Democracy Summit 2026 Presenter Biographies

the head of the UM Grizzly statue with yellow autumn colored trees in the background

UM Strategy

Presenter Biographies (A-Z)

Community Resilience Initiative, ��ؿ�
The ��ؿ�’s Community Resilience Initiative supports cross-sector collaboration to strengthen relationships, coordinate shared efforts, and advance community-guided solutions that support community wellbeing. As Community Network Manager, Yasmin Acosta-Myers focuses on inclusive partnership-building, facilitation, and shared leadership to foster trust, belonging, and collective action across campus and community.
Professor and Admissions Director, Blewett School of Law
Justin Angle is Professor of Marketing and the Poe Family Distinguished Faculty Fellow. He earned his Ph.D. and MBA from the Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. He did his undergraduate studies at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Justin's academic research focuses on how people express their identities through their consumption behaviors. Prior to his doctoral studies, Justin worked as a bond trader with a specialty in hedging interest rate risk for mortgage banks. After leaving the trading floor, he worked as a collegiate rowing coach at both the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University. When not teaching, doing research, or chasing his two daughters around, Justin is a competitive endurance athlete and product tester for Patagonia.
ASUM Marketing and Outreach Committee Chair
Dr. Scott Arcenas is an Associate Professor of History and Classics at the ��ؿ�. His research focuses on the history of democracy and political violence in ancient Greece and Rome. He is a passionate advocate of civic education and General Education curricula--both at the ��ؿ� and elsewhere.
Charity Atteberry, Director of the Office for Disability Equity (ODE) at the ��ؿ�
Charity Atteberry is the Director of the Office for Disability Equity (ODE) at the ��ؿ�, where she supports campus-wide efforts to advance access grounded in equity and dignity. An educator by training, she brings experience across P–12 and higher education, including work as a reading specialist, which informs her approach to learning, communication, and inclusive institutional practice. At UM, Charity partners with students, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders to translate policy into practice, strengthen accessible systems, and support shared responsibility for equity. As a doctoral candidate, her scholarly interests focus on institutional meaning-making aligned with mission and vision, and on models of effective leadership in higher education that support adaptive, values-driven change. Outside of work, Charity enjoys creative projects, thoughtful design, live music, authentic connection, getting a little weird with it, and keeping her hoping machine running.
Chris Averill serves as Chair of the ��ؿ� 250th Commission. Chris’s interest in history was nourished at a very early age. Born in Boston, Mass., Chris had easy access to structures and places of importance to the American experiment throughout his formative years. This interest progressed into a B.A. in History from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, an institution full of history in its own right. With that also came a minor in Government and Legal Studies, and the start of a two decades-long career in and around politics and government. Chris resides in Helena with his wife and son, and also serves on the Lewis and Clark County Heritage Preservation and Tourism Development Council, and the ��ؿ� State Historic Preservation Review Board.
Director and Professor Lee Banville joined the ��ؿ� faculty in 2009 after 13 years at PBS
NewsHour, where he was editor-in-chief of the Online NewsHour. With a background in political reporting and digital and social media, Lee teaches courses that include covering elections and the First Amendment and journalism law. He also often teaches the introductory Journalism and American Society class and an information literacy class, “Calling Bullsh*t.” He received his bachelor of arts in English and government from the College of William & Mary and earned his master’s degree in political science from the ��ؿ�. Before joining the PBS NewsHour, Lee worked briefly in public relations and as a stringer at the Virginian-Pilot. He is the author of "Debating Our Destiny: Presidential Debate Moments that Shaped History," written for MacNeil/Lehrer Productions in 2012 and updated in 2013. He also authored a two-volume encyclopedia, "Covering American Politics in the 21st Century: An Encyclopedia of News Media Titans, Trends, and Controversies," that was published in January 2017 by ABC-CLIO. He appears often in the press analyzing ��ؿ� politics and the media.
Pat Beckwith Director, Military and Veteran Services.

Pat Beckwith will share how social connection and coordinated care support student veterans’ wellbeing and successful transition to campus life.
Assistant Professor, Mansfield Library

Natalie Bond is the Head of Information and User Services and the Government Information Librarian at the ��ؿ�’s Mansfield Library, where she oversees public access services and library instruction and manages the federal depository library collection. Her work broadly considers the intersections of identity, memory, and the documentary record, with past scholarship focusing on postcolonial archival praxis in Eastern Africa and American collective memory in congressional archives. Most recently, Natalie has turned her focus to AI literacy in library instruction and the responsible use of AI in libraries and archives.
Community Experience Specialist , City of Missoula Parks and Recreation. Ashley Brittner Wells (she/her) is from East Missoula, ��ؿ�. She earned her Bachelor of Print Journalism and her Master of Public Administration from the ��ؿ�. She brings two decades of experience in community building, program development, and events to her role as Community Experience Specialist at Missoula Parks and Recreation.
Dan Bucks has over 50 years of public policy and administrative experience focusing on taxation and natural resource issues. He served as Director of the ��ؿ� Department of Revenue from 2005-2013, and Deputy Director of that department in the 1980s. A nationally recognized tax expert, he was Executive Director of the Multistate Tax Commission from 1988 through 2004. He was the chief policy advisor to the Governor of South Dakota in the 1970s. He earned a BA degree from Grinnell College and an MPA degree from the ��ؿ�. He continues to write and consult on issues of taxation, public finance, and federal land management. He has been a volunteer committee chair of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority since 2021.
