Current and Past Residency Students
Adam Lorio, cohort 4
Growing up in Colorado, I was lucky to live in a place with a family who valued outdoor experiences. While completing my B.A. in Biology at Whittier College in 1995, I began to focus on the disconnection between our science communities and the general public. Until I enrolled in the M.Ed program with Huxley and North Cascades Institute (NCI), I had been applying my degree to jobs in everything from Whale Watching Naturalist to Veterinary Technician in the Pacific Northwest.
My goal for the residency program was to take my diverse background and get the skills I need to apply it to a career level position in environmental education. My leadership project was coordinating the move of Mountain School in fall 2005 from the Newhalem Campground to NCI’s Environmental Learning Center. Since graduating, I have been working as an Interpretive Specialist for Washington State Parks at Deception Pass. I am currently focusing on developing programs to further connect our visitors to our critical public lands. My favorite project is working to restore Rosario Beach, a highly sensitive, highly impacted rocky intertidal zone using education as the primary restoration tool. This project is taking the best science and education techniques to achieve a tangible environmental restoration result.
"This experience was just what I was looking for. The emphasis on immersion in
a professional community with practical experience is what I am most confident
will lead me where I want to go."
Brad Tuininga, cohort 3
I
was born and raised in Washington State. Having volunteered for a nonprofit
public health organization on numerous occasions in Latin America, I decided to
pursue my interest in the nonprofit world and environmental education through
the WWU/NCI Residency program with a certification in Nonprofit Leadership and
Administration. Previously, I received my B.A. in Environmental Studies from
Western Washington University.
During my time in the program I developed the WWU/NCI Winter Transition Course to help students in the transition from University to Residency studies. I also served as an assistant to John Miles during the Graduate Summer Block Program. My capstone project was titled: Touching the Wild: Wilderness Education in Place-based Environmental Education.
I currently work as the Program Director for an upstart nonprofit, a direct result of my residency nonprofit project: Alliance for Wilderness Education and Stewardship. With 7 board members supporting me, I wear many hats. From programming to accounting, budgeting, partnership development, fundraising and organizational development, the position is dynamic and challenging. The Alliance works to restore and preserve Wilderness lands through hands-on stewardship projects and education while also unifying the Wilderness community.
“The graduate program offered me the opportunity to cultivate relationships with a breadth of individuals who later became board members, mentors and advisors. I have found few programs offering the flexibility and support to focus on an individual’s area of interest and passion.”
Lee Whitford, cohort 2
I've lived in Bellingham, WA for 18 years, I was a returning student and through this program I pulled together my varied experiences from the last 25 years. I was able apply my teaching experiences, mycology, geology, botany and love of the North Cascades into a full graduate experience. I was part of migratory bird research project with the Park Service, taught Mountain School, worked with adult programs pre-trip preparations and as an assistant, got marketing, fund raising and nonprofit experience that helped me in the job search process.
I'm currently working for North Cascades Institute as Naturalist. I'm responsible for recruiting Puget Sound area schools for Mountain School, Institute outreach, teaching at Family Getaway programs, training interns and graduate students, educational outreach and any other fun thing that crosses my desk.
Lisa Moore, cohort 1
I
participated in the residency graduate program the first year it was offered and
have since considered it to be one of my most valuable professional
experiences. As a graduate student I participated in nearly every aspect of non
profit administration.
I am currently working with the Montana Natural History Center in Missoula, Montana as the Youth Programs Coordinator. I am responsible for the oversight of our school-based and summer youth programs as well as curriculum development for all youth programming. I teach in the schools, at our center, and in the field, supervise and train volunteers, interns and program staff, evaluate program success, develop program budgets, plan teacher workshops, plan and coordinate a full plate of summer camps, and help with all other aspects of a busy non profit. In March of 2006 I received the Educator of the Year award from the Montana Environmental Education Association and I truly owe much of my success to my mentors and teachers!
My graduate experience prepared me the obvious demands of my chosen career but also for the unexpected. I have applied my experiences in emergency and safety planning, fundraising, marketing, program and curriculum development, and staff training. Participating in NCI programs gave me insight into new design ideas and I’ve since restructured our Visiting Naturalist field trips to model the successful Skagit Watershed Education Project field trip structure! Working with the WWU faculty and the NCI staff has truly prepared me to be a better educator and an even stronger professional.