Outdoor U & Abbey Arboretum Staff

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A logo featuring the text "Saint John's" at the top, with "OUTDOOR" written in large green script over a gray tree graphic. Below the tree is a black "U" partially obscured by the tree's trunk and branches.

General Information:

Peter Engel Science Center, 2nd Floor, SJU Campus

320-363-3163

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Outdoor U Educators

A man with a beard and mustache smiles at the camera while standing outside in front of two large tree trunks. He is wearing a teal polo shirt. The background is filled with green foliage.

John Geissler

Outdoor U Director Abbey Land Manager

Office: 213 Peter Engel Science Center

320-363-3126

A smiling woman with long brown hair stands in front of a wall of large gray rocks, wearing a black jacket over a blue shirt with a white logo and some text.

Sierra Hietala

CSB+SJU Outdoor Education Program Mgr

Office: 211 Peter Engel, SJU

320-363-2136

A man in an outdoor jacket and baseball cap kneels by a shoreline, holding a piece of ice in one hand. Behind him are rocky cliffs, water with floating ice chunks, and distant snow-capped mountains under a cloudy sky.

Owen Connell

Assistant Director preK-12 Env Edu

Office: 207 Peter Engel, SJU

320-363-3133

Jenny Hengel

Environmental Educator Camp Coordinator Prep School Instructor

Office: 203 Peter Engel, SJU

320-363-3166

A person stands smiling at a table, holding a handmade net. The table has papers with net designs, a water bottle, and crafting supplies. Behind, shelves display various items. The setting appears to be a workshop or classroom.

Caitlynn LaSota

Environmental Educator Community Education Coordinator

Office: 203 Peter Engel, SJU

320-363-3164

A person with long brown hair, wearing a light gray T-shirt, is standing outdoors in front of a tree. The sun is shining through the leaves, creating a soft, glowing effect. The background includes a grassy area and more trees. The person is smiling.

Ellen Wilson

Environmental Education Fellow 2024-25

Office: 209 Peter Engel, SJU

Abbey Land Stewardship

A man with short brown hair, wearing a green shirt, holds a tray containing small green plants. He is standing in front of the open bed of a pickup truck, outdoors in a sunlit area with trees and a stone wall in the background.

Con Brady

Abbey Forest Professional

A person wearing an orange vest and gray cap is measuring the circumference of a tree with a yellow measuring tape in a forest. The tree has two blue painted lines around its trunk. The ground is covered with fallen leaves.

Elly Backes

Abbey Forest Specialist

A person in a red safety vest and black cap stands in a forested area with yellow autumn leaves. They are holding a clipboard and pen, smiling at the camera. The background features tall trees and scattered foliage.

James Siems

Climate Impact Project Coordinator 2024-25