Tucker Szymkowicz
Executive Director
Tucker is excited to join the MAI team as its new Executive Director. He has worked in environmental education and nonprofit management for 22 years for organizations such as Outward Bound, Telluride Institute, Telluride Mountain School, Islandwood, and CIRENAS which he co-founded with his wife in Costa Rica.
His outdoor pursuits include snowboarding, mountain biking, surfing, backpacking, foraging and most recently fishing with his son and exploring the rivers of the PNW.
Mike Gundlach
Interim Operations Director
Mike is supporting the MAI team helping manage day-to-day operations with oversight of our facilities, financial management and program support. Mike’s background includes work with AmeriCorps programs, nonprofit management and a variety of youth programs. In his free time Mike enjoys hiking, mountain biking and camping.
Contact Mike at: mike@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
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
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
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
Land Stewards & VetsWork FireCorps Program Coordinator
Erica joined the MAI staff after serving three terms as an AmeriCorps member. She got her start with our Public Lands Stewards (now Land 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
Johannah Verhulst
VetsWork Program Coordinator
Johannah provides support to VetsWork participants and partners as a program coordinator. She has worked as a penguin researcher in Argentina and the Galapagos. In 2019, Johannah completed three years of service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia with a focus on agriculture. She is passionate about education, conservation, and community development.
In her free time, Johannah enjoys hiking, knitting, learning about medicinal plants, and growing plants.
Contact Johannah at: johannah@mtadamsinstitute.org
Lacey Spray
Administrative Assistant
Lacey comes to MAI with a background in small business ownership and management. She is committed to supporting the mission and growth of the Institute.
In her free time, she enjoys trail running, woodworking and adventures with her family, especially outdoors.
Contact Lacey at: lacey@mtadamsinstitute.org
Etta Souser
Outreach Coordinator
After completing her Master’s Degree in Environmental Policy, Etta continued on this journey of life and discovered a deep passion for digital design. She uses that love of design to share the endless stories of nature and the great work that Mt. Adams Institute is doing to bring people closer to it!
When Etta is not outside or in front of her computer, she’s learning new things, having adventures, and living in the present!
Contact Etta at: etta@mtadamsinstitute.org
Ashley Lookenhouse
Summer Camp Manager
As the summer camp manager, Ashley works with our youth programming and families to help connect them with the outdoors! Ashley has four years of camp management experience, as well as three years of school programming and leadership.
In her free time, you can find Ashley hiking, paddle boarding, camping, or road-tripping with her partner and two pups!
Contact Ashley at: ashley@mtadamsinstitute.org
Sarah Fox
Sense of Place Host & Curator
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