PLI offers innovative and inspiring youth and community development programs; however, what makes our program unique are our leaders. Our diverse leaders come from a variety of backgrounds, ages and experiences including educators, adventurers, students, and professionals.

PLI's leadership progression encourages people to lead, learn, live, work, and play together. Our desire is to have our leaders reflect the communities who participate in our programs by creating opportunities for diverse young people to get training, support and practical leadership experience. Many of our staff have experienced a powerful transformation in adventure and are now giving back to ensure others receive these same experiences and benefits.

Drew McAdams is the director for Pacific Leadership Institute, with his Masters Degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies focusing on youth development from San Francisco State University . His experience includes 10 years of guiding adventure activities such as whitewater rafting and backcountry trips, teaching in public schools and summer enrichment schools, a volunteer coordinator managing a pool of 500 volunteers, national service organization and non-profit management. Drew specializes in leadership development through active learning. Drew operates his program, staff and training with both compassion and enthusiasm, and his energy is truly contagious.

Nina S. Roberts, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at San Francisco State University .  Her areas of emphasis are outdoor recreation, adventure programming, leadership, and youth development.  She is formerly an Education and Outreach Specialist with the National Park Service. Prior to her work with the NPS, Nina worked with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) as the Assistant Director of SCA's National Urban & Diversity Programs. Here she managed five regional programs and provided opportunities in conservation, recreation, natural resources, and related fields, for primarily young people of color and women. She then became SCA's Research Associate conducting national level program evaluation. As a bi-racial woman, Nina's research has guided her to write about people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and explore their connection to the outdoors including experiences with adventure activities. Her research interests include outdoor programming and leadership, adventure education, youth development, recreation land management, wilderness studies, evaluation methods and techniques, race/culture, and gender issues.

Ian has been with PLI for many years. He was first a participant as a high school student, then as youth employment, and currently Ian is a team leader and program coordinator, for the past 8 years leading thousands of programs. Ian's personal story illustrates the power of our program enhancing his life from a low-performing “urban at-risk” student to a college student in his Junior year here at San Francisco State University . His responsibilities now include program management, staff and volunteer development.

PLI offers a host of internship opportunities for students at SFSU as well as general intern possibilities for others around the Bay Area.

• San Francisco State University , Recreation and Leisure Studies Department
• Golden Gate National Recreation Area (National Park Service)
• California State Parks – Office of Community Involvement
• San Francisco Unified School District - School Health Programs Department
• Get Out and Learn Program
• TEAM Classroom
• Camp Arroyo / The Taylor Family Foundation, East Bay Regional Parks and YMCA
  of the East Bay