ABOUT US

STAFF

Kellen Beck (she/her)

Kellen Beck (she/her)

Marketing & Events Coordinator

Kellen grew up in the Northwoods of Bemidji, Minnesota, where she cultivated her love of the outdoors, fishing, camping, and hiking among the beautiful paper birch trees and melodic love songs of the Common Loon. She moved to Missoula thirteen years ago and completed her B.A. in Print Journalism at the University of Montana. Over her years in Missoula, Kellen has worked in the service industry, wearing many hats, most recently working at Conflux Brewing Company as a manager and the event coordinator. Always passionate about conservation work, Kellen began as a field volunteer with the Owl Research Institute three years ago. Her volunteering involved catching and banding countless owls throughout western Montana. After years of persistence and dedication, she was hired on as ORI’s social media coordinator. In Kellen’s spare time she can be found hiking through the mountains with her two dogs, Sage and Theo, and her husband, Dean. She loves reading, writing, birding, and, above all, gardening.

Alyssa Cornell (she/her)

Alyssa Cornell (she/her)

Collections Manager

Alyssa grew up in Livingston, Montana’s windiest city. Although one must avoid being swept away by the wind, Alyssa still loved to explore outside. Hikes to Pine Creek Falls, bike rides with her family into the valley, and summers filled with floating and fishing on the Yellowstone River cultivated her love for nature. In 2012 she moved to Arizona, where she held a collections internship with the Arizona Historical Society Museum and received her B.A. in History and M.A. in Public History from Arizona State University. After five years, the mountains were calling and she and her husband, Josh, moved to Missoula. In December 2022 Alyssa graduated from George Washington University with a Graduate Certificate in Collections Management and Care. She is currently serving as the Montana representative for the Mountain-Plains Museums Association of Registrars and Collections Managers Network (RC-MPMA). Outside of museum collections, Alyssa enjoys reading, drawing, volleyball, track and field, rafting, hunting, Dungeons and Dragons, and playing with her dog, Copper.

Allison De Jong (she/her)

Allison De Jong (she/her)

Communications Coordinator & Editor, Montana Naturalist and Field Notes

Allison spent her childhood in Iowa, where she climbed trees, splashed in streams and puddles, and explored the wildish green spaces scattered throughout her hometown. In between outdoor explorations, she spent most of her time reading and writing, which eventually led to a B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing from Dordt College. Allison has always been passionate about volunteering and doing work that gives back, spending several summers in high school and college volunteering for service projects in both the U.S. and abroad. After college, she spent a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Chicago, then canvassed for environmental issues with North Carolina PIRG, which inspired her to pursue an M.S. in Environmental Writing at the University of Montana. Living in Missoula has given her an even deeper appreciation for the natural world, and she and her husband, Greg, and son, Rowan, get out into Montana’s beautiful wild places as often as they can. Allison has been with MNHC since 2009, thrilled to work at an organization whose mission is to connect people of all ages with their place, and to get to combine her love of nature with her love of writing.

Kate Folkman (she/her)

Kate Folkman (she/her)

Teaching Naturalist

Kate spent her childhood outside skiing, swimming in the lakes of Minnesota, and camping with her family throughout the Western U.S. Kate then attended Concordia College in the Fargo-Moorhead Area and studied Environmental Science and Spanish. She was a part of the improv team and worked at her school’s Sustainability Office analyzing data for LEED certifications and as an intern at the organic garden. During the summers she spent her time working at various summer camps as a naturalist, lifeguard, and guide for canoeing and backpacking trips. Kate has spent the last two years on the North Shore of Minnesota at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center teaching experiential, place-based education and doing graduate work in environmental education and sustainability. She spent her free time learning country swing dancing and fishing in the Superior National Forest. Kate is looking forward to continuing to explore and be curious about the natural world at MNHC!

Alyssa Giffin (she/her)

Alyssa Giffin (she/her)

Camps Coordinator

Alyssa grew up in Stevensville, Montana, where she enjoyed camping, hiking, and rafting with her family, and found a love for nature. She began her academic career in the Environmental Studies program at the University of Montana. Throughout college she continued to explore Montana, as well as the West Coast and various countries abroad, where she constantly sought out wild and untouched spaces. Alyssa is very excited to be back at MNHC where she has enjoyed teaching our youth about nature and rediscovering her love for nature because of them.

Pat Little (he/him)

Pat Little (he/him)

Front Desk Associate

Pat grew up in England and came to the U.S.A. in 1980 pursuing a career in aeronautical engineering. One day he got tired of working for large companies, quit his job, and started volunteering at The Nature Conservancy. Eighteen months later they hired him as their first IT Manager, and he worked for them, in Seattle, for eleven years. In 1994 he took a hawk ID class, which opened his eyes to the world of birds and changed his life. Pat has spent many falls since then sitting in cold drafty blinds on mountain ridges trying to trap and band hawks. Pat and his wife moved to Missoula in 2009. They took the Montana Natural History Center’s Master Naturalist class together a few years ago. Pat has learned a lot from attending various nature classes over the years, and he is thrilled to be able to work for an organization that provides nature education. Pat also serves on the board of the Five Valleys Audubon Society, and he is hoping to get some flickers to use the nest box in his back yard if he can keep the squirrels out.

