Staff & Board of DirectorsISEEN is governed by a Board of Directors and run by an Executive Director & Events Manager. If you are interested in learning more about becoming an ISEEN board member or volunteering in another capacity please contact us today!
Shoshanna Sumka is a leader in global learning, community engagement, and student leadership development. As the Executive Director (ED) of ISEEN, Shoshanna works to inspire and support experiential educators and connect lifelong learners through our inclusive network. Shoshanna’s two decades of professional experience include support for travel and outdoor education throughout the world. Most recently she worked at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC, where she coordinated global programs and community engagement, including service learning. In the past, she served as assistant director of global learning and leadership at American University, resident director of the University of Idaho’s International Programs Abroad in Quito, Ecuador, and board chair of Break Away, an organization that supports the development of active citizens and student leadership on college campuses. She is the author of numerous journal articles and two books: Working Side By Side: Creating Alternative Breaks as Catalysts for Global Learning, Student Leadership, and Social Change and Health and Safety for Secondary School Programs Abroad. Shoshanna lives in the Washington, DC area with her young daughter and partner. She has a B.A. and M.A. in anthropology and a background in global social justice. She loves world travel, practicing yoga, walks in the woods, and cooking hearty vegetarian meals. Her favorite places are Kenya, Haiti, Ecuador, the Shenandoah mountains, and the beaches of North Carolina.
Taras Ferencevych, a long-time ISEEN member, has a 25+ year career in experiential education based on an eclectic mix of experiences with a strong emphasis on programming. From his humble beginnings as a camp counselor, he understood the importance of thoughtful program design as a catalyst for meaningful and fulfilling student experiences. Taras' experiences working in higher education helped him discover social-justice work, community building, and high-impact learning practices. After leaving higher education, Taras ventured into the world of independent schools as a classroom teacher and Director of Experiential Learning at The Storm King School. Throughout his career Taras has sought out and nurtured opportunities for mentorship, both as mentor and mentee. At every place he worked, Taras has taken on leadership in developing and implementing training and professional development programs. Taras is also an active volunteer and fundraiser in several organizations dedicated to society building in Ukraine.
Chai Reddy is the Director of Upper School at Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, MA. He was also the Founder and Principal Consultant of the Shanti Alliance. The Shanti Alliance is a collection of high school student and educator cohorts based in Hawai’i devoted to enhancing their knowledge of issues related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Previously Chai worked at Punahou School (Honolulu, HI), starting in 2006, where he taught Social Studies, coached football and basketball, and oversaw the start and growth of a number of global education programs such as the Student Global Leadership Institute. As Director of the Wo International Center, he oversaw Punahou's diverse global education programming and expanded that role to include a greater focus on issues related to equity, inclusion, and social justice. Chai was born and raised in Oklahoma. He earned his B.A. in History from Lake Forest College (IL). Chai spent a year as a Math & Science teaching intern at the Haverford School (PA) before going to the Cleveland area where he taught History, Humanities, and coached at Hawken School (OH), while completing his M.A. in Humanities from John Carroll University. Chai earned his Ed.D. from Creighton University in Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies and joined the ISEEN board in 2019. He and his wife, Maile, have a son (5), daughter (1), and two dogs.
Shelly started working as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator for the City of Biddeford in June 2023. She moved to Maine in 2016 and worked in a few roles with the Chewonki Foundation as the Team Development Coordinator, Interim Dean of Students with Maine Coast Semester, and the Director of Staff Development. DEI has been essential to Shelly’s work over the past decade and is also a personal and lifelong path of growth and unlearning. Shelly grew up in Pennsylvania, holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees from Penn State University in Psychology and Philosophy, and received her post-graduate diploma in Outdoor Education at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Shelly shares her love of city life in Portland, ME with the beaches and mountains of New England; skiing, paddling, backpacking, and playing with friends. Shelly joined the ISEEN board in 2016.
