Meet the Team
Grace CarlsonCo-Director, Casa Bayanihan
Hailing from small cities in New York and Minnesota, Grace Carlson is proud to be a daughter of her two dynamic parents, Andrew and Felipa, as well as a sister to two beautiful women, Elizabeth and Jackie. As a Casa alumna, and with degrees in Anthropology and Theology from Fordham University in the Bronx, New York, Grace went on to teach middle school at Sacred Heart Nativity Schools in San Jose, Calif., for three years. To continue to share her enthusiasm for learning, she is currently pursuing a master's in interdisciplinary education at Santa Clara University. Besides harboring a deep appreciation for reading, tea, rollerblading, and poetry, Grace loves to explore new places and truly believes in an education that is grounded in reality. Heidi KallenCo-Director, Casa BayanihanHeidi grew up in San Juan Capistrano, Southern California with her parents, three sisters, (Michelle, Krista, and Amy), and brother, (Charlie). Heidi loves to travel, write letters, go on long runs with her mom, bake chocolate chip cookies and listen to live music, especially with her siblings. She feels most alive when she is near the ocean and when she has the opportunity to engage in conversations about faith and be present to others. After graduating from Santa Clara University with degrees in psychology and religious studies, her love for Latin American culture and desire to walk in faith with others led her to Peru, where she served two years with Jesuit Volunteers International. Heidi is currently completing a dual degree in pastoral ministry and social work with a concentration in global practice at Boston College. She is excited to be back in El Salvador (Casa alumna '03) and is looking forward to serving in the Philippines with the Casa. Mark Ravizza, S.J.Jesuit in Residence, Casa Bayanihan
Betsy PurnerCommunity Coordinator, Park House
Guillermo PortilloCommunity Coordinator, Tree House
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An associate professor of philosophy at Santa Clara University, Mark will serve as Jesuit in Residence at Casa Bayanihan. He has taught or worked in El Salvador, the Philippines, Mexico, and Canada. He also is the author of several books and is a senior fellow of the Bannan Institute for Jesuit Education and Christian Values at Santa Clara University. Mark has degrees in philosophy and engineering from Stanford and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Yale.
Originally from Southern California, Betsy graduated from Santa Clara University in June 2010 with degrees in Environmental Science and Religious Studies. She is extremely blessed with the love and support of her parents, Julie and Dan, and her three sisters and brother-in law, Michelle, Eileen, Monique, and Pat. Betsy studied abroad at the Casa de la Solidaridad in Fall 2008 and was privileged to be the CC in Casa Romero for the 2010-2011 semesters. She is so excited and extremely honored to have the opportunity to be working with the Casa network again, accompanying students throughout this incredible experience and getting to know a new country's reality. Betsy loves making music videos, the Goo Goo Dolls or any live music, fair trade chocolate and coffee, and early mornings. She is looking forward to learning a lot from the Filipinos and the wonderful community of students she is privileged to live with at Casa Bayanihan. She is currently "living into" her future and making plans to continue studying when she returns to the states.
Guillermo is from San Jose, California and a graduate of Santa Clara University, where he studied Studio Art and Spanish. He first studied at the Casa de la Solidaridad in Fall 2008, and was given the opportunity to return to El Salvador as a Community Coordinator in 2010. After spending a year working with the Casa program, he was blessed yet again with a chance to travel to the Philippines to be a coordinator for its first year. He is proud to be a part of this adventure and grateful for all that the Casa has done for him over the past few years. Guillermo is loving the Filipino obsession with basketball, and he also enjoys drawing, painting, retreats, and spending time with his family. He hopes to one day pursue a career in teaching, but is currently discerning where life will take him next.  |
