Learn About Our Team and Culture
We are a team of dedicated professionals, ready to do whatever it takes to help students reach their full potential
Jeff Devoll
Executive Director
Jeff has traveled to 30 countries, been a professional writer, spoken to more than 1,000,000 people and built his own house, but what he’s really passionate about is helping people find the best version of themselves and make that the main version of themselves. He also loves his wife and kids a lot. His biggest challenge in life has been helping his autistic son, Declan learn to talk, make eye contact, sleep and other things like typical kids do.
(707) 310.2665 | Jeff@studentreach.org
Tanya Devoll
Office Manager
Tanya Devoll is the most efficient person on the planet. Somehow, she raises two children (one with special needs), runs two non-profits, shuttles other teenagers around, helps students raise money for trips, runs two small businesses, travels internationally and is a gourmet cook. She organizes trips for hundreds of students each year making sure every last detail is covered.Yet, with all that, if you email her, she will most likely email you back in minutes.
(707) 333.9089 | Tanya@studentreach.org
Welcome! This is our dedicated Team. Did we say that we would love to work with you? Don’t be shy, get in touch!
Adam Shipp
International Program Director
If you could earn a degree in good natured sarcasm Adam Shipp would have a Ph.D. Bringing along his sense of humor with his international and multi-cultural knowledge Adam oversees the youth refugee programs and outreach programs. You might find him toting around his son in a baby carrier while sarcastically entertaining the people that he helps.
(925) 550.9673 | Adam@studentreach.org
Emily McPeters
Logistics
Emily McPeters is someone who does not give up on solving a problem. Her determination has served her well in both her work and her life. She is our newest staff member having joined our staff in 2015 after nearly 2 years of volunteering. After connecting with StudentReach volunteering opportunities as a high school student through our trips to Peru and New York City, Emily worked as a special needs aide, IT director and paralegal before joining the team.
(916) 793.9262 | Emily@studentreach.org
Karl Hus
Baja Base Director
As our Baja Base Director in Mexico, Karl will be facilitating the building of a summer camp and orphanage on our new property. Karl has been working with teenagers his entire life and it has really helped him raise his own teenagers. Teenagers love Karl instantly because he will tell stories about his most embarrassing moments without pause – and he has a lot of them. Karl has been to 6 continents and countless countries and will always stretch himself to whatever is needed in every situation. There is barely a book on leadership that Karl hasn’t read, which is amazing since Karl is severely dyslexic.
(707) 333.9089 | Karl@studentreach.org
Mason Gizard
Homeless Youth Program Director
Mason Gizard- laughs more than any other person you know. It’s interesting since life has thrown Mason a few curveballs. At 19, after the death of his mother, Mason became the sole caretaker to his 14-year-old twin brothers, his 16-year-old sister and her daughter. Yep, father of three and grandfather to one at nineteen. 19! But Mason can’t stop smiling and his smile is contagious. Teenagers catch it when they are around Mason. He really is a walking contradiction – easy going and extremely focused. Mason is also an aspiring chef and makes the best jambalaya north of the bayou.
(916) 617.1089 | Mason@studentreach.org
Raquel Shipp
Development Director
Raquel Shipp holds a B.A in Psychology, and while she may not be able to read minds, she can convince you to give money to StudentReach. Raquel is the Director of Development, you may find her balancing a baby and a computer on her lap as she writes grants for StudentReach. She is also one of our life coaches where she is busy putting her degree to work, guiding at-risk and refugee teens to a life of success.
(925) 698.9321 | Raquel@studentreach.org
Angela Lee
Volunteer Coordinator
Angela Lee is just a small town girl living in a Sacramento world. She grew up in Montana where she learned to fish, camp and chop wood with the best of them. She’s small in stature but big in heart. Living through the tragedy of losing her father after a 7 year battle with cancer has helped inspire her to help students just like those who helped her. You might find her chair dancing or singing random songs in the office.
(612) 963.7030 | Angela@studentreach.org
Robert Rickett
Bay Area Program Director
Robert grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he learned how to survive in a low-income, single parent family with many brothers and one baby sister. His sense of humor, humility, and creativity have gotten him through many hard times. He has spent his entire adult life working and volunteering to help teenagers in one form or another. The health and welfare of students is his passion, and he loves nothing more than seeing a student break-through struggles in their life. He has many talents to speak of, but none compare to his Chewbacca roar.
(925) 768.9389 | Robert@studentreach.org
Emily Cortese
Refugee Community Development
As Emily worked through her Bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Studies, she was convinced she was going to live and work in a foreign context. Instead, she ended up back in her hometown of Sacramento. When you converse with Emily, you can be sure her speech style and accent will change according to your own. With this interesting gifting and a heartbeat for cross-cultural reconciliation and relationship, she works to help sustain friendships with the local refugee community. Emily also loves expressing her creativity though blogging, writing poetry, crafting, photography & singing.
(707) 333.9089 | EmilyCortese@studentreach.org
Duffy & Tim Hummel
Portland Life Coaching
Duffy & Tim Hummel are our Portland, OR Life Coaching Dream Team. Both have always been passionate about working with students and specifically mentoring students to reach their full potential. Duffy is a kid-at-heart and loves being a mom to two awesome children. On weekends you can catch her outdoors with her family soaking up the natural beauty of the great Northwest. Tim is a born and raised Portlandian. He is driven to influence students and help them find success. But, don’t be fooled by his serious exterior or logistics planning, Tim is a funny guy who will let loose and groove to disco any chance he gets.
(503) 730-5312 | Hummel@studentreach.org
Loren Freeman
Lake County Life Coaching
Loren Freeman obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry Management and loves the outdoors, wildlife, and fishing. Loren has been volunteering the last several years with under-privileged teenagers and disadvantaged youth in Clearlake, CA. Loren and his wife Lynn also have several cats, dogs, two horses and have raised goats, homing pigeons, and chickens on their small rural property. Loren has dealt with many traumas and travesties in life, but it has inspired him to help students who are facing the same difficult situations.
(707) 533-6464 | Loren@studentreach.org