Nils Bergeson, Executive Director and Founder
Nils has worked in multicultural environments for twenty years. He was a U.S. Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development and a volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps. Nils has lived in eight different countries and worked in or visited nearly seventy. He graduated from Utah State University in International Relations, and has a Master’s from the Monterey Institute for International Studies in International Public Administration. He founded ENGAGE Global Storytelling because above all else, he feels the key to world peace is helping us all understand one another better.
Adrienne Garcia, Director of Education
Adrienne has over fifteen years of experience as an educator. She leads the highly collaborative Research & Writing team, tasked with developing educational content at ENGAGE. She wholeheartedly believes in the student-centered classroom and has implemented these approaches in high schools and middle schools in Guatemala, Mozambique, and India. Adrienne has served on numerous school improvement, steering, and accreditation committees and has recently received the Director’s Innovation in Education Award in New Delhi, India. Adrienne earned a Masters of Education from Framingham State University, a Masters in English from Southern New Hampshire University, and a Bachelors in Music Composition from Brigham Young University. In her free time, Adrienne enjoys reading, hiking, composing, playing the piano, and hanging out with her family — especially when they agree to dance.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kaitlyn Pieper
Kaitlyn is the Director of Community Policy at the Salt Lake Chamber, where she leads out on housing affordability efforts, supports rural engagement initiatives, and strengthens community partnerships. She was involved in Hope Corps‘ vanguard program, as the liaison for minority and women-owned businesses. She is also a contributing member of Utah Women and Leadership Project’s research team. In previous positions, Kaitlyn has worked in translation services – both as an interpreter in the local community and as a translation manager, where she travelled globally to deliver training. She has also regularly taught university courses on world literature. Kaitlyn earned her masters degree from SOAS, University of London, with a focus in Turkish Studies and Religion. She speaks 5 languages and enjoys pottery, poetry, and cycling.
Dennis Briscoe
Dennis has been involved with people from different countries for many years through his work with medical diagnostic devices, student exchanges, as President of USU Community University Friends of International Students from 2002-2007, refugee volunteer in Logan, Utah, and current Board Member of USU International Friendship program. He was interim CEO of a company in the Netherlands from 2008-2009. He has some experience as a board member for non-profit and for-profit organizations, and is excited to help support the efforts of ENGAGE Global Storytelling.
STAFF
Nick Hainsworth
Nick recently graduated from BYU with a double major in Middle Eastern Studies/Arabic and Sociology. During his undergraduate career, he lived in Jordan as an Arabic language student and in the West Bank as an English teacher. Additionally, his work as the co-president of the BYU Interfaith Student Association led him to direct and participate in interfaith activities throughout Utah Valley and across the U.S. He joined the ENGAGE Global Storytelling team because he believes in the power of relationships to build bridges between disparate communities.
Emily Bashford
Emily is currently enrolled at BYU, majoring in Latin American Studies and minoring in International Development. She Lived in Uruguay for 1.5 years, where she gained a love for Latin America and the Spanish language. She chose to be a part of this mission because She believes that cultural competence and an increased global awareness can change the world. She wants to help herself and others, become better educated about the world.
Danny Mueller
Danny is a recent graduate from the University of Utah with a major in Strategic Communications. Danny joined the team to produce videos for the From Every Nation series. He believes the world should be more open and connected.
Claudia Battezzato
Claudia is currently finishing up a degree in Public Relations at BYU with a minor in Italian. Growing up bilingual led to her having a love of different languages and cultures from a young age. This interest increased during an 18 month period in French Polynesia as a missionary for her church. She believes strongly in the power of global and cultural awareness to bridge gaps and unite people. There is much we can learn from the different lifestyles and people all around us. She plans on visiting Mexico for a service trip in the fall, and hopes to be able to continue to help others abroad and in the United States for the rest of her life.
Ryan Larsen
Ryan is studying Economics at BYU and has produced dozens of different videos and other multimedia projects. As a fluent Spanish speaker, he loves the Latin Culture and has a special place in his heart for immigrants that sacrifice much to seek better lives. He joined the Engage team because he believes there are no problems that can’t be solved if the world comes together. He hopes to be apart of future international solutions to international problems.
R. Kitchen
Kitchen has spent the last few years working towards building connections through visual communications. During their time in France and Belgium, they learned how graphic design can communicate across language barriers, and the benefits of cultural diversity in all communities. They recently earned a BA in French with a communications minor and a Ballard Scholar for Social Impact from BYU. They believe that listening to others’ stories with compassion is the most important first step in making positive change in the world.
Katrina Lantz
Katrina is studying Neuroscience and Nonprofit Management at BYU. She specializes in writing and has written science curriculum for Ensign Peak Academy, an accredited private school. In a past life, she chaired a small nonprofit family school, creating community outreach programs and fundraisers. Through BYU she interned with Kenya-based nonprofit Live Love Well which seeks to improve the multigenerational economic situation for rural Africans through the sustainable farming of superfoods. Her heart has always been in learning about cultures different from her own and lending a helping hand wherever there is economic disparity. She joined Engage Global Storytelling to further its mission of spreading empathy through geography education.
Carissa Mitchell
Carissa is graduating from BYU in April, majoring in marketing and minoring in global women’s studies. She believes that storytelling and education are key to developing empathy, establishing new perspectives, and connecting people around the world.
Genny Cole
Genny is an undergraduate at Brigham Young University majoring in Interdisciplinary Humanities with minors in International Development, Arabic, and Social Impact. At ENGAGE Global Storytelling, Genny’s main role is Social Media Director. Throughout her life, Genny has had a love and interest in other cultural beliefs and practices and is excited to assist in ENGAGE’s efforts to share the stories of people from all over the world in order to develop a greater sense of empathy, understanding, and connection and bridge our perceived differences. She ultimately hopes to become involved with International refugee relief efforts as she pursues a career in International Development and Diplomacy.
Harriet Huang
Harriet is currently studying at BYU majoring in Geography: Global Studies and double minoring in Business and Women’s Studies. Her parents are immigrants from Taiwan, which has greatly impacted the way she was raised and views the world. She has visited multiple countries, including Taiwan and Tahiti, and hopes to visit many more. Harriet believes that there is no correct way to live and that we should be open-minded to all cultures and traditions. She is passionate that learning humbly from people all around the world can help us better understand how we can all coexist and help one another.
ASSOCIATES
Beth Howard
Beth Howard is a former teacher turned homeschool mom. Her family lives in Colorado and enjoys being outside hiking and battle boarding as much as possible. Beth grew up in military family and had the opportunity to travel the world from a young age. She enjoys teaching her children about different cultures and countries. She is committed to helping families find ways to create culture inclusive homes by creating free multicultural units which she shares at littleworldwanderers.com
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