Staff Members

Participating High School Students will be supervised 24 hours a day by Global Studies Pre-College Program Resident Assistants and Program Assistants.  These staff members, University of Illinois undergraduate and graduate students, will serve as mentors to students and share their own experiences transitioning from high school to higher education.

Program Assistants:

Bethany Burger (Global Health Program Assistant)

Bethany is a Undergraduate Student in the Departments of Psychology and Molecular and Cellular Biology and plans to pursue a minor in leadership as well as certificates in leadership and neuroscience. Through the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Bethany is a member of the James Scholar Program. She is an undergraduate research assistant in the Department of Integrative Biology studying the neuroscience of behavior. Outside of the classroom, she is a member of Student Alumni Ambassadors, Undergraduate Psychology Association, Illini Pride, and works in the Office of International Programs for the College of Education.
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Albert Stabler (Human Rights Program Assistant)
Albert taught art in Chicago for many years, including ten years teaching full-time in the public schools. He also wrote art criticism, curated exhibitions, and made artwork. Albert is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Art Education, and his focus is on art, law, and punishment, with a strong emphasis on race and policing. He lives in Urbana with his wife and young daughter, where they sometimes hold art exhibitions in their backyard.

 

 

 

 

Resident Assistants:

Zach Boehmke (Head Evening Resident Assistant)
Zach has recently graduated from the University of Illinois with a Master’s degree in Secondary Science Education. Prior to receiving his master’s, Zach was also a student in the department of LAS studying Molecular and Cellular Biology. Zach has held several teaching and mentorship positions on campus, but his time as a Resident Advisor for the CGS Sustainable Futures and Global Health programs is one he reflects the most positively upon. Working with some of the more forward-minded students in the country who live out their passions for global citizenry has inspired him to return to his posting.
In his free time, Zach coaches cross-country and track and field at Urbana High School.  In addition to teaching and coaching, Zach enjoys traveling, exploring the great outdoors, and eating great food. He looks forward to working with everybody!
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Amber Kainz (Evening Resident Assistant)
Amber is a senior double-majoring in Global Studies and Political Science, minoring in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (REEES), and pursuing a Certificate in International Development Studies. Amber worked as a Camp Counselor for the YMCA, taught education and nutrition objectives with a non-profit in Ecuador, and lobbied for sustainability, health, and human rights objectives on behalf of international development organizations in Washington, D.C. To practice her passion for sustainable development she is Project Lead for Ntisaw, Cameroon and Vice President of Engineers Without Borders. This summer Amber does research for the Program in Arms Control & Domestic and International Security (ACDIS), and is excited to learn alongside the CGS Summer Workshop students. Following the program Amber will spend her final semester in Russia next spring and will go on to join the Peace Corps or Foreign Service.

 

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Lauren Sargeant (Head Overnight Resident Assistant)
Lauren Sargeant is entering her senior year in bioengineering at the University of Illinois. She has always enjoyed traveling, but developed an interest in global health after having the opportunity to visit Tanzania with a faculty-led program with the University. Last year she studied abroad for a semester in Madrid, Spain and then spent her summer in Nairobi, Kenya. Lauren also completed an Interdisciplinary Global Health Certificate program at Illinois. On campus, Lauren is involved in Engineers Without Borders, Colleges Against Cancer, and undergraduate research. She enjoys cycling and is planning to do a cross-country ride following her graduation next spring!

 

 

 

M. Brian Tyrian (Overnight Resident Assistant)
Brian Tyiran is a 3rd year electrical engineering student who works as an RA for university housing for the Health Professions Living Learning Community. As an electrical engineer, he wants to work with renewable energies. He speaks two languages fluently, Romanian and English and is well into learning French as well. In his spare time, he likes to read, explore new places, and learn new things. He can’t pick a favorite book but has recently enjoyed reading His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis