Meet the Team

RANDOLPH COLLEGE
Chief Wellness Officer
(Team Lead)

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Chelsea Piechowski became Randolph College’s first Chief Wellness Officer in July 2025. In this role, she oversees the Terrell Health and Counseling Centers and leads campus-wide wellness initiatives, integrating health, counseling, and prevention services to foster a culture of care and resilience.

Before joining Randolph, Chelsea served as Director of Counseling at a Federally Qualified Health Center, where she developed and supervised integrated behavioral health programs. She is also the founder of Collaborative Counseling & Consulting, LLC, and of The Wellness Collective, both focused on holistic, neurodiversity-affirming, and trauma-informed approaches to care.

Chelsea holds a B.S. in Psychology from James Madison University, an M.S.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Old Dominion University, and is pursuing a doctorate in Leadership Studies at the University of Lynchburg. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Approved Clinical Supervisor, recognized for her expertise in neurodiversity and trauma-informed care.

Chelsea is passionate about creating inclusive, strengths-based systems that help individuals and communities thrive. Her work focuses on integrated health and wellness, trauma-informed and sustainable leadership, neurodiversity advocacy, workforce development, and whole-person wellness, all through a systems lens. She is committed to expanding equitable access to care, building sustainable community-based supports, and fostering environments where people can flourish across all dimensions of life.

BENNINGTON COLLEGE
Associate Dean & Director of Integrated Wellness
(Team Lead)

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Dr. Ali Tartaglia joined Bennington College in Fall of 2016 as the Director of Student Health Promotion. Her role has shifted within Student Life to her current role as the Associate Dean and Director of Integrative Wellness. This role emphasizes the institution’s commitment to both addressing wellness institutionally, as well as the focus on whole person wellness.

Prior to joining Bennington, Dr. Tartaglia worked in wellness at West Virginia University, and as faculty at Arcadia University and at Drexel University offering community health programming. Previous to her work in institutions of higher education, she worked in the not-for-profit sector providing community health education primarily to adolescents and women. 

Dr. Tartaglia holds a B.S. in Health Education from Temple University, a M.S. in Public Health from Walden University and a Doctorate in Public Health from Drexel University. 

BLACKBURN COLLEGE
Director of Counseling Services
(Team Member)

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Mindy Beisner, M.S., LCPC, joined Blackburn College in August 2023 as the College Counselor and transitioned to Director of Counseling Services in September 2024. In this role, she oversees campus mental health services and wellness initiatives designed to foster a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all students. Her leadership supports Blackburn’s commitment to well-being, ensuring that students have access to confidential, strengths-based, and student-centered care.

Before joining Blackburn, Mindy worked in community mental health and served as the Supervisor for the School-Based Counseling Program at the county health department. In these roles, she provided clinical support, program oversight, and community-based education focused on accessibility, prevention, and early intervention.

Mindy holds a B.A. in Psychology and Criminal Justice from the University of Wyoming and an M.S. in Community Counseling from Mount Mary College. As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), she integrates a collaborative and trauma-informed approach to support the mental health and well-being of Blackburn College students. She is deeply committed to increasing awareness and having conversations around mental health to reduce stigma and equip students with life-long skills for emotional wellness.

RANDOLPH COLLEGE
Director of Counseling Services
(Team Member)

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Jennifer Bondurant is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been in the Behavioral Health field since 2002. Jennifer has a BS in Psychology from Roanoke College and a MA in Community Counseling from Marymount University. Jennifer is currently working on her PhD in Educational Psychology and her dissertation is focused on the lived experience of faculty implementing trauma-informed educational practices in the classrooms of small, liberal arts colleges and how these practices impact overall well-being.

She began her career with the Fairfax County-Falls Church Community Services Board and focused her clinical energy on families impacted by Domestic Violence. She moved back to Lynchburg in 2007 and worked under the clinical supervision of Dr. Stephen Greenstein and immersed herself in the practice of using the Family Systems model. She joined Horizon Behavioral Health in 2011 and held various roles in the admissions department, crisis stabilization and detox units, and emergency services until she transitioned to her role as the Director of Counseling Services at Randolph College in August 2018.

Jennifer has completed training to obtain certification as a Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider and is passionate about teaching students how to improve symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and ADHD by focusing on the importance of diet, sleep, and exercise. Jennifer recently completed the Brain Health Professional Certification Course and actively uses this knowledge to help students strengthen brain health to improve emotional well-being and academic performance. Jennifer has also completed training to be a Community Resiliency Model facilitator and is a strong advocate for helping communities learn how to work together to compassionately and effectively support members in distress.

ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE - SANTA FE
Vice President of Student Engagement
(Team Member)

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Christine Guevara joined the Santa Fe campus as executive director of health and wellness in August of 2018 and was promoted to Vice President of Student Engagement in March 2023. In this role, she oversees student life, public safety, food service, health services, therapy services, student activities center, outdoor program, ADA, Title IX and F1 international support. She holds a BA from the College of Santa Fe in Humanities, MA from the College of Santa Fe in Educational Leadership and Ed.D from the University of Liverpool in Higher Education Leadership.

