Alternative Breaks

Meet the 2011-2012 AB Board!

Chair - Julie Tritschler

Julie is from Cincinnati and is a senior biology major with minors in environmental science and chemistry. Her past AB experience includes that she was a participant on AB Florida in 2010, participant on AB Russia in 2011, and the AB Board Fundraising Chair from 2010-2011. Julie is also involved in Campus Ministry, Mortar Board, and intramural sports. She works at the Graduate Services Office at Xavier and has spent the past two summers working at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Julie loves everything AB and cannot wait for another great year! Julie can be contacted at tritschlerj@xavier.edu

Financial Chair - Taylor Mauro

Taylor is a senior from North Liberty, IN who is currently studying Accounting and Finance with an interest in corporate and individual tax. Taylor loves playing in the Pep Band and spending time with his brothers in the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi. His past AB experience includes going to West Virginia with an amazing group of people and immersing himself in the culture. He also went to the southern coast of Florida and got to experience what it was like to swim in the ocean for the very first time (unfortunately, he didn't get to see any Great Whites) Taylor's future career plans include working for the Disney Corporation or going into private firm auditing. He recently had the opportunity to work an internship at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Kings Island as well; it was a blast! You can contact Taylor at maurot@xavier.edu.

Special Events - Lauren Boxell

Lauren is a junior Nursing major and is working on a minor in Theology. She is from Carmel, Indiana and has been on two AB trips - AB cincinnati as a participant and AB Mystery (San Diego) as a site leader. Lauren had a fantastic time looking at the Cincinnati school systems and also discovering the culture of Over the Rhine. Lauren also enjoyed going to San Diego and learning about going on along the border, it served as an amazing eye-opening experience. Both of the trips were amazing experiences and she's excited to expand her involvement with AB through her work this year! If you have any questions for Lauren can contact me at boxelll@xavier.edu.

Communications - Jared Greene

Jared is a senior, Marketing major from Dayton, Ohio. This will be Jared’s fourth year of being involved with Alternative Breaks. His freshman year he was a participant on the mystery trip to South Dakota, was a site leader for the Albany trip in 2010, and a participant on the Boston trip last spring. When Jared isn't doing the work of AB he's a member of SGA, president of the Sigma Gamma chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and a member of Mortar Board. Jared can be reached at greenej3@xavier.edu.

Fundraising - John Barber

John Barber is a senior, Finance major. John’s AB experience includes being a participant on the Biloxi trip in the spring of 2009, a site leader for the West Virginia trip in the spring of 2010, and a participant of the Guatemala trip this past summer. When John isn't tending to his AB duties he’s a lifeguard at the O’Connor Sports Center, a mentor at Olyer Elementary, and a coordinator for the 4 PM Student Mass.

Fundraising - Katie Cooper

Katie Cooper is a junior, Accounting, Economics major with a minor in International Studies. Her past Alternative Break experiences include: working in the public grade schools of the Dominican Republic, and working with orphans and children with Down Syndrome in Russia. She is a tutor for grade school children and is also involved in Children's Charities Club, as well as the Brueggeman Fellows Program where she will be researching the underprivileged youth of the world in India.

Site Coordinator - Mici Eubanks

Mici is a junior Early Childhood Education Major, from Richmond, KY. Last year, Mici attended a trip devoted to education about the affects of gangs in Albany, NY. She is excited to get more involved with Alternative Breaks and to help plan some of the trips. When she isn't devoting her love and energy to AB, Mici is Vice President of Active Minds, Historian for the Student Alumni Association, a peer minister for the Fellowship Team, and is involved with several other groups in CFJ, Manresa and is a peer minister for the Hook-up culture. Mici's favorite pass-times are hanging out with family and friends and eating tons of good food!

Site Coordinator -Allison Hays

Alli is a senior, Occupational Therapy major with a Peace Studies minor from Worcester, Massachusetts. This past year was Alli's first experience on AB, where she was a site leader for AB West Virginia; learning all about Appalachian culture, sustainability, and what it means to be a liberated grape. When not working on AB, Alli loves to spend her time volunteering at the SPCA, making drinks at Coffee Emporium, going on hikes with Outdoor Club board, and laughing with her roommates. Alli is very excited about her year coordinating trips and going on another AB adventure! You can contact Alli at haysa1@xavier.edu.

Site Coordinator - Grace Gucciardi

Grace is a junior, Nursing major from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. She has been a participant on AB Biloxi, helping with hurricane relief, and on AB West Virginia, learning about poverty and immersing herself in Appalachian culture. She is really excited to be a first year site coordinator on Board! Some other activities Grace is involved in include being a summer staffer for Appalachia Service Project, XU Outdoor Club Board, and Community Action Day Committee. When not obsessing over Appalachia or procrastinating on her homework, she can be found enjoying the outdoors, singing and playing guitar, or making her fifteenth Yagoot visit of the week.

Site Coordinator - Michael Platt

Michael is a junior, Biology/Pre-Medicine major and Theatre minor from Dayton, Ohio and a second year site coordinator. Besides Alternative Breaks, Michael is also very active with Xavier Players, having both acted and directed on the Xavier stage, and is the Historian on the executive board of Alpha Epsilon Delta. Michael hopes to become a pediatrician in the future, specializing in emergency medicine or oncology. You can contact Michael at plattm@xavier.edu.

Site Coordinator - Lauren Martin

Lauren Martin is a senior Early Childhood Education Major from Mentor, Ohio. She has been on Colorado, Chicago, and Albany and loved every single one of them! Lauren is a site coordinator and is planning the Colorado, Chicago, Albany, and Mystery trips this year. She really loves AB, and looks forward to another great year! If you'd like to talk to her, her email is martinl4@xavier.edu.

Site Coordinator - Tim McGrath

Tim is a senior at Xavier from Cottontown, TN (40 miles north of Nashville) and is majoring in Occupational Therapy. At Xavier, he has become very involved with the Dorothy Day Center for Faith and Justice. Tim’s a member of the 10pm Mass Committee as well as a group leader for ConneXions. In addition to those, Tim’s also involved in SNAC, XU Student Occupational Therapy Association, Xavier Players, SGA, and Project Search. This will be Tim’s fourth year involved in Alternative Breaks and he’s very excited to be a member of the Executive Board. His freshman year he participated in a trip that went to Biloxi, San Francisco, and West Virginia.

Site Coordinator - Kim Mueller

Kim is a senior from Cincinnati, OH majoring in Marketing and Management with a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies. This will be her fourth year participating in Alternative Breaks. In her freshman year, Kim went to New Orleans, LA and worked in Hurricane Katrina relief. In her sophomore year, she went to Pine Ridge, SD and worked with Native American issues. This past year, Kim was a Site Leader for Charlotte, NC and worked with elderly living issues. She is excited to be planning some of AB's Spring break trip as well as serving as the Risk Management Liaison for the club. When not participating in AB, Kim serves as the Vice President of Chapter Operations for Delta Sigma Pi and works as the Operations Intern at FliX. Feel free to contact Kim at muellerk1@xavier.edu.