Niza Volair (they/them) has volunteered with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Colorado since moving to Denver in 2016. They previously served as Events Chairperson and Denver Metro Regional Representative, where they helped organize a wide range of community events including happy hours, dinners, yoga classes, storytelling nights, trivia competitions, summer picnics, and holiday gatherings. Through this work, they helped build a strong network of engaged members and supported fundraising efforts for Peace Corps projects and local organizations. As President, Niza is focused on building on the strong foundation already in place. They value the care, consistency, and energy of the RPCV community in Colorado and aim to expand opportunities for connection, participation, and engagement across the state. Niza works in technology and earned a Master’s in Computer Science in 2023. They enjoy yoga, skating, concerts, painting murals, and also appreciate the occasional nap with their two tuxedo cats
Savanna Berezniak joined the RPCV Board as Vice President in March 2022. She served as an Education Volunteer in Madagascar from 2010–2012 and then returned to Colorado, where she worked in education for eight years until the birth of her son. In 2023, she completed a Peace Corps Virtual Service Project, supporting a Cameroonian NGO as a social media consultant. Savanna is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate from CSU Global in 2024, and became PMP certified in 2026 She enjoys hiking, gardening, snowboarding, and spending as much time as possible traveling with her family.
Julie Castillo joined the board as Secretary in January 2026. She served in Panama from 2009-2012 in the Community Environmental Conservation sector and was active in the Mississippi Returned Peace Corps Volunteer group before moving to Denver in 2020. She is a mother, writer, teacher, labor advocate, hiker, gardener, and music lover.
Randy Monson has served as both Treasurer and Membership Chair since 2008 and acts as liaison to the Fort Collins RPCV community. He served as a TEFL teacher in Côte d’Ivoire from 1978–1980, where he once crafted lesson plans featuring imagined conversations between Bob Marley and Muhammad Ali. Randy maintains an extensive African music collection, though he no longer dances to disco, and currently works as CFO of Envirofit International, a social enterprise focused on clean cookstove development and distribution.
Marissa Herzog joined the board in the end of 2025 and serves as part of the Welcome Wagon Committee, which connects newly returned RPCVs in Colorado to the strong RPCV Colorado community that exists, and assists the Events Coordinator with posting events as well. Marissa served as a Community Health Educator in Cambodia from 2017-2019, and used the knowledge and skills obtained from her service as a Project Support Fellow at Save the Children Cambodia until mid-2020. Marissa continues her public service by working for the federal government, first moving to the high rockies of Summit County, Colorado in late 2020 and moving to the Denver metro area in late 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Goucher College in a combined Sociology/Anthropology program. In her free time, Marissa likes to stay active through multiple hobbies including Capoeira, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, partner dancing, yoga, hiking, and downhill skiing. Marissa is excited to give back in this capacity to the RPCV community in Colorado that has been so welcoming!
Mike Rueb joined the Board in 2024 as Webmaster. He served in Botswana from 2015–2017 as a Local Government Capacity Building Volunteer, during which he opened an adolescent sexual health center in his village of Mabutsane to support HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. After a brief stop in Antarctica, Mike relocated from Boulder to Denver, where he now lives. He serves on the Board of Directors for Penguins International, focusing on conservation and education, and works in digital marketing with experience supporting national conservation nonprofits such as Trust for Public Land and the National Wildlife Federation.
Kristen Conrad joined the RPCVs of Colorado Board in March 2024 as the representative for North Metro Denver and Boulder. She served in Madagascar from 2013–2015 as an Education Volunteer and met her RPCV husband (Tanzania) at the 2017 Peace Corps Connect Conference. Kristen moved to Denver in 2018 after five years working with the International Rescue Committee and in refugee resettlement. She currently works for the education technology company 2U/edX, focusing on career outcomes and employer engagement for tech boot camp graduates, while also volunteering with IRC Denver’s Employment Team. She enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and learning languages, and hopes to take her two-year-old son, Sage, on a trip to Africa in 2025!
Ellen McKamey joined the RPCVs of Colorado Board in 2023 and represents the Northern Colorado leadership group. She served as a special education teacher trainer in Belize from 2011–2013 and has since worked and volunteered internationally, from studying chimpanzee behavior in South Africa to backpacking across Southeast Asia and supporting schools in India working with autistic students. Ellen holds a master’s degree in sustainable living and previously coordinated international therapy services in Belize. She moved to Fort Collins in 2020 to partner with Keys 4 Autism, helping non-speaking individuals communicate through alternative methods.
James Spiers joined the Board in 2024 as Advocacy Chair. Originally from Aurora, Illinois, he served in Moldova from 2018–2020 as a Community and Economic Development Volunteer. After his service, he earned a Master of Public Policy from Duke University with a concentration in Social Policy, specializing in housing policy and advocating for increased support for the unhoused at both state and local levels. James is excited to advance collective advocacy goals and strengthen the Peace Corps program.
Rebecca Buxton joined the RPCVs of Colorado Board as Southern Colorado Representative in January 2025. She served in Moldova from 2017–2019 as a Community Organization Development Volunteer, working to restore the local library and other vital institutions affected by war. Rebecca now works with the USDA Forest Service in Business Operations, focusing on building sustainable partnerships with tribes and local communities. She enjoys skiing, rafting, traveling, learning languages, and gardening with her husband.
Daryl Sommers joined the Returned Peace Corps board as Events Coordinator in 2025 and has been attending local RPCV gatherings since 2019. She is a familiar face at events, consistently supporting and strengthening the community through active involvement and participation. Her commitment to service is rooted in a strong nonprofit background. Daryl completed an AmeriCorps term in New Orleans as a Red Cross Volunteer Coordinator and later worked as a Development Coordinator for Groundwork New Orleans. She then spent time living abroad with the World Wide Organic Farming program. After returning, she served in the United States Coast Guard, further strengthening her dedication to service. In 2012, Daryl was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Jamaica, where she worked as a Sexual Health Advisor supporting youth education and community health initiatives. She studied Anthropology at the University of Vermont and continues to travel frequently, maintaining a deep curiosity about cultures, communities, and global perspectives. Now a Denver-based realtor, Daryl combines her passion for community building with her professional expertise, helping people find homes while remaining deeply connected to service and volunteerism. She is excited to continue bringing her unique background and experience to the RPCV community!