RANDOLPH COLLEGE
Dean of Students
(Team Member)

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Chris Lemasters returned to Randolph College in the winter of 2019 as the Dean of Students. In this role, he manages the areas of Student Engagement, Housing/Residence Life, Campus Safety, Health/Counseling Services, and Esports. This role also advises the Student Government Association, and the Chair and Vice Chair of the student-led Judiciary system at Randolph.  

Before returning to Randolph, Chris worked at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where he served as the Director of Residence Life and Title IX/Equity and Inclusion Officer. In his first stint at Randolph College, Chris served as the Director of Residence Life and Chief Conduct Officer. As a former college athlete and Division III Men’s Basketball Coach, Chris remains connected to Athletics through volunteering as a play-by-play announcer for the live streams of Randolph College basketball games.  

Chris is pursuing a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration at the University of Southern Mississippi. Chris has a B.A. in Psychology from Alfred University and an M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Specific areas of interest include leadership development, higher education history, and student wellness. Randolph is overhauling their student fitness area, creating another strong outlet for student wellness beyond those already offered through campus services.

ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE, ANNAPOLIS
Executive Director, Student Health & Wellness Center
(Team Member)

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Dr. Lopez is a licensed clinical psychologist and the first Executive Director of the Student Health & Wellness Center (SHWC) at St. John’s College (SJC)—Annapolis. She earned her BA in Psychology from Rutgers University and her Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree from Immaculata University. She has worked in the mental health field for close to 20 years across various settings and joined SJC as a therapist in the then-‘Counseling Center’ in August 2018. Dr. Lopez has held increasingly advanced positions with SJC and, in her current role, oversees medical, counseling, psychiatry, and other wellness services in the integrated SHWC.

WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
Athletic Director
(Team Member)

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Robin Martin enters her eleventh season as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Warren Wilson College and fourth as the Athletic Director for Warren Wilson College. Martin helped guide the Owls through the NCAA DIII membership process as well as securing a home within the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference. Under her leadership, the department has maintained above a 3.0 GPA and has grown to over 200 student athletes. The women’s basketball program has made significant strides under Martin’s direction. Martin has recruited and retained the largest recruiting classes, compiled 100 career wins, won the first EMAC conference championship and has consistently had players earn postseason accolades, including several first and second team All-Americans. Martin’s program consistently competes in one of the toughest schedules and has beaten several NCAA D2 and NAIA programs in her tenure.

Before coming to Warren Wilson, Coach Martin was the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Penn State Lehigh Valley. Martin was hired at Penn State Lehigh Valley to start a brand new Women’s Basketball program from scratch. In her first year at the helm, Penn State Lehigh Valley went 9-12 and was highly competitive in the PSUAC. While at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Coach Martin recruited a USCAA Honorable Mention All-American and a PSUAC Honorable Mention player.

Prior to Penn State Lehigh Valley, Martin was the Head Girls Basketball coach at Redbank Valley High School for two seasons. In the 2012-2013 campaign at Redbank Valley, Coach Martin earned Co-Coach of the year in D9 sports, taking her team to a semifinal appearance in playoffs. While at Redbank, Coach Martin had one first year all-conference player, one third team all-state player and one conference rookie of the year. Coach Martin began her coaching career as a JV Coach at AC-Valley High School in 2009.

Born and raised in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, Coach Martin graduated from Quakertown Senior High School. Martin was a four year letter winner in both soccer and basketball. Martin continued her basketball career at Wesley College, where she earned the first ever Rookie of the Year in Wesley College history. During her freshman year, Martin led her team in scoring, rebounding and steals. Coach Martin completed her undergraduate at Clarion University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree, with a minor in Early Education. Martin also holds a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology from Georgia Southern.

PRESCOTT COLLEGE
Director of Student Wellness
(Team Member)

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Jason started at Prescott College (PC) in March of 2022 and transitioned into his current position in August 2024. Jason joined PC after serving as the branch director for the local Boys and Girls Club. His prior experience also includes working within the department of Campus Recreation at Northern Arizona University, Illinois State University, and Arizona State University.

Jason earned his BS in Exercise Science and Health Promotions at Arizona State University, and his MS in Sport Psychology at Illinois State University. In his free time, Jason enjoys going on hikes, weight lifting, playing board games, and talking about almost anything Pokemon related.

ANTIOCH COLLEGE
Assistant Director of Student Life and Inclusion, Belonging, & Justice
(Team Member)

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Malek Stewart has worked within the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice field for a majority of his 10 years in Higher Education. While starting his career at the University of Saint Francis and earning two Master’s degrees, the passion for restorative justice grew, drawing him into this career path. Malek brings to Antioch a working knowledge as he recently was employed at Muskingum University as the Associate Director of Cultural Engagement & Inclusion. Malek has had the privilege of training students and faculty at a number of different campuses assisting growth and progress of DEI initiatives across the US. Malek believes that every student that graduates from college should be as he would say culturally aware to navigate the intercultural world we live in today.

BENNINGTON COLLEGE
Associate Dean of Advising and First-Year Forum
(Team Lead)

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Recently transitioning from her seventeen-year-long faculty position in Cultural Studies and Language to Associate Dean of Advising and First-Year Forum, Dr. Alfano has directed the First-Year Forum since 2021. Throughout her career, Barbara has centered the first-year course in project-based learning, enhanced student leadership by offering students a more prominent role as peer leaders, and expanded collaborations with the local community. A native of Italy, she specializes in 20th- and 21st-century Italian fiction, with a focus on women’s writing, representations of America, issues of identity, love studies, and ethics and literature. She is the writer of The Mirage of America in Contemporary Italian Literature and Film (University of Toronto Press, 2013) and the co-editor of Italian Quarterly’s special issue, “Projecting Americanism Abroad: Italy in the Cold War” (2019).

