Simone Marean, Executive Director
Simone Marean is co-founder and Executive Director of GLI.  She has taught GLI programs across the country and internationally, including the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls and the American School in Dubai. Simone has a Masters degree in Educational Theatre from NYU and taught at many New York City schools including The Young Women’s Leadership School, The Brearley School, and The Neighborhood School. Simone grew up on the north shore of Boston and graduated from Bryn Mawr College Magna Cum Laude. She now lives in Berkeley, CA.

Julia Loonin, Assistant Director
Julia Loonin is the Assistant Director of Girls Leadership Institute. Julia moved to Santa Cruz from Boston, Massachusetts where she was the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Wellesley College. Last year Julia was a program assistant for Tenacity Inc., a youth development organization whose mission is to build resiliency and life-skills in inner city youth.

Julia grew up in New York City and graduated from Bowdoin College. A former basketball player at Bowdoin, Julia’s team graduated with a winning record of 112-9. During her four years, the team won 4 NESCAC championships and made 4 NCAA elite 8 appearances. Upon graduation Julia received the President Award and was a Sarah and James Bowdoin scholar.

Rachel Simmons, Director of Program Development
Rachel Simmons is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls, and The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence.

After graduating from Vassar College, Rachel won a Rhodes Scholarship from New York in 1998. She attended Oxford University, where she began her study of female aggression.

The co-founder of the Girls Leadership Institute, Rachel currently serves as a consultant to schools and organizations around the world. She has worked as a classroom teacher at Miss Hall’s School in Massachusetts and the Roedean School in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Rachel was the host of the recent PBS television special, “A Girl’s Life,” and writes an advice blog for girls at TeenVogue.com.

Rachel has appeared on Oprah, is a frequent contributor to the Today Show, and appears regularly in the national media. Odd Girl Out was adapted into a highly acclaimed Lifetime television movie. Rachel lives in western Massachusetts with her West Highland Terrier, Rosie, who is currently taking private workshops with Rachel to learn how to stop bullying other dogs.