Christine Morris (she/her)

Christine Morris (she/her)

Community Programs Coordinator

Christine has a B.A. from Stanford University in Anthropology and an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, where she focused on Environmental Education. Her previous experience includes work as an Interpretive Park Ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park, middle school science curriculum writer for Rice University’s digital textbook, STEMscopes, and as the Environmental Education Director for Boys & Girls Clubs of Seattle and King County, Washington. Christine spends as much time as possible recreating and wandering outside with her husband and son.

Andrea Panagakis (she/her)

Andrea Panagakis (she/her)

School Programs Manager

Andrea’s life has always revolved around science and nature. Raised in upstate New York on beautiful Oneida Lake, she received her B.S. in biology from Cornell University. Upon returning from a year abroad in France, she fell in love with teaching and completed a master’s degree in secondary science education at Teachers College, Columbia University. During her twenty-year tenure as a high school biology teacher in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, she chaperoned trips to Honduras and Mexico to conduct biodiversity surveys and study reef ecology. In addition to her tropical travels, she volunteered for Glacier National Park’s High Country Citizen Science Program, where she became captivated by the alpine environment and its species. This prompted her to embark upon graduate coursework at the University of Montana and a master’s degree in biology at Université Laval in Québec. Andrea’s research on the life history of mountain goats in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta deepened her understanding of scientific processes as well as her appreciation for the challenge and fulfillment of learning. It also happily led her back to the Treasure State, where she integrated western and traditional ecological ways of knowing the natural world as an instructor at the Salish Kootenai College STEM Academy. In her new role at MNHC, she is excited to share her commitment to connecting people with nature by cultivating new generations of environmental stewards through experiential, place-based education. When she’s not in the office/classroom, she’s a four-season explorer with a passion for all things outdoors: trail running, wildlife viewing, surfing, swimming, cross-country skiing, cycling, and hiking.

Jennifer Robinson (she/her)

Jennifer Robinson (she/her)

Director of Education

Jennifer grew up in the Sacramento Valley of California and spent her summers hiking, camping, and exploring the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Her love for the outdoors led her to work with youth in outdoor settings, and Jennifer spent many years volunteering and working as a naturalist at outdoor science schools, summer camps, and as an Interpretive Ranger at national parks in Alaska and California. She earned a B.S. in Environmental Education and Interpretation from Humboldt State University and continued on to earn multiple teaching licenses to blend her passion for education in and out of the classroom. After college Jennifer spent six years working as an educator and Program Director for science education and the non-profit world. Jennifer is now taking her passion of blending formal and informal education into nonprofit leadership and recently earned her Masters of Education in Educational Leadership at the University of Montana in Missoula. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys cooking meals with friends, going on hikes or walks with her dog Indy, and getting to know the community. 

Lauren Spaeth (she/her)

Lauren Spaeth (she/her)

Teaching Naturalist

Lauren grew up in Findlay, Ohio, where she loved to explore local parks and the outdoors with her family. After high school, she felt like Ohio was a little too flat and decided to move to Missoula to pursue a degree in ecology from the University of Montana. At UM, she fell in love with the Missoula community, recreational opportunities, and exciting nature around her. Lauren graduated in May 2023 with a B.S. in Ecosystem Science and Restoration and minors in Climate Change Studies and Wildlife Biology. She has held several environmental education jobs in Glacier National Park and with the Clark Fork Watershed Education Program. Most recently, she did trail work and restoration with the Montana Conservation Corps and led youth recreation programs with Missoula Parks and Recreation. Her favorite experience in the outdoors was a 50-mile backpacking trip in Glacier with her friends in 2022 where she got to fish in alpine lakes, walk on glaciers, see the Milky Way, and even spot a wolverine! In her free time, Lauren enjoys going to concerts at the Kettlehouse, backpacking, birding, and fishing. She is excited to join the MNHC team and connect students with the natural world.

Emma Swartz (she/her)

Emma Swartz (she/her)

Teaching Naturalist

Emma grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, where she learned to love being outside. She earned a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Ecology and Environmental Science at Marian University in Indianapolis while competing as a professional cyclist. After graduating, Emma headed to Mount Rainier National Park, where she led citizen science research on toads and developed a passion for science communication. Mountain biking and skiing then brought Emma to Montana and she’s so glad she’s here! She has enjoyed connecting and learning about Montana through non-profit work at Ecology Project International, Wild Montana, Families First Learning Lab, and most recently Home ReSource, where she taught zero-waste initiatives to 5th graders. Emma is excited to reconnect with her naturalist skills and explore the natural world with students in her new role as a Visiting Naturalist in the Schools Teaching Naturalist. In her free time, Emma can be found coaching the local junior mountain bike and nordic ski teams in Missoula, reading, and learning Spanish.

