fbpx

Our Team

Executive Leadership

Global Citizen Adventure Corps (GCAC) is a 501(c)(3) public charity Co-Founded by Stacie Freeman M.S.S.W. and Dr. Julie Hill. Collectively, they have more than 35 years experience in both K-12 and university teaching, administration, and non-profit leadership. Each has personally led numerous global studies programs for hundreds of students and community members to destinations in Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba, Mexico, Thailand, and Trinidad & Tobago. 

Stacie and Julie formed Global Citizen Adventure Corps in the summer of 2022, in order to better facilitate service-based travel opportunities for young people from under-represented backgrounds who might not have that opportunity otherwise. Both believe in the power of service learning and the importance of cultivating a mindset of global consciousness from an early age. For students who hunger for first-hand knowledge of the world around them, and are willing to earn that educational privilege through service to their local and global communities collectively, GCAC wishes to make their dream a reality!

Stacie Freeman, M.S.S.W.

Co-President, CEO, Founder

Stacie has more than 15 years of experience in higher education and study abroad administration. She is employed as a Professor of Sociology, Sociology Program Coordinator, and Director of Global Studies at Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee. She is also Bethel University’s Global Service-Learning and Citizenship Program founder and lead educator. Since 2011, she has led 438 travelers on service-learning programs in 8 countries. Together, they have volunteered over 30,000 hours with an economic impact of nearly $900,000 in host communities.

Stacie’s work at Bethel University has resulted in several awards, including Faculty Member of the Year, The Roy and Mary Shelton Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award, and the Student Government Association Service Award.Stacie graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she earned a Master of Science in Social Work degree. Relevant coursework and professional development were completed at Murray State University, University of Memphis, Harvard University, and Wellesley College. In 2019, she became a National Geographic Certified Educator. Her primary academic interests are in community-engaged teaching, learning, and scholarship.

Dr. Julie Hill

Co-President, CEO, Founder

Julie has more than 25 years of experience as a music educator, scholar, performer, lecturer, administrator, and non-profit arts leader/advocate. Previously, she served as Chair of the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Department of Music, where she was also a Professor of Percussion since 2005.

As a scholar/performer, Julie has presented hundreds of workshops, concerts, and lectures championing opportunities for social mobility through music, specifically for black women and underserved children in Northeastern Brazil. As a member of the award-winning Caixa Trio, Julie has performed in Peru, Poland, Mexico, Brazil, France, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan, and throughout the United States. She is fluent in Brazilian Portuguese and functional in Spanish.

Julie is a winner of the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Cunningham Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Award, the Hardy Graham Distinguished Professorship Award, the UT Alumni Association Outstanding Teacher Award, and the inaugural recipient of the University of Tennessee President’s system-wide Educate Award. She has received Member Laureate distinction from the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity and is a Past-President of the International Percussive Arts Society. Julie is also principal percussionist with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra.

Julie is the Co-Editorial Director for Percussive Notes, the scholarly journal of the Percussive Arts Society of which she serves as a past-president. Julie is the co-author of an audition method book entitled All Inclusive Etudes (Row-Loff Productions) and a collection of solos/duets entitled Music for Multi Percussion: A World View (Alfred Publications). Julie has numerous percussion ensemble publications with Innovative Percussion and Row-Loff Productions. Her scholarly research has been published in Percussive Notes and the Garland World Music Encyclopedias. Julie is also the owner of Black Cat Music Publishing.

Julie holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Arizona State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Julie Hill is an Artist and Educator for Zildjian Cymbals, and a Performing Artist for Yamaha Corporation of America. She is an artist and endorsee for Innovative Percussion, REMO, and Grover Pro Percussion. For more information, visit Julie Hill’s website at http://www.juliehilleducator.com

Karen Campbell

Staff

Board of Directors

Our board of directors is comprised of diverse individuals committed to leading the organization on a path of inclusivity and representation for all.

photo of Martha Edinger​

Martha Edinger

Chair
Martha Edinger is a domestic / family law attorrney and philanthropist from Sarasota, Florida with roots in Rives, Tennessee. She holds a JD from the University of Tulsa and a bachelor’s degree in history.

