Meet Our People

Arielle Horan directs the Silver Valley Upward Bound program, based out of the U of I Harbor Center in Coeur d’Alene. She has ten years’ experience working as a program director, but has always worked with LI/FG populations in some capacity, having started her career as an art teacher in a high poverty urban school district in Colorado. Arielle is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational technology at Boise State University, with a research focus on the intersection between rural K-12 education, online learning, and smartphone use. She specializes in rural research, place-based curriculum development, and grant writing.

Stefanie Krantz is the Climate Change Coordinator for the Nez Perce Tribe where she works to assess, plan and mitigate for climate change. She holds an M.S. degree in Ecology Resource Management from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her background includes ecological surveys (wildlife, plants, habitat, and plant pests), monitoring and mitigation on large infrastructure projects, permitting and environmental review, and climate planning and education. In her role at the Tribe she provides climate education to tribal staff and leaders, and helps the tribe to develop climate smart, culture smart climate adaptation projects and partnerships.

Sendy works as a 4-H associate Extension educator, senior instructor. Her responsibilities include 4-H youth development programming for underserved and minority audiences in both Ada and Canyon counties.

Crissy Phillips Oliver is the Program Coordinator for Cultivating Indigenous Research Communities for Leadership in Education and STEM (CIRCLES) at the University of Idaho. She earned her M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Idaho, where her research explored the intersection of federal policy with Indigenous cultural traditions and how to meaningfully encourage cooperation between the National Park Service and culturally affiliated Tribes. Crissy brings 7 years of experience working with Alaska Native villages on initiatives aimed to improve and institutionalize cooperation with tribal communities through transformative research, teaching, and long-term collaborative projects. She enjoys trail running, skiing, and exploring her NW backyard with her husband and dog, Kit. 

Experience:

• Undergraduate Research Assistant at Appalachian State University (ASU) for research of barrier island aquifers impacted by sea level rise.
• Geology Tutor for ASU.
• Peer Mentor for Geological and Environmental Science students at ASU.
• Library Technology Desk Assistant at Belk Library.

Interests: Backpacking/hiking, swimming, skiing, paddle boarding, reading, thrifting, community building, and drinking lots of coffee in between!

Hometown: Wake Forest, NC.

Experience:

• Biology Tutor at Tarleton State University.
• Residential Leader for student housing at Tarleton State University.
• Wildlife field technician for the peoples and prairies project.
• PADI Open Water Diver certified.
• Wildland Firefighter Level 2 certified.
• Two-time animal care intern at the Dallas Zoo.
• Wilderness First Aid certified.
• Assistant for research for a project in Botswana.

Interests: Hiking, playing soccer, scuba diving, making new friends, gaming, live music, enjoying quality time with friends, and embracing nature.

Hometown: I grew up in Killeen, TX, and now claim Grapevine, TX as my home.

Experience:

• Lifeguard (waterfront and pool).
• Stormwater Management Intern.
• MOSS Day Camp Instructor, Swim Instructor.
• Many seasons of volunteering with different groups planting trees, maintaining trails, and other things to help maintain healthy ecosystems.
  
  Hometown: Maple Valley, WA.
  
  

Biography to come soon.

Experience:

• K-6 Enrichment teacher & K-6 Math Intervention teacher.
• First Grade Teacher at Future Public School.
• Canoe Science Camp Intern with Canyon County Parks, Cultural and Natural Resources.
• Literacy Intervention teacher in Peace Corps Jamaica.

Interests: Hiking, backpacking, cross-country skiing, listening to live music, traveling, thrifting and antiquing, and interior design.

Hometown: Sandpoint, Idaho.

Experience: I have over six years of experience working with kids through summer camps, afterschool programs, or babysitting. During my time at WSU, I was an undergraduate teaching assistant for a class on the science and policy of climate change. I have also been involved in the WSU Environmental Science Club and the Palouse Conservation District.

Interests: I am interested in all things animals, but I particularly enjoy learning about and finding amphibians and reptiles. My other interests include sewing, crocheting, playing the ukulele, board games, and reading (all of which I am mediocre at).

