EDUCATION

2004    Master of Science in Forestry, Wildland Impact Monitoring Emphasis

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona

1998    Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Management, Outdoor Leadership Emphasis

            Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

• Academic Advisor, Distance Learning: January – September 2007

Responsibilities – Participating on advising team serving on-line and Distance Learning students with a focus in Nursing, Health Sciences, Allied Health Care, and Hotel and Restaurant Management degrees. Assessing student's stage of academic development and promoting student growth by determining suitable developmental tasks; assists student in establishing realistic and attainable academic goals. Advises students on academic issues; identifies the educational options appropriate for each student and assists with the analysis of each option, including possible outcomes and their implications. Maintaining contact with departmental personnel in each of the colleges/schools as appropriate. Verifies and signs as advisor on student paperwork and prepares it for submission to the appropriate academic department. Identifies options for students to satisfy degree requirements; evaluates and makes recommendations on petitions and amendments to student's program of study; assists students in completion. Interprets and explains college and university policies and procedures; presents academic information to new students at occasional events all around the state. Checks various forms for accuracy such as graduation applications, updating credit, overload petitions, curriculum changes; assists students in their completion. Evaluates transfer transcripts from other academic institutions for equivalencies and application to NAU degree program. Assists in recruitment of potential students by advising them of general academic requirements of a specific college; describes courses; disseminates information regarding registration procedures; prepares recruitment packets. Assists students with admission and registration; provides guidance in course selection in keeping with the student's interests, values and abilities.

• Office Specialist Senior, Distance Learning: November 2006 – January 2007

Responsibilities – Collaborating with other staff in maintaining the day-to-day operations of the Distance Learning Service Center; processing requests for creating cohort groups, enrollment petitions, grade changes, and special projects as assigned; assisting in the supervision of all customer service functions performed by student and temporary Service Center Representatives.

• Interim Program Coordinator, Distance Learning: September – November 2006

Responsibilities – Coordinating efforts to best serve the needs of prospective Distance Learning students; supervise student workers to assure the quality of evening and weekend prospect and special population telephone campaigns; identify problems and concerns with Prospect Database and work closely with DLS Tech Staff in addressing concerns in solution oriented fashion.

• Service Center Representative, Distance Learning: July – November 2006

Responsibilities – Providing front-line support for student service center including all customer service functions such as: answering and navigating telephone calls, greeting walk-in customers, coordinating mail and logging efforts, responding to email and live chats, entering prospective student data, faculty credentials, and syllabi in web-based DL Administrative pages, and collaborating in the day-to-day operations of the Distance Learning Service Center.

• Adjunct Faculty and Instructor, Parks and Recreation Management Program: May 2000 – present 

Responsibilities – Curriculum development and logistics as well as in-class, web-enhanced, and field-based delivery of instruction with a focus in Outdoor Leadership and related courses; coordination of permits between NAU, Arizona Department of Administration, and land management agencies; recruitment, training, and supervision of field staff; budget oversight; transportation coordination; equipment inventory and management; and program/participant evaluation.

Highlights – Serving as lecturer, field instructor, and assistant for a variety of NAU PRM courses, including but not limited to: PRM 212 Basic Canyoneering and Rope Safety Systems, PRM 252 Recreation, Leadership, and Supervision, PRM 331 Outdoor Leadership Certification I, PRM 431 Outdoor Leadership Certification II, PRM 352 Experiential Learning, PRM 383 Commercial and Community Recreation, PRM 399 Leave-No-Trace Master Educator Course, PRM 452 Outdoor Recreation Program Administration, PRM 499 Wilderness: Place, Process, and Protection, PRM 531 Human Impacts in Wildland Environments, GGR 451 Mountain Field Studies; consistently exceeding goals and expectations of program and receiving excellent evaluations from students, staff and administration.

• Research Associate, Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation: February 2000 – present

Responsibilities – Collaborating with university faculty, land management agencies and special interest groups in the development and implementation of human impact inventory and monitoring systems assessing use patterns and sustainability of recreational activities in wildland environments.

