Meet Our Staff

Anna grew up in Wisconsin and studied at Concordia University Wisconsin, where she learned about Monarch butterflies, lichen, woodpeckers, and all sorts of other nature-y things. After a few biology field work jobs, Anna decided to focus on education and started at Eagle Bluff as an EE Fellow in 2018. When she’s not teaching, Anna loves hiking, swimming, reading, writing, and laughing.

Fun fact: Anna’s middle school came to Eagle Bluff, but she didn’t go on the trip!

Eagle Bluff is what brought Colleen to Minnesota almost 10 years ago after growing up in Ohio. Being outside with her two dogs and husband, Tony, is just about her favorite thing to do! She enjoys cooking and eating (especially the wild game they hunt), playing yard games, and spending time on the Root and Mississippi Rivers.

Fun Fact: Colleen once spent 26 nights during the winter sleeping outside in a quinzee.

Dan started in the kitchen at Eagle Bluff in the fall of 2019. He has cooked at numerous places, and worked at Hormel for five years prior to coming to Eagle Bluff. When it comes to construction, he’s a jack-of-all-trades (except when it comes to welding and electrical) and could build a house from the bottom up.

Fun fact: Dan lived at his hunting shack in Fountain for seven years, living off the land.

Doc came to Eagle Bluff back in the days when it was called the Forest Resource Center!  After growing up in northern IL and spending a few years in WI (UWSP, WI-DNR, and Fort McCoy) he arrived here, working with his future wife Maggie and about 6 other staff.  Doc enjoys hunting, fishing, sports of all kinds, and coaches baseball for Fillmore Central.  Maggie and Doc have 3 children, 3 dogs and 3 horses…. not a lot of time for many other adventures!

Fun Fact: Doc was part of the staff that got to shovel snow out of the dorm when it was being constructed.

Ellen joined Eagle Bluff as a member of the development team. She has spent the last 5 years in development and has found a love for fundraising. When she is not at work, she is either walking with her new rescue pup, Juni, or quilting up a storm on some new quilts.

Fun Fact: Ellen has over 100 handmade quilts she has made in her 15 years of quilting.

Erica first came to Eagle Bluff as a 6th grader with Waseca schools. While the ropes course was not her favorite activity at the time…she came back as a part of the E.E. Fellowship in 2016 and has been here since! (and can say she now loves the ropes courses) Prairies, exploration, artistic expression, coffee, and being active are some of Erica’s favorite things.

Erinn trekked across the vast state of Wisconsin to join the Eagle Bluff staff. Most recently, she has worked for the WI DNR and a couple non-profits in Oregon. Off the bluff, she can be spotted exploring the driftless region via kayak, hiking boot, or binocular with her two dogs.

Fun Fact: Her favorite camping spot lies within Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in Lakeview, Oregon.

Hannah started her love of Eagle Bluff in 2013 when she participated in the E.E. Fellowship program. After leaving, and trying out a few other types of educational pathways, there was still an emptiness in her heart. In 2019 she returned as Curriculum Coordinator and couldn’t be happier. She is an aspiring cat lady (4 as of right now), and a lover of roller skating. She enjoys hiking in the bluffs, searching for wild edibles, biking on the trails, and baking for other people.

Fun fact: My favorite animal used to be a Narwhal but now it is a Narluga. Ask me about it!

After graduating from Macalester College, Henry first came to Eagle Bluff in 2017 as a member of the E.E. Fellowship program, before transitioning to E.E. Mentor and now Adult Education Manager. Hailing from Wisconsin, Henry enjoys canoeing, bird watching, watching sports (including his beloved Packers), and socializing with friends.

Fun Fact: Henry has seen the hit NBC show The Office more than any human on Earth.

Whether it was visiting Eagle Bluff as a 5th grader, being an E.E. Fellow in 2011, or working in her current role as a permanent education staff member, Jenna has always enjoyed every facet of Eagle Bluff! Outside of work, Jenna can often be found reading, relaxing, snacking, and drinking her beloved Diet Pepsi. She also greatly enjoys Minnesota’s summer lake culture to the fullest and is an avid slalom water skier.

Fun fact: Jenna’s outfits are ALWAYS colorfully coordinated.

Jeremiah went to school in Preston Minnesota and is planning to get trained in wood carving and carpentry. He also plans to learn some blacksmithing it the future.

Fun Fact: He loves to read, cook and play most types of board and video games. 

Joe is a crotchety old fart whose best times are spent out in the woods and restored prairies at The Point. His other favorite activities are plowing snow and mowing lawn. In his spare time his favorite activities are brushing his German Shepard named Sunny who constantly sheds and reading about Teslas on Reddit Tesla related communities.