James Burchfield is a former Dean of the College of Forestry and Conservation who served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala from 1973-1977. He is currently President of the Western ��ؿ� Returned Peace Corps Volunteer association, where members contribute to the ��ؿ� and Missoula community by sharing their international experiences and supporting refugee communities in Missoula.
Co-Founder, thrive! | Faculty, The Haven
CrisMarie Campbell is a facilitator, coach, and organizational consultant specializing in conflict, collaboration, and relational leadership. As co-founder of thrive!, she partners with leaders and teams to transform breakdowns into break throughs by cultivating trust, accountability, and shared ownership. CrisMarie is also faculty at The Haven, where she teaches experiential approaches to communication, systems awareness, and engaging difference with skill. Her work bridges personal growth and organizational effectiveness, supporting the relational foundations essential for healthy communities and resilient democracy.
Devin Carpenter (he/him) holds a BA in Anthropology from the ��ؿ� and an MS in Higher
Education from Penn State. By day, he supports students in navigating their academic journeys at UM; by night, he helps cultivate Missoula’s underground music and arts scene. Devin is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Missoula Pride, where he works at the intersection of community building, wellbeing, and civic engagement. Grounded in 15+ years of experience, his work centers on the belief that social connection, shared joy, and collective gathering are essential to student success and a healthy democracy, because sometimes the most powerful way to build community is to throw a really good party.
Jonathan Carter (he/him) is the Program Manager of UM TRIO Upward Bound and a student in UM’s Master of Public Administration program. After graduating from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in psychological sciences and a minor in philosophy, Jonathan moved to the Treasure State to create educational opportunities through AmeriCorps service. Following two years of service (first with spectrUM Discovery Area and then as ��ؿ� Campus Compact’s Senior Leader), Jonathan received the President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his 4,185 hours dedicated to ��ؿ� communities. Jonathan is excited to continue his college attainment work through TRIO Upward Bound and empower high school students with the skills and experiences they need to graduate from college. He was recently recognized as ASPIRE’s 2025 Rising Star, which is the first time a TRIO professional at the ��ؿ� has received this honor, and only the fourth time for any college or university in ��ؿ� since its creation.
Michael Cassens is the Director of Esports at the ��ؿ�, where he provides strategic leadership for the institution’s collegiate esports program. He oversees competitive operations, staff development, facilities, and program growth while emphasizing student leadership, wellbeing, and inclusive participation. His work intentionally integrates esports with academics, experiential learning, and emerging technologies, with a focus on the ethical and moral use of generative artificial intelligence. Cassens regularly presents on esports, generative AI, and higher education, examining how these fields intersect to support building community, digital equity, and student engagement.
Co-Founder, thrive! | Faculty, The Haven
Susan Clarke is a leadership facilitator, coach, and speaker with over three decades of experience working with individuals, teams, and organizations. She co-founded thrive!, where she supports leaders and communities in strengthening relational capacity, emotional intelligence, and embodied leadership. Susan is long-time faculty at The Haven, an internationally recognized center for relational and experiential learning. Her work integrates neuroscience, systems thinking, and lived experience to help people engage conflict as a catalyst for connection, creativity, and resilience.
Katie Condon (she/her) is a ��ؿ� alum who earned a BS in Human Biology while remaining deeply engaged in Missoula’s creative community. She is the Co-Founder of Starlight Reunion, a local art collective and nonprofit that transforms blank spaces into create playgrounds for expression and connection. Guided by her vehement curiosity and a commitment to access, Katie’s work explores how creativity, collaboration, and a boldness to question the rules can strengthen social ties and reimagine public space as a shared civic resource.
Sarah Cooper serves as Associate Director of Democracy, principally supporting the Carter Center’s U.S.-based democracy programming. She has more than 15 years of experience in the international democracy and governance space and has supported nonpartisan citizen-led election observation work in more than 20 countries. In the United States, she has provided high-level technical support to both the ��ؿ� Election Observation Initiative and Observe New Mexico Elections networks. She holds a master’s degree in international affairs and international economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a bachelor’s degree in international politics from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.
Katie Cordingley is the Assistant Dean and Director of Career Development, Community Partnerships, and Scholarships for the Davidson Honors College. For the 2019-2020 academic year, Katie served as the Interim Director of the DHC. In her current role, she works directly with students, alumni, employers, the Missoula community and other university partners to help honors students develop and accomplish holistic career and postgraduate educational goals while getting the most of their educational experiences at UM. She also serves as the administrative advisor for the QUEST Program, which is a year-long challenge for students to address a pressing community issue. Katie comes to the ��ؿ� after working in government relations and consulting for colleges and universities in Washington, DC. Prior to that role, Katie worked in the U.S. Senate, in Washington, DC, and for the ��ؿ� Office of Public Instruction, in Helena. Katie grew up in Helena, MT. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in Journalism and Political Communications. She holds a master’s degree from Harvard University in Education Policy and Management and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the ��ؿ�.
Cate Davick is a fourth year student in the Davidson Honors College receiving her undergraduate degree in secondary education for social studies education. She has served in UM Housing for 4 years, including as a Resident Assistant in Jesse and Aber Hall, and now Community Development Coordinator; where she has worked in both the residence halls and Lewis and Clark Villages.
