U.S. Staff

Arianne Peterson, M.A. – Executive Director

Having been with the organization since 2014, Arianne Peterson became ALDEA’s Executive Director in July 2019. She oversees all U.S.-based operations including administration, fundraising, communications, and outreach. Arianne holds an M.A. in English from the University of St. Thomas – Minnesota and a B.A. in anthropology from Arizona State University, where her interest in international development began with a semester spent studying in Thailand. She has also worked as an advocate for environmental, food justice, and anti-nuclear causes. Arianne lives with her family on a hobby farm in northern Wisconsin, where she enjoys outdoor activities like cross-country skiing, gardening, canoeing, and kayaking in her spare time.

Shea Bronson-Doherty – Operations Manager

Shea spent several years living and working in Central and South America directing development projects focused on educational enrichment, access to clean water and sanitation systems and sustainable economic development before taking on the Operations Manager role with ALDEA in September 2021. He supports the Executive Director with administration and fundraising and manages the organization’s accounting and donor database. His interest in language, culture and learning from perspectives different from his own led him to obtain a B.A. in anthropology from Western Washington University. Shea values spending time outdoors, learning new skills, connecting with family and friends and loves nothing more than reading a good book under a shady tree.