Joel Washburn

Vice-Chair & Secretary
Joel Washburn is the publisher of a community newspaper with more than four decades in the industry. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Union University with a MBA from Bethel University.
Christopher Williams

Christopher Williams

Treasurer
Chris Williams is currently the Director of Community Engagement at Rhodes College and the Youth Director at Shady Grove Presbyterian Church. He holds a BS in History and a MS in Ministry..

Dr. Lynn Alexander

Board Member
Dr. Lynn Alexander is the Dean of the University of Tennessee, Martin College of Humanities and Fine Arts and a Professor of English. She holds a PhD and MA in English as well as Bachelor of Arts degree.

Christine Fox

Board Member
Christine is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a BBA degree in Management Information Systems. With a 25+ year career in the IT industry working for such companies as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Harrah’s Entertainment, and FedEx Corporate Services she has a diverse background in programming, systems analysis and design, and software quality assurance.

Bethany Moore

Board Member
Bethany is a former educator and current mental health counselor. She is also an accomplished grant writer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Brittny Parsells‑Johnson

Board Member
Brittny Parsells-Johnson is a Program Analyst in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at the US Department of State. Brittny holds a MA in International Human Rights and a BS in International Studies.

Brandon Polk

Board Member
Brandon Polk is graduate of Texas A&M and a Certified Public Accountant. He brings 37 years of professional experience in Oil & Gas and Agriculture with forays into publishing and hospitality to the GCAC board.

Ed Sargent

Board Member
Ed is a former Tour Manager/Producer has traveled the world in many musical settings. Ed hopes to share, and mentor with students from West TN regarding world travel and realizing their world doesn’t have to stop at the county line.

Joyce Washington

Board Member
Joyce Washington has over 30 years of experience in management, talent development, communications, recruiting, and logistics. She holds a MBA and a Master of Strategy Communication degree.

Thomas Harrison

Board Member
The Senior Managing Director, Treasury Management of First Commercial Bank, Memphis, Tennessee, Thomas has over 20 years of experience in treasury management, commercial and retail banking. He began his banking career with Union Planters, followed by roles at AmSouth and Trustmark.

Fatelia Avery

Board Member
Fatelia Avery graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law with her Doctor of Law, JD, in 2022. Upon graduation from law school, she served as the Judicial Law Clerk for the Northern District of Mississippi.
Charles Peery

Charles Peery

Board Member
Charles Peery is a partner with ATA, a nationally recognized CPA and advisory firm. Peery helps lead the Union City, Tenn. office and has been with ATA for over seven years. Charles is a certified public accountant, specializing in tax and audit.

Board of Advisors

Our board of directors is comprised of diverse individuals committed to leading the organization on a path of inclusivity and representation for all.

Mary Nita Bondurant

Advisor

Ashley Rae Burnett

Advisor

Dr. David Coffey

Advisor

Richard Griffith

Advisor

Phillip Johnson

Advisor

Jai‑Chandler Mathis

Advisor

Dr. Brittany Presson‑Tatum

Advisor

Nic Tatum

Advisor

Alex Williams

Advisor

Michelle Williams

Advisor
Laura MacDonald

Laura MacDonald

Advisor
Skylar Dykes

Skylar Dykes

Advisor

Betsi Foster

ADVISOR

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required

Upload Important Files

Use the following File Naming Convention to name your files before uploading.
Year_Month_LastName_FirstName_FileName

For FileName use: “Passport” for Passport, “HCA” for Appointment of Healthcare Agent, “HealthIns” for International Health Insurance

Examples: 2022_10_Smith_John_HCA.pdf   OR   2022_10_Smith_Mary_HealthIns.jpg

Traveler's Name(Required)
Emergency Contact's Name(Required)
Max. file size: 2 GB.
TAKE A PHOTO OF YOUR PASSPORT (PHOTO PAGE) AND UPLOAD HERE. PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS FIRST
Max. file size: 2 GB.
PRINT THIS FORM, COMPLETE IT, HAVE TWO WITNESSES SIGN BLOCK A, IGNORE BLOCK B, PHOTOGRAPH THE COMPLETED FORM WITH YOUR PHONE, UPLOAD IT HERE.
Max. file size: 2 GB.
Max. file size: 2 GB.
Max. file size: 2 GB.
For Cuba travelers only.