WRFI Instructors
Our instructors are some of the best in the field. Attorneys, professors, writers, teachers, research scientists, they all combine teaching experience and an intimate knowledge of course subject matter with the leadership and backcountry skills necessary to provide our students with safe, high-quality learning experiences in wilderness settings. They are also fun, dynamic, and passionate about education and the wilderness they use as classrooms. Our students tell us all the time that our instructors are as important to their WRFI experience as the landscape and the content.
Steve Alexander
Steve Alexander joined WRFI in the winter of 2008. He received his B.S. in Geology from St. Lawrence University and his M.S. in Science Education at Montana State University in Bozeman. Steve grew up in northern New York exploring his backyard in the fashion of Thoreau—by foot…along with snowshoes, skis, and bikes. He currently spends half of the year based near the headwaters of the Grasse River in northern New York, helping to run the Adirondack Semester for St. Lawrence University, a program which engages students in the study of nature and human relationships with nature while based in a secluded yurt campus. He has also worked as a field instructor for several organizations including the National Outdoor Leadership School and the Teton Science Schools. When it comes to his line of work, Steve says that it is the unparallelled experiences students have in the field that guides his pursuit to reacquaint them with their natural surroundings. Steve teaches Colorado Plateau: Desert Canyons & Cultures.
Adam Beh
Adam earned his Ph.D. from Colorado State University's Natural Resource Department in Environmental Communication. He has an M.S. in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, also from CSU, and a B.S. in Behavioral Science from Grand Valley State University. Adam's dissertation research focused on a photovoice project that facilitated an effort to study participant photographs and accompanying narratives among Kenyan stakeholders as a way of exploring local human-environment relationships. Although much of Adam's recent experience is in Kenya, his interest in human/nature relations has extended to campus sustainability efforts at CSU and in national parks, Peace Corps experience in Africa and on the CSU campus, park rangering in Golden Gate State Park, and being a backcountry trail maintenance leader at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. Like several other WRFI instructors, Adam has a knack for languages and speaks English, Kiswahili, Hausa, and French. Adam's interest in and experience with human's interaction with the land makes him a perfect instructor on the Wild Rockies Summer Semester.
Meagan Binkley
It's always a delight at WRFI when our alumni become instructors. Meagan was a student on WRFI's Baja Peninsula: Coastal Ecology and Culture before finishing her master's degree at the University of Tennessee in 2008. She joined Montana Afoot and Afloat: Human/Land Relations for the first time in 2008 and has now taught it twice. She is also an instructor on Colorado Plateau: Desert Canyons and Cultures. Meagan brings a lot to a WRFI course including academic knowledge and experience in restoration, agriculture, and conservation biology. She is also a Wilderness EMT and has worked for various outdoor education groups. One of our favorite things about Meagan is that she conducted her master's thesis research at Dollywood, Tennessee, where she worked towards the restoration of the American Chestnut through plant breeding, molecular research, and tree planting.
Casey Brown
Casey has been a great addition to the WRFI instructor pool. Joining WRFI in the summer of 2009, Casey teaches on our Wild Rockies Summer Semester. Her thesis work, conducted largely in Grand Teton National Park, made her a perfect candidate for kicking off this exciting semester in the Yellowstone to Yukon ecoregion.
Casey will be earning her master's degree in the spring of 2010 from Colorado State University in Wildlife Ecology. She has a BA in environmental studies and conservation biology from Prescott College and has worked extensively in the field of environmental and outdoor education. From being a mountaineering instructor with Outward Bound to working as an ecological consultant, Casey's wide array of experiences inspire students and add a lot of depth to her teaching.
Patrick Burke
Pat Burke began instructing for WRFI in the summer of 2007 and brings a unique combination of education and experience to each course he teaches. Pat began his education with a B.A. in Philosophy from UC-San Diego, and continued with a B.S. in Forestry from the University of Montana. He then attained an M.S. in Forest Ecology at the University of Montana and is currently working towards an M.A. in Philosophy, also at UM. He has worked as a restoration ecologist on projects around the west including superfund sites, mine reclamation sites, national park natural disaster sites, and highway revegetation projects. He is also the author and co-author of numerous publications. Pat’s ability to review science while maintaining an ethical awareness allows him to fulfill WRFI’s mission of teaching critical thinking about social and environmental issues. Pat teaches Restoration Ecology in Greater Yellowstone, Colorado Plateau: Desert Canyons and Cultures, and Montana Afoot and Afloat: Human/Land Relations.
Clint Carroll
Clint Carroll has instructed for WRFI since 2006 and joined WRFI's Curriculum Committee in the fall of 2009. His expertise in Native American Studies, coupled with a natural teaching ability and a passion for making intellectual and interpersonal connections, make Clint a wonderful addition to WRFI.
