Andy is an international education professional with 15 years of experience in the field. He has studied, worked and travelled across the Americas, Asia and Africa. He started Amazon Learning after working for four years developing Global Citizen Year’s Amazon program in Ecuador. Andy brings to Amazon Learning a profound knowledge and passion for cross-cultural education and international exchange programs. He is an Ecuadorian-American and was first introduced to the world of international education as an 18-year-old undergraduate in the U.S. at Louisiana State University where he studied International Relations. He furthered his exposure to global learning through a transformative experience in Guinea as an agroforestry Peace Corps Volunteer. After his service he received his Masters Degree from the School for International Training in Vermont where he focused on designing and delivering study abroad programs. Andy is an energetic and inquisitive person who deeply believes in the positive effects of cross-cultural education on humanity. He loves to garden, hike and interior decorate.

Eliot has worked for over a decade in the non-profit sector in Latin America. Eliot is a co-founder of Amazon Learning and is the Executive Director of Runa Foundation. Prior to this, Eliot served as Executive Director of Finca Project, a reforestation and environmental education initiative in Costa Rica. He has worked as an environmental consultant and advisor to climate change negotiations at the United Nations. Eliot received his Master´s degree in environmental management from Yale University where he studied tropical forestry and conservation finance. Eliot brings to Runa his expertise in agricultural cooperative development, tropical forestry, and non-profit management. He is a professional adventurer and a good cook.

Andy is an international education professional with 20 years of experience in the field. He has studied, worked and travelled across the Americas, Asia and Africa. He started Amazon Learning in 2015 in the city of Tena in Ecuador. Andy is an Ecuadorian-American and was first introduced to the world of international education as an 18-year-old undergraduate in the U.S. at Louisiana State University where he studied International Relations. He furthered his exposure to global learning through a transformative experience in Guinea as an agroforestry Peace Corps Volunteer. After his service he received his Masters Degree from the School for International Training in Vermont where he focused on designing and delivering study abroad programs. Andy is an energetic and inquisitive person who deeply believes in the positive effects of cross-cultural education on humanity. He loves to garden, hike and interior decorate.

Born and raised in Quito, Mirka moved to Tena in 2017 to study Engineering Ecosystems at Ikiam University. Mirka is is studying freshwater shrimp of the Amazonian Rivers for her thesis proposal. She has been a lover of animals, nature and enjoys any plan in the outdoors with her rescued dogs, and has also volunteered for nature conservation.

Mirka joined Amazon Learning in 2021 to help and support the program with fresh ideas after the pandemic. She loves learning from the indigenous groups that we work with, who are always eager to share their traditions, customs, and knowledge. Mirka is so grateful to be the connection between the interns and the locals and the opportunity to strengthen her skills as a leader and a multitasker.

Eliot has worked for over a decade in the non-profit sector in Latin America. Eliot is a co-founder of Amazon Learning and is the CEO of Andean Agave.

Eliot started his professional life deeply immersed in the world of conservation wondering how humans can improve their relationship with the earth. That path led Eliot into the world of agriculture and forestry. He has lived and worked along side coffee farmers in Central America and indigenous communities in the Amazon learning about how these people work with the plants and the land that sustain them. In the past few years, Eliot has begun to learn and work with indigenous communities high in the Andes who maintain an amazing relationship with their arid landscape and one plant in particular, andean agave.

Eliot was born in Austin TX. Eliot has a masters in environmental management from Yale University. He studied physics at UC Santa Barbara and environmental philosophy at Evergreen State. He and his husband are the fathers of alpaca and llama herds in North and South America. He spends his time between Austin, Boulder, and Tena (in the Ecuadorian Amazon).

Mika is a proud Rhode Islander who has been living in Ecuador for the last 5 years working in the experiential education field. She spent 3 years as a Team Leader for Global Citizen Year, where she managed the program and bridge year fellows in the Chimborazo and Napo regions. Mika has been promoting social and environmental justice since her first internship with the international nonprofit Global Exchange in San Francisco. In Ecuador, Mika has also worked in support of an international human rights and environmental justice lawsuit brought by indigenous groups with Amazon Watch and el Frente de Defensa de la Amazonía.  Mika graduated from Northeastern University with a B.A. in International Affairs, with minors in Sociology, Spanish, and Social Entrepreneurship. She is a photographer, explorer, and group leader that enjoys team-building activities that incorporate mindfulness and silly fun. Mika’s favorite part about the Amazon is being surrounded by people that are eager to share their knowledge about nature, medicinal plants, agriculture, and spirituality.