SCOUT BANANA operates as a collaborative and participatory workplace, where staff members reach consensus through a democratic decision-making processes on all key organizational issues.

Read Policy Papers on our organizational models.

Alex B. Hill
n6167589425_448570_6674Alex works on organizational development and makes sure that everyone at SCOUT BANANA is doing their job well. Recently graduated with a degree in International Relations and Global Area Studies: Africa specializing in African Studies and International Development from Michigan State University, Alex likes to spend his time applying his passion to the problems of the world. In his free time Alex runs SCOUT BANANA with a dedication that is renewed each day by the inspiration of others. Alex’s life was forever changed when he traveled to Uganda in 2002 to visit the communities benefiting from a SCOUT BANANA funded ambulance. He was able to experience the harsh realities of the world at the ripe age of 14 and realize the amazing potential to make a difference while recognizing the under-emphasized beauty of “banana” yellow.

John Simpkins
john_staffpictureJohn provides nuts and bolts support for SCOUT BANANA’s technology infrastructure by maintaining the webserver, collaboration system and evaluating IT needs. He is majoring in (breath, slurp) International Relations with a specialization in Science, Technology, and Environmental Public Policy, and has an odd penchant for hyphenated pedanticism and operatic crescendos. He is currently the president of the MSU Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, news director at Impact 89FM (MSU Student Radio), one of three founding directors of the Honest Man Scholarship Fund and eventually hopes to work for an information technology rights NGO. At the imposing height of 1.4 meters, he began his involvement with SCOUT BANANA when Alex first proposed Phase 1 in 2002. After a few inactive years, he returned to the group’s MSU Chapter as a freshman and hopes to be a lifelong contributor to SCOUT BANANA in whatever capacity he is needed.

Allie Carter
SBstaffphotoAC2Allie is in charge of SCOUT BANANA’s communications and media outreach, focusing on major social networking sites. She is currently a Senior at Michigan State University, majoring in Comparative Cultures & Politics with specializations in Muslim Studies and International Development. Ever since she came to MSU as a wee freshman from Chicago, she knew she had to be involved with the group with the banana-yellow shirts she saw across campus. Fortunately, in the summer of 2008, Alex advertised the need for someone to manage the social networking sites, and Allie happily joined the SCOUT BANANA team. Allie loves the Internet, and her knowledge of Facebook is second only to Mark Zuckerberg. She also is active in MSU’s Model United Nations programs, and hopes to one day be working full-time for an international non-governmental organization and putting her optimism to good use.

Garrett Miller
GarrettStaffPictureGarrett helps develop the Chapter network by starting new Chapters and strengthening existing ones. He is a Junior at Michigan State University who is involved with the MSU Chapter and is co-founder of the African Groups Coalition. He loves learning, talking, listening, and life. He enjoys working for SCOUT BANANA very much and is persistently inspired by people. He believes no task is too big, some just take longer. After frequently being called “Alex” in the dorms due to his similar looks, Garrett finally got the chance to meet Alex. Garrett soon discovered that Alex and he both had strong passions towards Africa. Garrett was extremely impressed by SCOUT BANANA and became  involved with the group in his sophomore year. He soon found himself on the staff and could not be more excited. He plans on contributing to SCOUT BANANA for as long as he can help.

Jonars Spielberg
JonarsstaffpictureJonars heads up the revision, compilation, publication, and promotion of SCOUT BANANA’s peer-reviewed, scholarly undergraduate journal, Articulate. He is a senior at Michigan State University, where he is pursuing majors in International Relations and Classical Civilization and Culture, with specializations in Western European Studies and International Development. Beyond parsing words and sentences, Jonars gets excited about sustainability, cultural exchange, and food (both the making and the eating). Ever since freshman year, he had heard about this Alex guy and his organization, and when he learned in late 2008 that SCOUT BANANA had an open position, he jumped on the opportunity. Jonars hopes to continue working for organizations with good causes and passionate people for as long as possible.

Brandon Bourdganis
SBstaffphotoBB Good fortune brought Brandon into SCOUT BANANA after working with Alex in Michigan State University’s Model United Nations conference in the spring of 2008. He found a position to let his creative talents bloom as Creative Coordinator, and works to make sure SCOUT BANANA is always fresh to death. Brandon is a Senior at MSU, majoring in Social Relations and Policy, with a minor in French and specialization in Urban Planning. His passion lies at the intersection of social and community development and creative design, and he aspires to aid urban areas in their development of contemporary communities and metropolitan spaces, when not pondering the greatness of Lady Gaga or the essential purpose of the laws of the sea.