Our Team

A community committed to leadership

NOLS is an organization with heart. It's filled with people committed to preparing others for leadership, with expertise across wilderness medicine, risk management, and expeditions.

Leadership

Executive Team

a man smiles at the camera. there is a lake and mountains way below him in the background
Christopher Barnes
Interim Vice President of Expeditions
Courtney Smith
Courtney Smith
Head of People
a woman with curly hairs in a ponytail and glasses on her head smiles at the camera.
Molly Barnes
Interim Vice President of Wilderness Medicine
Cody Kaemmerlen
Vice President of Advancement
Sandy Colhoun
President
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Jayme Blackburn
Chief of Staff
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Francis Van De Beuken
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
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Bryan Wall
Vice President of Finance and CFO

Governance

NOLS Board of Trustees

John Babcock
John Babcock
Board Chair
Scott Briscoe
Scott Briscoe
Board Member
Elaine Walsh Carney
Elaine Carney
Board Member
Bill Carr
Board Member
Joyce Choi
Joyce Choi
Board Member
Lesford Duncan, MPH
Lesford Duncan, MPH
Board Member
Neil Fiske
Board Member
Brian Gee, MD DiMM FAWM
Brian Gee, MD DiMM FAWM
NOLS Medical Advisor and Board Member (ex officio)
John Grunsfeld, PhD
John Grunsfeld, PhD
Board Member
Brad Hirsch
Brad Hirsch
Board Treasurer
David Lee
David Lee
Board Member
Deane Malott
Deane Malott
Board Member
Ethan Meers
Board Member
JK Nicholas
JK Nicholas
Board Member
NOLS
Alan Townsend
Board Member
Gretchen Warner
Gretchen Warner
Board Member
Kate Williams
Board Assistant Secretary

Trustees Emeriti

Michael Schmertzler
Michael Schmertzler
Chair Emeritus
Joan Chitiea
Joan Chitiea
Trustee Emeritus
Howard P. Colhoun
Howard P. Colhoun
Trustee Emeritus
Herbert (Herbie) G. Ogden, MD
Herbert (Herbie) G. Ogden, MD
Trustee Emeritus
Gregory M. Avis
Gregory M. Avis
Trustee Emeritus
Gene R. Tremblay
Gene R. Tremblay
Chair Emeritus
Douglas S. Luke
Douglas S. Luke
Trustee Emeritus

Advisory

Advisory Council

Greg Wright
Greg Wright
Advisory Council Member
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Laura Sweet
Advisory Council Member
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Eric Schwartz
Advisory Council Member
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Hank Mannix
Advisory Council Member
Caleb Harty
Advisory Council Member
Leith Brooks Barry
Advisory Council Member
Will Northrop
Will Northrop
Advisory Council Member
Tracy Baynes
Tracy Baynes (Co-Chair)
Advisory Council Member
Talbott Simonds
Talbott Simonds
Advisory Council Member
Sam Langer
Sam Langer
Advisory Council Member
Patricia Cameron
Patricia Cameron
Advisory Council Member
Nadine Lehner
Nadine Lehner
Advisory Council Member
Martinique Lewis
Martinique Lewis
Advisory Council Member
Jack Huffard
Jack Huffard
Advisory Council Member
Ethan Schmertzler
Ethan Schmertzler
Advisory Council Member
Eric M. Swanson
Eric M. Swanson
Advisory Council Member
Eric Jonsson
Eric Jonsson
Advisory Council Member
Dave Hanaman
Dave Hanaman (Co-Chair)
Advisory Council Member
Bernard Van der Lande
Bernard Van der Lande
Advisory Council Member
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Educators, not guides

The people behind every NOLS course

Our instructors are field-tested educators who carry decades of expedition experience into every course. They're paired with operations, advancement, wilderness medicine, and risk teams who keep the school running so the field stays focused on students.

Join the team

Build a career rooted in the wild

If our mission resonates with you, we want to hear from you. Explore staff and instructor opportunities at NOLS.