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 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.

Thurston spent 20 years developing digital experiences for the Montana Office of Tourism prior to joining the team at the Montana Natural History Center in 2015. Thurston grew up in western Montana and spent his early years exploring area streams, ponds, and trails, as well as collecting geological specimens. He earned a degree in Anthropology from Montana State University in 1993. After college, Thurston taught archaeological field school at First Peoples Buffalo Jump and worked in cultural resource management archaeology before coming to work at the State of Montana. Returning to Missoula in 2008 he coincidentally uncovered his passion for the community, philanthropy, and fundraising. In their free time, Thurston and his wife, Suzanne, like to take in live music and travel the state to experience its varied and rich cultural heritage and natural history.

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!

Drew grew up in the hemlock forests of southern Maine and attended college in Boston, where she studied Linguistics and Philosophy. In 2009 she moved to Montana for a season of trailwork and has been here ever since, building her skills as an educator and naturalist. She holds an M.S. in Environmental Education from the University of Montana and has led a variety of adult education programs, including citizen science, trailwork crews, and natural history courses. She enjoys guiding students toward a deeper understanding of the outdoor areas and ecosystems that are right on our doorstep. In her free time, you can find her exploring the natural world through hiking, backpacking, gardening, reading, and birding.

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 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’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.

Mark grew up in Minnesota where he discovered and explored his love for nature during frequent family trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness along with annual cross-country camping trips. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison he started his development career at the University of Wisconsin Foundation, which now includes stops at the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin and the University of Montana Foundation. Mark and his wife, Holly, moved to Montana in 2004 and now have two sons, Cedar and Leo, who are great exploration partners in the the mountains, rivers, and lakes of Montana.

Ashley was born in Billings, but was raised for most of her life in Bozeman, Montana. She has gained a lot of her knowledge and experiences not only growing up in Montana’s beautiful habitats, but also through volunteering and work with organizations and businesses such as Big Boys Toys Outdoor Equipment Rental, the National Parks Conservation Association, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, and more! Her passions for the outdoors, science, and education led her to pursue a BS in Wildlife Biology and certificate in Global Leadership at the University of Montana, which she received in the spring of 2021. While living in Missoula, she has been involved with Missoula’s youth and the community, educating them about wildlife conservation and natural history through MNHC, as well as the Boys and Girls Club of Missoula County. Her favorite ways to past the time include snowshoeing, backpacking, river floating, hiking, gardening, crafting, watching tv/movies, and cooking. She is so excited to help the Missoula community through MNHC and continue learning how to be a natural steward.

Elena grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, and has loved nature from a very young age. She obtained a B.S. degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and moved to Missoula in 1999. Early in her career she worked as a field biologist and technical science writer for the U.S. Forest Service. In 2020 she became a Master Naturalist and Certified Interpretive Guide and discovered a new passion—teaching people about nature, specifically ornithology and botany. Elena currently teaches classes at the Lifelong Learning Center and MOLLI as well as teaching the Master Naturalist program in the Bitterroot Valley and Glacier National Park. She recently created a new business: Blue Heron Nature Tours. In her free time she enjoys camping, growing her own food, and paddleboarding with her two daughters, Ella and Lucy, and her husband, Seth. She and her family are currently keeping busy building a tiny off-the-grid cabin themselves in the Seeley-Swan Valley.

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.

Cheryl discovered Montana’s natural beauty in 2020 while visiting family and was captivated by the splendor and peace. She decided to make Missoula her home and is dedicated to becoming part of and contributing to the local community. Growing up in a Chicago urban environment, Cheryl has had a lifelong passion for exploring the outdoors and holds an insatiable curiosity for nature in various environmental settings. She loves to explore Montana with her two adult children, who also relocated to Missoula. Cheryl brings manifold expertise to help navigate and support organizations that share her passion for the natural world. Over the last 25 years, Cheryl personally deployed over $80 million in healthcare products and services throughout five countries. As a strategic executive consultant for various businesses and start-ups, she has specialized in investment acquisition, consultation, and business development for the last seven years. Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Science from Northern Illinois University and 23 hours towards a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Nevada Reno. She is currently enrolled in the Masters of Public Administration program at the University of Montana, graduating in the spring of 2023.

Erim is a professor in the Wildlife Biology Program housed in the Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Science at the University of Montana. He is a naturalist at heart and thus has eclectic research interests, including the conservation of endangered species, the ecology and sustainability of freshwater ecosystems, and amphibians and freshwater fish. Erim is a first-generation college graduate and proud of his parents’ farm working and immigrant roots. He is devoted to encouraging students from under-represented groups to pursue higher education, particularly in the sciences. He hopes to create applied ecological research while helping diversify the conservation and environmental field. In Erim’s spare time, he loves to hike in beautiful western Montana, take photos of wildlife, float rivers, and Latin dance.

Marcia grew up in Butte, Montana, where she was introduced to exploring Montana’s wilderness during high school with backpacking trips to Glacier National Park and the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area, and continued to do so while in college at the University of Montana. After law school in Chicago Marcia moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, where she spent the next 22 years at the Public Defender Agency. Summers were spent exploring Alaska’s wilderness through backcountry canoe trips. She is currently is an adjunct professor at the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana. Marcia has also been involved with many civic and non-profit organizations, including Missoula County Public Schools, the University of Montana Alumni Association, Women’s Hockey Association of Missoula, Missoula Area Youth Hockey Association, Missoula Education Foundation, and the Kiwanis Club of Missoula.

Liz is an assistant professor in the Accounting and Finance department at the University of Montana. She engages in empirical, economics-based research emphasizing sustainable reporting, voluntary disclosure, labor, sport, and auditing. 

Eva is a professor, writer, and mule packer. She runs the Wilderness Policy and packing program at the University of Montana and teaches international security remotely at the University of Arizona. Her research on Europe and the Middle East was published in several academic journals and as the book The Will of Change in 2015, and her new book on outfitter and conservationist Smoke Elser’s adventures in the Montana wilderness is coming out soon. An avid mule packer, Master Naturalist, and Certified Interpretive Guide, Eva enjoys traveling and interpreting the backcountry for guests and her family.

Edward Monnig has worked as an ecologist for the US Forest Service and held a variety of positions in the agency including District Ranger on the Kootenai National Forest and Forest Supervisor of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. He enjoys a variety of backcountry activities activities including skiing, backpacking and hiking, whitewater boating, hunting, and just aimless wandering in our wildlands. After retiring from the Forest Service, Ed and his wife Jackie returned to Montana where they had raised their two sons who promise more frequent visits now that Ed and Jackie are back in Missoula.