Brendan Norman
Executive Director
As founder and first executive director for the organization, Brendan has twenty years experience operating AmeriCorps programs such as the Northwest Service Academy and “I Have A Dream” Foundation – Oregon and operating youth camps. An educator at heart with dirt in his blood, Brendan loves the outdoors nearly as much as his family.
Contact Brendan at: brendan@mtadamsinstitute.org
Katie Schmidt
Recruitment Coordinator & Programs Support
Katie is responsible for helping applicants find their best fit in our programs. Katie has worked for AmeriCorps programs for 8+ years. Prior to her current role, she was the residential coordinator for an environmentally focused AmeriCorps Program. In her free time, Katie enjoys outings with her family to geocache sites throughout the country.
Contact Katie at: katie@mtadamsinstitute.org
Aaron Stanton
AmeriCorps Program Director
Aaron oversees our three AmeriCorps programs: VetsWork Environment, VetsWork GreenCorps and Public Lands Stewards. He has a background in public education administration in Washington and Oregon. In his free time, he enjoys kayaking, kite boarding, hiking and hanging with his wonderful wife Katie.
Contact Aaron at: aaron@mtadamsinstitute.org
Laura Linn
Senior Program Coordinator
Laura provides support to both our VetsWork participants and partners. Laura’s background in nonprofit management and summer camp programs stem from her past employment with the Friends of the National Zoo and the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
In her free time, Laura enjoys volunteering with other community focused organizations and hiking.
Contact Laura at: laura@mtadamsinstitute.org
Erica Bingham
Public Lands Stewards & VetsWork GreenCorps Program Coordinator
Erica joined the MAI staff after serving three terms as an AmeriCorps member. She got her start with our Public Lands Stewards program where she served one year as a refuge technician on Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, and two years in a dual role driving MAI’s public outreach while coordinating wilderness projects for the Mt. Adams Ranger District of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. She served as MAI’s outreach coordinator for two years, and in 2021 transitioned to a new role as program coordinator.
Erica enjoys roller skating, mountaineering, cross-country skiing, and baking.
Contact Erica at: erica@mtadamsinstitute.org
Dana Rivkin
Summer Camp Coordinator
Dana’s passions are fueled by a desire to build connections to ourselves, to others, and to nature. Since 2007 Dana has been working in the conservation, outdoor education, adventure guiding and teaching field. She joined Mt. Adams Institute as the Summer Camp Coordinator in May of 2019.
Dana’s free time is filled with yoga, surf, dance, travel and cooking food from her garden.
Contact Dana at: dana@mtadamsinstitute.org
Cory Kirkpatrick
Administrative Assistant
Cory has over 20 years of office management experience, primarily in the medical and construction fields. Her goals are to ensure the office “runs like clockwork” and to help make her colleagues work lives a little bit easier.
A Pacific NW native, she enjoys hiking and SUP’ing with her husband and three dogs as well as gardening and crafting while at home.
Contact Cory at: cory@mtadamsinstitute.org
Sherrie Jackson
Human Resources & Recruitment Director
Sherrie has over twenty five years’ experience recruiting AmeriCorps members and fiscal management: Northwest Service Academy and Confluence Environmental Center.
Sherrie enjoys playing hard in the outdoors with her family and passionately watching soccer wherever she can.
Contact Sherrie at: sherrie@mtadamsinstitute.org
Rebekah Rafferty
VetsWork Program Coordinator
Rebekah has worked as a place-based natural resource educator in the Columbia Basin since 2012, beginning in western Montana and most recently in the Columbia River Gorge.
One of her favorite things to do on her free time is wander the woods and follow wildlife around.
Contact Rebekah at: rebekah@mtadamsinstitute.org
Trevor Ackerman
Outreach Coordinator
Trevor has spent most of his career in conservation and environmental education. He is incredibly passionate about connecting all people to the outdoors. He joined Mt. Adams Institute in March 2021 after completing his master’s degree from the University of Oregon.
In his free time, Trevor loves exploring the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest and rooting for the Florida Gators and Oregon Ducks.
Contact Trevor at: trevor@mtadamsinstitute.org
Sarah Fox
Sense of Place Program Coordinator
Sarah Fox comes to MAI as the producer of the podcast Hear in the Gorge and as curator/host of the Sense of Place Lecture Series. Her work has appeared on Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) in addition to film and audio stories for businesses, non-profits, governmental agencies, and individuals.
Sarah’s audio/video stories have included wide-ranging topics like tribal fishing, Woody Guthrie, avant-garde art, vegan trailblazers, and river restoration.
Contact Sarah at: sop@mtadamsinstitute.org