Stefanie Kearns
Assistant Professor / Director
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A long-time outdoor educator, Stef joined the WRL program in 2001. She began her wilderness career at Penn State University as Assistant Director of the Penn State Outing Club, after graduating with a B.S. in Exercise & Sport Science. She continued guiding backpacking, climbing & other activities as Program Manager of STEP Inc. Wilderness Challenge, an experiential program for at-risk youth in Williamsport, PA. While completing her M.S. in Recreation Management at University of Montana, Stef facilitated undergraduate field & classroom experiences as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the School of Forestry. She also worked as an independent research consultant for the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Institute. Stef is a certified Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Master Educator. She has climbed in the Cascades, Rockies, and the Cordillera Blanca (Peru) and pursued outdoor adventure in New Zealand and Australia. She teaches HED 111 Teambuilding & Challenge Activities, PSY 105 Leadership, REC 115 Intro to WRL, REC 117 Outdoor Equipment Maintenance & Repair, REC 203 Recreation Apprenticeship, REC 235 Wilderness Career Seminar, REC 251 Wilderness Management, REC 249 Winter Practicum.
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Jim Cunningham
Technologist / Adventure
Education Series Coordinator
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A graduate of the WRL program, Jimmy returned in 2006 as a Field Instructor after completing his B.S. in Individualized Studies: Outdoor Education and Environmental Science at Plattsburgh State University. He brings diverse experience to the program from his work as a guide for Deer Hill Expeditions in Colorado and a Senior Field Instructor for Adirondack Leadership Expeditions in Saranac Lake, NY. He also worked as Wilderness Program Coordinator at Mountain Lake Academy in Lake Placid, NY. Jimmy is an avid paddler and telemark skier and enjoys extended river trips on remote rivers. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Jim teaches PED 178 Backpacking, PED 185 Canoeing, PED 187 X-C Skiing, PED 153 Orienteering, PED 154 Snowshoeing, REC 240 Fall Practicum, REC 249 Winter Practicum.
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Steve Suloff
Adjunct Instructor / Equipment Room Manager
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Steve is a graduate of the WRL program, and returned in 2001 after pursuing work with a variety of outdoor organizations. He worked as Climbing Instructor for YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO, Program Director for Mead Wilderness Base (Boy Scouts of America) in New Hampshire and Lead Facilitator for City of Missoula (Montana) Parks & Recreation. He also worked as a group leader for several trail crew and wilderness therapy programs in Pennsylvania. Steve is an experienced ice climber and has guided backpacking, sea kayaking, rock and ice climbing in New England and the Rockies. He has also traveled extensively to climb and adventure throughout the western U.S., Peru and New Zealand. Steve is a self-employed web designer with a special interest in outdoor photography. He manages the WRL equipment room and teaches the following WRL courses: REC 249 Winter Practicum, REC 117 Outdoor Equipment Maintenance & Repair.
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Steve Mergenthaler
Adjunct Instructor
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A professional mountain guide, Steve has been teaching climbing regularly at NCCC since 2003 and has guided throughout the U.S. and internationally. He is a NYS Licensed Guide & Wilderness First Responder and has been guiding in the Adirondacks for 15 years. Steve is owner and head guide of Redline Mountain Guides & Adventures based in Lake Placid. He also has extensive background in downhill ski racing and serves as Program Director of the Alpine Ski Racing Program at the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid. “Merg” has pioneered many new climbing routes in the Adirondacks and continues to search for unclimbed walls. He teaches PED 129 Basic Rock Climbing, PED 229 Intermediate Rock Climbing, and PED 132 Indoor Rock Climbing.
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Leslie Rovers
Adjunct Instructor
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Leslie grew up exploring the Adirondacks and enjoys sharing her knowledge of the area with her students. An Adirondack 46’er, Leslie attended SUNY Potsdam State University where she earned her B.A. in Creative Writing with a minor in Wilderness Leadership. A graduate of NOLS Patagonia, Leslie’s outdoor experience ranges from international mountaineering to long-distance bike touring and canoeing. She rode her bike over 4,000 miles across 7 western states and completed the Adirondack 90-Miler Canoe Race. She has worked as a Voyageur Guide for Camp Massewepie and Field Instructor for SUNY Postdam and Adirondack Leadership Expeditions. She currently serves as Wilderness Program Coordinator at Mountain Lake Academy and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Leslie teaches REC 240 Wilderness Fall Practicum.
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Naomi Heindel
Adjunct Instructor
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A Vermont native, Naomi is equally at home on the mountains and rivers of the Whites, Greens and Adirondacks. As a student, she began leading outdoor trips at Vermont Commons School, an independent high school, and continues to return each year to lead backpacking, canoeing,or winter expeditions. She is also a veteran leader at Darrow Wilderness Trip Camp in Maine where she leads extended canoe expeditions down the Rupert River in remote Northern Quebec. Naomi earned her B.A. in Environmental Earth Science at Dartmouth College where she completed three field-based Earth Science courses in the western U.S. Naomi is certified as a Wilderness First Responder and Whitewater Rescue Technician. She is fluent in Spanish and has completed extensive volunteer work in Peru and Honduras. Naomi teaches Rec 249 Wilderness Winter Practicum.
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Michelle Berrus
Technical Assistant
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Michelle is trained as a Wilderness First Responder and Swiftwater Rescue technician. She is a whitewater kayaker and rock climber and has climbed in the Shawnagunks & Adirondack Park, NY and Red Rocks, NV. She works as a Sales Associate at Adirondack Lakes & Trails and a rock climbing guide assistant at Redline Mountain Guides & Adventures. She assists with PED 129 Basic Rock Climbing and PED 229 Intermediate Rock Climbing.
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SUPPORTING FACULTY
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Sarah Maroun
Instructor of English
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Sarah grew up in the Adirondacks and is an avid skier and hiker. She worked as a professional ski patroller in Utah on an avalanche explosives unit and has also worked as an EMT. She has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and pursued outdoor adventure in the Four Corners region, as well as Idaho and Alaska. She earned her B.A. at Middlebury College and her M.A. at Bread Loaf School or English. Sarah teaches various English classes at NCCC, including ENG 105 Speech Fundamentals where she assists WRL students in perfecting their public speaking and presentation skills.
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Judy Steinberg, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
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A scientist adventurer, Judy has traveled to Africa to complete wildlife research activities. She is also involved with wildlife issues in the Adirondacks as a volunteer at the WILD Center, The Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks. Judy earned her B.A. in Biology at Washington and Jefferson College and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Aquatic Entomology and Ecology at University of Delaware and West Virginia University respectively. Her personal interests include hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, kayaking, gardening, sewing, and cross-stitch. She teaches various biology courses at NCCC including BIO 104/108 Environmental Science + Lab and BIO 160 Adirondack Biology and assists many WRL students in becoming enthusiastic naturalists & environmental interpreters.
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Scott Harwood
Assistant Dean for Institutional
Research and Support
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An Adirondack native, Scott is currently Emergency Medical Services Coordinator for Franklin County, NY and has been active as an EMT and EMT trainer for many years. Scott is certified as a Wilderness EMT and assists with HED 160 Wilderness First Responder. In addition, Scott teaches CIS 130 Concepts of Windows Based Software, an elective course required for all WRL majors. |