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Faculty and Staff

Relationships form the foundations of the CRMS learning environment, and our faculty are our hallmark. Current students and alumni note the close and enriching relationships they have enjoyed with our diversely talented and deeply committed teachers. Come meet our faculty and staff.

Please note that all the administrators can be reached through the main reception desk at the Welcome Center.
Phone: 970-963-2562 Fax: 970-963-9865 Mailing Address: 500 Holden Way, Carbondale, CO 81623 U.S.A.

Faculty

Peter Benedict
Mathematics Faculty, River Program Manager
BA, Outdoor Education, Prescott College
MS, Math Education, Montana State University
pbenedict@crms.org
Appointed 1998

Betsy Bingham-Johns
Director of College Counseling
BS, Psychology, Denison University
bbinghamjohns@crms.org
Appointed 2007

William Brown
Mathematics Department Chair, Mathematics Faculty
BA, Astrophysics, University of Colorado, Boulder
MS, Medical Physics, Duke University & Medical Center
wbrown@crms.org
Appointed 2011

Jose Chardiet
Glassblowing Artist-in-Residence
BA, Glass, Southern Connecticut State University
MFA, Glass, Kent State University
jchardiet@crms.org
Appointed 2019

Mark Clark
History Faculty
BA, Religion/Philosophy, Colorado College
MA, Philosophy of Religion, Claremont Graduate University
mclark@crms.org
Appointed 1979

Robin Colt
Science Faculty
MS, Environmental Studies, Antioch University
BA, Environmental Studies, University of Vermont
rcolt@crms.org
Appointed 2012

Nancy Draina
Academic Dean and Arts Faculty
BA, Secondary Education, Shepherd University
MA, Art Education, Maryland Institute College of Art
ndraina@crms.org
Appointed 2006

Lane Errickson
Instructional Support
BA, Human Biology, Hampshire College
MA, Education, Western State Colorado University
lerrickson@crms.org
Appointed 2007

A.O. Forbes (CRMS class of 1969)
History Faculty
BA, MA, Geography, University of Colorado
aoforbes@crms.org
Appointed 1986

Heather Froelicher (CRMS class of 1977)
Learning Specialist
BS, Wildlife Biology Colorado State University
Special Education License, Western State Colorado University
Klingenstein Fellow, Columbia University Teaching College
hfroelicher@crms.org
Appointed 2008

Lori Gavette
Modern Language Faculty
BA, Spanish, University of Colorado
lgavette@crms.org
Appointed 1994

Jim Gaw (CRMS class of 1964)
Science Faculty
BA, Chemistry, Reed College
PhD, Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz
CRMS Great Teaching Chair in Science and Mathematics
jgaw@crms.org
Appointed 1979

Holton Huntington (CRMS Class of 2015)
Director of the International Program
BA, Environmental Writing, Middlebury College
hhuntington@crms.org
Appointed 2020

Katie Hyman
English Faculty
BA, History and Asian Studies, Bowdoin College
khyman@crms.org
Appointed 2012

Eric Krimmer
Director of Technology
BS, Information Technology, Colorado State University
AA, AS, Colorado Mountain College; Microsoft MCSE Certification;
Cisco CCNA Certification
ekrimmer@crms.org
Appointed 2000

Tristan Kurer-Ahrens
Teaching Fellow
BS, Environmental Studies with a Concentration in Conservation Biology, Warren Wilson College
tkurer-ahrens@crms.org
Appointed 2019

Kassia Lawrence
Teaching Fellow
BFA, Studio Arts, Photography Western State Colorado University
MBA, Outdoor Industry Western State Colorado University
klawrence@crms.org
Appointed 2020

Amanda Leahy
History Department Chair, History/English Faculty, Horse Program Manager
BA, American Studies, Middlebury College
MA, American Western History, Colorado State University
aleahy@crms.org
Appointed 2000

Juan Manuel Martín Céspedes
Modern Language Faculty
Escuela de posgrado Universidad de Granada
Master of Secondary Education; Master of Spanish
jcespedes@crms.org
Appointed 2012

David Meyer
History Faculty
BA, Environmental Studies & Government, Bowdoin College;
MA, History, University of Montana
dmeyer@crms.org
Appointed 1999

Matt Norrdin
English Department Chair, English Faculty
BA, Philosophy, University of Colorado
mnorrdin@crms.org
Appointed 2007

Jennifer Ogilby
Dean of Students; Modern Language Faculty
BA, International Studies, Vassar College
MA, Private School Leadership, Columbia University
jogilby@crms.org
Appointed 1996

Kayo Ogilby
Science Department Chair, Science Faculty
BS, Liberal Arts, Evergreen State College
MA, Secondary School Science Education, Columbia University
CRMS Great Teaching Chair in Science 2010/11
kogilby@crms.org
Appointed 1996

Alex Perkins (on Sabbatical 2020-21 school year)
English Faculty
BA, University of Montana
MA, Middlebury College
aperkins@crms.org
Appointed 2012

Olivia Pevec
Blacksmithing & Active Instructor
opevec@crms.org
Appointed 2017

Daniel Pittz
Modern Language Department Chair, Modern Language Faculty
BA, Spanish Literature, University of Colorado
MEd, Curriculum and Instruction, Arizona State University
MA, Spanish, Universidad de Salamanca and New Mexico State University
dpittz@crms.org
Appointed 2004

