Dex Mandela Burns

Dex Mandela Burns is an experienced social entrepreneur and nonprofit leader. Prior to co-founding CORLA, he founded, and led First Trip Inc., at the age of 25. That organization awarded over 300 travel scholarships and passport vouchers for underserved students to study abroad for the first time. He is a staunch advocate of international education and became the youngest alumnus to establish a named scholarship at the University of Illinois for students to gain international experience. Dex has managed foreign affairs internship programs at the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) and the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC. He is currently a Provost's Doctoral Fellow at the George Washington University, a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and lectures at the Elliott School of International Affairs.

Education

• Ed.D., Human & Organizational Learning, George Washington University (in progress)

• MA, Latin American Studies, University of Illinois- Urbana Champaign

• BA, Global Studies, University of Illinois - Springfield