Our Team

Stacie Freeman, M.S.S.W. brings over 20 years of distinguished experience in higher education, global education, and community-engaged learning. In addition to her leadership with Global Citizen Adventure Corps (GCAC), she currently serves as Professor of Sociology, Sociology Program Coordinator, and Director of Global Studies at Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee.

She is the founder and lead educator of Bethel University’s Global Service-Learning and Citizenship Program, which served as the foundational model for GCAC. Since launching that program in 2011, Ms. Freeman has designed, led, and coordinated 56 international service-learning programs across 14 countries. More than 700 students and community members have participated in these initiatives, collectively contributing over 50,000 hours of volunteer service. These efforts have generated an estimated economic impact exceeding $1 million in host communities worldwide. In addition to leading groups, she has personally traveled to 56 countries.

Ms. Freeman’s work is deeply rooted in a mission to increase equity in global education. She primarily serves Title I high school students and first-generation college students from rural West Tennessee—populations who have historically had limited access to international learning opportunities. Through her leadership, these students gain transformative global experiences often reserved for peers in urban or private school settings with greater resources.

Throughout her academic career, Ms. Freeman has been recognized for her leadership and excellence in teaching. Most recently, she was honored as the 2024 Traveling Teacher of the Year by the Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA) and Teach & Travel Magazine—the inaugural recipient of this national distinction. Other honors include Bethel University’s Faculty Member of the Year Award, the Roy and Mary Shelton Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award, and the Student Government Association’s Service Award.

Ms. Freeman holds a Master of Science in Social Work (M.S.S.W.) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has completed additional graduate-level coursework and professional development at Murray State University, the University of Memphis, Harvard University, and Wellesley College. In 2019, she became a National Geographic Certified Educator, underscoring her commitment to interdisciplinary, globally conscious education.

Whether in the classroom, on campus, or in communities around the world, Ms. Freeman remains dedicated to transforming education through meaningful, real-world experiences that expand access and empower the next generation of global citizen.

Dr. Julie Hill has 3 decades of experience as a K-12 public school and university music educator and administrator, scholar, performer, lecturer, administrator, and non-profit arts leader and advocate. She previously served as Chair of the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Department of Music, where she has been a Professor of Percussion since 2005.

As a scholar and performer, Julie has presented hundreds of workshops, concerts, and lectures, advocating for social mobility through music, particularly for Black women and underserved children in Northeastern Brazil. As a member of the award-winning Caixa Trio, she has performed in Peru, Poland, Mexico, Brazil, France, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan, and across the United States. Julie is fluent in Brazilian Portuguese and has functional proficiency in Spanish.

Julie has received several prestigious awards, including the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Cunningham Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Award, the Hardy Graham Distinguished Professorship Award, the UT Alumni Association Outstanding Teacher Award, and was the inaugural recipient of the University of Tennessee President’s (system-wide) Educate Award. She has been honored with Member Laureate distinction from the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity and served as Past President of the International Percussive Arts Society.

Julie is the principal percussionist with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra. Julie is the co-editorial director for Percussive Notes, the scholarly journal of the Percussive Arts Society, where she also previously served as president. She co-authored an audition method book titled *All Inclusive Etudes* (Row-Loff Productions) and a collection of solos and duets called *Music for Multi Percussion: A World View* (Alfred Publications). Julie has published numerous works for percussion ensembles with Innovative Percussion and Row-Loff Productions. Her scholarly research has been featured in *Percussive Notes* and the *Garland World Music Encyclopedias*. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Julie worked with the Tennessee Music Educators Association to create, produce, and host a nightly interactive webinar called “Keeping the Beat by TNMEA.” The result was 62 Shows hosting music greats such as Los Lobos, Chuck Leavell, Raul Malo and many more with viewers in 45 countries including 2 million engagements on social media which continues to grow.

Julie holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Arizona State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin. She is an artist and educator for Zildjian Cymbals and a performing artist for Yamaha Corporation of America.

Julie is also an artist and endorsee for Innovative Percussion, REMO, and Grover Pro Percussion. Julie has traveled to 30 countries and visited all 50 United States along with 51 of America’s 63 National Parks.

For more information, visit Julie Hill’s website at https://www.juliehilleducator.com.