Leadership
Residents
Harpswell’s dynamic Leadership Residents (LR) are a core presence in dorm life.
Leadership Residents are volunteers who teach, mentor and advise Harpswell’s bright young women attending university. Leadership Residents live in one of Harpswell’s two dormitory leadership centers alongside students for three to six months.
Leadership Residents are women who want to share, broaden and deepen their international and cultural experiences. They are strong English speakers, natural learners and teachers who are fierce advocates for gender equality.
Download the Leadership Resident job description and application information.
Core Responsibilities
Teaching Harpswell’s core curriculum
Facilitating twice-weekly critical thinking discussions
Teaching English and life skills
Supporting leadership development
Mentoring students
Planning cultural activities
In addition to providing room and board, Harpswell pays Leadership Residents a small living stipend. We ask Leadership Residents to arrange their own transportation to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Meet Our Leadership Residents
Over the past 14 years, Harpswell has hosted more than 100 Leadership Residents. Hear about their experiences:
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (BT & TT DORM, 2016)
- Bachelor’s in Political Science, University of California Berkeley“The highlight of my trip came near the end of my program when a fellow leadership resident and I cooked up a soccer tournament for the students. On the day of the event, the Harpswell women descended upon soccer fields normally reserved for men and boys. The women became fierce competitors despite the fact that many had never played soccer before. Afterward, the women proudly posted photos on Facebook, asserting to their peers a woman’s right to play sports—a small but telling indicator that something had shifted that day. Before I came to Cambodia, I took for granted the experience I gained from being an alumna of Gamma Phi Beta. Now I see that all along I was getting prepared for the mission I am on today: to build young women leaders all over the world.”
Excerpt from Spring 2016 edition of Gamma Phi Beta Magazine
JoJo Lam
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (TT DORM, 2018)
- Bachelor’s in Law, Cardiff University
- Master’s in Law, Cardiff University“What we do is complex. There's so much going on behind each face, and it's not always wonderful, but this beautiful experience transforms them, often outside the Cambodian societal comfort zone, into global citizens.”
Clara Ho
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (TT DORM, 2016)
- Bachelor’s in Human Services, Northeastern University
- Master’s of Social Work, Simmons University“Being a Leadership Resident at Harpswell was a beautiful, challenging, heartwarming, and humbling experience. I learned more from the girls than they learned from me, I’m sure of it- I learned about Cambodian Khmer culture but even more so, I learned how to live for others and what hard work and love really looks and feels like.”
Katie Bruce
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (BT DORM, 2016-2017)
- Bachelor’s in Sociology, University of Massachusetts
- Master’s in Sociology, University of Cambridge“Harpswell is a community of women that lift each other up. The students encourage each other to do and be their best—both in their academic pursuits and making a positive impact on their country.”
Gabby Fiore
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (TT DORM, 2015-2016, 2018)
- Bachelor’s in Neuroscience, Rhodes College“The sisters called me ‘teacher,’ but they truly taught me so much more. It is a gift to learn from one another, beyond what can be found in books.”
Jocelyn Labombarde
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (TT DORM, 2017)
- Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies (Sociology and Special Education), Radford University“I am so grateful for my time with Harpswell. The dorm was filled with creative and intelligent women who allowed me to observe and appreciate their culture. I was surrounded by respectful, dedicated, and loving “sisters” and we all learned from each other.”
Astin Altenburg
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (BT DORM, 2012-2013)
- Bachelor’s in Anthropology, Princeton University,
- Master’s in Education Policy and Management, Harvard University“It was an honor to learn and live alongside the Harpswell scholars. Together, time and again, we grappled with hard history, collaborated and supported each other's learning, and together created community. What I learned from the powerful and inspiring young woman at Harpswell has helped shape the trajectory of my work in education.”
Jessica Lander
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (BT DORM, 2009)
- Bachelor’s in Recreation Management and Policy, University of New Hampshire
- Master’s in International Development, Northeastern University“Harpswell was a life changing experience for me and has been an absolute privilege to be involved with the organization for so many years.”
Maggie Doyle Toran
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- Harpswell Leadership Resident (TT DORM, 2016-2017)
- Bachelor’s in English Literature & Language, Rhodes College“The girls in Harpswell are so inspirational and loving. From day one, they welcomed me with open arms and open minds. This was such a formative experience for me right after college -- being able to share my love for learning and education with them, while learning about their diverse backgrounds, dreams, and wishes is something I'll never forget.”