Faculty & Staff
 | Christopher Barnes, Executive DirectorA passion for intellectual and outdoor pursuits led Christopher and Molly to found the High Mountain Institute and Rocky Mountain Semester in 1995. Since 1990, Christopher has actively worked in wilderness and traditional classrooms with young adults. After graduating from Colorado College with a BA in Physics, he spent two years studying nature philosophy and apprenticing with a wide variety of outdoor programs in Scandinavia. Field experience with the National Outdoor Leadership School and Deer Hill Expeditions combined with two years of teaching physics at a small boarding school laid the seeds for the dream of creating the High Mountain Institute. Day to day, Christopher oversees implementation of the High Mountain Institute's mission, the school’s budget, fundraising, institutional growth, and plows the snow as needed. Each semester, Christopher goes out on one of the Rocky Mountain Semester expeditions and teaches a few classes in the areas of leadership and decision-making. Time with family, skiing, sailing, and reading fill out the rest of his schedule. |
 | Molly Barnes, Head of Schoolmolly@hminet.org x104 As a co-founder of the High Mountain Institute and Rocky Mountain Semester, Molly’s passion for the combination of wilderness experiences and challenging academics is evident. In addition to her administrative roles, Molly’s participation in each semester includes leading expeditions, teaching a few classes, and inviting groups of students home for dinner. After graduating from Colgate University with a BA in Political Science, Molly worked as an assistant teacher and wilderness instructor at a residential treatment center in Jackson, Wyoming; led wilderness and service courses for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and Deer Hill Expeditions; and worked in the residential life office at Colorado Mountain College. When not at High Mountain Institute, Molly enjoys trail running, skiing, sailing, learning to windsurf, spending time with Christopher and their sons, Porter & Jack, and throwing the ball for her black lab, Zuby. |
 | Kate Bartlett, Director of Admissions & Advancementkbartlett@hminet.org x110 Kate coordinates marketing and admissions, development, alumni relations and strategic planning efforts at the High Mountain Institute. Kate has been at HMI since the fall of 2002, and her first role was to start the school's summer programs. In 2006, she transitioned to Advancement, and in 2010 she took over leadership of Admissions. Prior to moving to Leadville, Kate worked as an outdoor educator and in the entrepreneurial world of high-tech startups. Leadville and the High Mountain Institute are a welcome change from her dot com days. When not running around campus, Kate can be found hanging out with her husband, Colin, and two-year old daughter, Annie. In her free time, Kate loves trail running and telemark and nordic skiing. Kate has a BA in American Studies from Amherst College and an MBA from the University of Denver. |
 | Sheri Cerise, Assistant to the Head of Schoolscerise@hminet.org x106
Sheri is the Assistant to the Head of School. She has worked at HMI since the first Rocky Mountain Semester began in 1998. Now, she works four days a week assisting Molly. In addition, she handles office supplies for the campus and takes care of the bookstore. Sheri and her husband are both Leadville natives and they raised their two children in Leadville. They own and run a business that Mike's family has owned for over 34 years. They love fishing, hunting, archery, camping and enjoying the mountains. Sheri brings her little dog, Elphy, to school most days.
|
 | Shawn Cornella, Maintenance Staffscornella@hminet.org x117 Shawn began working at the High Mountain Institute in the summer of 2007. Besides being High Mountain Institute's "Mr. Fix-It," Shawn is often found painting, wood working, or building something. A Colorado native, he is avid in many outdoor activities such as fly fishing, hiking, and climbing. One of Shawn's favorite things to do is make other people laugh.
|
 | Sam Critchlow, Math FacultySam joined the Rocky Mountain Semester faculty in 2007. A graduate of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics and Amherst College, he earned two undergraduate awards in mathematics while completing a B.A. in Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought. This is Sam's tenth year leading young people in the backcountry, and his fifth teaching high school math. Some of his favorite places to lead trips have been along the coast of southeast Alaska, under the northern lights of Quebec and Labrador, and among the peaks of the San Juan and Sawatch ranges of Colorado. In his spare time, Sam likes hiking and snowboarding in the Leadville backcountry, whitewater canoeing, cooking, and DJing. |
 | Ben Dougherty, Academic Dean and P&P Faculty
As an educator, Ben integrates his love for the natural world with a passion for teaching and learning. After graduating from The University of Montana, he initially pursued careers in ecological field research and outdoor education. However, he quickly discovered that he loved teaching and sharing his interests with youth, thus, he shifted his career into a more traditional classroom, but not too traditional. At the Hyde School in Maine, he co-founded a place-based experiential program for the freshman class. He then went on to teach science, research, and serve as the dean of faculty at The Island School in the Bahamas. Ben is thrilled to return to the mountains and join the team at HMI. When not on campus, he is often running or biking with his wife Laura and their lab Siena, hiking, skiing, or floating on a river in just about any vessel, but most often his kayak.