Lynn Pulford
Art Department Chair, Arts Faculty
BA, Media Arts, Montana State University
MA, Photography, Savannah College of Art and Design
lpulford@crms.org
Appointed 1997

Meredith Reitemeir
Teaching Fellow
BFA Creative Writing, University of Arkansas
mreitemeir@crms.org
Appointed 2019

Robert Rosati
Mathematics Faculty
BS, Physics, Northern Arizona University
brosati@crms.org
Appointed 2011

Noah Sakamoto
Visual Arts Faculty
BFA, Media Arts, California College of Arts
nsakamoto@crms.org
Appointed 2019

Emily Shannon
Teaching Fellow
BS, Environmental Science, College of Environmental Science & Forestry (ESF)
eshannon@crms.org
Appointed 2019

Ashley Smith
Director of Counseling Services
BA, Psychology, University of Montana
MSW, Social Work, Colorado State University
LCSW and Certified Addiction Counselor II
asmith@crms.org
Appointed 2002

Eliot Taft
English Faculty
BA, English & Environmental Studies, Bowdoin College
etaft@crms.org
Appointed 2019

George Weber
Music Department Chair, Music Faculty
BM, Music, University of Colorado
MM, Music, University of Colorado
gweber@crms.org
Appointed 1996

Tracy Wilson
History Faculty, Climbing Program Manager, 9th Grade Team Leader
BA, English & Communications, Boise State University
MA, Secondary School Education, Prescott College
twilson@crms.org
Appointed 2008

Jeremy Wolf
Mathematics and Science Faculty
BS, Physics, Oregon State University
MS, Physics, Montana State University
jwolf@crms.org
Appointed 2009 and 2013

Administrative Office

Jeff Leahy
Head of School
BA, English, Pomona College
MA, English, Trinity College
jleahy@crms.org
Appointed to Faculty 2000, as Head of School 2005

Lolli White
Receptionist and Attendance Manager
lwhite@crms.org
Appointed 2015

Academic Office

Nancy Draina
Academic Dean and Arts Faculty
BA, Secondary Education, Shepherd University
MA, Art Education, Maryland Institute College of Art
ndraina@crms.org
Appointed 2006

Jessica McGrath
Registrar
jmcgrath@crms.org
Appointed 2016

Admission and Communications Office

Molly Dorais
Director of Enrollment
BA, Political Science, Princeton University
mdorais@crms.org
Appointed 2003

Julie Wiley
Associate Director of Admission
Juris Doctor, Washington & Lee University School of Law
AB, Public Policy Studies & Art History, Duke
jwiley@crms.org
Appointed 2019

Nicole Padgett
Admission Associate
BA, Philosophy, Rollins College
npadgett@crms.org
Appointed 2018

Aimee Yllanes
Communications and Marketing Manager
BFA, Graphic Design, Rochester Institute of Technology
ayllanes@crms.org
Appointed 2015

Active Program Office

Diane Hackl
Director of Active Program
BA, Environmental Conservation, University of Colorado, Boulder
dhackl@crms.org
Appointed 2012

Darryl Fuller
Outdoor Program Manager
BA, Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz
BA, Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
dfuller@crms.org
Appointed 2000

Business Office

Joe White
Director of Finance
BS, Business Administration, University of Colorado, Denver
jwhite@crms.org
Appointed 2005

Monica Perez-Rhodes
Human Resources/Controller
BS, Business Administration, University of Phoenix
mrhodes@crms.org
Appointed 1994

Marlin Rhodes
Accounts Payable/Receivable
billing@crms.org
Appointed 1990

Development Office

Heath Hignight
Director of Development
BA, English, Oklahoma State University
MA, English, Oklahoma State University
hhignight@crms.org
Appointed 2019

Lindsay Pfaffmann
Director of Annual Giving
BA, Sociology, University of Kansas
lpfaffmann@crms.org
Appointed 2019

Ana Mineo
Development Associate
AA, Business, Colorado Mountain College
amineo@crms.org
Appointed 2012

Health Office

Micki Kibler, RN
Director of Health Services
BSN, University of Northern Colorado
mkibler@crms.org
Appointed 2020

Ashley Smith
Director of Counseling Services
BA, Psychology, University of Montana
MSW, Social Work, Colorado State University
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Addictions Counselor II
asmith@crms.org
Appointed 2002

Student Life Office

Jennifer Ogilby
Dean of Students, Modern Language Faculty
BA, International Studies, Vassar College
MA, Private School Leadership, Columbia University
jogilby@crms.org
Appointed 1996

BJ Sbarra
Director of Residential Life
BA, Cornell University
bsbarra@crms.org
Appointed 2012

Technology

Eric Krimmer
Director of Technology
BS, Information Technology, Colorado State University
AA, AS, Colorado Mountain College; Microsoft MCSE Certification;
Cisco CCNA Certification
ekrimmer@crms.org
Appointed 2000

Garden Program

Heather McDermott
Director of Garden Program
BA, Green Mountain College
hmcdermott@crms.org
Appointed 2016

Food Service

Fiona O'Donnell Pax
Director of Food Services
Failte, Ireland in Professional Cooking
Professional Chef since 1992
fodonnell@crms.org
Appointed 2007

Summer Programs

Annie Oppenheim
Director of the (HS)2 Program
BA, History and Education Policy, Dartmouth College
aoppenheim@crms.org
Appointed 2019

Buildings and Grounds

Ryan Margo
Buildings and Grounds Director
Associates Degree, Brown College
rmargo@crms.org
Appointed 2018

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