Shanti Devins is the Program Director for Climate Smart Missoula; she is passionate about helping others find their role and joy in the climate movement to effect lasting, positive change for healthier communities. Shanti holds a Master’s in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism from the ��ؿ�, where her work focused on covering climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.
Senior Resident Assistant/Community Development Coordinator, Aber Hall (3rd year in Housing)
Senior Parks, Tourism, & Recreation Management Undergraduate Student
Peter Donaldson, TRIO Student Support Services Advisor at the ��ؿ�
Peter Donaldson is a long-time TRIO advisor at the ��ؿ�. He is a proud alum of UM with a
bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a graduate degree in Social Work. He approaches his work through a social justice lens and is passionate about ensuring that every student has access to opportunities, support, and networks that empower them for their current and future goals. From both personal experience and interacting with students and colleagues for the past 15 years, Peter uses a trauma-engaged approach in seeking to uplift individuals and deconstruct societal and institutional boundaries that don’t promote equal participation for all. He has served as ��ؿ� ASPIRE state treasurer and president and has worked on numerous conference committees to promote professional and personal development for colleagues and students. He grew up near Bozeman, ��ؿ� and has made Missoula and the surrounding areas his home for the last 20 years.
Casey Dunning is the Founder of the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative and a community builder focused on working with diverse faith communities to build belonging, healing, and collective action across difference. His work centers on dialogue and relationship-building as spiritual formation, deep listening, and shared action to strengthen community and improve wellbeing.
Haley Erickson (she/her) is from the north-central, ��ؿ�. She earned her Bachelor of Wildlife Biology, paralegal certificate, and Master of Public Administration from the ��ؿ�. She brings experience in gathering public input on anything from unique natural resources plans or public land acquisitions to department-wide master plans. She is interested in bridging the gap between effectively gathering public input on natural infrastructure and how it impacts quality of life of residents and wildlife alike.
Dannette Fadness (she/her) is the Director of TRIO Upward Bound at the ��ؿ�, where she is deeply committed to expanding educational opportunities, college access, and community-driven student support. A proud TRIO Student Support Services alumna and two-term AmeriCorps member, Dannette brings both lived experience and more than a decade of leadership to her work in pre-college and postsecondary attainment. She has played a significant role in promoting college access across ��ؿ� through her leadership with the ��ؿ� College Attainment Network and as the former Director of AmeriCorps with the ��ؿ� Campus Network for Civic Engagement. In that role, she mobilized 470 AmeriCorps members statewide, expanding vital college attainment services and supporting countless students on their path to higher education. Dannette is currently a doctoral student in Educational Leadership at UM and co-authored a chapter of Enhancing Cognitive Fitness in Adults. She is actively engaged in campus and community coalitions and is especially proud of her work in suicide prevention as a certified QPR instructor. For anyone in crisis, free 24/7 support is available by texting HOME to 741-741 or texting or calling 988.
Dana Fitz Gale is an assistant professor of Literacy Education in the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and the author of the story collection, Spells for Victory and Courage (Brighthorse Books, 2016). Before joining the faculty at UM, Dana was a school-based speech-language pathologist and also taught creative writing through the Missoula Writing Collaborative. Her research interests include democratic education, writing instruction, arts integration, and culturally sustaining/rejuvenating pedagogies.
Ecriselia Flores is a recent UM graduate who is now seeking her master's in business analytics. She has worked in UM Housing for 5 years, including as a Desk Assistant, Resident Assistant, Community Assistant, and now Community Development Coordinator. She has worked in the residence halls and the University Villages.
Laurie Franklin is Rabbi Emerita of Congregation Har Shalom, Missoula, MT. She was ordained in the lineage of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi by ALEPH Alliance for Jewish Renewal. She was a longtime board member of the ��ؿ� Human Rights Network and is honored to continue the work as a board member of Catalyst ��ؿ�. She is an active participant in both the Missoula CommUnity Network and the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative Action Network. In both her private life and public roles, she has been involved in issues of human rights, economic and environmental justice, and interfaith collaboration. She grows vegetables, plays bagpipes and guitar, and writes original liturgical music and poetry. She is both mother and grandmother and appreciates her neighbors and friends.
No biography currently available.
No biography currently available.
Cameron Green is the Regional Engagement Manager at Creative West, where he serves as a strategic partner to state arts agency leadership and manages the State Arts Agency Innovation Fund. A DAAPIC Commissioner for the City and County of Denver, he was recently appointed as the Commission's Liaison to the Human Rights and Community Partnership (HRCP) Advisory Board. His professional practice focuses on institutional evolution and cultural policy.
Senior Resident Assistant, Pantzer Hall (2nd year in Housing)
Senior English Education Undergraduate Student.
Ben Hamman is TRIO advisor at the ��ؿ�. He is an alum of the Master of Public Administration program at UM with an interest in how mission can center effectiveness in organizations. He is dedicated to providing access to students from all backgrounds and helping them find their path to success. He enjoys the New York Times crossword puzzle, Thomas Pynchon novels, and his two Shih Tzus, Frank Zappa and Ziggy Stardust.