Fun Fact: Joe has been employed at Eagle Bluff longer than anyone else.

Joe has worked in nonprofits for almost a decade, most recently in sales/marketing/development for housing and animal rescue organizations. Joe and his wife love animals and have two dogs, three cats and three chickens. The whole gang moved to Lanesboro from St. Paul in the fall of 2018 and they love living in Bluff Country!

Fun fact: Joe is the tallest staff member at Eagle Bluff.

John’s nonprofit career has taken him around the world to Asia and the South Pacific. He has managed several organizations with missions as varied as refugee resettlement, poverty alleviation, and disaster relief. Before coming to Eagle Bluff, John was the director of Seed Savers Exchange, a seed bank in Decorah, Iowa.

Fun fact: John is fluent in Melanesian Pijin, a lingua franca he learned as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Solomon Islands.

Lydia started working at Eagle Bluff as a Summer Naturalist in 2018, the day after graduating from Gustavus. She was also part of the 2018 E.E. Fellowship program. She loves slow hikes, singing with people, and sauteing veggies.

Fun Fact: Lydia grew up in a straw bale house (and no, a big bad wolf didn’t blow it down).

Marty was born and raised in the area. He started at Eagle Bluff in 2016. For fun he likes spending time on dirt paths, either in a pair of hiking boots or on a mountain bike. Fly fishing, the mountains, fly fishing in the mountains. Also riding and working on motorcycles, especially vintage Hondas.

Fun Fact: 149, the combined age of his three vintage motorcycles.

Molly was part of the E.E. Fellowship program at Eagle Bluff from 2014-2016 and returned in 2018. In her free time, she can be found exploring the Driftless region with her friends and her pup. When she isn’t outdoors, she enjoys crocheting, baking bread and listening to true crime podcasts.

Fun Fact: Her favorite “co-workers” are the turkey vulture and the skunk.

Nate grew up on a farm in SE MN where he spent a lot of his youth bunting and fishing. He has a wife and three kids. He has an AS in Law Enforcement.

Nathan began his adventure with Eagle Bluff in September of 2018.  He enjoys the creative allowance in preparing our kitchen meals, and loves serving our guests and staff.  Outside of work, Nathan enjoys silence, creating illuminated manuscripts, reading, studying and teaching.  His favorite thing to share with others is a good laugh.

Fun Fact:  Nathan lived clandestinely in a Bohemian forest outside of Prague in 2003.

Sally grew up in the Fountain area, married and moved all the way to the Fillmore/Wykoff area to her current beef farm with her husband of many years. She has two married daughters and five grandchildren. Sally was a stay-home-mom and graduated from Winona State as a nontraditional student at age 40 with a BA in Business Management. She has been at Eagle Bluff for 20 years as administrative manager and “the money-lady”. She is active in my church with adult and children’s music, enjoys flower gardening, needlework, quilting, bird watching, leisurely walks and can read all day if the book is good.

Fun fact: Math was Sally’s worst subject in grades 1-12.

After graduating from Winona State University, Sheila started at Eagle Bluff as part of a position through the Americorps program in the Fall of 1995. In her spare time she enjoys biking, reading, and yard work.

Fun fact: One day when Sheila was in kindergarten she got off the school bus and her stocking cap blew from MN into IA.

Sue has lived in Southeastern Minnesota her entire life.  Sue graduated from Winona State University and after 30 years in Human Resources at a local medical facility, retired and found a great home here.  She loves all sorts of nature-y things and feels right at home. When she’s not working, Sue loves hunting morel mushrooms, raising Australian Shepherd puppies, kayaking, working in her flower beds, crafting, cooking/baking and laughing with her kiddos.

Fun fact: Sue completed the ropes course (once) ten years ago….with much needed encouragement along the way:)

Virginia started at Eagle Bluff in 2014. Prior to Eagle Bluff, she started her career at Chosen Valley Skilled Nursing Facility in Chatfield where she worked for eight-and-a-half years in various positions. In 1985 she farmed with her husband, doing so through 2005. She started working outside the farming scene in 2002 in various kitchens as cook and manager. From 2005 thru 2008 she had her own restaurant in Chatfield.  From 2009 through 2014 she worked for Kwik Trip as Assistant Kitchen Manager.

Fun fact: Virginia enjoys spending time with her family and going to her grandkids sporting events

Addie joined Eagle Bluff’s Fellowship program after graduating from Loyola University Chicago in 2019. She is passionate about working with animals, especially Eagle Bluff’s birds of prey. Her favorite class to teach is Pioneer Life. When not at work, Addie enjoys visiting national parks, getting Starbucks, and watching The Bachelor!

