The WorldDenver Staff is dedicated to building a more globally-connected city.
Chief Executive Officer
Director, Development & Communications
Director, Global Engagement
Director, Finance & Operations
Manager,
International Exchanges
Manager,
Events & Community Outreach
Administrative Assistant
John M. Krieger, J.D., LL.M. is CEO of WorldDenver. He has more than twenty years of experience in nonprofit leadership, communications, advocacy, and organizational development at the state and federal levels.
As CEO, John works closely with WorldDenver’s Board of Directors and staff to advance the organization’s mission, strengthen its financial sustainability, and drive strategic growth and impact.
John holds a J.D. from the University of Richmond and a Master’s of Law from American University. While in law school, he participated in a three-month comparative law study across nine Asian countries. That experience had a lasting impact on his own perspective and career, and today he is passionate about creating similarly transformative experiences for the hundreds of students, professionals, and community leaders who participate in WorldDenver’s international exchange programs each year.
Outside of WorldDenver, John enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, and sharing all that is great about Colorado with family and friends.
Lauren has over a decade’s experience in nonprofit programming and fundraising, including major annual fundraisers, like WorldDenver’s International Women’s Day celebration.
Lauren attended a French immersion school, which planted the seeds for her passion in diversity and cross-cultural experiences. She earned her B.A. in International Studies and French, with a minor in Religion from California Lutheran University and masters degrees in Social Work (MSW) and Theological Studies (MTS) from Boston University, with a focus on nonprofit development and program administration. She had the privilege of traveling to several countries for her coursework, including studying abroad in Senegal.
Lauren brings a passion for building a more peaceful world to her work connecting donors and community sponsors with WorldDenver’s mission and appreciates any opportunity to practice French!
Tara joined WorldDenver in December 2024, bringing with her a deep-rooted passion for cross-cultural engagement and years of experience in business operations. A lifelong Denver resident, she grew up near Wash Park and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in Chinese Language and Literature. Tara’s career reflects her commitment to building global awareness within her community. As co-founder of the French American School of Denver, a DPS charter school dedicated to French immersion, Tara championed bilingual education, blending strategic leadership with her passion for language education. She served as Board Vice Chair, Director of Marketing and Communications, and Interim Executive Director, contributing to the school’s successful launch in August 2021. Tara is also the founder of Go Play Denver, a media platform dedicated to connecting Denverites with arts and culture across the city, with a focus on growing the audiences of smaller nonprofit organizations. She was recognized as an EY Next Wave Leadership Award finalist by the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts for her work with Go Play Denver.
Tara’s background in community leadership, business operations, and cross-cultural initiatives is complemented by decades of experience as an educator, curriculum writer, and trainer, where she has worked to foster global perspectives in students and communities alike. She has visited 49 countries, lived with host families in eight, and speaks Mandarin Chinese, French, and Spanish (though she is always studying the language of her next travel destination). In her free time, Tara enjoys curling with her team at the Denver Curling Club, exploring Denver’s arts scene, playing the kokle, and going on adventures.
Liz joined WorldDenver in February 2022 as the Education Fellow, working on student programming and virtual exchange. She now manages both the custom international exchange programs and youth initiatives at the organization.
Liz earned her B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology, from the University of Virginia and her M.A. in International Development, with a concentration in Human Rights, from the University of Denver. Building opportunities for intercultural connection and understanding via WorldDenver’s mission of “people-to-people diplomacy” is truly a privilege.
Keira joined the WorldDenver team in September 2020, shortly after graduating from the University of Denver with a dual B.A. in International Studies and Gender & Women’s Studies. What began as a 3-month remote internship turned into 6 years and counting at the organization. In her role on the Exchanges Team, she manages the International Visitor Leadership Program – bringing professionals from around the world to meet with their counterparts in Denver.
She is passionate about public diplomacy as a community building tool and loves to show how dynamically global Colorado is to the international visitors who pass through. Her favorite thing about working at WorldDenver is the opportunity to connect with folks who she may not have crossed paths with otherwise.
When she’s not at the office, Keira likes to travel, read, crochet, try new food, and explore the beautiful landscape of Colorado. A fun fact about her is that she has traveled to 21 countries and has dual-citizenship with Germany.
Morgan Swan joined the team in October 2024, taking on the role of Senior Coordinator of Events & Community Outreach. Morgan was raised in Los Angeles, and received her undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in Film with a minor in Business Economics. After graduating in 2020, Morgan made her way out to Denver and expanded upon her professional experiences, working in social media management, client relations and services, digital advertising, and community outreach at startups, advertising agencies, and nonprofit organizations in Colorado. Morgan is passionate about building and engaging communities, and she is excited to get involved with WorldDenver to create events and new access points for members and newcomers alike. Some of Morgan’s favorite international experiences have been traveling to England and stopping at Bath, the birthplace of her favorite author, Jane Austen, as well as her travels in Italy, specifically seeing Pompeii and enjoying the delicious Italian food. In her free time, Morgan enjoys reading, playing tennis and pickleball, hiking, and dog-sitting.
Jocelyn is a 10th grade student at Arrupe Jesuit High School who joined WorldDenver as an Administrative Assistant through the school’s Corporate Work Study Program in September 2026. In this role, she hopes to strengthen her communication skills, gain experience in a professional nonprofit environment, and further develop her ability to collaborate with colleagues as part of a team. She was drawn to WorldDenver because she enjoys learning about different cultures and meeting people from around the world.
Before joining WorldDenver, Jocelyn gained office experience through her corporate work-study placement at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, where she helped keep the office organized and assisted her colleagues with a variety of tasks. She has also volunteered with several organizations through her participation on Arrupe’s cheer team, supporting individuals with disabilities and others in need.
Outside of school and work, Jocelyn enjoys spending time with friends, whether shopping or trying new places to eat. She also likes watching shows from nearly every genre (except horror!) and drawing on her iPad, especially portraits and fictional characters.