Erin Vielbig (she/her)

Erin Vielbig (she/her)

Teaching Naturalist

Erin grew up on a family farm in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. After attending Grand Valley State University, she set off to do trail work for Montana Conservation Corps. After finding value and purpose within the conservation field, she decided to return the following season as a Trail Crew Lead. Her crew cleared trails in the Selway Bitterroot and Frank Church Wilderness areas near Missoula, Montana. Between seasons, Erin worked for a community garden outside of Atlanta, Georgia, where she helped with volunteer days and nature camps for kids. Most recently, Erin was working as a naturalist at Len Foote Hike Inn a few miles off the Appalachian Trail. While working as a naturalist, Erin developed her passion for education and natural landscapes. Erin enjoys floating the Clark Fork, playing euchre, and First Fridays.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lisa Bickell (she/her)

Lisa Bickell (she/her)

Lisa is an interpretive planner and designer who launched her small business, Field to Frame, in 2019. She worked as staff for the Montana Natural History Center and has taught outdoor and environmental education in Washington, Colorado, and Minnesota. She holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana and an M.Ed. from Western Washington University with an emphasis in nonprofit administration through the North Cascades Institute’s residency program. Skiing, hiking, gardening, reading, keeping up with teenagers, and searching for huckleberries keep her busy. Though she’s never met an MNHC nature journaling class she didn’t like.

Peggy Christian (she/her)

Peggy Christian (she/her)

Peggy Christian is a naturalist, writer, and photographer. Nurturing a life-long sense of wonder, she seeks, through her art and writing, to deepen our relationship with the natural world and explore how that relationship guides the way we live our lives and the choices we make everyday. She is the author of several children’s books, including If You Find a Rock, and has taught writing and book arts for more than twenty years. She is a Master Naturalist and has volunteered for a number of environmental and literacy non profits. Hiking, growing and preserving food, and skiing, both cross country and downhill, are her passions. She lives in Missoula, and shares her wanderings and wonderings on the blog Backwoods and Beyond (An Exploration of the Wild Inside and Out).

Gary Fee (he/him)

Gary Fee (he/him)

Gary grew up in Charlotte, NC. Since childhood he has had a love of and fascination with the natural world. He graduated from the University of North Carolina–Charlotte in 1973. In his highly mobile professional career he had the opportunity to live, work, and experience the outdoors in many parts of the country. Vacations in his adult life have always been to some exquisite camping and hiking destination. In 2001 he and his wife, Jo, moved to Missoula to more fully embrace their love of the mountain west and their passion for fly fishing. Since then, Gary has served on the Board of Directors for the West Slope Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and volunteered as an organizer and presenter at the Clark Fork Watershed Festival and the MOLLI Special Events Committee. Most of his and Jo’s spare time is dedicated to the care, stewardship, and maintenance of their undeveloped land in a conservation easement and their Labrador retriever, Matilda.

Hank Fischer (he/him)

Hank Fischer (he/him)

Hank 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.

Ian Foster (he/him)

Ian Foster (he/him)

Ian was raised in Boise, ID, and studied Biology at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. He has earned graduate degrees in Education and Recreation Management. He taught elementary and middle school sciences in San Francisco, Boston, and here in Missoula. Ian was also an environmental/outdoor educator for San Mateo Outdoor Education, Massachusetts Audubon, and Missoula Outdoor Learning Adventures.  Ian and his wife April moved to Missoula for many great reasons in 2008 and love the access to wild places. Ian can be found enjoying Missoula’s parks and trails on a daily basis. Ian also volunteers with Missoula Children and Nature and Friends of Missoula Parks.

Katie Guffin (she/her)

Katie Guffin (she/her)

President

Katie is a Missoula native who studied Biology at Colorado College and earned her JD and MS at the University of Montana. She taught outdoor environmental education at Exploring New Horizons Outdoor School and San Joaquin Outdoor School in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains, and then taught science at Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles. She also enjoyed working as a summer field instructor at the Montana Outdoor Science School and the Gore Range Natural Science School, and spending a legislative season with Montana Trout Unlimited. She works as a civil defense attorney at Bohyer, Erickson, Beaudette & Tranel, P.C. and loves Montana’s wild, open, and accessible places.

Caroline Kurtz (she/her)

Caroline Kurtz (she/her)

Caroline was born and raised in Springfield, Ohio, and has degrees from Vassar College (B.A., English) and Boston University (M.S., Science Communication).  She and her husband, Willis, have lived in Missoula since 1997, and have a daughter, Ella. MNHC became a wonderful home for Caroline soon after arriving in Missoula; she began coordinating MNHC’s Field Notes program around 1998, and created Field Notes Quarterly in 1999, which transitioned into Montana Naturalist magazine in 2004. She managed Field Notes and Montana Naturalist through 2011, and has continued to support MNHC in various ways since then. Natural history centers and museums had been a staple of Caroline’s upbringing in Ohio and the east. She was lucky to find a way to connect with MNHC and its people during the formative years, and loved feeling part of the beginning of what is now such a powerful force and resource for naturalist education and nature appreciation in Missoula and beyond.

Nicole Rieker (she/her)

Nicole Rieker (she/her)

Bio coming soon!

Graham Roy (he/him)

Secretary

Photo & bio coming soon!