��ؿ� Two Spirit Society
Krys Holmes is executive director of the ��ؿ� Arts Council, a position she took recently after nine years as executive director of ��ؿ�’s arts and culture powerhouse, The Myrna Loy. She is author of the statewide history textbook, ��ؿ�: Stories of the Land, a co-founder of ��ؿ� Center for the Book, Board member of ��ؿ�’s literary publisher Drumlummon Institute, and used to be a writer and jazz singer before all this arts instigating took over her life.
Glenn Ingram is a Senior Transportation Planner with the City of Missoula Public Works & Mobility Department and the Missoula MPO. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Resource Conservation from the ��ؿ�, along with a certificate in Geographic Information Science. Glenn later completed a Master of Science in Urban Planning at the University of Arizona, focusing on environmental and transportation planning. His work emphasizes data-driven analysis, collaboration, and multimodal transportation planning to support the Missoula region.
Kayli Julius serves as the Wellbeing Director at Curry Health Center Wellbeing, where she leads initiatives that support holistic wellbeing across the university community. She is a board-certified health and wellness coach with a deep passion for helping individuals and communities thrive. As a proud mother of two young daughters, Kayli is continually motivated to model and prioritize wellbeing in both her personal and professional life.
Molly is the Director of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, ��ؿ�’s University Center of Excellence in Developmental and related Disabilities (UCEDD). An Occupational Therapist by training, she previously worked at Providence St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula and later served as Program Director of MonTECH, ��ؿ�’s assistive technology program. At the Rural Institute, she enjoys advancing a mission of building access and opportunity for people with disabilities through education, research, evaluation, and service. Molly is passionate about assistive technology, connecting people to best practices in healthcare and education, and supporting greater independence and belonging in all aspects of life. Understanding a work/life balance is the cornerstone of any good OT, Molly also spends plenty of time traveling, floating down ��ؿ� rivers, and digging in her garden.
Trey Kinamon is a second year student at the ��ؿ�, majoring in Political Science and
Communication Studies. He is currently serving as Turning Point UM Chapter President and was elected Young Republican State Secretary last fall. Born and raised in ��ؿ�, Trey is focused on issues that matter to ��ؿ�ns, not party politics. He has worked for Governor Gianforte for 3 years as well as volunteering for numerous candidates during the last election cycle.
Professor and Associate Dean of Professionalism and Community Engagement, Blewett School of Law
Assistant Clinical Professor of Contemporary Art History and Critical Theory, School of Visual and Media Arts Corinna Kirsch is a historian of art, environment, and computation. She specializes in intermedia and systems art of the 1960s and 1970s and their afterlives in present-day forms of digital media, art, and activism. Corinna's teaching philosophy centers on a student-centered approach, emphasizing hands-on activities and interactive assignments. She strives to help students discover practical connections within art history and visual culture by integrating their personal interests into the subject matter. Past coursework includes student-made zines, proposals for new emoji, and an “encyclopedia” of photography.
Nicole Krause is an emerging executive leader in public higher education whose work centers on mission, stewardship, and inclusivity. She believes institutions fulfill their public purpose not just through rhetoric, but through disciplined leadership, ethical governance, strategic planning, and care for
people across the organization. Currently a Program Manager at the ��ؿ�, Nicole supports departmental processes, accreditation, personnel processes, and institutional planning. She works at the intersection of policy and practice, where accuracy, confidentiality, and sound judgment matter most, translating complex systems into clear and workable processes for employees, students, and community members. Her leadership is grounded in experience across financial aid administration, academic consulting, K–12 governance, instructional leadership, and healthcare administration. Administering state and federal regulations, federal aid programs, and student systems shaped her understanding of equity as an operational responsibility. As a school board member and organizational consultant, she led curriculum systems, technology infrastructure, and leadership teams through change while strengthening institutional capacity. A trained musician, Nicole brings a disciplined, attentive approach to leadership—knowing when to lead, when to listen, and when to hold steady. She is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in higher education at the ��ؿ�, with interests in governance, organizational culture, adult learning, and executive decision-making. Nicole leads as a servant and a steward, guided by responsibility to the public trust, shared governance, and the long work of building institutions where opportunity is durable and broadly shared.
Meegan Kriley-Mackay brings over 30 years of experience in human intelligence, leadership development, and crisis communication. A former Certified Interrogator with the U.S. Department of Defense, she now helps leaders, organizations, and communities strengthen trust, critical thinking, and human connection in the age of AI. She is the author of Leadership in the Age of AI: Rebooting Human Intelligence (HI) and the creator of the 5 WHYs of Soft Interrogation (5YSI), a human-centered framework that transforms how people listen, ask questions, and engage across differences through empathy, kindness, and compassion. Her work bridges neuroscience, lived experience, and democratic values to help people move from fear and isolation toward connection and collective resilience. Meegan graduated from the ��ؿ� in 1992, with a Political Science Major and Japanese Minor. She has studied 5 languages and traveled to four continents, personally and professionally. She moved back to the Missoula area in 2023 and believes in empowering the next generation of leaders with lessons learned and the truth to protecting life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Queer Prom MT
Sarah Lundquist is the Executive Director of Families for a Livable Climate, where she leads statewide advocacy, leadership development, and community engagement programs. With an M.S. in Environmental Studies from UM and a background in community engagement & education, Sarah focuses on building inclusive climate action rooted in connection, equity, and shared power.
