Staff Directory

Originally from West Virginia, Aaron has done his best to immerse folks in the natural world wherever they are, from guiding hikes in the Rockies to leading backpacking trips through the Southern Alps of NZ. Recently he's spent his time throughout the Northeast, teaching students how to build their own connections and engage with nature in a meaningful way. Aaron also appreciates auditory adventures, arboreal ascensions, alpine animals, and alliteration.

Alex is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a B.S in Environmental Conservation & Sustainability. He enjoys backpacking, studying plants, and birdwatching. During the summer, Alex works as a Summit Steward protecting the rare alpine plant species in the Adirondacks. Working with all the other educators at the Ashokan center Alex hopes that through education he can inspire the next generation of stewards.

Alexis graduated from the University at Buffalo with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. She enjoys to be outside regardless of the season. As a young girl Alexis had a small patch of woods near her suburban home, that patch of woods inspired a life long curiosity of the outdoors. Alexis strives to help others form memorable connections with nature, hoping it will lead to life long appreciation and respect of the natural world.

In 1997, Angela made her first trip to the Ashokan Center as a teacher, accompanying 6th-grade students from Monhagen Middle School in the Middletown City School District. For most kids, it was their first time away from home, let alone for four nights with their teachers. The trip always left an indelible memory for the students and the staff who had the opportunity to accompany them. For many students, visiting the Ashokan Center was both a grade-level rite of passage and a multi-generational legacy trip for their families, with entire families sharing experiences such as crossing the wiggly bridge, weighing their food waste, or making a fire poker. What isn't explicitly communicated in these tales, but is woven through them, is the sense of empowerment, community, and connectivity felt by those fortunate enough to experience this very special place. This past June, Angela joined the Ashokan Center after concluding a 27-year career in education, with her last two years as a school superintendent. She takes pride in collaborating with schools to create experiences for their students and intends to continue collaborating to remove barriers to access, ensuring that opportunities for fostering community and inspiration in nature are plentiful. Angela looks forward to collaborating with you.

Bill is a school teacher, a paramedic, a wilderness skills instructor, and certified instructor of numerous medical certificate courses. He coordinates with school personnel before and during Ashokan School Field trips to help ensure students’ well-being and safety on campus.

Colleen has been a resident of the Hudson Valley for 35 plus years. She grew up on a farm in the beautiful Schoharie Valley which ignited her love for the outdoors and animals. She received her nursing degree in 2011 and has been working with children throughout the majority of her career. She has been with the Ashokan Center since October 2023 which encompasses her love for nature, children, and music.

Del was born in Ithaca, NY and grew up in New England and now lives in the Woodstock area. He received his graduate degree in sustainability and land planning at the Conway School in Massachusetts and holds an undergraduate degree in science and mathematics. For 12 years he has worked as a consultant for landscape architects, wetland scientist, engineers in NY and CT with a focus on mitigation, restoration, and storm-water management. Del is a licensed New York State D.E.C. Outdoor Guide as well. He has been teaching as an on-call instructor here at the Ashokan Center since 2015. He shares his love for the natural world with everyone he meets. His deep sensitivity and commitment to sustainability and the health of both the environment and the community add an integral aspect to our teaching staff.

Dennis grew up with a love of all things nature, especially animals, both domesticated and wild! Originally from Long Island, he found himself outside on beaches, trails, or ballfields most times of the year. Dennis graduated from SUNY-ESF in December 2018 with a B.S. in Wildlife Science. Throughout university and soon after graduating, Dennis worked with shorebirds, namely piping plovers, and went on to publish his thesis on nest site selection. A variety of wildlife and environmental education positions eventually led Dennis to start as an educator at Ashokan in 2019. Since then, Dennis has taken on a leadership role in the education department, but he still very much loves getting out of the office and working alongside the educators teaching students in the outdoors!

Emily graduated from Stony Brook University with a B.S. in Environmental Biology. Having grown up in the Hudson Valley, she has always felt at peace in nature. After joining the Ashokan Center in 2022, Emily quickly fell in love with being an outdoor educator. Her personal teaching philosophy is to meet students where they are at, regardless of their backgrounds. In her spare time she enjoys encountering wildlife, discovering new music, blacksmithing, and napping in hammocks.

A native of Alabama, Erika has worked in environmental and art education for 5 years. She graduated from the University of Montevallo with a BFA in Studio Arts and a minor in Environmental Studies. Her belief that education creates a better world drives her to foster creativity and a love of the outdoors in others.

Hailey grew up in the Hudson Valley and lived in Stone Ridge, NY for most of her life. She attended the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse NY and earned a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Biology. While there she educated students as a teaching assistant for general biology lab and as a tutor for biology. After graduation she went on to work on the detection and tracking the of this emerald ash borer with different state organizations like the NYS DEC and NYS DAM. She loves working at the Ashokan Center and is passionate about environmental education!

James graduated with a B.S. in environmental science from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and is currently working on his masters in education at SUNY New Paltz. He enjoys spending time outside, hiking, running, and rock climbing in the Mohonk, Catskills, and Adirondack mountains. He loves the opportunity to share his passion for the outdoors with students and families during education field trips and the various public events.

Jared is a graduate from SUNY Oneonta with a B.S. in ecology and conservation sciences. Having grown up in the Catskills, he developed a great appreciation for the outdoors at a young age Much of his childhood was spent exploring the forest areas around where he lived. After graduating from college, he went on to work in various areas of the biological field ranging from data collection to recreational enforcement and outdoor education. He has a passion for teaching the inner workings and importance of nature, our connections to it, and how its conservation can benefit both us and the wildlife it contains.

Patty is a seasoned educator, outdoor enthusiast, practicing artist and a yoga instructor. Having taught art for 20 years at Saugerties High School, upon retirement she returned to the place where she first experienced teaching as a summer educator; the Ashokan Center. Patty digs deep with her students, encouraging them to learn by using their senses, asking questions and to "discover" the many lessons nature has to offer. Patty is as eclectic in her downtime as she is in her professional life, hiking, mountain biking, creating art, teaching yoga, stacking bluestone or walking her dog Skeeter on the Ashokan Rail Trail.

Rose has always felt most at home whilst submerged in nature. She started working in Environmental Education while studying Geosciences at the University at Buffalo. She began by teaching students about renewable energy and how to build solar vehicles while working with New Yorkers for Clean Power. She has also worked as a Naturalist with the Appalachian Mountain Club and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Nowadays, Rose enjoys exploring waterfalls, researching botany and hiking as much of the Catskills as possible.

Tom is an Ulster County native who has spent a lifetime exploring the Catskills with a particular love for the Ashokan Reservoir watershed. Graduating from SUNY ESF with a degree in Forest Biology, he worked many years in the Bureau of Wildlife with the New York State DEC. He is honored to have the opportunity to share his love of the outdoors and the natural world with today's youth.