Responsibilities: strategic planning, organizational development, fundraising and donor relations, coalition and relationship building, liaison to the Global Alliance, general oversight.
Aaron hails from South Burlington, Vermont. He organized locally for a Department of Peace during high school and is now a graduate of Brandeis University (2009) where is majored in Politics, with a minor in Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Studies. He has worked with Student Peace Alliance since co-founding the organization with Julia Simon-Mishel in March 2006. He also currently serves on the Board of The Peace Alliance, the partner organization to SPA that empowers civic activism for a culture of peace. Aaron is passionate about positive social change and transformation and is inspired by the organizers and peacebuilders of all ages whom he has met through his work with the Department of Peace campaign. In his spare time Aaron enjoys eating hummus, salsa dancing, and the great outdoors.
Responsibilities: managing and supporting the activities of the Coordinating Committee, material development, strategic planning, facilitating communication between The Peace Alliance and SPA, lead organizer for all national events, actions, and conferences.
Julia is a graduate of Brandeis University where she double majored in Politics and Women and Gender Studies, with minors in Legal Studies and Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Studies. She has been working with Student Peace Alliance since co-founding the organization with Aaron Voldman in March 2006. She cherishes every minute that she spends working with Student Peace Alliance members and always goes through intense withdrawal following national events! You probably know her as the logistics and detail guru, but she also shares the greater vision of a better world (details included). Julia grew up in the unique town of Takoma Park, Maryland and loves the atmosphere of metropolitan DC. Outside of SPA she lead her college Mock Trial team which reached the National Championships in 2008. She loves reading, almost any type of sport (go Eagles!), and hanging out with friends (duh).
Responsibilities: managing, supporting and developing the Student Peace Alliance college, regional, and state organizer network; serving as a liaison between the Coordinating Committee and state and regional organizers; building relationships and expanding the number of chapters; developing and directing National Actions; advocating for the interests and needs of grassroots.
Miranda is a senior at Colorado State University where she is majoring in Journalism, with a minor in Sociology and a certificate in Peace and Reconciliation studies. She has been working with Student Peace Alliance for a little over a year and was a state and regional organizer before becoming the National Field Director. Miranda is passionate individual who truly cares about establishing relationships people of all walks of life. She currently works with people with developmental disabilities in a variety of different capacities and cofounded a student organization called Universities Fighting Hunger. Born and raised in Colorado, she enjoys snowboarding, spending time outdoors, and going to as many concerts as possible.
Responsibilities: duties include keeping information up-to-date on the SPA website, e-mailing SPA news to the grassroots network, and exploring new technologies to help spread the message and the work of our organization.
Shands currently works as an independent web designer in Fort Worth, TX. Additionally, Shands serves as the web manager for Unity Church of Fort Worth, the South Central Unity Churches Association, and works as a web designer with Out of Nowhere Web Design.
In his personal life, Shands loves to paint, play didgeridoo, and serves as a prayer chaplain and high school youth sponsor at Unity Church of Fort Worth.
Responsibilities: strategic planning, organizational development, fundraising and donor relations, coalition and relationship building, liaison to the Global Alliance, general oversight.
Responsibilities: managing and supporting the activities of the Coordinating Committee, material development, strategic planning, facilitating communication between The Peace Alliance and SPA, lead organizer for all national events, actions, and conferences.
Responsibilities: duties include keeping information up-to-date on the SPA website, e-mailing SPA news to the grassroots network, and exploring new technologies to help spread the message and the work of our organization.