Sam McPhee is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and The University of Washington. He has taught
literature, creative writing, cinema history, and creative writing for the ecologically aware. Sam lives with his wife and two daughters in the mountains of Alberton, and is currently at work on a memoir.
Diane Medler has served as Executive Director of Discover Kalispell since 2010, bringing deep expertise in hospitality and destination marketing. In her role, she leads Kalispell’s official destination marketing and stewardship organization, supporting local businesses that rely on tourism while advancing a balanced, sustainable visitor economy. As a division of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Discover Kalispell is closely connected to broader community priorities. Diane is actively engaged in initiatives that support education and workforce development, including student internship opportunities and tourism training programs for front-line staff. She is a strong advocate for the idea that a community’s quality of life—across all sectors—is what ultimately makes it a remarkable place to live, work, and visit.
Tobin Miller Shearer is an award-winning professor of History and African American studies at the ��ؿ�, where he has worked for 18 years. The author of six books and more than one hundred articles, his public-facing work has been featured in the New York Times, The Chicago Tribute, Time Magazine, and National Public Radio.
ASUM Marketing and Outreach Vice Chair
I am a graduate student in the Computer Science Department at the ��ؿ�, where I work as both a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant. My research focuses on computational cognitive neuroscience, with particular interest in language processing, brain networks, and how social connection and belonging are represented in the brain. I am currently completing my second master’s degree in Computer Science and plan to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. Originally from Sri Lanka, I have lived and studied in four different countries—Sri Lanka, Vietnam, South Korea, and the United States. These experiences have strongly shaped how I think about culture, language, and social connection. While studying in Vietnam and actively participating in university events, I became more open and socially engaged. Later, living in South Korea during the COVID-19 period presented significant challenges to social
connection, which pushed me to find alternative ways to build relationships and community. Alongside my research, I am actively involved in student leadership and community engagement. I serve as the President of the International Student Association at the ��ؿ�, where I help create spaces that bring people together across cultural and social differences. These academic and lived experiences inform my interest in how intentional connection supports individual well-being, resilient communities, and democratic life.
Abby Nelson is the Peace Corps Recruiter at the ��ؿ� and served as an English Teacher in North Macedonia. A storyteller, world traveler, and holistic wellness facilitator, she explores themes of belonging, resilience, and social connection through lived experience. Abby guides workshops that combine reflection, dialogue, embodied practices, and experiential learning — including yoga, place-based guided hikes, healing through musical instruments, and herbal education — to cultivate presence, deep listening, and community.
Educator, Public Speaker, Community Trainer, Author
Raymond Huston Orcutt has been a public speaker for over 25 years and a lead presenter for school-based
programs for the past 15 years, working with students on safety awareness, injury prevention, substance abuse prevention, and the importance of education. At eighteen, he was in a car accident that resulted in a spinal cord and head injury. Over the last 37 years, he studied how the body, brain, and mind adapt, from chemistry and physics to neuroscience, metabolism, and human behavior. He’s taken what he learned in college and applied it in the workforce, education, and community life. He doesn't consider himself a “genius” in the traditional sense, but he believes every person has a genius feature. His work focuses on helping people recognize their own through curiosity, humor, and hands-on learning.
Dr. Corbin Page is the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in the History and Cultures of US Democracy and Civic
Knowledge at the ��ؿ�. His research focuses on the history of criminal law, incarceration, and civil detention.
Assistant Director of Student Life, Belonging & Recreation
Assistant Director, Griz Esports
Cale Patenaude will explore how recreation, gaming, and esports create meaningful pathways for social connection and belonging.
Dr. Faith Price, Director of Growth and Impact:Dr. Faith Price serves as Director of Growth and Development at EmpowerMT, where she leads strategic operations, organizational advancement, and systems-building to support sustainable growth and programmatic impact. A community member of the Flathead Indian Reservation, Dr. Price brings a multiracial perspective informed by Black, White, and Assonet Band of Wampanoag heritage. Dr. Price holds a Ph.D. in Prevention Science from Washington State University, a Master’s degree in Journalism, and a Bachelor of Social Work from the ��ؿ�. Her interdisciplinary background spans grassroots social justice organizing, organizational sustainability, program design and implementation, and policy advocacy. In her role at EmpowerMT, Dr. Price oversees day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning, developing infrastructure and processes that strengthen accountability, effectiveness, and impact. Her leadership integrates evidence-based and community-driven approaches with healing-centered and land-based practices that honor cultural strengths and lived experience, positioning EmpowerMT to deliver responsive, equitable, and sustainable
solutions in partnership with communities.
Kalina Pritchard is a Neighborhood Specialist at the City of Missoula. She earned a Master of Public Administration from the ��ؿ�. Her work emphasizes community engagement and supporting neighbors to actively participate in local government.
Hailey Quam is pursuing a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and serves as a Resident Assistant on campus.
David Quattrocchi is a community organizer at Partnership Health Center, addressing the social drivers of health and fighting back for a better world for all. He's been organizing for housing justice for a decade primarily alongside unhoused community members, people who use drugs, sex workers and historically marginalized populations.