Education: I did a year of running start at Spokane Falls Community College. Later, I went to Washington State University (WSU) where I got my bachelors in environmental and ecosystem science. At the same time, I also got a minor in biology.

Biography to come soon.

Experience: Community outreach at Wildcare Oklahoma.

Interests: Hiking, Camping, Paddle boarding and Wildlife.

• I am from Lapwai Idaho and descendent from Red Heart Band Nez Perce, older brother to 4 younger siblings, and graduated from University of Idaho in Fishery Resources 2023. I am also the graduate student for the Weetespeme Program. I love to be outdoors and living a cultural way of life.
  
  

Experience:

• Social Media and Communications Intern for the Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance.
• Student Engagement Intern for USU Student Sustainability Office.
• Undergraduate Teaching Fellow for Intro to Geographic Information Systems at Utah State University
• Environmental Education Intern for Ecotopia Now!
• Guest Engagement Volunteer at Wonders of Wildlife National Aquarium.
• Nature Center Host for Stokes Nature Center.

Interests: Rock Climbing, backpacking, backcountry skiing, fishing, thrifting, biking, hiking, studying 'Olelo Hawai'i, and being outside.

Hometown: Murray, Utah.

Experience:

• AmeriCorps State and National Conservation Intern at the Bureau of Reclamation, ID.
• Managing and maintaining recreation Idaho public lands.
• Idaho State Senate Page at the Idaho Capitol.
• Three years being a Teaching Assistant for middle and high school students.
• Member of the Wildlife Society.
• Volunteer with Idaho Department of Fish and Game on multiple WMA's.
• Electrofishing excursions.
• Managing for invasive plant species.

Interests: Paddle boarding, art in all forms, rock climbing, hiking, camping, birding, cliff jumping, listening to feel good music, binging tv shows, road trips, hammocking, skiing and ice skating.

Hometown: Mountain Home, Idaho.

Experience:

• Intern Environmental Planner at ManTech International Corporation
• Habitat Restoration Jr. Project Manager & Research Assistant at the Soil Ecology & Restoration Group
• Habitat Restoration Technician at Wood PLC
• Habitat Restoration Project Assistant at Habitat West Inc.
• Freelance & self-employed Native Habitat Landscaper with Restore the Earth Network

Interests: Bouldering/rock climbing, snowboarding, camping, hiking, meditation, yoga, music (playing piano, singing, listening), music events, paddle boarding, surfing, gardening, painting & drawing, and botanizing (plant identification).

Hometown: San Diego, California.

• Katie O'Dea graduated from Washington State University in fall of 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Earth and Environmental Science with minors in Forestry and Music. She has been teaching violin for seven years and is very excited to apply those skills to her degree!

Experience: I started my career teaching AP Environmental Science and coaching track at KIPP Northeast College Prep in Houston. Since leaving the classroom I have served as Education Coordinator and Instructional coach in NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement. I also work part time as an Education Fellow with the nonprofit Action for the Climate Emergency.

Interests: Basketball, tennis, running (when I can’t play basketball or tennis), mountain biking, backpacking, skiing, science fiction, college football...Go Dawgs!, Learning new plant based recipes, podcasts, gardening.

Hometown: I grew up in Kennesaw, GA but have called Houston, TX home since 2016.

Experience:

• Beekeeper.
• Plastics Researcher.
• Anuran Ecology Instructor/ Enthusiast.

Experience:

• Community Engagement Specialist at City of Fort Collins.
• Environmental Educator at the CSU Environmental Learning Center.
• Crew Member at Trader Joes.
• Elementary Curriculum Designer for Sandbox Solar.
• Sustainability Intern at Ide Energy & Strategy.
• Various Spanish/English language teaching positions and community volunteering.

Interests: Biking, cooking, playing ukulele/guitar, coffee walks, mini crosswords, live music, studying Spanish, reading, and of course all things outside!

Hometown: Portland, OR.