Clint is an enrolled tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and is proud and knowledgeable of his heritage and culture. Clint received his B.A. in anthropology and American Indian studies from the University of Arizona in Tucson (2003) and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in environmental science, policy and management at the University of California-Berkeley. His doctoral work focuses on tribal environmental history, law and policy, and the intersection of traditional ecological knowledge and tribal environmental programs to promote community involvement and input in tribal decision making. Clint seeks to build collaborative inter-tribal relationships that pool tribal experiences with environmental issues, specifically in relation to traditional ecological knowledge and its inclusion in tribal environmental sectors. Clint currently co-teaches Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Action with tribal elders and teachers on the Flathead Reservation.
Peter Chaille
Peter is from, and currently based in, Portland, Oregon where he works as a researcher and consultant on a range of issues related to sustainable use of marine and land resources around the world. Peter earned his Ph.D. in marine biology from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he also obtained an M.A. in Comparative Physiology and a B.S. in Aquatic Biology. He has shared his knowledge via numerous publications and countless presentations around the world. Peter relishes having the opportunity to work with and for organizations that strive to conserve threatened environments and improve the livelihoods of those who depend on them through the integration of science, business and experiential education programs. He continues to work with such organizations as UCSB, Mercy Corps, Mars Inc., and others, and is particularly proud that half his life has been spent working in some capacity with the Portland Kayak Company, where he moonlights as Director of Instruction. In the event that WRFI goes global again, Peter speaks English as well as passable French, workable Spanish and ever improving Bahasa Indonesia. Peter teaches The Alaskan Rainforest: Ecology and Policy of the Tongass.
Chelsea Feeney
Chelsea grew up at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia. While in college at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, she took a backpacking trip to Utah's Canyonlands with the school's Outing Club, and so began her fascination with the American West. Upon graduation with a B.S. in Geology, she moved to the Pacific Northwest for four years where she worked as a trail crew leader on the Pacific Northwest Trail, a Project Geologist for the state of Oregon, an AmeriCorps Volunteer, and an instructor for Komo Kulshan Outdoor School in the North Cascades, Washington. She earned her M.S. in Geology at the University of Montana where she taught introductory geology labs and assisted in UM's Geology Summer Field Camp. After graduation she served as a Geologist-in-the-Park volunteer at Yellowstone. She currently works for Mountain Press Publishing Company as a cartographer and geology editor for the "Roadside Geology" guide book series. Passionate about our dynamic earth and sharing "why things are the way they are", Chelsea has explored the geologic wonders of New Zealand, Iceland, Costa Rica, Alaska, and much of the American West. Chelsea joins WRFI as an instructor on Colorado Plateau: Desert Canyons & Cultures and Restoration Ecology in Greater Yellowstone. Chelsea lives in Missoula with her husband Dennis, a fellow geologist and educator.
Jeff Gailus
Jeff first came to WRFI in 2006 as WRFI's Recruitment and Development Coordinator. Providing much-needed guidance and creative flair, Jeff, amongst other things, recreated the WRFI website into the one you see today. Now an instructor, Jeff brings intimate knowledge of transboundary issues on our Wild Rockies Summer Semester.Jeff is the founder of Bristlecone Communications, a full-service communications consultancy. A widely published writer, Jeff has been honored with several awards, including Story of the Year from the Associated Collgiate Press, numerous nominations for magazine feature writing at the western Canadian and national levels, and grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for his book about the mythical Great Plains grizzly bear. To reach Jeff, you can email him at jeff@gailus.ca.
Brandt Geyerman
Brandt is a passionate WRFI instructor and has instructed on Montana Afoot & Afloat, Colorado Plateau: Desert Canyons & Cultures and Boundary Waters: Wilderness Land & Lakes. Brandt also joined WRFI's Safety Committee in the spring of 2009. As an active and trusted instructor, Brandt brings great expertise to this committee.
Raised in Minnesota and the high country of Colorado, Brandt devoted many years to competitive alpine skiing before pursuing his passion for philosophy. He earned a B.A. in philosophy in 1994 and a J.D. in 1999. He has taught philosophy and political science courses in Breckenridge since 1999, coordinated non-profit educational organizations in Telluride, and currently teaches Introduction to Philosophy on-line for Colorado Mountain College. Brandt's philosophic interests include teaching classical, environmental and feminist ethics in the backcountry. He has traveled in over 20 countries and enjoys freeskiing, mountain biking, climbing and canoeing.You can reach Brandt at brandt@wrfi.net.