This participatory workshop would begin with teaching bits of several easy-to-learn dance styles, that lead into a discussion about barriers to social connection and how activities like dance combat loneliness and alienation, bridge divides and potentially broaden perspectives, thereby building diverse but connected and engaged communities. We three are members of The Converge Foundation (TCF) and dancers by profession or avocation. Amy will start with an improvisational exploration of basic movement principles, space (pathways), time (tempo), effort (energy). Tarn will introduce African dance and Mike will finish with a circular French Bal Folk dance, progressing from individuals sharing space to several groups to a whole. Participants will have the opportunity to experience different community dynamics, providing seeds for discussion. TCF was created to support a city-owned community hub - The Currents Center, which does not yet exist - with the conviction that recreational and cultural activities provide avenues for building connections between people, of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. This is vital in this time of divisiveness and community disintegration and disillusionment. Personal, emotional investment in one's community and its members leads to greater civic engagement and empathy.
Cara Rathke, Community Involvement Coordinator, Kalispell Public Schools
Cara brings more than 20 years of professional and volunteer experience in community engagement, education, event planning, and nonprofit coordination. She is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for connection and growth—especially for the next generation. Over the past two years as Community Involvement Coordinator for Kalispell Public Schools, Cara has led the development of a districtwide K–12 Career Exploration Pathway designed to engage students in career and community exploration from kindergarten through high school. A key component of this work includes coordinating Extended Classroom Experiences that connect K–8 students to real-world learning beyond the classroom. Last year alone, Cara partnered with educators and community organizations to facilitate more than 650 Extended Classroom Experiences, resulting in over 15,000 individual student experiences. She also coordinates presentations in classrooms by community professionals and supports hands-on student volunteer opportunities that foster career awareness, civic engagement, and meaningful community impact.
I was fortunate to grow up in Missoula and participate in many activities in the community and in our incredible surroundings. I am committed to creating space for voices to be heard and bodies to move ... and connecting humans with each other. My involvement with The Converge Foundation and Currents Center for Recreation and Creativity stems from a life-long desire for my home town to have a truly accessible (in all definitions of the word) indoor space for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to gather, share information, and realize their true potential. While my "official" training is in the biological sciences (I will respond if you say "plant geek"), I am an instructor of dance at UM and in the community. Working with art and social activism has been invigorating, eye opening, and engaging. I feel honored to have learned so much and met so many amazing people through projects such as One Billion Rising, National Water Dance Day, Cool Water Hula, and We Are All. I always look forward to being intrigued by the natural world, inspired with new ideas or a new dance step, and learning more from those around me.
Bob Reid is a certified Experiential Learning Facilitator who has led programs for teams and students in the U.S. and Italy. For the past 15 years, he has mentored student groups at the ��ؿ�. He currently works with the ministry of Faculty Commons, caring for UM Faculty, Staff and Graduate Students.
Kim Reiser is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Arts and Sciences at Missoula College, where she serves as Discipline Lead for Communication Studies and coordinates human relations curriculum across Native American Studies, Anthropology, and Historical and Cultural Studies. With 26 years of teaching experience and prior service as department chair, her work is grounded in academic leadership and student development. Her background in competitive speech and forensics shaped a teaching philosophy focused on building student agency through public speaking. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication with secondary licensure in Speech and English from Carroll College and later completed a master’s degree in Communication Studies at the ��ؿ�, following years of teaching and coaching forensics. Her research interests include rhetoric, family communication, and communication education. A ��ؿ� native, she enjoys fly fishing, skiing, and boating.
Executive Director, Western ��ؿ� LGBTQ+ Community Center
Destination Missoula & Missoula Tourism Business Improvement District

Destination Missoula and the Missoula TBID promote responsible and sustainable tourism in Missoula to create a vibrant and inclusive quality of life, place, and experience for our community and visitors. Emily has been with the organizations for seven years and focuses on community engagement and stewardship to ensure that tourism is a force for good in Missoula.
Nicole Rowsell (she/her) serves as ��ؿ� Election Observation Initiative Manager and Nonpartisan Election Observation Program Advisor. She is a global democracy and governance specialist with 20+ years experience advising governments, elected and appointed political leaders, and civic activists to press for fundamental freedoms, greater transparency and accountability. Nicole received her Master’s in conflict analysis and resolution at George Mason University’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution and studied international affairs and sociology at Lewis and Clark College.
Matthew Schertz is the philosopher in the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education. He has taught at the
��ؿ� since 2008. Prior to working at UM, Matthew taught at Rutgers University, Colgate University and Penn State University. Matthew teaches Ethics and Policy Issues to all licensure students, K-8 Social Studies Methods in the elementary program, and graduate level Philosophy of Education to veteran teachers and principals. He writes on moral education.
Delia Schmidt is a Student Program Assistant at the Mike and Maureen Mansfield Center supporting the International Systems team and serving on the student advisory council. She is currently an undergraduate student at the ��ؿ�, pursuing a BS in Environmental Science and Sustainability and a BA in Political Science, with a minor in Climate Change Studies. Delia is also a part of the Davidson Honors College and Global Leadership Initiative. She spent her junior year studying in Tokyo, Japan, and has also participated in study abroad programs in China and the United Kingdom. She enjoys engaging with people from diverse backgrounds and building cross-cultural connections, and is excited to help further the Mansfield Center’s mission of bringing international experiences to ��ؿ�.

More information can be found on the Mansfield Center Student Advisory Council webpage.
Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson is an autism specialist with over 30 years of experience in the field of speech language pathology. As an interventionist, consultant, presenter, instructor, researcher, and clinical educator, she draws on her years of public-school employment, implementation of her intensive program for kids with autism called YETI (Youth Engagement Through Intervention) and campus support program MOSSAIC (Mentoring, Organization, and Social Support for Autism/All Inclusion on Campus) to support her colleagues. Dr. Schoffer Closson is highly invested in neurodiverse affirming, evidence-based, and individualized intervention to support our learners with autism and related disorders to move effectively and efficiently through this world. With the same level of importance, Dr. Schoffer Closson strongly believes in educating and supporting our communities to make our spaces more neurodiverse-inclusive and sensory-friendly, so everyone feels welcome and has the opportunity to learn, relate, experience, and thrive.
Rajiem Seabrook is the Director of Strategy and Social Impact at EmpowerMT, a statewide nonprofit with a mission to create a just and inclusive society. Mr. Seabrook is an educational and institutional leader in shaping and promoting equity and diversity-based policies, partnerships, and strategic initiatives that foster inclusive businesses, schools, and communities across ��ؿ�. Rajiem is a long-standing community member and passionately engages in athletics, academics, social justice, and political reform. Rajiem is one of several co-founders of the ��ؿ� Black Collective-Missoula and serves on the Missoula City & County JEDI Advisory Board. Mr. Seabrook’s devotion as a father, coach, mentor, community leader, connector, and organizer fuels his commitment to creating a better world for future generations.
Josh Slotnick is a Missoula County Commissioner, he is in his second term. Prior to holding elected office Josh taught in the Environmental Studies Program at the UM. He is a co-founder of the UM PEAS Farm and Garden City Harvest.
Managing Director – Getting Better Foundation
Impact Producer – “Trust Me” award-winning documentary
Rosemary Smith has accumulated considerable international experience in the media over the last three decades. She began her career as co-owner of FCC licensed radio stations throughout Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. Rosemary is a media literacy expert, ��ؿ�’s state advocate for Media Literacy Now, sits on the International Council 4 Media Literacy board, is an associate educator for the Center for Media Literacy, and serves as envoy to the U.S. State Department’s American Film Showcase. She manages ��ؿ� based Getting Better Foundation, spearheads its global distribution of award-winning “Trust Me” Documentary and the film’s educational curriculum in partnership with News Literacy Project. Rosemary has authored many blogs and is working on her first young adult book about media literacy. She’s delivered presentations and contributed to publications on media and citizenship-related issues in dozens of countries. Rosemary remains interested by the challenges posed by emerging media forms and issues relating to media literacy, mental health, and democracy.
Molly Stockdale has worked in nonprofit management, primarily in museums, for more than 30 years. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her Master of Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She is currently the Executive Director of Travelers’ Rest Connection, a significant historic site of the Lewis & Clark Expedition and the Selis-Qlispe people. Molly has worked with Mister Rogers on a children’s museum exhibit, raised funds to support individuals with developmental disabilities, been a stay-at-home mom and PTO president, and is a survivor of ovarian cancer. Molly is President of the Destination Missoula Board of Directors and is a founding member of the Women’s Giving Circle of Missoula County. A native of Pittsburgh, Molly has lived in ��ؿ� since 2006 with her husband and two sons -- computer geeks who tolerate her love for museums, poetry, and disco music.
Dave serves as County Commissioner for Ward 2. Prior to his time in elected office, Dave spent 18 years with the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service in a variety of roles, and also worked 13 years in the private sector as a public historian with Historical Research Associates, Inc., where he specialized in environmental and Native American history. Dave holds an undergraduate degree from Seattle Pacific University in religion-philosophy and graduate degrees from Yale Divinity School (M.A.R., 1995, philosophy of religion) and the ��ؿ� (M.S., 1999, environmental studies). He is a published author, having written two books on the subject of fire—The Seasons of Fire: Reflections on Fire in the West (2001, University of Nevada Press) and Drift Smoke: Loss and Renewal in a Land of Fire (2005, University of Nevada Press).
Jingjing Sun is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the Department of Teaching & Learning. Her research has centered on children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development, with an emphasis on promoting academic engagement and wellbeing among all children. The privilege to work with Indigenous communities on the Flathead Nation in ��ؿ�, as well as schools in urban and rural settings in both the United States and China, has profoundly shaped Jingjing's research agenda. Collaborating with community leaders, educators, and interdisciplinary colleagues, Jingjing's work examines the impact of broader ecological systems, including culture, land, community, and tribal sovereignty, on learning and children’s social and emotional development in school. Further, Jingjing is passionate about supporting educators’ learning and wellbeing through extended professional development co-designed with community members and educators themselves. She helps teachers integrate collaborative discussions and social-emotional learning into their regular pedagogies. Jingjing directs the Collaboration & Reasoning Lab at the ��ؿ� and is proud to lead an interdisciplinary team of dedicated graduate and undergraduate students. She values mentoring the next generation of scholars in developing expertise in sophisticated mixed-methods designs and community-based participatory research. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, dancing, figure skating, skiing, experimenting with new cuisines, and getting lost in nature with her family.