Fun Fact: Addie’s favorite holiday is Halloween

Alex is a local native from the island of Oahu, HI. He graduated from the University of Hawaii at Hilo with a degree in marine science and a certificate in K-12 education. His passion gears towards developing innovative education programs and educating students towards environmental stewardship. Eagle Bluff classes Alex enjoys are winter survival, pioneer life, pond studies, and Oneota; classes that are highly engaging with students and utilizing the outdoors as their classrooms. During Alex’s spare time, he enjoys gardening, learning/enjoying tea, cooking, outdoor exploration, traveling, snorkeling, and visits to aquariums.

Fun fact: Alex’s favorite marine animals is the black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra).

Amira grew up in a suburban neighborhood just south of Minneapolis which was within walking distance of the Minnesota River and the local dog park. Therefore, she spent her childhood exploring the natural world often with a book in one hand and a dog leash in the other. She first discovered Eagle Bluff in 6th grade but it was always on her mind. She recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse in summer of 2019 with a Biology degree. When Amira is not teaching, she can be found in the kitchen cooking a family-style dinner, creating handwritten cards or hiking the local trails with her beloved border collie.

Fun Fact: Her dream vacation is camping on the North Shore.

Cat is a native Minnesotan who grew up exploring the outdoors with her triplet sisters in the south suburbs of the Twin Cities. She graduated in 2018 from the University of Minnesota with a BS degree in Environmental Education and Communication. She’s excited to get her paws wet and learn more the wonders of the outdoors and teaching with the E.E. Fellowship Program at Eagle Bluff. When she’s not busy looking at trees, she enjoys anything artsy or crafty, board games, and baking.

Fun Fact: She owns a lovely cat named Mordecai who enjoys stealing pizza slices and pillows.

Elena discovered a passion for the outdoors while gallivanting around the red rocks and foothills near her house in Colorado. She made her way to Minnesota for college, graduating from Macalester College with a degree in Political Science and Environmental Studies. When not pointing out birds to children in Eagle Bluff classes, she loves listening to punk rock, playing frisbee, advocating for the Green New Deal, and laughing loudly.

Fun fact: She has peed on the Argentine side of the Patagonia mountain range.

Emily grew up in southeast Minnesota just 50 minutes from Eagle Bluff in Winona, MN and went to school at the Unviersity of St. Thomas graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies. She previously worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a Youth Conservation Corps Leader and for the University of Minnesota doing ecology field work before landing the 2019-2020 fellowship position at Eagle Bluff. When away from work Emily enjoys hiking, skiing, family time at the lake, and snuggling with her four dogs!

Fun Fact: Emily loves to lift weights!

Hannah, a Massachusetts native, graduated in May from Macalester College. Inspired by the outdoors at a young age, Hannah graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies and Psychology and fell in love with Eagle Bluff after a field trip with a class in her senior year of college. When she’s not teaching, Hannah loves to hike and explore the surrounding area, rock climb, and cook. If you listen closely, you can usually tell when Hannah is near by the loud and constant singing!

Fun fact: Hannah figure skated for 8 years.

Kira recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee in 2018. After recieving her degree in Environmental Science she returned home to Minnesota to start working at Eagle Bluff as an Environmental Education Fellow. In her free time she loves to garden, swim in lakes, and go for hikes. She is especially interested in composting and soil.

Fun Fact: Kira likes to dye her hair green!

After graduating from St. Olaf College, Gill spent a couple of years working seasonal field research jobs around the country before realizing she needed more human contact than that lifestyle provided. Gill has been an environmental educator with a number of organizations in Iowa, her home state, but has fallen in love with southeastern Minnesota. In her free time you can find her cooking, petting dogs, out on a walk, or eating wild berries.

Fun fact: Gill finds old episodes of Forensic Files comforting and falls asleep to them most nights.

Martin grew up in the small town of Montevideo, MN and attended school at Macalester College in Saint Paul. He completed the Fellowship program in 2019 and is staying on at Eagle Bluff for another year as an Environmental Education Mentor.

Fun Fact: When not teaching classes Martin can be found playing music, especially the black keys. 

Mason spent his childhood living around the globe and in various states in the US but now considers Minnesota his home. Following his graduation from Lafayette College in Easton, PA in 2018, his acceptance into the Fellowship Program at Eagle Bluff is what ultimately led him to the beautiful Driftless Region. A summer spent working for the Conservation Corps in the Northwoods also contributed to his desire to return to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. You’ll most likely find Mason playing pickle ball in Lanesboro on warmer days or scaling  EB’s climbing wall on colder ones.

Fun fact: at 6’5″ tall, Mason is the 2nd tallest staff member at Eagle Bluff.