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.
Tina Hanke, Community Programs Coordinator, earned her B.A. in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, since leaving her home state, has worked for a variety of educational programs, including a YMCA camp in northern Minnesota, an outdoor education program with Alaska Pacific University, an organic gardening AmeriCorps position, and most recently, the Boys & Girls Club of Rhode Island. When she isn’t moving across the country, Tina enjoys hiking, XC skiing, gardening, cooking, live music, and adding to her “Brewery Visit Life List” (she is from Wisconsin, after all!) She is excited to be living in the mountains and plans on making the most of them!
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, 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 five 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.
Caroline Kurtz, Field Notes Coordinator & Montana Naturalist Editor, has worked in science communication for the past fifteen years — as a writer, editor, program developer and teacher. She received a B.A. in English Literature from Vassar College and an M.S. in Science Communication from Boston University. Currently, she also works as a freelance science writer for the University of Montana.
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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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Leah Grunzke, Restoration Ranger, has a B.A. in Horticultural Science from MSU and a Certification in Nonprofit Administration from UM, where she studied community education, sustainable urban agriculture, and Rocky Mountain native plant research. She currently pursues her horticultural passions as the coordinator for the Fort Missoula Nature Adventure Garden, developing programming in native plants, pollinators, and restoration efforts. When her hands aren’t buried in the soil, Leah serves as Grassroots Music Director at the independent radio station, KBGA Missoula.
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.
Melynda (Mindy) Goldberg, Secretary, is a native of upstate New York. After graduating from college in Ohio, she worked in hospitals from New York to California as an obstetrical nurse. In 1995 she moved to Ennis, Montana. In addition to hospital work, she has been employed with the US Forest Service and worked part-time as a commercial fishing guide. She’s been fortunate to work and volunteer for hospitals and non-profits in Havre, Lewistown, Bozeman and now Missoula!
April Christofferson is an author and former Seattle attorney. Several of her novels are set in the West and focus upon environmental issues. She is a passionate advocate for wilderness and wildlife, especially the preservation of Yellowstone National Park. She writes for the Yellowstone Association’s Discovery and teaches screenwriting.
Annie Garde – bio coming soon!
Jim Gladen was a career employee for the U.S. Forest Service, serving on several forests as well as at the National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. After leaving the Forest Service he became the Vice President of Lands and Conservation for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in Missoula before his retirement in 2007.
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.
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.
Susan Roy is an attorney at Garlington, Lohn, and Robinson. She is also active with Adventure Cycling and the Montana Wilderness Association.
Lance Schelvan is a lifelong student of the natural world and likes to share what he finds there. He has a bachelor’s degree in art from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and taught art in public schools in Minnesota and Upper Peninsula, Michigan, before moving to western Montana some 40 years ago. Lance worked as a writer and photographer for the Forest Service before founding Bugle Magazine and working as vice president for communications for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for 20 years. He is now working on his 2nd book of photos and essays, titled A Lost Forest–focused on the beauty of the Northern Rockies as it changes with the climate.
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!
Jaime Troiano grew up in the Northeast and moved to Missoula in 1996. She received her BS and her Masters of Accountancy from the University of Montana in 1998. She has served on the boards of Blue Mountain Clinic, WORD, Inc., and the International Wildlife Film Festival. Jaime has worked for the firm of Boyle, Deveny and Meyer PC since 2006, where her practice includes business and personal income tax preparation, non-profit services, and financial statement preparation and consulting. When she’s not crunching numbers, she enjoys running, biking, hiking, skiing, and adventure travel. Her recent exploits include climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, cycling in Tuscany, and learning to surf in Bali.