Highlights – Working with a variety of land managers and diverse partners, including: Grand Canyon, Saguaro and Denali National Parks; Bureau of Land Managements’ Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument, Arizona-Strip District and Monticello Field Office; as well as the Dixie, Coconino, Coronado and Kaibab National Forests; committee and research participation in Grand Canyon National Park’s Backcountry Management Plan scoping process from 2004 to 2006.

 

• Graduate Assistant, Trips & Classes Manager, NAU Outdoors: August 2000 – January 2001

Responsibilities – Working directly with NAU Outdoors program coordinator and program staff to manage overall trip and class logistics, including budgeting, advertisement, permitting, field staffing, rations, transportation and trip evaluation.

National Outdoor Leadership School, Lander, WY and Palmer, AK

• Senior Field Instructor/Faculty and Course Leader: June 2000 – present (seasonal) 

Responsibilities – Leading extended (30 day) wilderness backpacking, glacier mountaineering, rock climbing, Leave-No-Trace Master Educator, and NOLS Instructor-training courses in Alaska, Wyoming and Arizona. Teaching NOLS curriculum, including but not limited to: Wilderness first-aid, leadership theory, expedition behavior, communication, conflict resolution, land management, ecology, natural history, geology, and meteorology, as well as hazardous terrain evaluation and group management travel skills.

Highlights – Recipient of 2004 Field Staff Merit Award for excellence in teaching and service to NOLS; serving as primary caregiver during military-assisted medical evacuation in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park; recognition before NOLS Board of Trustees for outstanding patient care during evacuation. 2003 Denali Pro-Pin recipient for utilizing clean climbing practices within Denali National Park.

• Field Instructor, Professional Training Institute: May 2003 – present (seasonal)

Responsibilities – Coordinating with diverse special interest groups in program development, logistical planning, and post trip program evaluation of custom 30-day Alaska mountaineering expeditions.

Highlights – Co-instructing inaugural U.S. Naval Academy mountaineering course for Navy SEAL recruits, the first TEVA Orthodox Jewish mountaineering course.

• Equipment Assistant and Logistical Support Staff: April 1998 – October 1999

Responsibilities – Managing in-town facilities, maintaining field equipment, and supervising seasonal staff at NOLS Alaska, serving approximately 500 students per season.

Highlights – Supervision of pre- and post-season branch setup and equipment inventory; coordination of equipment outfitting for ~50 courses per season; development and implementation of a facility-wide recycling program; co-founding NOLS Alaska Garden Project to supply upwards of 2,000 pounds of local organic produce per season; participation in state-facilitated search and rescue efforts in the Talkeetna and Chugach mountain ranges.

Alaska Mountaineering School, Talkeetna, AK

• Assistant Mountain Guide: June 2005 – July 2006 (seasonal)

Responsibilities – Working with lead guide, AMS administration and the National Park Service in assuring a safe commercial operation through preparation of permits, logistics, food packing, and providing instruction for a diverse group of international clients ranging from 17 to 50 years of age as part of a successful climbing expedition and summit bid on the West Buttress of Mount McKinley.

City of Flagstaff Parks and Recreation Department, Flagstaff, AZ

• Program Assistant: April 1997 – January 1998

Responsibilities – Working closely with Ventures Program Coordinator to develop a series of innovative outdoor trips and classes offered to local teens, including rock climbing, mountain biking, fishing hiking/backpacking, and canoe, kayak, and oar trips on the Verde, San Juan, and lower Colorado Rivers.

 

CERTIFICATIONS, SKILLS and TRAINING

Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (#B1654927 exp. 03/31/2007)

Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness Medical Institute of NOLS (exp. 04/22/09)

American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR (exp. 12/31/09)

American Avalanche Association Certification levels I and II

Leave-No-Trace Master Educator Course Instructor

Wilderness Education Association (WEA) National Standard Program Instructor