Teaching and Learning

Inquiry-based teaching and learning (Advisor Jimmy Karlan) MS Environmental Science with Secondary Science Teacher Certification ‘04

Experiential Education (Kalamazoo Nature Center ‘99-’00) (Whale Camp ‘01-’02)

Outdoor Education (Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center Fellowship Naturalist ‘01)

Science, Education, and Nature

Biology (Kalamazoo College BA Biology ‘99) and Ecology (Antioch University New England ‘04, Tom Wessels) (Wil Reding)

Wilderness Awareness School (John Young) - Kamana I - Nature awareness, reverence, skills, and knowledge. ‘01 (discontinued program)

Decades of practice as a science teacher, naturalist, outdoor guide, and field biologist

Systems Practice

I taught Moving Toward Sustainability at the Community College of Vermont for 8 years and systems thinking was a the core of this course, ‘07-’14.

Systems Navigator Cohort with Rotary Charities of Traverse City for the 7 month Constellating Change Series presented by the School of Systems Change, ‘24.

Systems Change On Ramp #1 and #2 with Rotary Charities

Theory U (Otto Scharmer) - “An awareness-based method for changing systems” Change makers, leaders, and groups come together with their whole selves to sense into the emerging future and create solutions that create the world we want to live in. Completed the U-lab 1x, ‘23 Certificate, U-Lab 2x, ‘24,

Scribing, a practice of Theory U - A “visual practice that…maps out ideas while people talk, [so] they can see a picture unfold right in front of their eyes. The drawing establishes connections within content, aids with insight, and supports decision-making.” “It weaves words and pictures to facilitate group learning and cultural memory, and is now embraced around the world as a popular social art and meeting tool.” Scribing Essentials Certificate, ‘23.

Social Presencing Theater - A body-based system, and tool of Theory U, for engaging in problem-solving and systems change. Accessible to all and able to reveal deep insights into the dynamics of current situations and future possibilities. Completed the year long Practitioner Development Program in 2024 Certificate.

Governance and Organizations

Sociocracy - “A governance system…for organizations that want to self-govern based on the values of equality” - Facilitation training with Sociocracy for All ‘19, and self-study with the Sociocracy manual, Many Voices One Song

Environmental Leadership Program - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Learning Organizations, and Strengths-based Leadership, National Fellow ‘17

Facilitation and Group Practices

Liberating Structures (Keith McCandless and Henri Lipmanowicz) - A set of flexible and robust tools and processes that support high involvement, creativity, and co-creation in meetings and gatherings Certificate

XCHANGE Approach (Jon Berghoff) - Toolkit and framework for facilitation, training, and group coaching that combines Appreciative Inquiry, Heart Math, Theory U and many other approaches to “Unlock Collective Intelligence At Scale” 3-Day Training ‘21

AJ& Smart - Design Sprint Masterclass

Team-building - Group challenges, games, and initiatives, including high ropes and low ropes courses. Contrived situations that bring out deeper patterns of personal, interpersonal, and group dynamics in a safe and controlled environment.

Ritual (Melissa Moon-Goddess) - Witchcraft course ‘06

Personal and Cultural Transformation

Grief Ritual Training: a 3-day immersion on politicized and embodied grief practice for Michigan Practitioners or European descent, with Shawn Janz, of Sacred Grief ‘24

Joanna Lindenbaum/Applied Depth Practitioner Institute: Sacred Depths Transformational Practitioner Coach Training - Certified Coach ‘21, Verification; Into the Depths Group Facilitation and Ritual Training ‘20; Curriculum Lab ‘19

We Are The Culture Makers (Kelly Diels) - Yearlong immersion into “Building a Culture Making eco-system for more Money + Justice” ‘23

Nonviolent Communication (Marshall Rosenberg) - Study group ‘08

Somatic Practice and Expressive Arts

Embodiment Practices: Authentic Movement, Modern Dance, Yoga, Contact Improv, Ecstatic Dance, Yoga Dance, Kirtan

Nature Drawing - 20 years of daily to weekly practice, Teachers: Clare Walker Leslie, John Muir Laws, Published in: Northern Woodlands, 7Days Kids, 7Days

Intuitive Art and Expressive Journaling - mixed media, 30-60 minutes uninterrupted, sometimes an idea, question, pain, problem, inspiration, or lesson to explore, sometimes nothing in particular, let go of trying and just do, since July 2020

Mentors and teachers

Thinkers and Practitioners of Radical Influence (not mentioned above) : Resma Meneken, Kimberly Johnson, Glennon Doyle, Brené Brown, Cara Jones, Bari Tessler, Melissa Moon-Goddess, Starhawk, Evelyne Verrat, Donella Meadows, Peter Senge, EO Wilson, William McDonough and Michael Braungart, Mari Andrew, Nick Wilkes, Heather Fitzgerald, Lydia Russell

Places that have shaped me: Northwest Lower Michigan, the Great Lakes, Vermont, Grand Manan Island and the Bay of Fundy, South Carolina, Southeast Minnesota, Zion National Park, Glacier National Park, Ecuador’s Mountains, Rainforests, and Galapagos Islands.