MISSION & HISTORY
The mission of the Montana Natural History Center is to promote and cultivate the appreciation, understanding and stewardship of nature through education. MNHC is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 by a group of educators who had the vision to create a natural history center as a resource for schools and the public. Originally housed on the University of Montana campus, MNHC continued to grow and outgrow its rented space at Fort Missoula. In 2004, MNHC purchased its first home at 120 Hickory Street, at the edge of McCormick Park in the heart of Missoula.
STAFF MEMBERS
Arnold Olsen, Executive Director, has a PhD in wildlife biology from Colorado State University and has extensive experience in natural and cultural resource management and administration. Past positions have included Director of the Montana Historical Society and various leadership positions for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks–in wildlife management, parks and recreation, and land and facility management. He has also taught at the university level and has worked for the private sector in environmental consulting and permanent habitat protection.
Lisa Bickell, Education Director, started with MNHC in 1999 as a college intern. She has taught natural history and outdoor education to school groups at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Minnesota and the North Cascades Institute in Washington. Lisa has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana and an M.Ed. in Science Education from Western Washington University, as well as an enduring passion for teaching and learning about the natural history of western Montana. Lisa is the 2006 recipient of the Montana Environmental Education Association’s Educator of the Year award.
Brian Williams, Assistant Education Director, started teaching fifteen years ago at Boy Scout camp and has been enjoying it ever since. He earned an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, during which time he created the Master Naturalist class for MNHC that continues today. He recently spent two years in South Texas leading bird-watching and wildlife tours on King Ranch, but he’s glad to be back in the land of snow and mountains teaching kids natural history once again.
Christine Morris,
Community Programs Coordinator, has a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, where she focused on Environmental Education. Her previous experience includes work with the National Park Service, curriculum development for Rice University, and as the Environmental Education Director for Boys & Girls Clubs of Seattle and King County, Washington. Christine is constantly fascinated by the organisms and elements of the natural world and loves exploring, learning, and wandering around in the woods.
Alyssa McLean, Naturalist, has a B.S. in Wildlife Management and an M.A. in Environmental Education, both from the University of New Hampshire. A Massachusetts native, she has held wildlife and education jobs in Utah, Texas, Vermont and New Hampshire. Alyssa and her husband Chris spent three years moving between the Welder Wildlife Foundation in South Texas, where she worked as the Conservation Educator, and the University of New Hampshire. In her spare time Alyssa enjoys hiking with her husband, reading, gardening, spending time with her parrot, Zeke, and long-distance running.
Allison De Jong, Volunteer Coordinator, Field Notes Coordinator & Montana Naturalist Editor, has a B.A. in English Literature from Dordt College and an M.S. in Environmental Writing from the University of Montana. She has explored flora and fauna from the fields of her home state of Iowa to the deserts of Egypt and the mountains of Peru, and has spent the last seven years falling in love with the wild Montana landscape. Her professional experience includes volunteering with AmeriCorps in inner-city Chicago, canvassing for environmental issues with North Carolina PIRG, and working as office manager for an eco-tourism company in Missoula.
Deb Jones, Office Manager, has a BA in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University. She has spent the last four years living in Western Washington working in Business Development and Marketing. Deb recently moved to the Missoula area with her husband and has fallen in love with everything that is Missoula. She enjoys reading, cooking, hiking with her dog, and the always-needed beach getaway.
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Candace Romero, Administrative Assistant, is currently working towards a degree in Administrative Management from the University of Montana. She came to visit Missoula eleven years ago and keeps finding reasons to stay. Candace enjoys hiking, gardening, reading and keeping up with her seven-year-old son Jeremyah.
Whitney Schwab, Development & Marketing Director, has a B.A. in Natural Resources Recreation Management from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, where she focused on Environmental Advocacy and Collaboration. Her professional experience includes work as an environmental educator, non-profit administrator, fundraiser and small, sustainable business developer. Whitney’s interests include connecting folks to meaningful experiences with the natural world as well as promoting environmental sustainability within the built environment. Her volunteer efforts include serving on the Board of Directors for the United States Green Building Council Montana Chapter and the Youth Homes. Whitney’s free time is currently focused on her young son, who is already learning bird calls and listening to the owls and coyotes that call in the evening by her home.
Christine Wren, Part-Time Naturalist, is an educator with 20 years of experience teaching in elementary public schools and outdoor environmental education programs. She earned a BA in English-Creative Writing and MA in Bilingual-ESL Education from the University of Colorado. She credits her husband, Richard, for first awakening her naturalist tendencies and their many miles of hiking together for nurturing that identity. The Visiting Naturalist in the Schools program at MNHC provides a great place for her efforts to integrate academic content with hands-on, inquiry-based learning.
INTERNS
Sara J. Call is currently working on her master’s degree in the Environmental Studies department at the University of Montana. Her foci, both in academic work and in life, are conservation-based agriculture, writing, and culinary enlightenment; she also enjoys road trips with her dog and running rivers. Sara strongly believes in the power of natural history education and is excited to be working with MNHC so that she can not only share her excitement and curiosity, but also—and above all—learn more.
