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Simone Marean, Director
Simone Marean is the Executive Director of GLI and currently lives in Santa Cruz, CA, where she teaches GLI programs year-round. She has a Masters Degree in Educational Theatre from NYU. Simone taught the GLI program at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. She taught theatre at The Young Women’s Leadership School, The Brearley School, The McCarter Theatre, Henry Street Settlement, American Place Theatre, Red Bull Theatre, The School of the Future and the Neighborhood School. Simone Marean grew up on the north shore of Boston and graduated from Bryn Mawr College Magna Cum Laude.

Simone’s favorite part of camp is the insanity of our morning games. She can’t wait for WOOSH 2009!!!

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. She was elected tri-captain and graduated ranked 5th for all time leading 3pt scorer.  Upon graduation Julia received the President Award and was a Sarah and James Bowdoin scholar.

Julia can't wait for the GLI Olympiad and water fight! ah woo GLI!

Shelby Knox, Inspiration Activist,  Session Two
Shelby Knox is an activist and nationally recognized speaker and organizer who specializes in designing workshop programming for youth leaders. Currently living in New York City, she has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and the Dr. Phil Show, and in Glamour, Bust, and Seventeen magazine. Her early efforts were featured in The Education of Shelby Knox, a documentary chronicling her unlikely development as a 15 year-old activist in Lubbock Texas. Shelby graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Political Science.