Sam Bull

Founder & CEO

Born in a leap year, Sam created LEAPYEAR with the idea of giving others the best of what LEAPNOW can offer in one coherent program.  He founded and has directed LEAPNOW since 1994.  After earning a degree in geology from Princeton U. in 1982, he made a decision not to use the word "career" until he was at least 30, choosing instead to follow the "golden thread" of whatever he most wanted to do. This resulted in 9 years of exploration in the U.S., Asia, Central America and Europe. Some of the highlights were: Extensive study in Hindu and Carmelite(Catholic) monasteries in India and the U.S.; work as a carpenter, waiter, computer consultant, folk music restaurant manager, lobster fisherman, and trail crew leader in California and Alaska.

Following the golden thread after 30, he has coordinated a program for the homeless in Seattle, directed a job-training program for youth-at-risk (the New Hampshire Conservation Corps), and was the Career Services Director and International Student Advisor at a college in Colorado for 3 years. He is a senior fellow of the Hendricks Institute, and is certified in Conscious Relationship Transformation and Body-Centered Transformation through the Institute.   Sam is an affiliate faculty member of Antioch University Seattle.   Hear Sam speak about LEAPYEAR in a 20-minute Podcast interview.

Cassie Bull M.A., ADTR

Director of Curriculum & Artist-in-Residence

With creativity as the leading force in her life, Cassie began her journey into adulthood as a dancer and a baker. Both became lifelong passions and the cornerstones of everything else she has done. After earning a BFA from Wichita State University, Cassie had a full career as a professional dancer, choreographer, and teacher in Colorado and New York. Discovering that more was happening in her dance classes than just learning to dance, Cassie went on to earn a Masters in Somatic Psychology in 1988 and worked in psychiatric hospitals, bringing her love of movement and creativity to the mentally ill.

As a therapeutic activities program director in a psychiatric hospital in New York, she developed a horticulture program, a dance/yoga program, and a cooking program for adolescent and adult addicts as well as leading movement therapy groups for all the residents at the psychiatric hospital. During this time Cassie received her ADTR (Advanced Registry, Dance Therapist) and Certification in Authentic Movement. She subsequently directed the Somatic Psychology Department at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado - training dance therapists and body-centered psychotherapists. She is most juiced about the intersection of movement, passion and creativity and her current creative passion is in creating works of fabric art.  Cassie is an affiliate faculty member of Antioch University Seattle.

Cassie and Sam live on campus, are married and have 2 daughters, Maia (18) and Calli (11).

James Quinlan

Program Director - International

A study abroad veteran, James cherishes intercultural exchange, thriving the feeling of walking through streets of a new city, speaking words of a language he is learning and trying foods he cannot pronounce the name of. Continuing this love here in the U.S., James taught English to aspiring citizens and recent immigrants, and worked as a study abroad advisor at the University of Minnesota.

James studied business and German culture in Berlin at the Freie Universität. After a year abroad he decided he wanted something completely new and traveled to Malaysia to study Southeast Asian history at Universiti Sains in Malaysia. James holds degrees in Marketing and German Culture from the University of Minnesota.

Maren Gauldin

Program Director - U.S.

Hailing from Colorado, Maren started with LEAPNOW by leading a LEAPYEAR group of 12 intrepid travelers in North & South India. Before LEAPNOW, Maren worked as an Outdoor Educator for San Francisco-based Girl Ventures, studied Outdoor Education and Mountaineering in the Cascades with NOLS, and led service-learning adventures in Mexico. She completed her BA at CU-Boulder, studying Sociology, Leadership & Gender. There she also completed the two-year INVST Community Leadership Program, informing her deep interests in compassionate action, social justice and environmental sustainability.

With degree in hand, she was thirsty for adventure which took her on: a three-month solo road trip through our National Parks; a NOLS Outdoor Educator Course, a round-the-world backpacking trip and more. At LEAPNOW she finds home in the power of inspired learning, service, community and creativity to transform us towards our greatest potential.

Andrea Corwin

Administrative Coordinator

Most recently from Salt Lake City, Utah, Andrea has lived in many diverse and wonderful parts of the U.S. While earning her B.A. in Mass Communications with a minor in Spanish, Andrea studied abroad in Oviedo, Spain, and Valparaiso, Chile. She has led groups to Kenya, coached lacrosse, taught art & English, and been a camp counselor in Maine, and most recently earned Yoga Teacher Certification in San Francisco. She is currently studying Anusara Yoga and Shiva Tantra Philosophy. Andrea regularly seeks opportunities to open to grace, learn and serve others; and is excited to be a part of the LEAPNOW community where like-minded people come together to celebrate life, learning and personal growth.

Katya Sidor

International Internship Coordinator

A native of Eastern Siberia in Russia, Katya is anchoring the administration of the LEAPNOW office for the 2009/2010 year. Her internship is the final requirement for degree completion for her Master’s Degree in Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management from SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont. Katya got interested in foreign languages and cultures in middle school. After several years of studying English, she realized her first big dream, applying for and receiving a scholarship from the US Department of State to study in the US for a year. After studying abroad, she wanted to pass on her passion for different cultures and languages to others. She taught conversational English in the Linguistic Center of Irkutsk and International Summer Camp on Lake Baikal, Russia for several years. While studying and traveling in China, Katya also fell in love with Asian culture. She speaks Russian, Mandarin, French and English.

Jesse Latimer

Marketing Coordinator & Webmaster

Jesse participated in the 2005 LEAPYEAR program, where he traveled to India and Taiwan. Feeling a need to work further with LEAPNOW, he returned to intern in the office and on the land. His job description quickly changed when he took the helm of the LEAPNOW website, rebuilding it from the ground up. He has returned several times to improve the website and provide support during retreats. When not at Maacama, he has lived in Taiwan, taught English, and continued work on a BA in Linguistics.

Ian "Big" Hue, MA

Construction Foreman

Ian heads up all construction and landscaping work on the land during LEAPYEAR programs.  A California-based architect, Ian has an MA in Ecological Architecture, building on a BA in Architecture and Design from the University of Colorado. For 16 years prior to working with LEAPNOW, he owned his own outdoor equipment manufacturing company. He has built two houses and restored many others. Beyond his innovative work on the LEAPNOW campus, he has created and cares for a prolific organic garden. An avid biker and athlete, he has won a Ultimate Frisbee Masters Division national championship.