[ Team ]
Kirsten Elstner, Founder and Director
Kirsten Elstner is Director of VisionWorkshops and National Geographic Photo Camp, mentoring youth from diverse communities worldwide through photography and writing. Since 2001, Kirsten has led hundreds of programs in over 35 countries, encouraging young people to connect with one another, to imagine a more peaceful and tolerant world, and to be the authors of their own stories.
Kirsten is a National Geographic Explorer whose work has appeared in Time, Life, The New York Times, and O Globo Brazil. She was a photographer for The International Red Cross and Red Crescent in Bangladesh, and taught at the International Center for Photography, Goucher College, and the Massachusetts College of Art. Kirsten recently curated exhibitions highlighting Photo Camp’s mission at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway. Both featured the work of refugee youth, describing their hopes for the future.
Kirsten lives on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, Maryland, with her husband and two sons.
Kirsten Elstner is Director of VisionWorkshops and National Geographic Photo Camp, mentoring youth from diverse communities worldwide through photography and writing. Since 2001, Kirsten has led hundreds of programs in over 35 countries, encouraging young people to connect with one another, to imagine a more peaceful and tolerant world, and to be the authors of their own stories.
Kirsten is a National Geographic Explorer whose work has appeared in Time, Life, The New York Times, and O Globo Brazil. She was a photographer for The International Red Cross and Red Crescent in Bangladesh, and taught at the International Center for Photography, Goucher College, and the Massachusetts College of Art. Kirsten recently curated exhibitions highlighting Photo Camp’s mission at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway. Both featured the work of refugee youth, describing their hopes for the future.
Kirsten lives on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, Maryland, with her husband and two sons.
Stacy Gold, Consultant
Stacy Gold has always believed in the power of the image to create positive change. For over two decades, Stacy worked in the National Geographic Image Collection Archive as an Editor and Strategic Director. She is a creative, forward-thinking and energetic leader. Her passion reaches beyond the NatGeo walls. She also sat on the Advisory Board of FotoDC for 8 years, guest edited at the Newhouse School of Syracuse University and has worked on several VisionWorkshops and National Geographic Photo Camps.
In her spare time Stacy enjoys quality time with her teens, training her puppy and watching lightning storms.
Stacy Gold has always believed in the power of the image to create positive change. For over two decades, Stacy worked in the National Geographic Image Collection Archive as an Editor and Strategic Director. She is a creative, forward-thinking and energetic leader. Her passion reaches beyond the NatGeo walls. She also sat on the Advisory Board of FotoDC for 8 years, guest edited at the Newhouse School of Syracuse University and has worked on several VisionWorkshops and National Geographic Photo Camps.
In her spare time Stacy enjoys quality time with her teens, training her puppy and watching lightning storms.
Rachel DeRuyter, Consultant
Rachel DeRuyter is a creative leader and problem solver with extensive experience building partnerships between photographers and brands. Most recently as an Agent representing National Geographic's exclusive commercial roster and prior to NatGeo, hustling agency-side in New York City sourcing photographers and artists to bring creative ideas to life.
Rachel DeRuyter is a creative leader and problem solver with extensive experience building partnerships between photographers and brands. Most recently as an Agent representing National Geographic's exclusive commercial roster and prior to NatGeo, hustling agency-side in New York City sourcing photographers and artists to bring creative ideas to life.