MWS STAFF
Born and raised in Montana, I was lucky enough to spend my youth skiing, hiking, and climbing in many wild areas—from the Bears Paw to the Beartooth Mountains. Most of my professional life has been in wilderness education, primarily in the backcountry and in the Mountain West. I have instructed sea kayaking and climbing; worked in the wilderness with "at- risk" youth programs; and taught wilderness medicine courses for Aerie Backcountry Medicine both in the U.S. and abroad. During the winter, I am a professional ski patroller and avalanche rescue dog handler at Bridger Bowl. In 2006, my love of education and desire to keep learning led me to a Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on place-based learning from the University of Montana. I live in Bozeman with my wife, young son, and two dogs, trying to scratch out time to ski, hunt, and climb between working and learning to garden.
JOSH OLSEN, Co-Founder & Program Director
I was raised in Minnesota and spent my childhood outdoors, camping, swimming, hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, skiing…you get the picture. And while much of it was on Lake Superior and in the Boundary Waters, we traveled extensively throughout the U.S. falling in love with every ecosystem we visited. I remember learning how to: start a fire without matches; make my way through the woods with a compass; keep my gear dry when winter camping; the importance of putting tomorrow’s socks in my sleeping bag so they were warm in the morning; and how extra delicious hot cocoa is when it’s -10°. I have had the great fortune to participate in many outdoor experiences as both student and instructor. In my new role as Executive Director, I am looking forward to supporting this spectacular team as we continue to grow our program and our impact.
MARTHA SELLERS, Executive Director
ANNE VOLLERTSEN, Development & Communications Manager
My first wilderness experiences were at my family’s subsistence fish camp back home in Alaska. Surrounded by an abundance of natural resources, I developed an intimate understanding of the importance of wild places and strong ecosystems, as well as the threats they face. While studying Political Science, Philosophy, Economics, and Sociology (PPES) at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, I conducted research on how language and concepts shape our understanding of climate, landscapes, resources, and our collective or individual relationships to them. Since then, I've worked in communications and fundraising, enjoying the ability to connect communities with environmental nonprofits and campaigns. Whether I'm setting nets at home in Alaska, exploring Montana's backcountry, or gardening in my backyard, I feel most connected to wilderness in the quieter moments.
IZZY PITMAN, Admissions Manager
Growing up in Atlanta and in Namibia, I spent a lot of time outdoors—in the Appalachian Mountains, the Namib Desert, the Adirondacks, and New England. These places all taught me valuable lessons about myself and the environment, but I always dreamed of big mountains. A NOLS expedition in Wyoming opened the door to the Rocky Mountains for the first time, and sparked my passion for outdoor education. I divided my college years between the Olympics and Northern Cascades of Washington and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Now, I am so excited to have landed in Montana! I believe in the profound impact of time spent in the wilderness and wide open spaces and look forward to helping provide opportunities to others to access outdoor recreation and learning. In my time outside of work I can be found exploring the mountains, fly fishing, skiing, and looking at maps.
ETHAN BOWEN, Student Outreach Coordinator
Growing up in a family that didn’t sit still, I had the pleasure of getting outside from a young age. Whether through a road trip across the West or just a good night in the woods, I have grown to love being outside and exploring our wild spaces. I moved to Montana 10 years ago and have come to love just about everything this beautiful state has to offer. Through backpacking, rafting, and climbing, I have slowly tried to find my way into all of the beautiful nooks and crannies that the big sky has to offer. My years as a raft guide, snowboard instructor, and recreationist have brought me so much joy helping people explore the outdoors. The opportunity to bring anyone and everyone into our natural world is second to none. Helping folks to find places they can connect to and continue to explore continues to get me stoked on outdoor education and empowering others outdoors.
Allie Fuller, Wilderness Program Manager
I was raised in the Colorado Rockies with a rambunctious family, hiking and perfecting my s’mores skills, so by 16 I had decided that for the rest of my life I wanted to work with youth outdoors. For the better part of the last 10 years, I have been guiding teens of all backgrounds in wilderness settings, in summer camps, educational schools, and extensively with at-risk youth. Certified in crisis prevention and with a passion for risk management, I believe that creating community in the outdoors gives space for youth to feel empowered and overcome challenging situations. I am aggressively average at many different outdoor activities (I can't choose just one!), with backpacking and trail running my favorites. I love real cream in coffee, pickles, 80s music, and family style dinners with friends. I firmly believe that good things happen in the dirt with good people, and that sleeping bags make the coziest beds.
Growing up near Lake Michigan, my childhood was a mix of family and sleep-away camp, and international travel as a ballet dancer. Following an Outward Bound course in the Appalachian Mountains, I headed West, chasing my passion for outdoor education. I earned a degree from MSU in Human Development & Family Science with a minor in Sustainability, and was deeply involved in the Outdoor Rec program, leading backcountry trips and teaching wilderness skills. These experiences strengthened my love for instructing beyond traditional classrooms, in stunning landscapes from the North Cascades to the Grand Tetons to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. I believe in the transformative potential of place-based education and am dedicated to connecting youth with Montana’s expansive public lands. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring the mountains and rivers in various forms, drinking lots of coffee, and playing backgammon with friends.
SOPHIE HOJNACKI, Student Outreach Coordinator
Bri Hoey, Operations Manager
My love for the outdoors developed in a backyard in southern Wisconsin. Sometime in between digging in a sandbox, spending hours playing mermaids in the lake, or running through the neighborhood playing yard games with neighbors, I learned to love exploring and playing in the natural world. Later down the road, I spent summers working at a sleep-away camp where I got to witness the way that spending time outside fosters independence, creativity, and a sense of freedom in young people. Moving to Montana on a whim after graduation exposed me to so many opportunities to get outside. Whether it be through outdoor education or personal pursuits, I'm continuously blown away by Montana's landscape, and I cannot wait to assist in giving youth the opportunity to do the same.