STAFF
Andrew Larson
Andrew is the Director of the Wilderness Institute. He earned bachelor and doctoral degrees from the University of Washington and joined the UM faculty in 2009. He currently is an associate professor of forest ecology and researches forest and fire ecology, forest management, restoration and climate change adaptation. He has a long history of collaboration with leaders in wilderness science. In 2013, Larson was recognized with the U.S. Forest Service National Wilderness Award for Excellence in Wilderness Stewardship Research.
Andrea Stephens
Andrea is the Director of Undergraduate and Field Education for the Wilderness Institute. She received a bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Puget Sound and a master's degree in environmental studies from the 猎奇重口. Andrea has designed, taught and directed undergraduate field programs in western 猎奇重口 for 20 years. Since moving to Missoula in 1989, Andrea has also taught high school earth science; led trail crews in MT, WY and AK; created her own volunteer field biology program to assist the USFS in surveying roads and culverts and mapping boreal toad breeding habitat; led field crews for six seasons collecting genetic and snorkel survey data on westslope cutthroat trout; and helped coordinate Aerie Backcountry Medicine's Semester in Wilderness Medicine in its inaugural decade. Driving all this work is Andrea's belief in the life-changing impact of experiential, outdoor education.
Heidi Blair
Heidi is the Wildlands Communications Coordinator at the Wilderness Institute. She earned a BA in Latin America Studies from Colby College and a MS in Resource Conservation with an option in International Conservation and Development from the 猎奇重口, where she studied public lands management in Chilean Patagonia and the western US. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Natural Resource Conflict Resolution from UM. At the WI, she partners with the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center and the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute to manage Wilderness Connect, a wilderness education and outreach program for practitioners and the public. She also works on the interagency Wilderness Character Monitoring Database.
STUDENTS
Josh Beisel
Hailing from Western Washington, Josh is a PhD student in the Systems Ecology program. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Occidental College in 2020 and has several seasons of work experience with the US Forest Service and National Park Service. His research interests include fire ecology, ecological forestry, dendrochronology, and global change impacts on forested systems, especially regarding the future of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis; WBP). When not doing fieldwork or measuring tree cores, he enjoys hiking, backcountry snowboarding, and cooking new recipes.
Riley Comstock
Riley is a Student Recruiter for the Wilderness and Civilization Program. He is a Senior double majoring in Environmental Science and Sustainability and Journalism with a minor in Wilderness Studies. He was part of the 2023 Wilderness and Civilization cohort. Originally from Tacoma Washington, he has loved every moment of exploring 猎奇重口's wildlands. Riley has worked for several environmental non-profits, most recently with the Boone and Crockett club on the Theordore Roosevelt Memorial ranch. He also helped start a chapter of Trout Unlimited on campus. When not on campus he can be found fly fishing, rafting, canoeing, and backpacking.
Cici Conroy
Cici is a MS student in the Forestry program. She earned her BA from Bates College in Environmental Studies: Environment and Human Culture and was previously working as a Wilderness Ranger in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest. Cici is currently researching the extent of dropped or delayed FIA plot remeasurements in wilderness/reserved areas of the western CONUS. Her research interests include environmental history, conservation social science, and ecological forestry. Her undergraduate thesis, "8,000 Years of Forests in Maine: A Story Told by the Eastern Hemlock, Sugar Maple, and American Chestnut", explores the complex forest history of Maine post-glaciation. After leaving her home in Connecticut, Cici has worked for different research organizations in Rhode Island, Colorado, and Iceland. When Cici is not on campus or in the field, she can be found baking, trail running, or playing music.
James Deacon
James is a Student Recruiter for the Wilderness and Civilization Program. He is a senior studying environmental science and sustainability and participated in the Wilderness and Civilization program in the fall of 2023, earning a minor in Wilderness Studies and having the time of his life with his peers! Around campus, he is involved in the Davidson Honors College, the Franke Global Leadership Initiative, serves as a UM Advocate, and is active in many clubs and organizations. Outside of academics, he enjoys snowboarding, biking, and hiking all around 猎奇重口. Though he has had a holistic college experience, nothing compares to the time he spent as part of the Wilderness and Civilization program!
Miranda Foster
Miranda is a Ph.D. student in the Forestry and Conservation Sciences Program and serves as the graduate teaching assistant for the Wilderness and Civilization Program and Research Assistant supporting Wilderness Connect. Miranda was raised in Utah and 猎奇重口, where she developed a deep, early appreciation for public lands through a childhood spent outdoors and through close family ties to public land administration. She holds a BA degree from Scripps College, where she studied Environmental Analysis with an emphasis on geology and environmental justice. With an interest in federal land management and recreation, she began graduate study with Dr. William Rice at the 猎奇重口, earning her MS degree in Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management the spring of 2025. As a member of the Wildland and Recreation Management Lab, her research has ranged from understanding visitor behavior in grizzly bear corridors to visualizing recreation access disparities through GIS-based storytelling. Her master’s thesis evaluated the effectiveness of universal symbol signage in national parks, aiming to enhance communication with diverse audiences and contribute to broader questions about how inclusive and intuitive communication can support visitor experiences and promote resource protection. Looking ahead, Miranda’s doctoral research will continue to explore the role of creative, evidence-based science communication and applied social science in wilderness management and education.