Education Chair - Karif Cortiella
Karif Cortiella is a Graduate Student at UCF College of Education concentrating in Educational Leadership and also pursuing a professional certificate in Public Administration. Karif speaks five languages (English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Kazakh). He is a certified Soccer Coach and Lifeguard. He used his knowledge from the ballet dance studio to win a soccer scholarship for four years at a division 3 NCAA soccer program in Boston, Massachusetts. A year after his college graduation and earning a BS in Management and a Math Minor he joined the Peace Corps where he taught English and worked with various International NGO's and the Department of Public Affairs of the US Embassy-Kazakhstan. After two years of service, Karif returned to the US and worked with Washington DC Public Schools. He then worked as an Operations Manager for an Oil & Gas company in Kazakhstan where he gained extensive private sector experience. He then came to Orlando, FL to help manage an aviation company, however he quickly found himself back in the classroom with Orange County Public Schools. Karif Cortiella volunteers his time as much as he can with different organizations in the area. He assists in grant writing, fund raising, community development, cross cultural training, professional development, project management, and business development. He is a member of UNA Orlando and currently serves as Education Chair.