Her essays have appeared in Italica, Forum Italicum, Oblio, Quaderni d’Italianistica, and Romance Studies, among other journals. She curated Stanford’s Arcade’s literary salon on Elena Ferrante. In 2009, she published her first collection of short stories in Italian, Mi chiedevo. Before moving to the United States in 1999, Alfano worked in Naples as a journalist and translator.

RANDOLPH COLLEGE
Professor of English & MFA Director
(Team Lead)

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Gary Dop is a professor of English at Randolph College, where he has supported the development of over a dozen new programs and played a central role in creating the College's TAKE2 curricular model. Dop previously served as Dean of Innovation, leading institutional initiatives that continue to shape Randolph’s academic direction. Dop founded the Randolph M.F.A. program in creative writing, described by Poets & Writers as "a new kind of MFA program that makes diversity its mission.” His work as a poet, playwright, and performer has appeared in publications and venues nationwide, including the North American Review, Southern Review, Georgia Review, Prairie Schooner, and New Letters. His poetry collection Father, Child, Water was a bestseller with Red Hen Press, and his most recent play is Democracy, an American Absurdity (Rain Taxi). Dop’s honors include the Great Plains Emerging Writer Prize, a Pushcart Special Mention, the Gillie A. Larew Distinguished Teaching Award, and inclusion in the Best of the Net Anthology (2025).

RANDOLPH COLLEGE
The Barbara Boyle Lemon '57 and William J. Lemon Professor of Religious Studies
(Team Member)

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Suzanne M. Bessenger is the Barbara Boyle Lemon ‘57 and Walter J. Lemon Professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Comparative Philosophy at Randolph College, where she teaches classes on Asian and Asian American philosophical traditions. She has held several leadership roles in her time at Randolph, including serving as the 2024-2026 Presidential Fellow, Coordinator of Randolph’s Life More Abundant first year experience course, Program Head of Asian Studies, co-creator and Program Head of the innovative Contemplative Studies program, and author and co-lead for Randolph’s “Advancing Campus Pluralism” initiative. Her scholarship on Tibetan Buddhist religion and gender has been recognized with a Katherine Graves Davidson award, and supported with grants from the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges, the ASIANetwork, the Fulbright Commission, and other granting organizations. Her book Echoes of Enlightenment: The Life and Legacy of the Tibetan Saint Sönam Peldren was published by Oxford University Press in 2016. She is currently earning a degree in Interreligious Chaplaincy at the Graduate Theological Union.

STERLING COLLEGE
Faculty in Environmental Humanities and Associate Dean of Academics & Advising
(Team Member)

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Carol Dickson has taught Environmental Humanities at Sterling College for seventeen years, with a focus on writing, literature, and cultural studies. Courses she has taught include Foundations of Environmental Humanities, Nature Writing, Literature of the Rural Experience, Global Environmental Literature, Race & Gender in Images of the American West, Oral History, The Meaning of Things, and Cultural Studies of Cape Breton Island (a field course). Carol also directs the Learning Center, training and supervising peer mentor, and coordinates Sterling's advising program as part of her role as Associate Dean. She previously served as Dean of Academics.

Complete Biography

PRESCOTT COLLEGE
Program Director and Faculty
(Team Member)

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Sara Estrada-Villalta completed a PhD in Social Psychology at the University of Kansas. Her main teaching and research interests focus on the mutually influential relationship between sociocultural contexts and psychological processes, including the ways in which people make sense of their selves their identities, and their place in the world. Her work draws upon global and critical psychological perspectives. She is committed to academic work that promotes health, well-being, and social justice.

BLACKBURN COLLEGE
Professor of Psychology
(Team Member)

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Dr. Mark Hopper is a counseling psychologist and professor whose work connects positive psychology, vocation, and liberal arts education. He has taught for more than two decades at colleges including Loras, Wisconsin–Platteville, and Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu, earning his Ph.D. from Ball State University. His work has been recognized internationally through presentations at the International Positive Psychology Association World Congresses in Vancouver (2023) and Brisbane (2025), where he shared research on student flourishing and vocational development.

At Blackburn, he helps students connect psychology to purpose and leadership within the nation’s only student-managed Work Program. His scholarship explores how higher education can cultivate flourishing through alignment between strengths, values, and authentic contribution. His involvement with NetVUE and the Endeavor Foundation extends this work, helping the college design curricula and systems that link academic learning, vocational reflection, and institutional well-being. Outside of academia, Dr. Hopper has lifelong interests in composing and recording original music. Across his teaching, research, and creative work, Hopper seeks to help students and institutions discover how education can become an act of purpose and flourishing.

COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC
Cody van Heerden Chair in Economics & Quantitative Social Sciences
(Team Member)

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Dr. Hien Nguyen (he/they) is the Cody van Heerden Chair in Economics and Quantitative Social Sciences at College of the Atlantic. As a feminist political economist, Dr. Nguyen researches how normative sex/gender institutions generate economic disparity and reproduce structural inequality, especially for gender and sexual minorities. Their recent publications include empirical work on gender-affirming care and transgender mental health, as well as economic experiments on gender expression and care work.

At COA, Dr. Nguyen teaches courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and political economy, emphasizing the interplay between money and power while building students' capacity for quantitative reasoning and radical socio-economic imagination. They bring expertise in interdisciplinary research methods and critical economic analysis to the ELC Curriculum Working Group, contributing to curricular integration of well-being frameworks that honor diverse conceptions of flourishing beyond individualistic models.

Dr. Nguyen received their Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

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WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
Assistant Professor
(Team Member)

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Dr. Susan Ortiz earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University and is currently an associate professor at Warren Wilson College, where she teaches courses in sociology, gender, sexuality, and social justice. She is deeply committed to student learning and firmly believes that humor is a legitimate pedagogical strategy (and is fond of corny jokes).

Her teaching and scholarship invite students to stretch their sociological imaginations by thinking critically about intersectionality, privilege, power, and inequality—always with an eye toward how structures shape everyday life. She is especially invested in helping students connect theory to lived experience, ask better questions, and recognize that “common sense” is usually doing a lot of political work.

When she’s not teaching, advising, or collaborating on community-engaged projects, she can often be found playing with her kids, reading far too many books at once, or thinking about how classrooms can be spaces of curiosity, care, and collective responsibility. At the core of her work is a belief that rigorous critical thinking and joy are not opposites—and that education, at its best, can help us build a more loving, just, and humane world.

BENNINGTON COLLEGE
Drama Faculty
(Team Member)

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Jennifer Rohn is faculty member in Drama at Bennington College where she teaches acting, physical theater and directs. As an actor, Jennifer is currently based in Boston where she has appeared in Dark Room (Elliot Norton Award), The Sound Inside and How I Learned to Drive (Elliot Norton nominations). Jennifer has appeared on Broadway in The Kentucky Cycle and The Crucible and several Off-Broadway productions including Love’s Fire and The Caucasian Chalk Circle (The Public Theater), Romeo and Juliet (The New Victory Theater), Lady Windermere’s Fan (The Mint Theater) The CIVIL warS (Brooklyn Academy of Music)Her extensive regional theater credits include Quartet (American Repertory Theater) O, Pioneers (Huntington Theater and Seattle Repertory Theater), Love’s Fire (Guthrie Theater), as well as work in Cleveland, Philadelphia,Dallas. Her European credits include Hamletmachine (tour), and Salome (La Scala)directed by Robert Wilson and Love’s Fire (The Barbican). She has appeared in many television commercials, Law and Order, American Playhouse (PBS) and the film Crossing the Atlantic.

ANTIOCH COLLEGE
Director of the Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom and Associate Professor of Sociology and Performance Studies
(Team Member)

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Dr. Queen Meccasia Zabriskie is the director of the Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom and an associate professor of Sociology and Performance Studies at Antioch College. Zabriskie received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from Northwestern University and her B.A. in Economics and African and African American Studies from Duke University. A scholar, choreographer, dancer, performer, and organizer, Zabriskie’s primary teaching and research interests include race, class, and gender; intersectionality; social inequality; black feminist thought; qualitative methodology; sociology of dance; performance studies; and cultural politics and performance in the African Diaspora. Zabriskie is co-author (with Dr. Harvey Young) of Black Theater is Black Life: An Oral History of Chicago Theater and Dance, 1970-2010, which traces the development of black theater and dance communities in Chicago, IL. Dr. Zabriskie was Antioch College’s 2024-2025 Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) Campus Impact Award winner.

COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC
Coordinator of Community Engagement
(Team Lead)

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Since 2011, Nick Jenei has served as Director of Outdoor Programs at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, where he leads initiatives that integrate experiential learning with place-based pedagogy. A Thomas J. Watson Fellow, his journeys exploring culture, community, and walking pilgrimages have profoundly shaped his educational and leadership philosophy. In 2013, he co-founded The Community School for Place-Based Education in Mount Desert, Maine, underscoring his commitment to linking education with local communities and the natural world. Drawing on a wealth of experience in outdoor programming and educational entrepreneurship, Nick is dedicated to fostering resilient, engaged individuals equipped to navigate and shape a rapidly changing world.

STERLING COLLEGE
Faculty in Ecology
(Team Member)

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Farley has worked with landowners, loggers, and legislators throughout Vermont helping to protect the working landscape and wildlife habitat. She has witnessed the growth of the land conservation movement in Vermont over the past 30 years. In 2025, she received the Vermont Municipal Service Award from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns in recognition of her two decades of service to the Craftsbury Planning and Conservation Commissions. The award reflects her deep commitment to smart land use, her efforts to involve Sterling College students in municipal service, and her lasting impact on Craftsbury and the Northeast Kingdom.

Prior to coming to Sterling College, Farley served as the executive director of both Vermont Woodlands Association and Vermont Coverts:Woodlands for Wildlife for several decades.

