private, and public sector experience across multiple industries, focused on marketing, business development, and project management. Kathleen particularly enjoyed the years she spent consulting and training in cross-cultural communication and business etiquette.

As President, Kathleen hopes to help SEAPAX continue adapting and evolving to remain a relevant and significant contributor to peace and global solidarity.

Fun Fact: Kathleen has summited numerous volcanic peaks and climbs in the U.S. West, East Africa, and Mexico. Taking advantage of the accessibility of another favorite PNW sport, she’s traded in her rope, rack, and climbing shoes for a pair of sculling oars.

I served as a TESL volunteer in the Philippines from 1965-67 and as a Crisis Corps (now Peace Corps Response) volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 2004-5.  I was supposed to help with flood relief in the DR, but it took so long for the PC to get me there that by the time I arrived the emergency was over.  The PC then said, “Try and make yourself useful.”  I did that and had a wonderful experience getting to know Dominicans and their country.

My career has included stints in the for-profit, non-profit, and public sectors.  I lobbied for a Nader group in DC, worked at the US EPA in DC and in Seattle, worked briefly in Silicon Valley, and spent 7 years in the commercial fishing industry, which was the most fun part of my working life.  My offices were always in Seattle, but the fishing was in Alaska, and I spent quite a bit of time there.  My favorite spot was Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, which are the tops of mountains poking out of the Pacific.  I loved Alaskan summers – I could work a full day and still have plenty of daylight to take a 10-mile hike after work.  In the Aleutians there are no trees, so a person can just point oneself in a direction and go.

My wife and I owned a small house in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for many years – dividing our time between San Miguel and Seattle.  We sold the place last fall, and now are in Seattle full-time.

Fun Fact:  I walked all the 100 hikes in the Mountaineers 100 Hikes in the Alpine Lakes.

Erin was a Peace Corps volunteer in Myanmar (Burma) from 2018-2020. She taught in a local high school with two Myanmar teachers. Since coming home Erin has enjoyed spending a lot of time with her niece and new nephew.

Fun Fact: Erin has never had braces.

Brad was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Republic of South Africa from 2006-2008. As a volunteer, he worked at a rural, district hospital in a clinic specializing in HIV/AIDS health care. Projects included the identification of the late AIDS-stage arrival of HIV patients at the clinic where he worked, the development of a system to help find HIV patients who failed to return for medical follow-up visits, and youth outreach work.

After returning to the United States, Brad took a position as a Research Scientist at the University of Washington, which is where he currently works. The focus
of the lab that he works in is the design and development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine.

Brad was SEAPAX Membership Chair from 2017-2018 before serving as President from 2019-2021.  As the Immediate Past President, he is looking forward to staying engaged with SEAPAX as an advisor to the Board.

Fun fact: In his younger days, Brad was known for riding a unicycle wherever he went.

John Berry served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger 1986–89 and has extensive experience in international development program design and management.

Belize 1996-1998

Ellen was an Environmental Education Volunteer in Bolivia from 2007-08. She rode a bright yellow bicycle around town to plant schoolyard gardens and tree nurseries and set up a municipal recycling program. She also taught English and, in a complete departure from her natural skill set, tutored math and sang in a choir.

Since Peace Corps, Ellen has worked in agroforestry, forest restoration, and natural resource management at the local and international levels. She moved to Seattle in 2020 and is settling in ever-so-slowly. She volunteers with Forterra, Books to Prisoners, and Lutheran Community Services and hopes to build SEAPAX relationships with those groups.

Fun fact: Ellen learned Quechua and French with instruction in Spanish and her brain has possibly not recovered. She is now attempting to learn Korean. 안녕하세요! Estoy bien! Et vous, allinachu?

Brianna Celaya serves on the SEAPAX board and served in Guyana from June 2019- to March 2020 as an Environmental Educator. She is a Civil Engineer at U.S. Forest Service.
 

Sally served as a Rural Aquaculture Promotion Agent in Eastern Zambia from 2014-2016. When not building fish farming capacity, she worked on other agriculture, health, and education projects, in addition to spending plenty of time hanging out on porches and reed mats shelling maize with women and playing in the dirt with children.

Since Peace Corps, Sally has remained in the international development sector working for education and health organizations. She moved to Seattle in 2019 to start a Master in Pubic Administration with an International Development focus at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance.

Fun fact: You'll often find Sally frolicking in nature, baking desserts, or playing rugby.

I served in The Gambia, West Africa from 2014-2016, born and raised in Spokane, WA. Went to University of Washington where I double majored in Political Science and Communications.

I am currently a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley. When I'm not working, I enjoy staying active and hanging with friends.  I love the outdoors- hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing. Enjoy sports, playing soccer, golf, and rugby as well as watching all sports.

I try to give back when I can and volunteer regularly with the local IRC chapter; I joined the SEAPAX board to help out because my peace corps experience was incredibly rewarding and I want to continue the mission. I'm excited to meet old and new volunteers and connect with all our members. I like to joke and have a good time! 

Fun fact: I had my appendix removed when I was 9 years old.

Swaziland 2008-2010

Jerome was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Liupanshui, Guizhou Province,
China from June 2019 to February 2020, serving as an adjunct professor at
Liupanshui Normal University. Along with teaching news listening and spoken English,
Jerome also served as an advisor to the university’s student led English Fans
Association, hosted a bimonthly cooking club, and executed a weekly English Corner.
Jerome also served as a Peer-Support and Diversity Network Advisor, Safety and
Security Warden, and In-Service Training Committee Planner.
 
Jerome’s final act as a volunteer was executing a two-cohort reflection session during
Peace Corps China’s consolidation, evacuation, and final close of service ceremony in
Bangkok, Thailand (February 2020). Jerome is a Covid-19 Evacuee.
 
Jerome has called the PNW home since 2003. He is currently working for the National
Peace Corps Association as a COVID-19 Contact Tracer, part of the inaugural NPCA
Emergency Response Network. His current assignment is focused on the COVID-19
response in King County, Washington. He is excited to share stories and be a part of
the PNW RPCV community.
 
Fun fact: Jerome has run three marathons in Seattle.

I served as a secondary education volunteer (teacher) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from 2000-2001. 

As a marketer and communications consultant, I enjoy being the webmaster and helping SEAPAX with its online presence.

My curiosity has taken me on some great adventures professionally and personally. Photography is one of my passions and the Pacific Northwest and the Puget Sound are the best canvass. When I am not behind the camera I can be found cooking new recipes, exploring, or learning something new.
 

Fun Fact:  I have run with the bulls.

Kenney Tran was a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia, serving in Community Economic
Development on the Caribbean coast from 2018 to 2020 where he worked
with the national training service, high school teachers, as well as the ministry of education to
enhance entrepreneurship and financial literacy efforts. Kenney is a Covid-19 Evacuee.

Kenney is a graduate student at the University of Washington in the Evans School, working on
his MPA focusing on racial equity through social policy. Kenney is heavily invested in anti-racism work, serving on multiple nonprofit boards.