|
 | Rebecca Flint, French and P&P Facultyrflint@hminet.org x113 Becca is excited to be back at the High Mountain Institute as the French teacher and first Rocky Mountain Semester alumna to join the faculty. She graduated magna cum laude from Colby College with majors in French and Human Development and a minor in Women’s Studies. While at Colby, Becca enjoyed leading trips through the woods and along the coast of Maine for freshman orientation as well as throughout the year for the Colby Outing Club. She also spent a year studying in France and one month in Senegal. Beyond her love of French language and culture, she enjoys working to empower young women and has spent time leading groups of middle school girls through Hardy Girls Healthy Women in Maine and Smart-Girl in Denver. Becca returned to the High Mountain Institute in the summer of 2004 as the Summer Apprentice and again in 2005 as an Apprentice on the High Peaks Adventure course. Becca is also now a NOLS instructor. In her free time, Becca enjoys running, hiking, skiing, biking, yoga, traveling, baking, and spending time with her family back east. |
 | Becca Katz, Spanish Facultybkatz@hminet.org x123 Becca is a spunky Wisconsinite at heart, though she spent a good portion of the last decade in the Stanford vortex where she received her B.A. in Latin American History and M.S. in Earth Systems and then worked as a lecturer for the Earth Systems Program. During college, Becca participated in a NOLS semester in Patagonia and studied in Bolivia with SIT. Outside of academics, Becca has spent many years leading canoeing and backpacking expeditions for Camp Manito-wish YMCA. She has also instructed explorations in Bolivia and India for Where There Be Dragons. She is thrilled to be part of the Rocky Mountain Semester faculty as the Spanish Teacher, where her call to explore other cultures and languages peacefully coexists with her passion for the outdoors and experiential education. When she's not working, Becca loves being outside, spending time with friends, talking, and hanging out with her husband, Eric and dog, Bou. |
 | Audrey Kruse, Science Facultyakruse@hminet.org x122
Audrey has been the science teacher at the High Mountain Institute since 2008. She graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in Anthropology. During college, she led orientation trips for incoming freshman and worked as a guide for her university's outing club. After graduation, Audrey began working at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY, teaching Environmental Science and Biology. During the summers, she has taught German and led hiking and canoeing trips in the north woods of Minnesota at Concordia Language Villages. She has also worked with the High Mountain Institute summer programs, instructing a Leading Edge course. In her free time, Audrey enjoys climbing, biking, snowboarding, yoga and a good game of Ultimate Frisbee.
|
 | Sally Lein, Director of Financeslein@hminet.org x102 Sally has lived in Leadville since 1999 and, has led the High Mountain Institute's business and finance operations since 2007. She is a CPA and graduated from Boston University. Sally’s background includes eight years in public accounting and ten years in industry, most recently with Vail Resorts, Inc as the Finance Director of Keystone. She enjoys traveling, hiking, biking, skiing, recreational running and spending time with her husband and son, Hector. |
 | Carrie Mallozzi, Apprentice Program Coordinatorcmallozzi@hminet.org x108 Carrie Marshall is the Apprentice Coordinator at the High Mountain Institute. She completed the graduate program at the Teton Science School in Jackson, WY and then moved to Laramie to gain a Masters in Science at the University of Wyoming. Her undergraduate degree was in Biology and Environmental Studies at St. Lawrence University. Prior to the High Mountain Institute, Carrie taught science and outdoor education at Colorado Mountain College, Outward Bound and the National Outdoor Leadership School. When not coaching apprentices, Carrie is most likely to be skiing, biking, climbing, gardening, and doing house projects with her husband Cooper. |
Eliza Parsons, Admissions Associateeparsons@hminet.org x109
| |
 | Christina Reiff, HMI Programs Managercreiff@hminet.org x107 Born and raised in Switzerland, Christina first moved to the U.S. to attend Dartmouth College where she graduated with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Government. During college, Christina led outdoor orientation trips for incoming freshman. After graduating, Christina led backpacking and bike touring trips for Overland Summers and then worked in their office for four years, coordinating their international programs. Christina joined the High Mountain Institute in the fall of 2006 as the French teacher for the Rocky Mountain Semester. In 2008, Christina transitioned to become the High Mountain Institute Programs Manager. She enjoys hiking, traveling, biking, telemarking and cooking. |
 | Karl Remsen, Mathematics Facultykremsen@hminet.org x120
Karl has been a mathematics teacher and wilderness leader for the Rocky Mountain Semester since 2005. He graduated from Williams College in 2003 with a degree in Geosciences and Mathematics. After graduation, Karl taught at the Colorado Outdoor Education Center in Florissant, Colorado, and worked for the Swiss Semester program in Zermatt, Switzerland. Recently, Karl taught for Upward Bound, a national program for first generation college-bound students, and he is currently pursuing becoming a certified public school teacher. He is an avid nordic skier and the coach of the Lake County High School nordic ski team during the winter months.
