NYLC Welcomes New Staff

NYLC is pleased to announce the addition of five new staff members, AmeriCorps VISTA outreach and development assistant Patrick Coghlan, development associate Andrew Grewell, professional development manager Lana Peterson, marketing associate Sam Schultz, and conference and events coordinator Jason Stewart.

Patrick Coghlan, a recent graduate of North Dakota State University, joins NYLC as the AmeriCorps VISTA development and outreach assistant. In this capacity he’ll help to expand the National Youth Leadership Training’s alumni base to keep former participants, staff, and partners connected. He’ll also work with the development team to expand NYLC’s list of partners to help promote NYLC’s vision.

Drawn to service-learning because he’s a hands-on person, “I love to see the change that I am making,” he says. Patrick looks forward to working with youth, even if indirectly, to try to solve real problems: “Youth leaders bring an energy and excitement to the table that is contagious!”

To learn more about Patrick, read his staff bio.

Andrew Grewell joins NYLC as the development associate and will support and help to coordinate NYLC’s fundraising and development efforts. He looks forward to developing relationships that will benefit both the youth and adults NYLC serves and the organizations it partners with.

“I have been drawn to service-learning since my childhood,” Andrew says, “when I discovered that learning works better when I get my hands dirty.” A big believer in diverse partnerships and creativity in finding solutions to social problems, he believes service-learning can help youth develop their imagination in problem solving. “Giving responsibility and voice to underserved populations is also a passion of mine, so helping create new experiences for youth follows naturally.”

To learn more about Andrew, read his staff bio.

Lana Peterson, a former NYLC AmeriCorps promise fellow, has stayed on with the organization as a professional development manager. In her new capacity her main roles will be to design and facilitate trainings, manage the Generator School Network, and support the incoming cohort of AmeriCorps serving at NYLC.

“Right now it is a hairy time for schools, teachers, and students,” says Lana. Everyone is facing challenges, and service-learning is no exception. She’s excited to help teachers and administrators face those challenges using service-learning as a best practice methodology.  “Despite the challenges faced in the education world, service-learning practitioners always seem to have a can-do attitude which makes my job supporting those teachers very fun," she says.

To learn more about Lana, read her staff bio.

Sam Schultz, NYLC’s former AmeriCorps VISTA development and outreach assistant, returns to the organization as the marketing associate. In his new capacity he’ll support NYLC’s marketing and communications efforts by managing the organization’s social media platforms, writing stories for the nylc.org website, and helping to increase NYLC’s visibility. “NYLC does such great work and it’s my goal to share these resources with more schools and young people,” he says.

His first introduction to service-learning was in college when he took a community engagement course. “I was instantly hooked,” Sam says, “because that experience went so far beyond the community service I had done in high school.” He went on to complete his bachelor’s in sociology with a concentration in service-learning and looks forward to promoting NYLC’s programs and resources.

To learn more about Sam, read his staff bio.

Jason Stewart joins NYLC as the conference and events coordinator and will help to coordinate the annual National Service-Learning Conference   and the National Youth Leadership Training. Having been impacted by meaningful conference experiences as a student leader with Kiwanis International, he wants to provide a meaningful conference experiences to other students and educators.

Jason has a passion for working with youth and developing their leadership potential while engaging them in meaningful service, which is what draws him to service-learning. “Having been involved with leadership development and service organizations as a student leader, I know the value of service-learning and what it can offer youth in becoming active citizens in their communities,” he says. He looks forward to working closely with NYLC’s Youth Advisory Council   and assisting in coordinating the National Youth Leadership Training.

To learn more about Jason, read his staff bio.