UNIVERSITY ACCESSIBILITY - Key Persons
Benno Lyon (based in the Portland-Metro Area) has been an Outdoor School advocate since attending the program in sixth grade, which led to him working as an environmental educator and a middle school science teacher for nearly 20 years. Benno is eager to help expand access to experiential, outdoor science education for all students, particularly the most underserved and marginalized communities. Benno earned his B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon in 1997, and he later earned his M.A. in Teaching from Pacific University in 2002. Benno lives on four acres near the Sandy River, and spends much of his time with his wife and two children, growing vegetables, hiking the riverbank, and trying to be a good steward of the land he calls home.
Job Titles:
- Outreach and Inclusion Coordinator
Charissa is an educator and advocate who brings a tremendous amount of equity, diversity, and inclusion experience to the Outdoor School team. Originally from Suriname, she is interested in (re)connecting folks to their environments. Most recently, Charissa served as the environmental education coordinator for Tualatin Riverkeepers. Her successful outreach work is widely recognized in the environmental education community, and the Outdoor School program team is thrilled she decided to help lead our work to fulfill our unwavering commitment to Outdoor School for all. Charissa earned her M.S. in environmental studies from Antioch University New England and a B.A. in environmental studies from New College of Florida.
Job Titles:
- Program Director for the OSU Extension Outdoor School Program
Dr. Spirit Brooks is the Program Director for the OSU Extension Outdoor School Program. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon in Critical Sociocultural Studies in Education, a M.A. in Anthropology and Women and Gender Studies, a M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State University, and a B.S. in Political Science with a focus on Environmental Justice from the University of Oregon. As an educational anthropologist, Spirit is committed to research practices that are rooted in collaboration, are community-centered, and focused on equity in outcomes in outdoor education for youth from marginalized identities and communities, particularly Indigenous youth.
Job Titles:
- High School and Lead Central Region Coordinator
- High School and Lead Central Region Coordinator - Corvallis / Regional Coordinator for Lane and Lincoln Counties
Elliot is the High School & Lead Central Region Coordinator. Growing up in central California, Elliot found peace and identity immersed in nature, and seeks to help others do the same. Elliot received his B.S in Outdoor Education from Northland College in Ashland, WI. He has worked as a kayak guide on Lake Superior, led wilderness backpacking expeditions for teens, and taught traditional survival skills in northern California. Most recently, Elliot has served as the Student Advocate and Outdoor Education Coordinator at the TRAILS Outdoor School in Ashland, OR, a public, K-8 school. Elliot is an avid birder, nordic skier, Celtic musician, and baker of pies.
Job Titles:
- Customer Relationship Management and Marketing Analyst
Joining the team in 2022 as customer relationship management and marketing analyst, Joshua is excited to leverage Salesforce applications to level-up the program's business processes and email communication plans. Hailing from Corvallis, he fondly remembers his transformative outdoor school experience as a sixth grader. Joshua has continually pursued wild places since he could first walk, most recently as an alpine trail runner completing more than 30 ultramarathons up to 100 miles in length. Over 20-ish years he has served technology and communications expertise to teams in both K-12 and higher education, and performed civil rights monitoring and documentation work abroad. He has a BA in Journalism and Communication from the University of Oregon.
Justine Jennings is excited to work for the OSU Extension Outdoor School program. Growing up in Gresham, Oregon, Justine got to experience the magic of Outdoor School as a sixth grader, and volunteered as a student leader in high school. Justine is passionate about supporting outdoor science education for all students in Oregon. She has experience working with students in non-formal and informal outdoor and science educational settings, including working as a staff member for multiple outdoor school program providers. Justine enjoys being active outside, and participating in different sports.
Job Titles:
- Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator
- Professional Development Coordinator for the OSU Extension Outdoor School
Kristi Backe is the Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator for the OSU Extension Outdoor School program. After earning a B.A. in Elementary Education at Purdue University, Kristi spent six years teaching environmental education programs and coordinating curriculum development at the Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. While earning her Ph.D. in Entomology at North Carolina State University, Kristi organized outreach events in schools, camps, and community centers to support students in connecting to their local ecosystems. In her role as Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator, Kristi works with the Outdoor School team, the Oregon Natural Resources Education Program, formal and nonformal educators, and our many other partners to support meaningful outdoor learning experiences for students throughout Oregon.
Job Titles:
- Southern Regional Coordinator
Libby VanWyhe has been an outdoor educator since 2008 and has an M.S. in Environmental Education. Libby is passionate about outdoor experiences which connect kids with nature through a blend of science and creativity. For nine and a half years, she was the Nature Center Manager at North Mountain Park, and from there, she developed a rich professional network in the Southern Oregon region. Libby excels at developing and offering field trip experiences that get kids learning through hands-on inquiry. And because "it takes a village", she loves involving partners, volunteers, and students to help make outdoor education a community endeavor. Libby brings a wealth of experience in youth and adult education, standards-based outdoor inquiry, teacher PD, and program administration.
Job Titles:
- Finance, Budget, and Contracts Coordinator
Priscilla Johnson has been managing grants for the past 10 years with a focus in natural resources and education. Her previous experience includes grant writing, project management, and fiscal administration within a variety of special government and nonprofit organizations. A fourth-generation, small town Oregonian, Priscilla delights in everything Oregon and is enjoying her involvement implementing the Measure 99 program.
Job Titles:
- Assistant to the Outdoor School Director
Rita loves working on the Outdoor School program, as well as other programs that make a significant impact on the world. With her husband and two hairless dogs, Rita is willing to support your cause/protest/march, with or without some unique form of wheeled transportation or home-made dish. She previously worked at Scripps Institution of Oceanography as the Administrative Coordinator on the International Ocean Discovery Program, and prior to that was a senior project manager at an environmental consulting firm. Rita earned her M.S. in Geology from University of Missouri-Columbia, and a B.S. in Geology from Western Illinois University.
Sarah Cuddy (based in Baker City) has spent over a decade as an outdoor educator, leading experiential-based leadership expeditions all across the west. In addition to her educational background, Sarah worked for several years as a community organizer in central Oregon. Sarah has an M.S. in Education with an English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) concentration from Eastern Oregon University and a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Oregon. As a lifelong Oregonian, Sarah attended outdoor school as a sixth grader and is passionate about making outdoor school and outdoor experiences more inclusive and accessible to all of Oregon's youth. In her free time, Sarah enjoys exploring remote parts of eastern Oregon's high deserts and forests with her family. She enjoys being outside in many forms but has a special affinity for backpacking and fly fishing.