|
 | Katie Reynolds, English Facultykreynolds@hminet.org x124 Katie joined the Rocky Mountain Semester faculty in 2008 after completing the Apprentice Program in 2007, and having been a student in Rocky Mountain Semester V. She received her B.A. in English with a focus in expository writing from Brown University in 2006. Katie was a member of the Brown women's crew team, and a three time national champion. Additionally, she enjoyed working with Brown Outdoor Leadership Training to support rising sophomores by developing leadership skills and a strong community. During the summer of 2006 Katie led a cross-country bike trip from Providence, RI to Seattle, WA in support of affordable housing with Bike and Build. She has mentored runaway youth in shelter, and counseled youth and families in a crisis intervention center. In addition to instructing summer leadership courses for Deer Hill and the High Mountain Institute, Katie has led for outdoor programs at the Dunn School and the Oregon Episcopal School. In her free time she enjoys skiing, running, eating cookies and breakfast, cycling, hiking, and cooking. |
 | Justin Talbot, Director of Wilderness Programs & Risk Managementjtalbot@hminet.org x111 Justin began working for the High Mountain Institute in 2006. As the Director of Wilderness Programs & Risk Management, Justin oversees expedition planning, wilderness pernits, and school wide risk management. Justin developed his interest in the outdoors over several trips to Alaska in his teens. At the University of Connecticut Justin earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies, after which he went on to work as a environmental educator and a climbing and mountaineering guide. In 2001 Justin went to work as a field instructor for for the National Outdoor Leadership School. After several years dividing time between working for NOLS and working ski patrol Justin enrolled in the University of New Hampshire earning a M.S. in Outdoor Education. When not at work Justin enjoys climbing, skiing, and traveling with his wife Cheryl. |
 | Ryer Triezenberg, Cook & Kitchen ManagerRyer joined the High Mountain Institute in January 2007 after a decade of owning and managing the Tennesse Pass Cookhouse at Ski Cooper. He has a B.S. from The Colorado College. Ryer started his career with eight years at the Pine Creek Cookhouse in Aspen. Aside from his many culinary talents, Ryer enjoys skiing, swimming, hiking, golfing, entertaining his friends and traveling. Living in Leadville for more than a decade, Ryer still finds the beauty of the mountains awe-inspiring. He hopes to be at the High Mountain Institute for a long time. |
 | Matt Turnbull, History Facultymturnbull@hminet.org x114
A native New Englander, Matt made the move to Leadville to teach history at the High Mountain Institute in 2007. After graduating from Bowdoin College in 2000, he earned a Master's Degree in history from the University of Michigan. He has taught in a variety of settings, including stints as a winter naturalist at Vail, an experiential educator in Plymouth, MA, and a sixth grade English teacher in the Boston area. In past summers, he has participated in teaching seminars on "Federal Trials and Great Debates in American History" and "The Progressive Era." He has also led and scouted backpacking and bicycle touring trips for Overland Summers, and instructed The Leading Edge courses for HMI. In his free time Matt enjoys running and biking in the mountains, cross-country skiing through Leadville's winter, and doing jigsaw puzzles while he should be grading papers.
|
 | Eric Wanless, Gear Room Manager & Sustainability Coordinatorewanless@hminet.org x125 As the sustainability coordinator Eric is working to create and implement a long-term plan that reduces our environmental impact through tying concrete actions on campus with student education. Prior to joining the High Mountain Institute Eric worked extensively in the clean energy industry for non-profits and for consulting firms. As a science and engineering fellow at the Natural Resources Defense Council he helped shape the implementation of California's landmark global warming law (AB 32) and worked extensively with the state's natural gas and electric utilities to ensure continued aggressive investment in energy efficiency. Eric also serves as a consulting member of the Energy and Resources team at the Rocky Mountain Institute. In this role he has developed carbon strategies for multiple Fortune 500 companies and helped create a workable model for an electrical grid with large penetrations of renewable power and energy efficiency. When Eric isn't cursing the energy use of the old walk-in fridge or experimenting with smart power strips, he leads wilderness trips for the Rocky Mountain Semester and helps out in the equipment room. Eric has a BS in Environmental Engineering and a MS in Energy Engineering, both from Stanford University, and has worked extensively as an instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School. |