Advisory Committee

collaborating to continually improve the Alzar School experience.

Grace Ahern – Asheville, NC

Alumna of Fall 2018 semester, alumni representative for 2019-2020.

Katie Basham – Ann Arbor, MI

Post-doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan (Oncology), catarafter, and former member of Alzar School Board of Directors.

Woody Bates – Breckenridge, CO

Facilities Manager for Summit School District, parent of Spring 2018 alumna.

Ryan Bierle – Austin, TX

Physician Assistant, member of the Texas State Guard, former paramedic, trained in Advanced Wilderness Life Support and Swiftwater Rescue; reviews school medical treatment plans.

Monique Broussard – New York, NY

Doctoral candidate at Columbia University, with over 15 years of higher education experience in educational consulting, admissions and advising in the United States and China.  Parent of Spring 2019 alumna.

Carly Chasen

Alumna of Spring 2019 semester, alumni representative for 2019-2020.

Dr. Sam Chewning – Cornelius, NC

Medical Advisor, orthopedic surgeon, lifetime outdoorsman, pilot, sailor, cave rescue and wilderness medicine instructor; reviews school medical treatment plans.

Dennis Coleman – Charleston, SC

Managing Director-Investments for Wells Fargo Advisors, avid fisherman, parent of Alzar School alumna.

Nikcole Cunningham – San Francisco, CA

Adoption social worker for Department of Human Services in San Francisco, where she supports families with mental health services and ongoing difficult issues.  Parent of Spring 2013 alumna.

Britta D’Anna – Atlanta, GA

Brand manager at Fitzgerald and Company, former camp counselor and kayak instructor; advises the school in financial decisions.

Peggy Eysenbach – Belmont, MA

Development Officer for the MIT Office of Experiential Learning, leading initiatives to align program needs with giving opportunities.  Parent of Fall 2018 alumn.

Jim Griffith – McCall, ID

Reading specialist at Donnelly Elementary School, active educator and community member, parent of Fall 2016 alumna.

Miriam Henry – New Orleans, LA

Partner in the Tax Practice Group at Jones Walker, focusing on estate planning, including family wealth transfer plans, charitable planning, and business succession planning.  Parent of Spring 2019 alumn.

Juliet Jacobsen Kastorff – Bryson City, NC

Owner/operator of Endless River Adventures, a leader in the whitewater industry with bases in North Carolina and Ecuador.  Assists with facilitating the annual Camp Cup event.

Cornelia Janke – Watertown, MA

Education specialist who, for over 20 years, has been helping to improve the quality of public education for disadvantaged learners in developing countries.  Parent of Fall 2018 alumn.

Pelayo Lavin – Santiago, Chile

President and partner at Accuratek, with previous positions at Prisma and Accura Systems.  Parent of Spring 2015 alumn.  

Margaret Leary – Asheville, NC

Prior to her recent retirement, Margaret worked in regulatory banking.  Masters in education and previously spent several years in public schools.  Parent of Spring 2019 alumn.

Glenn Michael – Boise, ID

Managing Director and CFO at The Caprock Group, and involved with many Boise startups and nonprofits, with a background in finance and accounting.  Parent of Spring 2015 alumn.

Faison Middleton – Albany, GA

At Watson Spence law firm, Faison Middleton manages a civil trial and litigation practice focused on business disputes and commercial litigation, fiduciary litigation involving estates, trusts, and privately held corporations.  Parent of Spring 2019 alumn.  

Sam Niemi – New York, NY

Alumna of Fall 2018 semester, alumni representative for 2019-2020.

Nate Ostis – McCall, ID

Founder and owner of Wilderness Rescue International, lead instructor and author for NOLS/WMI/Swiftwater Rescue, former teacher for a traveling high school; reviews school risk management protocols.

Dr. Amy Robins – Charleston, SC

Emergency medicine physician who consults with Alzar School’s Risk Management Committee.  Parent of Fall 2016 alumna.

Abby Samet – Greensboro, NC

Alumna of Fall 2018 semester, alumni representative for 2019-2020.

Dodson Schenck – Greensboro, NC

Managing Director and Partner of CBRE, NOLS graduate, board member for Greensboro Sports Council economic development group, parent of alumna.

Gary Thompson – McCall, ID

Leadership Coordinator at the McCall Outdoor Science School, NOLS instructor, Middle Fork of Salmon raft guide; reviews the school’s risk management program and leadership curriculum, as well as assists with Valley County projects.

Abe Tolkoff – Brookline, MA

Alumn of Spring 2019 semester, alumni representative for 2019-2020.

Dana Van Der Geissen – Boise, ID

Therapist and school psychologist, avid outdoorswoman.

Ricardo Williamson – Santiago, Chile

Agronomist and owner of Exporters Quintay Fruit, which exports fruit from Chile all over the world.  Parent of Fall 2018 alumn.

Brent Wilson – Boise, ID

Legal Advisor, attorney at Evans & Keene LLP, volunteer backcountry ski patrol; advisor to several outdoor organizations.