COLE ANDERSON Hometown: Tomball, TX
Bio: Cole is the the outdoor program's Base Camp Coordinator. Cole is a junior pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Biology. He currently serves as president of the campus Outdoor Adventure Club. His two favorite outdoor activities are surfing and rock climbing. He has been climbing for a little over a year and have been surfing for almost five years.
Scott May Hometown: The World
Bio: Scott is a junior here at Sam majoring in History. He has lived in numerous places around the world including Egypt, Trinidad & Tobago, and Cleveland. He speaks arabic fluently. Scott is an accomplished climber and avid cricket player. In his spare time enjoys playing the lute, duck hunting and traversing the globe in search of ancient Hindu religious icons.
BRITTANY "Gordon" LIGHTFOOT Hometown: Navasota, TX
Bio: Brittany is a junior at Sam Houston pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. She spends most of her free time rock climbing and is a member of the university climbing team. She also enjoys camping, fishing, kayaking, and anything that will get her outside or on the beach. She loves spending a day kicking it in the country with her horse.
CAROLINE SWANSON Hometown: Friendswood, TX
Bio: Caroline is a transfer student from the University of Idaho but grew up in Friendswood, TX. She is a sophomore majoring in Graphic Design and minoring in Computer Science. She has been exploring the outdoors her whole life. Her favorite places to be are anywhere in the Rockies or in the water. She loves backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, surfing, swimming, kayaking, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and bouldering. After she graduates, she hopes to end up living in the mountains next to a river.
JON PARNHAM Hometown: Houston, TX
Bio: Jon is a junior majoring in agricultural engineering and technology. He enjoys skiing, swimming, rock climbing, kayayking, going to the beach, camping and will never turn down a fishing trip. Jon is prone to accepting the occasional dare from our graduate assistant that he often regrets.
JILL CARPENTER Hometown: Bryan, TX
Bio: Jill is a junior majoring in Studio Art and minoring in Art History. When she's not cramming for quizzes, she enjoys walks in the country side, hiking, cycling, camps, tea time, conversation with friends, journaling, art, and anything fun and creative. Since summer 2005 Jill has been a camp counselor for the Boy Scouts at El Rancho Cima scout camp where she was Skills Director in summer of 2007. Jill is working towards her bachelors degree in Fine Art and plans on pursuing a masters degree so she may teach Art at the college level. Jill takes advantage of every moment to enjoy life and help others enjoy life as well.
KELLI STOUT Hometown: Silsbee, TX
Bio: Kelli is a sophmore at Sam, majoring in Biology and minoring in art. She was raised by her dad, so sports are a passion of hers. Kelli's favorite sports are soccer and ultimate frisbee, and she throws a mean spiral. She loves the outdoors. Climbing, canoeing, mountain biking, cliff jumping are a few of her favorites. She thrives on adrinaline. She is currently involved in Chi Alpha says she loves it! Kelli's goal in life is to travel the world, learn as many languages as possible, and make a difference in someones life.
RACHEL FOX Hometown: Sugarland, TX
Bio: Rachel is currently a sophomore at SHSU, majoring in History with a minor in education. She's always loved doing things outside. Rachel is one of our resident athletes. She played softball from the age of 7 up until senior year in high school, and has also tried her hand at soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and swim team. Rachel was a Girl Scout from the age of 6 until her freshman year in high school. She loves traveling to new places and spending time with friends. Rachel got into rock climbing about a year ago, and loves every minute of it. She's a pretty laid back person, who loves music, food, family and friends.
DANIEL YOUNG Hometown: Houston, TX
Bio: Daniel is a sophomore at Sam currently majoring in communication. Daniel has always loved the outdoors. He is an avid swimmer. He swam for 4 years at Tomball High School where he honed his love for the sport. Since arriving at Sam, Daniel has developed into an accomplished climber. He enjoys the challenge climbing offers and being around other people who enjoy it. Daniel is also heavily involved with Chi Alpha here at Sam. He loves meeting new people and encourages you to come by the rock wall at the Rec!
JESSICA BLANK Hometown: Huntsville, TX
Bio: Jessica has a BFA in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She works as a graphic designer and pre-press tech at the Sam Houston Press on campus. She loves being outside and spends her free time going on hikes, camping with her friends, backpacking, and paddling around in her kayak. She is a book lover, amateur photographer (responsible for many of the great photos on this website), and naturalist. When not wandering in the great outdoors you will find her at home, nestled in the woods just outside of Huntsville, with her husband Steve and their three dogs; Sonic, Sony, and Sambuca.
MEG MYRICK, Graduate Assistant Hometown: Saco, ME
Bio: Meg became the Graduate Assistant for SHSU Outdoors in the Spring of 2008. She received her BS in Ski Area Management from Lyndon State College in Vermont and is pursuing a Masters in Instructional Leadership here at Sam. Meg worked in the outdoor field for over three years before returning to pursue a graduate degree. Most recently she was the Director of the Outdoor Learning Center at Horizons in the mountains of Virginia. Meg is a Wilderness First Responder, serves as a Base Camp Manager on academic research expeditions, and has worked as a ropes course facilitator, ski instructor and guided a wide variety of adventure based trips.
PATRICK SPENCER, University Camp Supervisor Hometown: Abilene, TX
Bio: Patrick was a Horticulture major here at Sam. He is a person who is genuinely interested in the outdoors, and loves to get out as much as he can. He's raced mountain bikes, paddled Texas whitewater (he nailed a 10 foot drop once), and has climbed the pink granite of central Texas. He has also climbed and backpacked extensively in Southern Arizona where he lived before returning to Sam. He lives on site at University Camp along the Trinity River.
CHRIS MAHLEN, Traditions Camp & Outdoor Coordinator Hometown: Ft. Worth, TX
Bio: Chris joined SHSU Outdoors in the summer of 2008. He earned his Bachelors in Business Administration from Baylor University and a Masters in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Julie have lived in Huntsville with their two boys Drew and Cade since 1997. Chris is a Wilderness First Responder and has been leading outdoor trips since 1998. He was also a traditional three event collegiate waterski competitor while at Baylor. He enjoys mountain biking, backpacking, hiking, canoeing, snow skiing, camping and fly fishing.
STEVE THOMPSON, Assistant Director, Recreational Sports - Outdoors
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Bio: Steve has been with Recreational Sports since January of 2006. He earned his Bachelors and Masters from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Steve has worked in outdoor recreation for almost 20 years now, first as a graduate assistant in Pennsylvania, and then in various capacities in New Mexico, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. He is a Wilderness First Responder, serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, is a Base Camp Manager on academic research expeditions and has instructed a wide variety of outdoor pursuits: climbing, skiing, white water boating, mountain biking, caving, low-impact camping, mountaineering, sailing, canyoneering and extended backpacking. Steve and his wife Angie have a young daughter named Kaelin, and two dogs: Blu and Bailey. He is an avid reader and a die-hard Pittsburgh sports fan. When not leading trips, you can often find him working in his yard, playing his guitar, riding his motorcycle, or just enjoying being outside.