Having lived in Missoula since 1970, I’ve witnessed many changes and developments in our city. Participating in our community dialog around the Currents Center for Recreation and Creativity for the past 25 years and the work of The Converge Foundation is fundamental to a longtime desire to have an indoor space for Missoulians by Missoulians - a year round place to play, create, connect, and share experiences together. Collaboration empowers us, and we see real progress when we come together as a community. Outside of my work with The Converge Foundation and other local organizations, I enjoy catching up with friends over coffee, teaching and dancing folk styles, playing music with other musicians, experimenting with baking and new recipes, tending the garden, playing with my dog, reading, exploring trails, and kayaking on ��ؿ�’s lakes and rivers.
Tammy Tolleson Knee is a Clinical Faculty with the Center for the Advancement of Positive Education (CAPE) at the ��ؿ�’s Phyllis J. Washington College of Education. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver and an Educational Specialist degree from the ��ؿ�. With almost 30 years of experience as an LCSW and 12 years as a Licensed Educator and School Counselor in ��ؿ�, Tammy has worked across three states in both educational and community-based settings, supporting the strengths and well being of young people. She is a Board-Certified Tele-Mental Health Therapist, a certified trainer for the I Love U Guys Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol and Reunification, and a QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor.
Community Development Coordinator, Miller Hall (4th year in Housing)
Senior Political Science Graduate Student
Dr. Andrea Vernon serves as executive director of UM's Experiential Learning & Career Success office, and is a clinical professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy. Andrea has led service learning and community engagement efforts at UM, and institutions across ��ؿ�, for more than 30 years. As the team lead for UM's Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, Andrea has helped UM achieve this national distinction through three different review and application cycles beginning in 2006. As a service learning scholar and practitioner, Andrea is a champion of this highly impactful and effective pedagogy.
Heath Voy is a Russian and Political Science major at the ��ؿ�, who aspires to work in diplomacy, bridging cultural divides. Prior to the Russian-Ukrainian War, he studied ballet at the Vaganova Academy in Russia - driving his ambition to promote diplomacy through cultural exchange. Heath transferred to UM in the Fall of 2025 from Great Falls College and currently serves as a Senator on the Associated Students of the ��ؿ� (ASUM), Student Representative on the International Council, Member of the Mansfield Center Student Advisory Council, and Treasurer of the Great Falls Rotaract. Heath is also enrolled in the Davidson Honors College and the Global Leadership Initiative. Prior to transferring to UM, he served as President of both the Associated Students of Great Falls College and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Born and raised in ��ؿ�, Heidi Wallace is a passionate and results-driven nonprofit leader advancing equity and systemic change through inclusive strategic vision and community-centered impact. Guided by a deep love of place and people, she brings a fierce urgency and sense of responsibility to her work, grounded in justice, connection, and belonging. Since joining EmpowerMT in 2004 and serving as Executive Director since 2013, Heidi has led transformative initiatives to correct systemic inequities, strengthen communities, and build organizational cultures of belonging. She has a proven track record of empowering youth leaders, elevating the voices of those with lived experience, and building sustainable partnerships across diverse communities. A skilled strategist, facilitator, and educator, Heidi fosters collaborative initiatives that address complex challenges through grassroots action and equity-centered leadership. She is a ��ؿ� alumna, recipient of the Native American Studies Distinguished Alumni Award, and a Professional Fellow with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs.
Leslie Webb is the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the ��ؿ�. She enjoys working with students and colleagues to improve the student experience. She is focused on improving retention rates and post-graduate outcomes through enhancing a vibrant campus life, increasing need-based aid, and ensuring support services are evolving to meet student needs.
Rylin Wilde is a third year student studying Political Science and Government. Rylin is from Kalispell ��ؿ� and serves as the Chairman of the College Democrats chapter at UM. Last election cycle, Rylin worked as the Campus Mobilizer to bring out the vote at UM.
Buddy Wilson is a Senior in Environmental Science from North Carolina. In addition to serving as President of the Associated Students of the ��ؿ�, I am an Army ROTC Cadet and plan to attend law school before serving as a JAG Officer. During my three years as an ASUM Senator, I supported student lobbying efforts for two ��ؿ� legislative sessions. As President, I represent about 10,000 students, oversee five student-support agencies, and support 135 student groups.
Dylan Wright is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) dedicated to fostering well-being through the principles of positive psychology. As the Community Liaison for the Phyllis J. Washington Center for the
Advancement of Positive Education (CAPE), he actively shares his expertise through public presentations and instruction, bridging the gap between academic research and community application. Dylan earned his M.A. in School Counseling from the ��ؿ�, where he was a significant contributor to the research and curriculum development of the ��ؿ� Happiness Project, the precursor to CAPE. With a career spanning over two decades in theatre arts education for the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT)—where he coached and trained touring educators—Dylan brings a wealth of leadership and pedagogical experience to his current roles.
Mary Younger served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon from 1974-1976. She is a retired educator who worked in Missoula County Public Schools.
Annie serves as a Program Officer at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center, where she supports civic
engagement, leadership development, and community-focused learning initiatives for students and educators across ��ؿ�. A Missoula native, she works with teachers and students to strengthen civic education and expand opportunities for meaningful participation in democratic life. Since 2024, she has led the Mansfield Center’s partnership with the ��ؿ� Election Observation Initiative, managing volunteer recruitment and coordination and engaging with key stakeholders. Annie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Barnard College at Columbia University and a Master’s in Teaching from Brown University.
No biography available at this time.

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