HOW DID I GET HERE?
As I think about my story, I imagine myself as an off-trail traveler, exploring beyond the terrain that was offered to me. My rebellion was methodical and polite, yet I was always pushing the boundaries of what I was taught to think was possible.
Growing up in suburban Nebraska I couldn’t imagine my future as an Outdoor Educator and Coach, working in the remote wilderness of Wyoming, Alaska, and Utah. Like so many, I was seeking something different, I just didn’t know what.
As a young adult, I was a curious and kind young woman who wanted to help other people, and these values of curiosity and care define the work I have done since. In Washington, DC, I supported human rights leaders at Amnesty International. I then traveled to India to study rural development, where I was transformed by the culture and the new family I found. Back home at the University of Nebraska, I helped students find their way to meaningful, purposeful careers. I now work for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Wyoming, where I lead and train beginners, professionals, and new instructors in wildly uncertain backcountry environments, and help them build their capacity to find their own way.
My story makes sense when I look back on it, but it sure felt messy along the way.
My own path, laid out by my most consistent and enduring values, has led me to this work as an Integral Coach.
PEOPLE DESCRIBE ME AS:
A warm, engaged, and present listener
Validating, supportive, and nonjudgmental
Lighthearted and quick to laugh
A curious explorer and constant learner
Humble about what I know, and honest about what I don’t.
I am excited to hear your story, understand your longings and what gets in your way, and help you to discover your hidden capabilities. I am also excited to laugh with you as we navigate this messy human experience.
I am not a Coach because I’ve found the answers. I’m a Coach because I love the search, and I love searching as a team. I’d love to join you as you walk into the mess of uncertainty and change.
WHERE AM I NOW?
I live in Lander, Wyoming, in the foothills of the Wind River Range, on unceded land of the Eastern Shoshone, Crow, and Cheyenne. I am surrounded by a community of educators and adventurers, who push me and support me in equal measure. My pup Mesa and I ramble through the high desert sagebrush, finding joy and presence in nature.
I will forever be learning from horses, on the ground and in the saddle. I see this work as a primary practice for me to continue stepping into the mess of uncertainty, regulating my emotions, taking the next right action, and learning from failure. I’m challenged and grounded by my meditation practice and mindfulness studies.
Certifications
NOLS Senior Field Faculty and Faculty Mentor
Certified Integral Professional Coach with Integral Coaching Canada
I’ve spent 14 years supporting people on backcountry expeditions. Highlights include:
Leading 30-day backpacking expeditions in Wyoming, Alaska, and the canyons of southern Utah
Leading horsepacking expeditions in the Wind River Range and Absaroka mountains of Wyoming
Training new NOLS instructors as a course leader on 25+ day instructor training courses
Serving as a mentor and coach to NOLS faculty
What People Are Saying