Neil Kessler
Neil teaches Alaskan Rain Forest: Ecology and Policy of the Tongass and Colorado Plateau: Desert Canyons & Cultures. Neil started out as a WRFI student on the Alaska course and fell in love with both southeast Alaska and the educational experience that WRFI offers. When Neil is not in Alaska, he spends time chasing birds and learning ancient hand skills and history in the desert Southwest. He has an undergraduate degree in psychology from Lehigh University and earned his master's degree at the University of Vermont. His interest in ecology and natural sciences is multi-sourced, including the WRFI Alaska experience, wilderness survival courses, three years in rural Vermont, and a stint at the New England Wildlife Center (NEWC), a wildlife rehabilitation hospital in Hingham, Massachusetts. Neil also works as a blacksmith/knifemaker and writer, with some of his recent nature-based adventure stories being published in Catalyst Magazine in Salt Lake City, and one upcoming in The Herb Companion.
Angie Moline
Angie grew up camping in a VW bus and felt sorry for people who had to sleep in tents on the ground. During high school she discovered the wonders of backpacking and now teaches lightweight backpacking as a metaphor for how to live lightly on the earth. In addition to metaphor, Angie draws from a variety of teaching techniques on WRFI courses including storytelling, mind mapping, and a unique backcountry version of the game Cranium. She lives in Colorado where she enjoys making art, telemark skiing, practicing yoga, and sharing meals with friends. Angie has also taught field courses for Outward Bound Wilderness and the Audubon Expedition Institute. She received her doctorate from Colorado State University where she studied the interaction between benthic invertebrates and riparian vegetation in small streams of the Colorado Plateau. She also holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame, the University of Minnesota, and Northern Arizona University. Angie teaches Restoration Ecology, Baja Peninsula: Coastal Ecology & Culture, and Colorado Plateau: Desert Canyons & Cultures for WRFI. To contact Angie, send an email to angiemoline@wildmail.com.
Dave Morris
Dave graduated from Evergreen State College with a degree in Environmental Studies, then earned his M.S. in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana. Dave has instructed and guided for many outdoor education programs since 1990. He has traveled and taught in South and Central America, Nepal, Africa, Alaska, New Zealand, and Canada. Dave loves teaching at the college level and offers WRFI students a wealth of knowledge about resource issues, environmental education, and ecology. He is currently seeking a PhD in Forestry and Conservation at the Univerity of Montana. When not otherwise occupied Dave is often found skiing, mountain biking, taking photos, or reading High Country News.
Dave began teaching for WRFI in 2001. He has taught Alaskan Rainforest, Baja Peninsula, Continental Divide, Colorado Plateau, and Montana Afoot and Afloat. He has initiated and instructed two more courses: Conservation & Community in the Yellowstone to Yukon Region and Cycle the Rockies. Dave has served on the WRFI Board since 2004.
Ted Morrison
Ted Morrison joined WRFI in the fall of 2008. With many years of field work under his belt, Ted has returned to the University of Montana where he is pursuing a Master's of Science in environmental studies. Ted attended the University of Montana for his undergraduate studies, earning a degree in Environmental Studies, focusing on environmental politics and global trade policy. As he now studies EVST in more depth, Ted will be focusing on the study of behavioral changes of students of environmental and outdoor education programs. When asked, "Why WRFI?", Ted responded that he has been interested in combining college-level academics with outdoor education, and can't think of a better way to learn and teach about environmental and social issues than to be immersed in the landscape and with the people involved. When not studying or working in the field, Ted can be found travelling, trail running, fly fishing, backcountry skiing, and rock climbing. Ted also teaches for AERIE Backcountry Medicine and Outward Bound, and teaches Montana Afoot and Afloat for WRFI.
Noah Pollock
Noah Pollock hails from Delmar, NY, and graduated from Cornell University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources. He earned his M.S. degree from the Rubenstein School for the Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont, where he studied sustainable community development and ecological economics. Noah works as a consultant for Spring Hill Solutions, a Burlington, VT energy, carbon management, and business sustainability firm, the Gund Institute of Ecological Economics at the University of Vermont, and the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. A passionate outdoor enthusiast and educator, he has cycled through New Zealand, the Canadian maritimes, and the Northern Rockies, and has taught college courses ranging from sustainable development to wilderness survival. Noah teaches Cycle the Rockies: Energy and Climate Change in Montana.
Nicky Phear
Nicky Phear coordinates and teaches for the Wilderness and Civilization Program, which is a two-semester field and campus program for undergraduates at the University of Montana. Nicky has long been dedicated to WRFI. She was the organization's first director and has taught a range of field courses for WRFI as well as Prescott College and the Colorado Outward Bound School. She is currently active in climate change education. In the fall of 2007 she cycled 1000 miles with the Ride for Climate giving public presentations about global warming and the need for action. She serves on the city of Missoula’s Mayor’s Climate Change Advisory Board and is helping the University of Montana develop an innovative minor in climate change. She received her Master of Science in environmental studies at the University of Montana. Nicky is one of the founding instructors of Cycle the Rockies:Energy and Climate Change in Montana. She can be reached at nicky.phear@umontana.edu.