Farley started teaching Ecology at Sterling College and several state colleges in 1989 as an adjunct faculty member and came to Sterling full time in 2006. Her connections around the state provide many opportunities for Sterling students, both in the classroom as well as in the professional world. “It is a great joy to now work with Sterling College alums in the conservation field.” She currently teaches courses at Sterling such as Watershed Ecosystems Analysis, Environmental Justice Beyond Borders, Environmental Law, Land Use HIstory and Planning, and a variety of art courses.

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PRESCOTT COLLEGE
Sustainability Coordinator
(Team Member)

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Zach coordinates the Green Mountain Center for Sustainability at Prescott College. He is a passionate educator who loves teaching sustainability and nurturing student-led projects. When he’s not dumpster diving for waste audits or flipping a compost pile, you can find him running trails, hanging out with the campus chickens and ducks, toying with haiku, or moshing to metal.

ANTIOCH COLLEGE
Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Science
(Team Member)

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Dr. Kim Landsbergen, Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Science, is an applied ecologist, specializing in invasive plant biology, climate change impacts on forests, and urban ecosystem function and biodiversity. As a tenured member of the science faculty at Antioch College, she teaches a range of courses such as: The Structure and Function of Trees, Botany, Ecology, Soil: A Living System, Global Climate Change, Conservation Biology, and more. In 2017, Kim was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Southeastern Ohio Council for Higher Education. Kim holds a courtesy research appointment in the department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology at Ohio State University. Through volunteering, Kim puts Applied Ecology theory into practice as a city-appointed Tree Commissioner in Upper Arlington, Ohio, as well as an elected member of the Board of Supervisors for the Soil Water and Conservation District of Franklin County Ohio. She is active in developing environmental policy solutions in Ohio, and also collaborates with artists and makes art as socially engaged practice and science communication. Kim mentors 4th year students in their senior research projects and works to connect graduates with Environmental Science networks. She has published more than 25 peer-reviewed science articles and received numerous local, state and federal research grants to support projects at Antioch College.    

BLACKBURN COLLEGE
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
(Team Member)

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Kyle Lowden currently serves as Director of Marketing & Public Relations at Blackburn College, where he is a member of the President’s Senior Leadership Team. He leads the College’s marketing, communications, and brand strategy, guiding campus-wide initiatives to amplify Blackburn’s story and connect with next-generation audiences. His work has supported measurable gains in visibility, engagement, and institutional momentum, while reinforcing Blackburn’s distinctive identity as the nation’s only federally recognized student-managed work program. He has also launched flagship publications, including Blackburn Today and The President’s Perspective.

Previously, Kyle led strategic communications and marketing for an Inc. 500 fast-growing technology startup providing constituent relationship management and engagement tools for Members of Congress. Reporting directly to the CEO, he built the marketing and customer engagement function from the ground up and supported significant client acquisition and retention. He began his career with NPR, supporting internal communications, media relations for NPR Music and Tiny Desk Concerts, live presidential debate and election coverage, and national advocacy efforts in partnership with more than 300 public media member stations. He also co-created the “Nina Totin’ Bag,” which can still be purchased at NPR Shop.

WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
Assistant Professor of Material Culture and Archaeology
(Team Member)

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Dr. Scotti M. Norman is an anthropological, humanist archaeologist with two active research projects, one in the Andes of South America and the other in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Each of these research projects employs a postcolonial and gendered perspective to center Indigenous and African American individuals and their experiences of colonialism in the Americas. Scotti earned her B.A. in Anthropology and Psychology from UCLA and later her M.A. and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.

Scotti’s teaching centers radical empathy and support for students, while still challenging them academically and intellectually. Her anti-racist pedagogy practices inclusivity by deconstructing the Academy through acknowledgment and overt critique of White supremacy and historically heteronormative ways of understanding the past. Scotti encourages students to communicate knowledge in non-traditional ways, advancing an anti-racist pedagogy that diversifies ways of knowing and forms of expression.

Scotti integrates these aspects of her research and teaching in the Mapping Belonging Endeavor Project, where she and a team of collaborators and students collect stories of resilience following Hurricane Helene (2024). Outside of work, Scotti is typically playing intramural softball, pickleball, or volleyball, or often hiking and running through the broad and beautiful trail system of Western North Carolina.

RANDOLPH COLLEGE
Sustainability and Campus Projects Coordinator
(Team Member)

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Lindsey Van Zile has been the Sustainability and Campus Projects Coordinator at Randolph College since 2022. Lindsey has a BA in Environmental Studies and a MA in Nonprofit Leadership Studies from University of Lynchburg. Although born and raised in New Jersey, she started her career as an outdoor and environmental educator by teaching in a variety of places including Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. These work experiences included teaching wilderness survival courses in the backwoods in Maine, teaching farm education at New Hampshire's oldest dairy farm, and educating inner city students in Boston about climate change. She moved back to Lynchburg in 2021 to pursue her graduate degree in Nonprofit Leadership Studies with the goal of learning the administrative skills to lead an environmental nonprofit. During her graduate studies, Lindsey completed a graduate assistantship with Dr. Laura Henry-Stone to assess the university's sustainability efforts. Lindsey joined Randolph College's staff in the fall of 2022 as the Sustainability and Campus Projects Coordinator. This role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities including managing the campus' energy usage and utilities accounts, managing the Organic Garden and teaching gardening courses, advising interns and student workers, managing our campus free thrift store, overseeing the bike share program, serving as an advisor to the Sustainability Fellows student program, acting as the Co-Chair of the Sustainability Council, and managing the Randolph Thrive Nature Rx program.

WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
Assistant Professor Outdoor Leadership
(Team Lead)

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Dr. Matt Vosler has been working in the outdoor industry for the past 20 years. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Outdoor Leadership at Warren Wilson College. Matt graduated from Ohio University with an undergraduate degree in Adventure Recreation, Outdoor Education and Camping. He earned his first Masters in Experiential Education at Minnesota State University, Mankato. After working a period of applied work and teaching at Ohio University, he continued his education, gaining a second Master’s degree in Recreation Studies and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction in Education at Ohio University. His research focuses on developing more creative and empowered leaders both in and out of outdoor spaces. As a part of the Endeavor Collaborative, Dr. Vosler focuses his efforts on connecting students with outdoor spaces through Nature Rx and nature-based programming to develop opportunities to empower leaners with understanding and skills to support their mental health and wellbeing. This spring, he has been able to help other schools in the Endeavor Collaborative to develop new Nature Rx programs, focused on connecting students with Nature, through his new speaking series “The Healing Power of Nature.” Along with the Endeavor Lab Collaborative, Matt has had the great privilege to work for world class organizations such as Outward Bound, Five Rivers MetroParks, Ohio University, Ithaca College, Wingate Wilderness Therapy, and Naturalist at Large and utilize those experience to support his students and student learning.

ANTIOCH COLLEGE
Assistant Director of Counseling Services (Team Member)

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De'ja joined Antioch College as the Assistant Director of Counseling Services in 2024 after completing her internship with the department earlier that year. Before stepping into this role, De'ja earned her B.A. in Psychology from Eastern Kentucky University (2020) and her M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Goldey-Beacom College (2024). She is currently pursuing her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology.

In her role, De'ja is dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where students can thrive both academically and personally. She is passionate about fostering student growth through holistic support, outreach initiatives, and collaborative programming that promote mental wellness and self-awareness on campus.

Outside of her professional work, De'ja enjoys watching K-dramas on Netflix, staying active with gym workouts, and traveling to explore new places.

BENNINGTON COLLEGE
Program Director for Student Engagement
(Team Member)

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Coming from a long and rich history in Arts Management, Jenny works at Bennington College after being the Program Director at Retreat Farm in Brattleboro, VT. She also served as the Director of the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center (a branch of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts) in North Adams, MA for several years. Starting as a tour manager for a rock group, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Jen has tour managed and run her own production company, Crow Artists, for over two decades.

Starting off production managing small festivals in Burlington, Vermont, Jen helped to co-produce the 14-day Burlington Quadricentenial Festival in Burlington, Vermont. From there she has done production for major music festivals such as Mountain Jam, Portland on the Pier, the Burlington Wine and Food Festival, and the Champlain Valley Folk Festival. She has worked extensively with artists and agencies for the last 20 years.

Jen has been the Director of First Night Burlington, Burlington, Vermont’s New Year’s Eve Celebration, worked at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in their Marketing and Development Department and served as consultant and booking agent for the HiLo in North Adams, MA.

ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE
Tutor
(Team Member)

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BA, Sarah Lawrence College, 2006; MA, Philosophy, Tulane University, 2010; Guest Faculty in Philosophy, Sarah Lawrence College, 2013–14; PhD, Philosophy, Tulane University, 2018; Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Xavier University, 2018–21; Tutor, St. John’s College, Santa Fe, 2021–present.

COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC
Coordinator of Community Engagement
(Team Member)

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Since 2011, Nick Jenei has served as Director of Outdoor Programs at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, where he leads initiatives that integrate experiential learning with place-based pedagogy. A Thomas J. Watson Fellow, his journeys exploring culture, community, and walking pilgrimages have profoundly shaped his educational and leadership philosophy. In 2013, he co-founded The Community School for Place-Based Education in Mount Desert, Maine, underscoring his commitment to linking education with local communities and the natural world. Drawing on a wealth of experience in outdoor programming and educational entrepreneurship, Nick is dedicated to fostering resilient, engaged individuals equipped to navigate and shape a rapidly changing world.

RANDOLPH COLLEGE
Director of the Academic Services Center and the Writing Program
(Team Member)

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Grant Kittrell is the Director of the Academic Services Center and the Writing Program at Randolph College. In this role, he applies a holistic approach to student support that includes wellness, mindfulness, and nature-based practices and collaborations. Beyond his work at the college, Grant is a writer, visual artist, musician, and author of the poetry collection Let’s Sit Down, Figure This Out. His work has appeared in a range of publications, including Terrain.org, Salt Hill, The Common, The Carolina Quarterly, Split Rock Review, The Normal School, and Gigantic Sequins. His poetry was also recently included in Attached to the Living World: A New Ecopoetry Anthology.

BLACKBURN COLLEGE
College Counselor
(Team Member)

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Daniel started at Blackburn College in April of 2024 and works as a College Counselor. His practice as a counselor emphasizes a strength-based approach that includes traditional talk therapy and also art therapy for students who are interested. Daniel initiated the Art RX program “Create Space” in the Fall semester of 2025. Daniel has more than ten years professional experience as a therapist and previous to that worked as a documentary filmmaker and participatory video facilitator in Cambodia for four years. Daniel earned his BA in English and Communication at Goshen College, and his MA in Art Therapy at the School of the Art Institute Chicago.

