Member Bios

GINNY REICH: TEAM LEADER

Ginny Reich is a retired professor of French who was head of the French department at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. She taught French at the university level for 31 years. She has traveled to France numerous times including two long term stays for educational research. She has traveled extensively in the world and has visited every continent except Antarctica. She has been a Rotarian since 1992 and was president of her club, Eugene Metropolitan Rotary, in 2003-2004. In recent years she has focused on a Rotary literacy project in Colima, Mexico. She has been there seven times. She is on the District Committee for Rotary Youth Exchange and works directly with France and Bolivia. She and her husband Roger, who is also retired, have hosted 9 students through this program. They live in Eugene, Oregon. Ginny enjoys concerts, theater, reading, bird watching, Tai Chi, hiking, skiing and traveling.

VESNA COGURIK: TEAM MEMBER

Vesna Cogurik is 39 years old and was born and raised in Skopje, Macedonia, South-Eastern Europe. She is a first generation American of Macedonian decent. She came to the USA with her husband and son when she was 24 years old, and has been living in Oregon since that time. Her two daughters were born here, in Corvallis, Oregon. She has been married for 17 years. She started her college education in Macedonia, but received her BA in Anthropology from Oregon State University. She has begun work on her MA in anthropology which she plans to complete in the future. Vesna has been working for the State of Oregon for the past 2 years administering government assistance programs to the people that need them. She speaks seven languages, and continues to enrich herself academically and professionally as much as possible. Vesna’s hobbies include reading books and collecting postage stamps, but her real interests lie in the areas of social justice, poverty, availability of drinkable water, children and infant health.

CHRISTY KUNKEL: TEAM MEMBER

Christy Kunkel is an analyst and client services executive for Cascade Investment Counsel, an investment firm based in Medford, Oregon. She is responsible for interfacing with clients and industry consultants to ensure customer satisfaction. Additionally, she conducts periodic research in the resource sector. Prior to the investment business, Christy worked in the lumber products industry for many years in human resources. She is a third generation Oregonian and enjoys all of the natural and cultural opportunities Oregon has to offer. Christy is a graduate of the University of Montana with a degree in Geology, minor in Geography. She enjoys rock climbing, skiing, and yoga in her free time. She also loves to travel and enjoys experiencing cuisines from around the world.

GLORIA TRAINOR: TEAM MEMBER

Gloria Trainor is an attorney in Eugene, Oregon. She works in a small, private law firm and practices complex civil litigation, including product liability cases, medical negligence, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death. Before law school in Oregon, Gloria received a degree in psychology from the University of Illinois and was a social worker in Texas, where she worked with children in special education. Her professional interests include quality of education, alternative dispute resolution, and access to the justice system. Gloria is from the Chicago area and grew up in six different states. In her spare time, she likes to travel, camp, hike, ski, watch basketball, and read.


GIUSTINA PELOSI: TEAM MEMBER

Giustina currently works as the Program Coordinator for IE3 Global Internships, an organizations that places students from around the Northwest in international internships. Her interest in everything international began at an early age as she frequently traveled to Itlay to visit her Italian grandfather and fell in love with exploring cultural differences. She decided on a career in international education after returning from a study abroad program in Salamanca, Spain. After completing an undergraduate degree from Seattle University in International Studies, she earned a master's degree from Oregon State University in College Students Services Administration. In her free time, Giustina loves to explore new countires and continents, hike, bike, camp, and participate in just about any water sport.