Jeffrey Shumlin: Wesleyan University, B.A. Jeff first traveled on his own to Guatemala when he was nine years old to spend the summer on a coffee plantation. Travel has been the primary focus of his life ever since. He has worked gathering seaweed in France and as a farmhand on a pig farm in Spain. He has ridden a horse across the Pantanál in Brazil, and cycled almost everywhere. As a director of Putney Student Travel for twenty-five years, Jeff has led numerous educational programs for young people and designed programs for both young and old worldwide. Jeff speaks French and Spanish.

Peter Shumlin: Wesleyan University, B.A. Like his brother Jeff, Peter was born into educational travel. Their parents, George and Kitty Shumlin, were seasoned travelers themselves by the time they met aboard the S.S. New Amsterdam in 1950. Peter has traveled extensively throughout Eastern and Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and China, a country he was able to visit when it was still closed to most American travelers. In addition to Peter’s work as a director at Putney for the past twenty-seven years, he is the current president of the Vermont Senate.

Jim Olivier: Middlebury College, B.A.; Harvard University, Ed.M., J.D. As a boy, Jim lived for extended periods in Brazil and Switzerland, and he has traveled extensively in Europe, Mexico, Central America, Southeast Asia, China, the US, and Canada. A lawyer, educator, and former college president, Jim’s interests include European and Asian history, bread-baking, soccer, and sea kayaking.

Tim Weed: Middlebury College, B.A.; University of California, M.A.; Warren Wilson College, M.F.A. At Middlebury Tim studied abroad in Spain, Mexico, and Jamaica, and, after graduating, led eight Putney programs in locations around the world. He has directed the Williams College, Oxford/Tuscany, and Cuba Excel programs. Tim is a published author and is currently at work on a novel.

Lauren McDowell: Washington and Lee University, B.A. Lauren’s passion for language and travel was sparked when she studied during college in Seville, Spain, and she has been on the go ever since. She has led five Putney programs – to Ecuador, Cuba, Costa Rica, and Spain and coordinates programming in Latin America. Lauren enjoys reading, running, and playing ultimate frisbee.

Patrick Noyes: Georgetown University, B.A. After living for five years in Spain, Patrick joined Putney nine years ago as leader of a Spain Language Learning program. He then spent five summers with Excel in Spain, and has directed Excel at Amherst College, Excel China, and Excel Spain. He coordinates all of Putney’s Excel programs. Patrick’s interests include all things Hispanic, basketball, and screenwriting.

Kelsey Burns: Saint Lawrence University, B.A. A Vermont native, Kelsey’s love of travel began with a trip to Spain in high school. She has since led Putney programs to Spain, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. In addition to directing leader hiring, she coordinates programs in Spain, Latin America, and Africa. Kelsey enjoys rock climbing, hiking, reading, and art.

Harrison Kahn: Middlebury College, B.A. An admirer of foreign cultures from an early age, Harrison began studying Mandarin at age 12. After graduating college with a degree in Chinese and studying literature in Harbin, he moved to Sichuan, China, to direct a cruise ship on the Yangtze River. Harrison coordinates Putney programs in China and India. He loves to ski, fly fish, and learn languages.

Britt Doran: Brown University, B.A. After college, Britt taught in Costa Rica and directed a study abroad program for high school students in Segovia, Spain. She has directed two Putney programs, including last summer’s Foundations program in Costa Rica. When she isn’t helping to coordinate programs in Latin America and Spain, Britt enjoys spending time near the water in her home state of Rhode Island.

Joseph Lambert: Montserrat College of Art, B.F.A. Joseph first came to Putney to teach art and photography at Excel, and subsequently led programs to Australia, and Alaska. He designs Putney’s print publications and website, and coordinates programs in Australia and Latin America. Joseph’s interests include photography, music, cooking, mountain biking, and cultural studies.

Karen Phillips: Saint Lawrence University, B.A. During high school and college Karen lived and studied in Switzerland, France, and Senegal. She has led a Putney Language Learning program in France, and presently coordinates Putney’s programs in France and francophone Africa. Karen has traveled extensively in Eastern and Western Europe, and enjoys rock climbing, painting, and running.