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PRESCOTT COLLEGE
Director of Student Wellness
(Team Member)

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Jason started at Prescott College (PC) in March of 2022 and transitioned into his current position in August 2024. Jason joined PC after serving as the branch director for the local Boys and Girls Club. His prior experience also includes working within the department of Campus Recreation at Northern Arizona University, Illinois State University, and Arizona State University.

Jason earned his BS in Exercise Science and Health Promotions at Arizona State University, and his MS in Sport Psychology at Illinois State University. In his free time, Jason enjoys going on hikes, weight lifting, playing board games, and talking about almost anything Pokemon related.

ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE - ANNAPOLIS
Vice President of Student Affairs
(Team Lead)

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Danielle Lico joined the Annapolis campus as executive director of campus health and wellness in October of 2018 and was promoted to Vice President of Student Affairs in March 2023. In her role, she oversees residence life, public safety, student conduct and community standards, new student orientation, parent and family engagement, the Student Health and Wellness Center, Title IX, and ADA compliance. She holds a BA from the George Washington University in Psychology and an MA from the George Washington University in Sociology. Specific areas of interest include college student wellness, addiction and recovery, and suicide prevention.

BENNINGTON COLLEGE
Dean of Integrated Learning & Career Readiness
(Team Lead)

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Dr. John Link is Dean of Integrated Learning & Career Readiness at Bennington College, where he leads one of the nation’s most immersive applied learning programs. With over 15 years of experience in career development, experiential learning, and workforce readiness, he ensures that every student completes four career-aligned internships before graduation. In this role, Dr. Link also oversees employer engagement, manages a $1.3 million student employment budget, and directs more than $200,000 in grants that expand access to hands-on learning opportunities.

Previously, he served as Associate Dean of Career Development and Field Work Term at Bennington and led career initiatives at Webster University, where he directed the Career Planning and Development Center and launched a $500,000 internship access program for underrepresented students.

A Doctor of Education from Webster University, Dr. Link is also a certified résumé writer, digital career strategist, and interview coach. He is committed to leveraging data-driven strategies to advance student success, equipping students with the skills, experiences, and networks needed to thrive in today’s evolving job market.

PRESCOTT COLLEGE
Director of Career Advising and Internships
(Team Member)

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Anthony started at Prescott College in June of 2025 and transitioned into his new role in January of 2026. Anthony joined Prescott College after serving as Program Assistant at the University of Illinois Chicago. His prior experience also includes working as an HR Generalist in a municipal government organization.

Anthony earned his BA in Business Administration and MBA from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa. In his free time, Anthony enjoys spending time with family, hiking, traveling, and working out.

ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE - ANNAPOLIS
Director of Career Development
(Team Member)

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Jaime is the Director of Career Development at St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD. Known for its study of the “Great Books”, and without majors, departments, or formal pre-professional programs, she enjoys the challenge of preparing students for careers in a variety of fields. She joined St. John’s after positions at the College of William & Mary’s DC office and as an Assistant Dean for law school admissions at the College of William & Mary. She has worked in higher education since graduating with a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from Randolph-Macon College. After working as a” roadrunner” in Admissions for R-MC, she completed an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in higher education from the College of William & Mary and The Ohio State University.

BENNINGTON COLLEGE
Assistant Director of Career Development & Field Work Term
(Team Member)

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John has nearly a decade of experience providing career counseling and career advising services to students in higher education settings. John is currently the Assistant Director of Career Development & Field Work Term at Bennington College in Bennington, VT where he supports students in all aspects of career development and professional goal setting and planning. John also assists Bennington College students with identifying and securing meaningful Field Work Term experiences, an immersive applied learning program which ensures that each student engages in four career-aligned internship experiences before graduation.

Prior to his role at Bennington College, John served as the Assistant Director of Career Development at Webster University in St. Louis, where he still serves as an adjunct faculty instructor. John is also a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC) currently working towards full licensure in the state of Missouri and serves as a Counseling Extern at the Webster University Counseling and Life Development Center providing clinical mental health counseling to students.

John holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Webster University, a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Concentration in Career Counseling from the University of Missouri - St. Louis, and a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership from Webster University.

John enjoys working with students to help realize their full potential and build confidence, clarify their professional goals and interests, build and implement action plans to accomplish their goals, and learn strategies and develop the tools necessary to achieve a fulfilling professional life and future.

RANDOLPH COLLEGE
Director Career Development
(Team Member)

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Adrienne is the Director of the Career Development Center at Randolph College. Beginning in 2024, she has worked with students, faculty, staff and alumni to provide career guidance and preparation through workshops, one-on-one advisement, immersion trips, internship management, and business partnership growth. Prior to working in higher ed, she spent 10 years in the field of human resources and 10 years as an educator. She is a strong advocate for neurodiversity awareness and support.

She has degrees in Sociology and Elementary Education from the College of William and Mary, and later attained an MBA from Liberty University. Adrienne has a PHR certification and continues professional development in the field of human resources, enhancing her perspective and insight when assisting others navigating the world of work.

