Meet The Team!
Our Leadership
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Dex Mandela Burns
President & CEO
Dex is an avid world traveler and has been to over 17 countries and counting. He credits his passion for global citizenship to his initial study abroad experience in Cuzco, Perú in 2012. He is a staunch advocate of study abroad and in 2017, became the youngest alumnus to establish a named scholarship at the University of Illinois at Springfield for international travel. He lives in Washington, D.C. and has managed internship programs within international organizations in both the federal and nonprofit sectors. Dex holds a BA degree in Global Studies and a MA degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Illinois. He is currently a Provost's Doctoral Fellow at the Graduate School of Education & Human Development at the George Washington University. Dex Burns is a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Peggy Lewis
Board Chairperson
Peggy is a real estate business woman and former English/Theater teacher. A true and loyal northern Illinosian, she has lived, worked, and raised her family in Chicago’s northern suburbs. Peggy is an ardent supporter of higher education, especially in underserved communities and created the Sheldon Lewis Memorial Scholarship in honor of her late husband, Mr. Sheldon Lewis. Many Chicago youth have received this award to attend college. Dex Burns was a recipient of this award in 2010 upon entering his first year of college. Peggy is a life-long traveler, and believes every student should be afforded the opportunity to study abroad and see the world. Peggy Lewis is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Our Board of Directors & Advisors
Peggy Lewis (Board Chairperson)
Dex Mandela Burns (President, Chief Executive Officer)
Edgar Vizcaíno (Vice President, Treasurer)
Kristian Gore (Director, Secretary)
Jessica Sarles-Dinsick (Director)
Kenya Michelé Maize (Director)
Daniel F. Runde (Director)
Symphoni Henry, M.Ed.*
Michael Rovner*
Mohanad Alsaid*
*Strategic Advisor
Additionally, First Trip works with dozens of global professionals throughout the Washington D.C. and Chicagoland areas who volunteer their expertise as mentors and passport workshop facilitators. Would you like to learn about volunteer opportunities with First Trip? Send us an email at info@firsttrip.org.
Interested in learning more about our dynamic Board of Directors? Click the link below!
