Yazmin Iglesias - Interim Executive Director

Yazmin was born in Texas and grew up just outside of New York City in Stamford, Connecticut.  She studied Hospitality Management at Johnson & Wales University in both Providence, Rhode Island and Miami, Florida.  She also received a second degree in business at the University of Connecticut.  After studying abroad in Nepal, Yazmin decided she wanted to spend her life traveling and immersing in the different cultures of the world.  In 2005, she relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii to head up operations at a local not-for-profit organization.  In 2008, from Hawaii, she began a year long journey around the world, crossing the USA, living in Morocco, Egypt, India & Thailand.  Yazmin has spent a lot of time in Uruguay where her parents migrated from and the majority of her family still lives.  She is fluent in both Spanish and English, and is a certified translator.  She has come to Costa Rica to work with environmental education and eco-tourism.  Yazmin joined the SCLC team in May 2011.

Wendy Herrera Varela - Community Development Coordinartor

Wendy was born in Osa Peninsula and moved to live in Pérez Zeledón, the southern part of Costa Rica. She studied sustainable tourism at the Universidad Nacional for four years. She likes to travel and learn about different people and cultures. She also likes to share with people from rural communities and help them. She also enjoys helping with nature and conservation. Wendy completed her professional intership at the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center. She fell in love with the region and her job at the Center, and now she is continuing to work there as she begins her career.

 Marrisa Stern - Ecotourism Coordinator

Marissa grew up in California and Metro Detroit. Her love for culture, nature, and Latin America led her to getting a BA in Anthropology with minors in Spanish and Environmental Studies from Michigan State University. During her studies she spent a semester in Ecuador, and fell in love with the beautiful country. Upon her return, she realized she wanted to pursue a career in supporting Latin American environments and livelihoods. Before joining SCLC, she worked as a program’s assistant for a Michigan based non-profit that promoted energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Her passion for conservation, especially for rainforest protection, inspired her to get involved in ecotourism. As a big supporter of SCLC’s mission, she believes that environmental education and exposure to the beauty of nature are very important factors to influencing change.  Marissa is excited to spread these passionate ideas while managing the tourism activities at the center. She hopes that her efforts will further the support and development of this wonderful organization.

Hannah Minturn - EFL Coordinator & Scholarship Coordinator

 Hannah was born in New York and spent most of her childhood there before moving to mid-Missouri at the age of 10. She completed her undergraduate studies in Political Science at Truman State University and later attended the Graduate Business School at Stephens College to study Strategic Leadership. In the summer of 2011, after three years working in higher education, she decided to pursue her so-called "pipe dream" of living and working abroad and bought a one-way ticket to Costa Rica. After completing TEFL certification in Samara, she secured a volunteer position as an English teacher at a 400-acre, self-sustainable, organic ranch on the shores of Lake Arenal. Her experience at the ranch was extraordinary and it inspired her to search for other similar opportunities in Costa Rica. After leaving the ranch, she spent some time traveling throughout Nicaragua before joining the SCLC family in January 2012. Hannah believes deeply in the importance of education and recognizes the vast breadth of ways learning opportunities manifest themselves in our day-to-day lives. For exactly that reason, she is excited to dedicate the next 6 months to the SCLC's mission of bettering the Sarapiqui community through fostering unique learning opportunities focused on conservation, community development, eco-tourism and environmental education.

Charles Hill - EFL Coordinator

Charles was born in Memphis, TN and lived in New York City, the San Francisco Bay area and Washington, DC while in the United States. In the past, Charles was a consultant for both the public and private sectors. He developed a keen love for traveling and decided that he wanted to fulfill his desires to travel around the world. He decided to teach English because it would be a way to make a meaningful contribution to the world and allow him to see and experience different cultures. He has lived and taught in multiple countries to many different demographics; and, he hopes to perpetually continue teaching and exploring as many countries as possible. Costa Rica has been of interest to him for many years and he has always wanted to be immersed in Central American lifestyles. So he jumped at the opportunity to be an EFL Coordinator in such a diverse and interesting place. Furthermore, because he has been involved with research on renewable energy and sustainable systems, he is excited about enhancing his knowledge and increasing his involvement with environmental  education through SCLC's programs.