Lisa Robinson Spader
President

Lisa is a dreamer and visionary who’s passionate about making a direct impact.  She studied Economic Development at Harvard and thrills to see it take shape in real communities. Read more.

Daniel Higbie
Board Member

Daniel’s passion for international work grew out of his experiences as a child in Egypt. He went on to receive a Masters in International Relations and founded and runs an award-winning business in Albuquerque. He is committed to world-class excellence and pragmatism. Read more.

Kylie Palacios
Social Media Director

From an early age, Kylie learned the joy of serving others in a local food kitchen. She began using social media as a tool to help others as the ambassador for the National Haitian Amputee Soccer Team. After an internship in Guatemala with Global Pearls, she decided to join the Global Pearls team. Read more.

LeeMin Chong
Vice-President

LeeMin wants to leverage her MBA and program management experience to come alongside those who strive to break the vicious cycle of poverty, helping them reach their dreams. Read more.

Katharina Root
Treasurer

Katharina was blessed to grow up an Anglo minority on the Navajo and Sioux Reservations. She currently is an accountant with her own business specializing in non-profit accounting. Katharina wants to be part of something bigger than herself and is excited to be joining the Global Pearls team. Read more.

Patricia Erdmann
Editor

Patricia teaches Educational Leadership & Management to university students in Malawi each fall. This experience has shown her the importance of nurturing opportunities for women and children worldwide. Read more.

Arlene Chua Say Soto
Secretary

Growing up in the Philippines, Arlene saw extreme poverty on a daily basis. Blessed with parents who gave her the gift of a good education, she now uses it to help others. Read more.

Christina Palastanga Gardiner
Board Member

Christina was born to a British father and German mother, and she lived in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany before moving to the United States. She has maintained her European roots and brings this cultural perspective as well as successful business experience and extensive nonprofit work to our board.

Lynda Myers
Former Board Member; Current Consultant

Before retirement in 2016, Lynda Myers, PhD (Philosophy), taught for thirty-nine years at Saint John’s College in Santa Fe, NM, where discussion-based classes foster critical thinking skills, shared problem-solving, and cooperative learning. Read more.