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.
Tim Wise Hometown: Montrose, CO
Bio: Tim is a junior Criminal Justice major. He is a Colorado native and has been
climbing mountains for several years including four 14ers and more than 15
13ers. He's been rock climbing since he was 13, and has engaged in
multiple out door sports including snowboarding, white water rafting, para
sailing, mountain biking, and dirt biking. Tim is our resident EMT
and is currently the vice president for the Outdoor Adventure Club..
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.
KAYLEIGH "Schick" SCHICKLER Hometown: Naples, FL
Bio: Kayleigh Schickler is currently a senior at SHSU pursuing her B.A. in Photography. She also serves as the secretary of the Outdoor Adventure Club. Having worked at an area camp for the past three years and five summers she finds joy in making things, having conversations with children, and anything that gets her outdoors during autumn. She enjoys hanging out with her five amazing roommates, and is always up for a wicked 80’s dance party. Kayleigh thinks you’re neat.
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: Coming Soon
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. She has also 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 has been leading outdoor trips since 1998, and was 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, 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.