Nadia Soucek has a BA in International Politics from the University of Puget Sound, and is currently working towards a master’s degree in Transboundary Environmental Issues at the University of Montana. Growing up in southeastern Idaho gave Nadia the opportunity to explore many wild and beautiful landscapes around the West, which has fueled her passion in environmental and resource conservation issues. Nadia’s previous experience includes living and working at the UM FLAT (forum for living with appropriate technology) where she learned valuable life skills such a earth plastering, permaculture gardening, and tending to a flock of chickens. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, cross-country skiing, and playing bocce ball.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Hank Fischer, President, is a conservationist, author, journalist, and guide, and has been extensively involved in endangered species restoration in the northern Rockies. Hank studied wildlife biology and journalism and has an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana. From 1977-2002, Hank was the Defenders of Wildlife Northern Rockies’ representative and his 1995 book, Wolf Wars, chronicles the effort to restore wolves to Yellowstone. Hank created the Defenders of Wildlife Compensation Funds for reimbursing farmers for wolf and grizzly bear livestock losses. Hank has been honored with many awards including the Don Aldrich Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Award, the Edward Lowe Enviro-Capitalist Award and a Special Achievement Award from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.
Marilyn Marler, Vice President, is a plant ecologist in Missoula where she works as the University of Montana’s invasive plant specialist, taking care of UM’s natural areas. She has a degree in Biology from UC Davis and a master’s degree in Ecology from UM. She joined the MNHC board in 2007 after working with MNHC staff on various community outreach projects during the past 8 years. Marilyn and her husband David enjoy fishing, hunting, backpacking and gardening, and are also active with the Montana Native Plant Society.
Elizabeth (Betty) Oleson, Treasurer and Financial Advisor, is a CPA and the Fiscal Affairs Director of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation. Betty earned her BA at the University of Chicago and an MBA from the University of Montana. She is an avid hiker, skier and bike rider. Betty also serves on the boards of the Blue Mountain Clinic and the String Orchestra of the Rockies.
Julie Cannon has been a resident of Missoula for 20 years and has worked for The University of Montana for 13 of those years. Although her educational and professional background is in the finance and information technology fields, much of her heart and soul resides in the rivers and mountains of western Montana. She is currently the Director of Technology Solutions for the Office for Student Success at UM. Julie comes from a long line of educators and spent a good portion of her childhood learning and exploring nature. As a child and “young naturalist” she spent most of her summers either in the backyard mulberry tree exploring the bugs, birds and squirrels that also called the tree home, or in a rowboat on Lake Laramie in Ohio making her way to Blackberry Island to fish or search for turtles, snakes, ducks and geese. Most recently she spends a good part of her time exploring the Bitterroots, Sapphires and surrounding mountains of western Montana with her partner Allan. As a past student of some of the adult programs at the Montana Natural History Center, she is honored to be able to help promote its programs and mission.
Carol Ewen - bio coming soon!
Annie Garde – bio coming soon!
Janice Givler – bio coming soon!
Minette Glaser is the mother of twin girls who delight in catching earthworms and hooting like owls. Minette spent her own childhood catching toads and watching fireflies in New England. Before her daughters arrived, Minette spent twenty years working to conserve native wildlife for several non-profit organizations, including the National Audubon Society, the Ocean Conservancy and Defenders of Wildlife. Minette received her bachelors degree in French and International Relations from Connecticut College and her masters in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana. When not chasing kids, Minette enjoys hiking, horseback riding and taking photographs.
Jim Hamilton has a B.A. in Biology from St. Ambrose College in Iowa and an M.A. in Zoology from the University of Montana, where he did research on black-tailed prairie dogs. He was Vice President of the Friends Board for the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge before they mysteriously disappeared, and now volunteers for the Teller Wildlife Refuge, is a member of the Bitterroot Audubon and Big Sky Beekeepers, and is a writer with articles published in Montana Outdoors, Montana Naturalist Magazine, and Pointing Dog Journal. He lives in Florence, Montana.
Sally Johnson is a native Montanan. She has practiced transactional and conservation law in Missoula for the past 15 years, helping conserve over 400,000 acres. She loves exploring wild places with her husband, Ross, and daughter Florence.
Marcia Kircher is a Montana Master Naturalist with a 25-year communications career in project and program management for the information technology industry. She and her husband Bob relocated to Missoula in 2009 after a 40-year absence from Montana, a place well loved. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2004 with a Masters of Science in Marketing and the intention to preserve the vitality of native Montana plant and animal diversity. She led an applied research project with the Nature Conservancy that benefited its partnership with the U.S. Park Service to preserve the Potomac Gorge of the Potomac River. She is delighted to help MNHC pursue its stewardship and education mission.
Rick Oncken lives west of Missoula with his wife Penney. They have 3 grown children. Oncken works at Lambros Real Estate, specializing in ranch and recreational land. He is a member of most of the hunter-conservation groups working in Montana and is currently on the board of directors of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Oncken’s interest in nature goes back to his youth, growing up in Iowa. Pets such as crawdads and turtles (mom said no to snakes), fishing with a cane pole and helping relatives on their farms helped foster a lifelong interest in the world around us.
Penny Ritchie - bio coming soon!
Susan Roy is an attorney at Garlington, Lohn, and Robinson. She is also active with Adventure Cycling and the Montana Wilderness Association.
Stephen Speckart is a retired oncology physician and ardent outdoorsman. He has hiked and backpacked through much of the West and volunteers with federal and state wildlife officials working on wolf research. He is active with the Rock Creek homeowners association and is a supporter of Five Valleys Land trust. In their spare time, he and his wife, Patricia Forsberg, have studied Italian and Japanese language and cultures. Stephen is a gourmet cook and is known for his lively wit and use of double entendres!
