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Staff

Jeremy Solin Jeremy Solin
 Director
Jeremy learned to appreciate and enjoy the outdoors while growing up on his family's tree farm in north central Wisconsin. He received his bachelor's degree from UWSP in Water Resources prior to getting his master's in Environmental Education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Prior to joining the LEAF team, Jeremy worked at the Oregon Forest Resources Institute in Portland, OR where he was the manager of public outreach. His most recent "project" is instilling an appreciation for the outdoor world in his son.
Jeremy can be reached at Jeremy.Solin@uwsp.edu
Sarah Gilbert Sarah Gilbert
 Program Coordinator
Sarah's appreciation for the forests of Wisconsin began on her parents' forested property in Adams County. Sarah's educational background includes a BS with a major in Forest Recreation and a minor in Environmental Communications from UWSP and an MS in Natural Resources with an emphasis in Environmental Education also from UWSP. While living in southwestern Wisconsin, Sarah enjoyed working as both a naturalist at Wyalusing State Park and as lead guide at the Villa Louis State Historic Site. She also helped increase urban forest awareness as a former co-owner of Natural Choice Tree Care, Inc.
Sarah can be reached at Sarah.Gilbert@uwsp.edu
Chris Kuntz  Chris Kuntz
Program Associate
Chris Kuntz was an Alaskan Forester for 5 year with the US Forest Service and Ketchikan Pulp Company, an Urban Forester for the city of Minot, ND for 15+ years, is the mother of quadruplets, and an elementary teacher. She has attended a variety of institutions: the University of Wisconsin – Madison, University of North Dakota- Grand Forks, University of North Dakota- Fargo, and Minot State University. Chris loves life and the outdoor world around her. She is a nurturer, loves to see people, plants, and ideas grow from seeds through a full and varied life.  Chris can be reached at Chris.Kuntz@uwsp.edu
   
Gretchen Marshall  Gretchen Marshall
Forestry and Outdoor Education Specialist
Gretchen Marshall has always loved being outdoors and has spent many hours fishing with family in Canada. Her first appreciation for school forests developed in high school as an environmental education counselor with the Tri-County School Forest program. Gretchen received her bachelor degrees in Biology Education and Resource Management: with an emphasis in Environmental Education from UWSP. She is currently working on her Master’s degree in Environmental Education. Gretchen taught high school biology in Black River Falls and helped develop the school forest program there before joining the LEAF Program.
Gretchen can be reached at Gretchen.Marshall@uwsp.edu
   
Kelly Mortenson  Kelly Mortenson
Communications and Networking Coordinator
Kelly grew up in the urban forests of Minneapolis. Her love for the vast outdoors was kindled by long visits “up north” at grandma and grandpa’s cabin on Hill Lake. She has spent thousands of hours canoeing, hiking and camping in Minnesota, Montana, Colorado and most recently, Wisconsin. Kelly received her B.S. in Applied Design and Visual Communication from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities back when it was exciting to draw a line with a mouse, pixel-by-pixel. Kelly has developed websites and outreach materials, and has helped implement successful outreach campaigns for the Montana 4-H Foundation, Yellowstone Business Partnership, and the local Epilepsy Foundation.
Kelly can be reached at Kelly.Mortenson@uwsp.edu

Instructors

Pat Arndt Pat Arndt is a high school science teacher, school forest manager, and the environmental education coordinator for the Berlin School District. He received both his bachelor's degree in biology/chemistry/secondary education and master's degree in resource management/ environmental education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Pat has been teaching for 13 years.
Sally Ellingboe Sally Ellingboe retired from the Stevens Point Area School District in 2002. She served as the environmental education coordinator and managed the district's Boston School Forest for 20 years. Sally was also an elementary school teacher for 12 years. She received both her bachelor's degree in intermediate/upper elementary education and her master's degree in resource management/environmental education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Mike Johnson Mike Johnson teaches at Longfellow Middle School in La Crosse as part of the School on the River Program. He received both his bachelor's degree in elementary education and his master's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Mike has been teaching for 11 years.
Pat Marinac Pat Marinac oversees staff development and new teacher induction the for the Appleton Area School District. She received her bachelor's degree in biology from Lawrence University, a master's degree in resource management/environmental education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and a master's degree in educational leadership from Cardinal Stritch University. Pat has been teaching for 23 years.
Michele Nickels Michele Nickels is the assistance director of the Nicolet Distance Education Network (NDEN). Michele has provided environmental education programming, curriculum and staff development outreach for its eleven district members since 1998. Prior to NDEN she worked with the Department of Natural Resources as an LTE Natural Resource Educator. Michele received her Bachelors degree from UW-Stevens Point in Wildlife Management and Environmental Education and Interpretation.