Our Leadership

2018-19 Board of Directors

Operation Wisdom is governed by a diverse group of students and community leaders with the majority of our board always coming from local high schools and colleges. The board is responsible for promoting the organization's mission and overseeing the various programs in their local and global communities.

- Student Leaders -

Parker Savage

Executive Officer
Junior at NC State University
Hello Everyone! My name is Parker Savage and I am a junior at NC State University intending to pursue my medical degree and masters in public health upon graduation. I am involved with Operation Wisdom because I truly believe whole heartedly in our mission to raise up a generation of globally minded leaders through education, social advocacy, and partnership. I have seen the impact that students in this program can make first hand when they work with others, and I want to make sure that every student is pulled off of the sidelines and onto the field of global change. I have been involved with Operation Wisdom since its first years as a program at Heritage High School and I am looking forward to seeing it grow beyond Wake Forest in the coming years!

Ellie Harris

Freshman at Appalachian State University
Hello friends! My name is Ellie Harris and I am a Freshman at Appalachian State University. I have been an active and passionate member of Operation Wisdom for the past three years. As a dedicated member of the local and global community, my goal is to major in Social Work and minor in Nonprofit Management, particularly with an international focus. I plan on spending at least two semesters in college studying abroad and working with different organizations. I love creating connections with people around the world as well as with those who share similar goals and mindsets as me. My passion for all this began right here, in Operation Wisdom. I went on the 2016 Global Expeditions trip to Ghana. That trip helped shape and refine what I want to do with my future. I am extremely lucky to have been selected to go to Ghana again with GE in spring 2018.
I am always looking for ways to empower my friends and my community to use their voice to make a difference in the world. Most people think that their voice is small and won’t make a difference in the grand scheme of things: they are wrong. Every voice, opinion, and thought matters and with confidence, passion, and drive, everyone has the power to be heard.

Jake Clifford

Junior at Heritage High School
Hi, I’m Jake Clifford and I’m a junior at Heritage High School. I have been with Operation Wisdom since my Freshman year and have loved every second of it! I love being able to help others, in OW we spend so much time spreading local awareness about global issues, but unlike any other club we see the impact and we continue to work with our partners time and time again. I plan to go to school to study something in the realm of entrepreneurship or business management! Operation Wisdom has broadened my understanding of a true non profit by highlighting service learning, I now apply this philosophy to all my work in and outside of the club. I hope to help grow Operation Wisdom so future students across the world can feel empowered to make a change!

Arfan Warraich

Partnership Coordinator
Senior at Heritage High School
Hello, my name is Arfan Warraich and I am currently a senior at Heritage High School. I have been part of Operation Wisdom for the past three years and have really learned so much through being involved. This year, I am the Executive Partnership Coordinator on the Board of Directors. Through being an active Global Leader in the club, and going on the Global Expeditions 2018 trip to Ghana especially, I have truly gotten a sense of how important it is to educate and empower young people through service-learning. Especially in this day and age, it is key that the youth stay in touch with the world around them, and Operation Wisdom really allows for that through making conscientious global citizens. From advocacy and educating, to activism and fundraising, Operation Wisdom has invoked a passion in me to not only serve, but educate others on current global issues — and how one can take steps to sustainably impact them. It is because of the lessons I learned through being a part of Operation Wisdom that in university, I intend to major in international studies (with a sociological discipline) and minor in South Asian studies, so that, one day, I can continue to practice service-learning work in other parts of the world. I am so deeply humbled to be a part of this organization’s Board of Directors, and I really look forward to what Operation Wisdom will accomplish in the coming years!

Genna Weaver

Secretary
Freshman at NC State University
Hello friends! My name is Genna Weaver and I am a freshman at NC State majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in Nonprofit Studies. I intend to pursue a masters degree in education upon graduation. I have experienced the empowering foundations and opportunities provided by Operation Wisdom that allow students to make significant impacts through education, social advocacy, and global relationships. Collaboration is crucial in creating global change and young people are at the forefront. I have been a part of Operation Wisdom since it's beginning years at Heritage High School, and I look forward to seeing it grow beyond Wake County in the future!

Kara Haselton

Co-Communications Officer
Freshman at Appalachian State University
Hello! My name is Kara Haselton and I’m currently a freshman at App State pursuing photojournalism. I have been involved with Operation Wisdom for four years now and have gained so much from my experience with the club and 2018 trip to Ghana. Through my involvement I have felt and seen the impact that empowering young people can have on our world as a whole and have learned what it means to truly be a global citizen. I have seen the importance of social advocacy and education and hope to continue to pursue those values with Operation Wisdom and in my own life. I can't wait to see where Operation Wisdom will go this year and in the future!

Taylor Eaton

Freshman at University of Tennessee Knoxville
Hello! I'm an upperclassman at Rolesville High School, and I am connected to Operation Wisdom through my dad (John Eaton at Simply Home AV) who has been a sponsor for the past three years. My hopes are that as Rolesville High School grows, Operation Wisdom can grow with us too. In college, I'd love to major in Architecture and minor in Spanish language and literature. My interest in Operation Wisdom stems from my love for the Spanish language. As you learn a language, you learn about other cultures that differ from your own. I think Operation Wisdom is an amazing chance for students to view cultures and global issues that are outside of their daily lives. I'm proud to be a link from the Operation Wisdom organization to the OW Club at Rolesville High, and I am excited for the upcoming year!

Hannah Stroot

Senior at Rolesville High School
Hello, my name is Hannah Stroot and I am a Senior at Rolesville High School. I have been involved in Operation Wisdom since my sophomore year when the Rolesville chapter was created. During my time in the club, I have learned about a variety of environmental, financial, and educational issues that pose threats to our world today. I have also come to appreciate the value in educating our peers concerning global issues and the importance of being a global citizen. I have an immense passion for learning about other cultures and strongly believe in learning through exposure. I am interested in majoring in international relations in college and potentially joining the U.S. Foreign Service after graduating. Going into this year, I hope to give back some of what the club has given to me by growing Rolesville’s chapter and its impact.

- Community Leaders -

Jessie Yates - Educator

Finance Officer
Heritage High School
My name is Jessie Yates and I’m proud to be one of the club advisors at Heritage High School. I was born and raised in Kenya, East Africa and attended an international school in Nairobi until I returned to my family’s home state of NC for college. My school exemplified the learning service approach that Operation Wisdom hopes to teach and implement for our students. I have personally seen how this mindset molds and benefits students for a lifelong worldview of compassion, awareness, and international diplomacy. It was this mindset that opened doors for me to work as an HIV/AIDS Awareness intern while I was in college, a tutor for at risk students in downtown Durham, and a substitute teacher in a Somali refugee school. I am honoured to play my part in preparing the same background and opening the same windows to today’s students in NC.

Erin Meyer - Educator

Co-Communications Officer
Heritage High School
Hello everyone! My name is Erin Meyer and I am proud to serve as a club advisor for Heritage High School. Ever since I was in high school I’ve been interested in learning service, and I am very grateful to be a part of Operation Wisdom. My favorite aspects of this organization are creating partnerships with organizations and learning about what we’re doing and who our efforts benefit. I am excited to continue working with Operation Wisdom and I look forward to watching our students become global citizens and become leaders themselves.

Rebecca Hatcher - Educator

Rolesville High School
My name is Rebecca Hatcher, and I'm excited to be the advisor for Rolesville High's Operation Wisdom Club. I have the opportunity to work with students as they explore different cultures and become global leaders. Operation Wisdom gives them a platform to not only learn about global issues, but also cause social change through dedicated service. Seeing students make a pledge and take action to help others is inspiring.