Joshua Porter
Joshua joined WRFI in the fall of 2008. Joshua received a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in Wilderness Studies from the Evergreen State College, and earned an M.S. in Ecological Teaching and Learning through the Audubon Expedition Institute at Lesley University. Joshua’s work has alternated between field biology, service based conservation education, wilderness leadership, and guiding, with most of that work located in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. He recently developed and directed a land stewardship program in Vermont and is involved in community-based folk education projects that explore human relationships to place and story. Joshua teaches Montana Afoot & Afloat and the Wild Rockies Summer Semester.
Karen Pratt
Karen joins WRFI with a quiver of experience working in the outdoors. She has a BS in Fisheries Resources from the University of Idaho and an MS in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. She has worked as a director, manager, biologist, technician, independent consultant, and field scientist for many organizations including the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Silver Creek Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, Oregon Pacific Power, Idaho Fish and Game, Mountain States Group, Sunscapes, and the Community Gardens of Boise. She is an accomplished outdoorswoman, focusing her outdoor pursuits on backpacking, hunting and horsepacking, cross-country skiing, and playing on the river. She also enjoys what she calls "recreational botany". Karen teaches Restoration Ecology in Greater Yellowstone.
Kirsten Rudestam
Kirsten Rudestam spent her adolescence running up the creek-beds and climbing the sage-brush trails within California's Los Padres mountains. She has since worked and traveled in India, Guatemala, Canada and the American West as an environmental educator, naturalist
and backcountry guide. She sees service projects and experiential education as inspiring methods that deepen and facilitate interdisciplinary environmental learning. She holds a master's degree in Environmental Science from the University of Oregon and has worked as a researcher for the Climate Leadership Initiative and Decision Research, where her principal areas of research examine water issues in the American West as well as public perceptions of space and place. Currently a co-coordinator of the Environmental Leadership Program at
the University of Oregon, she works as well for the City of Eugene's Outdoor Program, teaching outdoor education and leading wilderness trips. Kirsten teaches Montana Afoot and Afloat for WRFI.
Dan Spencer
Dan teaches in the Environmental Studies program at the University of Montana where he focuses on issues of globalization, Latin America, community participation in ecological restoration, and environmental ethics and theology. Dan’s undergraduate degree is in geology from Carleton College, which also included three summers teaching geology field camp in the Tobacco Root Mountains of southwest Montana, and three summers working and climbing in Glacier Park. He has graduate degrees in theology and ethics from Union Theological Seminary in New York, and spent 10 years teaching in a Religion and Philosophy Program at Drake University in Iowa before moving to Montana just in time for the fires of 2000. Dan grew up on the West Coast and in Colorado, and spent most of his adult life trying to find a way to get back to the West from Minnesota, New York and Iowa. He’s been teaching at the University of Montana since 2002, and now that he’s back in Montana, he hopes to never move again. He lives with his partner, Pat Burke, and Pat’s two kids, in Missoula.
Craig Stafford
Craig currently works as an adjunct professor for the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Montana. His current teaching responsibilities include freshwater ecology, lake ecology, and Montana wildlife. Craig's research focuses on freshwater biology, particularly the movement of mercury through aquatic food webs. He earned his B.S. in biology at the University of Michigan. After completing his M.S. in zoology at the University of Maine, Craig received his Ph.D. in the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Montana. Craig teaches Restoration Ecology and Montana Afoot & Afloat.
Bethany Swanson
Bethany is WRFI's Outreach Manager as well as an instructor. Charged with letting the world know about WRFI, Bethany can be found on college campuses across the country meeting with students, professors, and advisors. When not travelling for WRFI, she is in Missoula at WRFI Central, designing marketing plans, organizing fundraisers, and trying to figure out ways to get back into the field. After years of instructing for WRFI, she is excited to continue with the organization from a new standpoint. Bethany graduated from Colorado College in 2000 with a degree in environmental history, and completed her Master's degree from the University of Montana's environmental studies program in May 2005. She currently is an adjunct professor at the University of Montana in both the environmental studies department and the Davidson Honors College. She's thrilled to have instructed Alaskan Rainforest: Ecology and Policy of the Tongass, Colorado Plateau: Desert Canyons & Cultures, Restoration Ecology and Montana Afoot & Afloat. Bethany can be reached at bethany@wrfi.net.
