Meet Our Team

Executive Director

Hanna O’Connell

Hanna oversees Casa de Amistad’s programs and partnerships. With experience in language education, she advances the mission of fostering inclusive, cross-cultural community.

President

Marcelo Buril

Marcelo guides Casa de Amistad’s vision and growth. Originally from Recife, Brazil, he is a Realtor and musician committed to community service and inclusion.

Vice President

Chad Howe

As Board Member, Chad supports Casa de Amistad’s educational programs. He is Associate Professor of Hispanic Linguistics at UGA and active in community service.

Treasurer

Logan Williamson

Logan oversees Casa de Amistad’s finances. An Athens native and UGA graduate, he brings experience in economics, community service, and international engagement.

Member

Paul Duncan

As Board Member, Paul supports Casa de Amistad’s community initiatives. He is Associate Director of UGA’s LACSI and brings decades of experience in Latin America.

GED, Spanish & ESL Instructor

Sarah Cohen

As Instructor, Sarah teaches GED, Spanish, and ESL at Casa de Amistad. She brings international experience, Latin American heritage, and a passion for student success.

Instructor & Program Director

Caroline Scheneider

As Program Director, Caroline oversees Casa de Amistad’s Spanish and GED programs. She teaches Spanish, applies linguistic expertise, and supports students’ academic and personal growth.

ESL Instructor

Isabelle Leimkuhler

Isabelle teaches the online ESL Conversation Class at Casa de Amistad. A PhD student in Hispanic Linguistics at The Ohio State University, she brings teaching experience and a passion for language learning.

ESL Instructor

Anderson Smith

Anderson serves as one of our dedicated ESL Instructors at Casa de Amistad. An Ecology student at UGA with minors in Spanish and Bioethics, she brings great enthusiasm and a deep interest in language learning to her classes

ESL Instructor

Owen Rayburn

Owen serves as one of our enthusiastic ESL Instructors at Casa de Amistad. A Linguistics major at UGA with a minor in French and a passion for learning Spanish, he brings excitement and dedication to his classes.

Executive Support & Marketing Intern

Leticia Baquerizo

Leticia contributes to Casa de Amistad’s operations. A Peruvian MPA student, she brings professional experience and passion for community engagement.

Volunteer Liaison Intern

Ella Carver

Ella supports Casa de Amistad’s volunteers and programs. A UGA graduate student, she brings language experience, international exposure, and dedication to inclusive education.

Grant Writing & Fundraising Intern

Gabriela Mota

Gabi supports Casa de Amistad’s development efforts. A UGA senior from Brazil, she brings leadership, PR experience, and community dedication.

ESL Program Support Intern

Tessa Cianfaglione

Tessa assists Casa de Amistad’s language programs. A UGA international affairs student, she brings Spanish skills, enthusiasm, and commitment to student success.