She enjoys the fine arts and regularly performs in local theatre productions.

ANTIOCH COLLEGE
Associate Professor of Cooperative & International Education
(Team Member)

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Richard Kraince, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Cooperative & International Education at Antioch College. Teaching in Antioch's historic Co-op Program, he concentrates on the role of higher education in social change as a scholar, educator, and international affairs specialist. He is particularly interested in the role of experiential education in environmental conservation efforts in Southeast Asia. During the 2024-25 academic year, Prof. Kraince conducted research on ecological education and conservation culture under Fulbright’s ASEAN Research Program. He completed residencies at Gadjah Mada University’s Faculty of Biology (Yogyakarta, Indonesia), the University of Malaya’s Sustainable Development Centre (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), and Ateneo de Manila’s Institute of Sustainability (Quezon City, Philippines) as a visiting Fulbright Fellow. He speaks Bahasa Indonesia at the “advanced mid” level per ACTFL evaluation in fall 2023.

COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC
Director of Career Development
(Team Member)

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Dr. Jeffry Neuhouser is the Director of Career Development at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, where they oversee the college’s career education curriculum, internship program, employer relations, community service, fellowships and pre-professional advising, and serves as a member of the advising team and the core course instructor team. An innovative and student-centered leader in the field, Jeffry brings over a decade of experience in higher education as an advisor, coach, and instructor. A passionate storyteller, Jeffry built their career foundations through a BA in History from Taylor University and an MA in History from Memorial University of Newfoundland. After completing an MA in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Ball State University, Jeffry fell into career education at Earlham College, and has realized their calling for this work ever since. Their deep commitment to authentic and purposeful career foundations translated into their doctoral work at Ball State, where they completed an EdD in Higher Education. Jeffry’s dissertation research “Using participatory constructivist grounded theory to understand how queer college graduates build professional identity” has implications throughout the field of career development and how universities and colleges support the professional foundations and transition to careers of all underrepresented and minoritized students. 

Building off of their research, Jeffry works with campuses to adopt what they call a Career Ecology framework of career education, weaving developmental touch points skill building throughout students' full experience—from their first semester through their lives as alumni—to build purposeful careers and fulfilling lives. You can find out more about this frame in their TED talk on "The power of authentic human ecosystems." They have held positions across the United States (Maine and Indiana) and internationally (Kuwait and Canada), and have taught at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and graduate levels. Jeffry has particular experience building and implementing career curriculum from a Design Thinking framework. In addition to being a certified Global Strengths Coach through Gallup and serving as a Founding Partner of MNM Equity Consulting, Jeffry has served as the President of the College Career Center Consortium of Indiana and as the Director of Professional Development and Education for the Career Development Professionals of Indiana, where they were the host of the Career Champions podcast and oversaw the development of the “Fostering, Diversity, Equity, and Belonging through Career Development” certificate program. You can often find Jeffry presenting at conferences, working to advance social justice frameworks of career development, exploring Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island, hanging out in museums and libraries, and spending quality time with their three cats Scout, Jem, and Harper.  

ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE - SANTA FE
Director, Personal and Professional Development
(Team Member)

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Piér Quintana is a higher education leader with nearly two decades of experience in student affairs, enrollment management, and external relations. She serves as Director of Personal and Professional Development at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she connects students with transformative internships, fellowships, and career opportunities.

In addition to her campus role, Piér is an elected official and Vice-Chair of the Governing Board at Santa Fe Community College, bringing a community-centered perspective to advancing student access and equity. Her career spans leadership in career services, academic advising, and international programs across diverse higher education settings.

A Fulbright Scholar and Global Career Development Facilitator, Piér is committed to expanding opportunities for students from all backgrounds. She holds a master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Connecticut and a bachelor’s in Education from the University of New Mexico. She is also a certified Designing Your Life Coach and Spin instructor.

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PRESCOTT COLLEGE
Director of Student Wellness
(Team Member)

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Jason started at Prescott College (PC) in March of 2022 and transitioned into his current position in August 2024. Jason joined PC after serving as the branch director for the local Boys and Girls Club. His prior experience also includes working within the department of Campus Recreation at Northern Arizona University, Illinois State University, and Arizona State University.

Jason earned his BS in Exercise Science and Health Promotions at Arizona State University, and his MS in Sport Psychology at Illinois State University. In his free time, Jason enjoys going on hikes, weight lifting, playing board games, and talking about almost anything Pokemon related.

WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
Chaplain of the College
(Team Member)

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North Carolina-native, Rev. Dr. Shannon Spencer is the Chaplain of the College and Director of Spiritual Life at Warren-Wilson College.

Before her time at Warren Wilson, she played and coached Division I basketball and was the Founder and Executive Director of Asheville Poverty Initiative and the 12 Baskets Cafe. She has a TedTalk and a documentary.

Additionally, she serves as an interfaith chaplain at the Western Correctional Center for Women and served churches in Illinois, California, and North Carolina. Shannon holds a BS in Special Education from Appalachian State University, an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School, and a D. Min. from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California.

Reflecting on her time in ministry, she writes: “I have had many teachers along the way - some living in gated communities while others behind the gates of prisons and jails. It's been a beautifully broken journey framed by abundant grace and radical love.”

Shannon lives in Asheville with her two amazing daughters.