Garth Nichols (he / his / him) is the Vice Principal of Experiential Education and Innovation. He is excited to bring his expertise, enthusiasm and knowledge building on experiential learning and digital transformation to the ISEEN board and members and member schools. His passion is developing the skills and mindsets of future-readiness in schools, educators and students through experiential learning. Building connections and community is paramount for his work, and he is excited to serve the ISEEN community. Garth is the Co-Founder and Lead Facilitator of Cohort 21, and the CAIS Project 2051 and CAISStrategic Change Accelerator. Garth is experienced in academic programming, professional development, school-wide innovation, including digital transformation, and administrative leadership.
Sheryl is the Chair, Experiential Learning at Hillfield Strathallen College in Hamilton Ontario. Previously she worked at Crescent School in Toronto where she co-created the school’s strategic plan and supported students, faculty, and parents in their own outreach endeavors. Sheryl designs and implements local and global trips and supports Outdoor Education programming. She is an innovator and passionate about experiential education, especially as it relates to unconventional learning. Sheryl also has extensive grant-writing experience with the Toronto Zoo.
Dr. Edwards is a dynamic and dedicated educational leader who is committed to the belief that all children and educators can achieve greatness at high levels through effective effort, high quality feedback and consistent support. With over 25 years of experience in all facets of school administration and instructional leadership, her passion for the community at-large, is what drives her motivation to continue advancing and improving the education field. Dr. Edwards is the founder of The Idari Collective, a coaching, mentoring, and consulting firm whose mission is to come alongside Black and Brown women leaders, especially, so that they will thrive in leading their personal and professional lives. Dr. Edwards served for nearly seven years as the Executive Director at Live It Learn It, an experiential learning nonprofit located in Washington, DC that partners with schools and cultural institutions to create and deliver experiential learning opportunities for Black and Brown elementary aged students in Washington, DC. Edwards is a native Chicagoan and a career educator who found her way to the east coast as a resident principal in New Leaders, Inc. during its inaugural year in Washington DC. She also served as a principal in Anacostia at Orr Elementary for almost a decade. Michelle returned to New Leaders in 2013 as the Director of the Emerging Leaders Program. Edwards has had the pleasure of sitting on several boards including Live It Learn It, The Backpack Project, An Open Book Foundation, ISEEN, and Center for Responsive Schools, where she is currently the Board Chair. She earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and received a Certificate in Executive Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University. Michelle is a graduate of Creative Results Management, where she was trained to coach. Michelle also advocates for social justice and racial reconciliation as a leader of the DC Unity and Justice Fellowship, a new 501c3 in Washington, DC where she serves as the inaugural Board Chair. She is a trained Urban Missionary, a proud, 25+ year member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the mother of two adult sons, Darren and Dante.
Erin Hawk is the Executive Director & Co-Founder of World Leadership School. She develops socially responsible collaborative partnerships for independent schools with communities around the globe. In her work, she oversees in-person and virtual educator professional development from design to facilitation. She has extensive experience designing and implementing marketing plans to provide consistent branding that promotes the organization's values and mission. Erin is a facilitator of personal growth experiences that encourages individuals to explore their identity and how it is linked to power and privilege as a way for them to build authentic relationships and see things from a new perspective. She lives in Alexandria, VA and enjoys running with her husband, stand-up paddle boarding with her daughter and camping with her son.
Elizabeth (Beth) Pillsbury, PhD is a historian, a teacher and the Director of Experiential Education and Summer Programs at Riverdale Country School in the Bronx, NY. At Riverdale, she oversees and facilitates experiential education initiatives and is dedicated to building strong academic rigor and content into those programs. She believes that through an interdisciplinary approach to experiential learning, students have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of their academic studies as well as to develop new passions, interests, and capacities. She is a committed environmental justice advocate, who works to challenge students to engage deeply in topics ranging from food access to air pollution and climate change. In 2019, Beth served as the convener for the Winter Institute and has led homeroom groups. She facilitates the ISEEN affinity group Leading School Change with Phu Tranchi.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND PROGRAMS
BOARD CHAIR
VICE CHAIR 
TREASURER
SECRETARY
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