Staff
Erik Taylor: Executive Director
Erik graduated from UC Davis in 2001 with a degree in political science and history. After working for a year as the coordinator of a high school intervention center, Erik moved to Berlin in 2003 where he conducted research for the ‘think tank’ and development institution, The Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung. Following completion of his research Erik began a master’s program in social sciences through the Global Studies Programme. He studied on three continents receiving degrees from the Universities of Freiburg (Germany), KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) and Jawaharlal Nehru (India), graduating number one in his class. His thesis was heavily informed by research he conducted while working for the Ecuadorian based non-profit YanaPuma in 2006. After graduating, Erik moved to Bolivia where he began working as the Director of Ecotourism for another non-profit based in Cochabamba. Shortly thereafter, Erik decided to start another organization which led to his founding of Sustainable Bolivia. In his spare time Erik enjoys sports, listening to music and traveling.
Boria Villegas: Legal Counsel and Director of Project Development
Arminda Boria Villegas was born in Oruro, on August 25th, 1984. She studied at Maria Auxiliadora High School in Santa Cruz-Montero, and earned her law degree from the University of San Simon, Cochababma in 2005. She interned at the Chamber of Commerce and Services of Cochabamba in the Center for Conciliation and Arbitration. In 2006 she was part of the team of promoters in the National Registry, providing information about the Referendum on Autonomy and the Constitutional Assembly. Additionally, she worked as a project coordinator for a Constitutional Campaign aimed at including environmental protections within the Bolivian Constitution. Boria’s hobbies include playing the djembe, traveling, dancing and making traditional handicrafts.
Jhoully Murillo: Director of Finances and Accounting
Jhoully was born on November 16th, 1983 in La Paz, Bolivia. As a young girl she moved with her family to Cochabamba where she began school. She received her high school diploma from “Liceo de Senoritas Bolivia”, an all-girls high school. She then obtained her bachelors degree in Public Accounting and Auditing from the University of Mayor San Simon and graduated in 2004. After graduating she worked as a junior auditor for the A&C Consulting firm. In 2008 she worked in the Electoral Court Department of Cochabamba as a trainer for the referendum for the popular mandate. Within this position she was also able to participate in a training program for development, management and leadership skills for young entrepreneurs. In addition to serving as the director of finance and accounting for Sustainable Bolivia, Jhoully is head of the finance department for Fitness Group Bolivia, a local business in Cochabamba. In her free time she likes to visit the countryside, spendtime with her family and friends, dance and play sports.
Michelle Gross: National Director
Michelle graduated from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky with a B.A. in Spanish and International Relations. After college, Michelle joined the Peace Corps, where she served as a Community Economic Development volunteer in the Dominican Republic. Her primary project involved working with a micro-finance organization, and she also worked with youth, teaching English and directing a Junior Achievement course. After the Peace Corps, Michelle continued microcredit work in New Mexico, until she decided to attend the University of Denver to attain her master’s degree in International Development, with a concentration in Human Rights. Upon receipt of her master’s, Michelle began to work at College Living Experience, an organization that provides academic and independent living skills assistance to college-aged students with learning disabilities. Ultimately, Michelle’s passion for Latin and South America compelled her to pursue a position with Sustainable Bolivia. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys traveling, hiking, and running.
Erin Beasley: Assistant National Director
Erin Beasley was raised near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended The Pennsylvania State University where she received a Bachelor of Science with honors in Environmental and Renewable Resource Economics and minors in Spanish and International Studies. Prior to joining Sustainable Bolivia, Erin worked for four years at the Harvard School of Public Health, helping to launch an applied learning curriculum for public health graduate students. Erin also worked as a trip leader for D-Lab, a noted MIT sustainable development and design course taught by professor Amy Smith. Through the D-Lab course, Erin lead MIT undergraduate students to implement community-collaborative projects in Brazil and Ecuador addressing water testing and treatment, micro-entrepreneurship and needs assessment mapping. Her professional and academic experiences also include tropical agriculture and incentives for sustainable tourism. Beyond her professional interests, Erin enjoys dancing salsa, learning languages, snowboarding, biking and playing ultimate frisbee.
Jorge Arébalo: Office Assistant
Jorge Arébalo is a resident of Cochabamba and loves his city and its cuisine. He studied Law at San Simon University, graduating in 2005. During his degree he acted as a university counselor, secretary of conflict resolution in the Local Student Federation and stood on the board of the Student Union in his faculty. He also participated in a committee for young campesinos and founded the O.I.R., a regional organization aimed at integrating marginalized groups into university life. He works for Sustainable Bolivia as an office assistant, a role which among other things gives him the opportunity to show his city to new volunteers when they arrive. In his free time he likes to modify vehicles, a hobby which often brings him national prizes, and volunteer for local social projects.
Lily Young: Director of Communications and Community Outreach
Lily grew up in Houston, Texas and attended the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated with highest honors in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography. She worked at the Texas Senate before coming to Cochabamba as a volunteer in 2008. Upon returning to Austin, she worked at a company that helps low income patients without insurance obtain their prescription medications free of charge. In 2010 she moved to Central America, where she volunteered on an organic ranch in Costa Rica, traveled through Nicaragua and El Salvador, and worked at a hostel in San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala. Happy to be part of the Sustainable Bolivia community again, she returned in January 2011 as the Director of Communications and Community Outreach. Out of the office, she enjoys traveling, live music, cooking, dancing, swimming, and Texas football.
Doctora Garapiña Sandia Sostenible (a.k.a. Piña)
SB’s new director, Piña, joined our family in November 2010 after we deemed her the most beautiful puppy in all of the San Martín de Porres refuge for dogs. Although we have given her all the attention and amenities any modern dog could ever expect, she is still a street dog at heart. We are yet to discover any food she will not eat which includes meat of all kinds, vegetables and fruits; although she once had an aversion to grapes. She enjoys meeting friends in the park, greeting all new SB volunteers and hiking in the nearby mountains. Piña is bilingual and always does her best to create a warm and positive environment in SB’s main house.
Sustainable Bolivia would like to give a special thank you to:
- Masami Knox for providing Spanish translations of the content of our website