Meet the Staff

Outdoor Wellness Leaders (OWLs) are a team of students overseen by a Program Manager, who work to create, organize, promote, and implement OW trips and programs for the student body at UWB. OWls are trained in CPR/First Aid, Wilderness First Aid, group facilitation, outdoor skills, risk management, outdoor equipment literacy and a variety of other skills that allow them to effectively plan and lead programs and manage the day to day operations of the Nest Gear Shop.

We recognize the barriers to entry outdoors are lack of education and experience, equipment expenses, transportation requirements and a lack of welcoming or inclusive communities. The OW Program seeks to break these barriers for students through program offerings and the Outdoor Gear Shop. The Outdoor Gear Shop (“Nest”) is a welcoming space that serves as a hub for students to access free outdoor gear rental and general education about trips and services from the OW staff.

Meet the 2025-2026 Outdoor Wellness Staff!

Nishka (She/Her) – OWL

I am a third year OWL who is studying business administration at UWB. I love outdoor activities and am excited to create fun experiences for others to participate in! In my free time I enjoy many activities such as hiking, skiing, snowboarding and rock climbing.

Chris (He/Him) – OWL

Hi, I’m Chris! I’m a second-year OWL and a Junior at UWB pursuing a Business degree. I love anything outdoors, especially rock climbing, skiing, and hiking. I also love anything high adrenaline, like skydiving and bungee jumping. I have experience as a rock-climbing coach, and I love to give tips and tricks on anything climbing or skiing related. Feel free to drop by the Nest and ask me any questions you might have.

Kiersten (She/Her) – OWL

I’m a first-year OWL and a second-year Running Start student at CC. I love spending time outdoors and enjoy challenging myself with new adventures, whether that’s hiking, backpacking, or trying something very outside my comfort zone (I’d absolutely go skydiving if I had the chance!). I’m always excited to learn new outdoor skills, meet new people, and explore the Pacific Northwest.

Jacob (He/Him) – OWL

Hello! I’m a second-year OWL and senior-year CSSE student here at UWB. My favorite part of being outdoors is looking at and learning about animals. Eating chili dogs while camping is pretty nice too. I love to talk about video games, storytelling, animal facts, and the NYT crossword!

Kaitlyn (She/Her) – OWL

I am a second year OWL and a junior studying Health Studies at UWB. I am down for a fun hike, especially if it means getting to hang out with new people and share some tasty snacks! Lately, I’ve been getting into rock climbing and can’t wait to try more outdoor adventures this year.

Parisa (She/Her) – OWL

I’m majoring in Data Visualization with a minor in CSSE at UWB! In my free time, I enjoy reading fantasy novels, playing video games and spending time with my kitties. My favorite games are Cyberpunk 2077 and the Witcher 3 (plus a few cozy/indie games), and I have been super into Outer Wilds recently. I also dove into God of War: Ragnarok in preparation for the new game. I’m newer to the outdoors but I love being in nature, and I’m excited to continue learning and practicing my outdoor skills with you all!

Spencer (He/Him) – OWL

Hello Friends! My name is Spencer this is my second year as an OWL! I am also a second year student at Cascadia. I am currently working towards a degree in environmental studies. I was born in VA and have grown up in Turkey, France and Egypt. I moved to Washington in 2015 to be closer to family. I love the outdoors and have completed multiple Outward Bounds experiences in England and Asheville North Carolina. I prefer more laid back activity’s outside like hiking, camping, canoeing / kayaking. For me, nature is a place to relax. I am also always curious about the history of a location or place, I love to find out all I can about somewhere I’ve been or will be exploring. If you have any fun history facts to share, or just want to stop by to say hello feel free to drop by the nest, hope to see you there!

Tasha (She/Her) – OWL

Hi, I’m Tasha! I’m a sophomore at UWB majoring in Law, Economics, and Public Policy, and I’m originally from San Juan Island. You’ll usually find me outside identifying native wildflowers, backpacking, skiing, stargazing, sailing, or exploring underwater through scuba and, especially, free diving. I also love painting murals whenever I get the chance. I’m always happy to meet new people, make new friends, and head out on a spontaneous adventure. I can’t wait to explore with you this year!

Luke (He/Him) – OWL

Hi, I’m Luke! I’m a Mechanical Engineering student at UWB and I love spending my time outdoors. Some of my favorite activities include snowboarding, hiking, bouldering, and skateboarding. I also work as a gymnastics coach, as well as a snowboard instructor, so I enjoy helping others learn new skills and build confidence. I’m excited to continue to grow as an athlete and at the same time help you along the journey!

Alec (He/Him) – OWL

I am a first-year OWL and senior studying Business Management at UWB. Some of my favorite outdoor activities are hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, and kayaking. I love the mountains and learning more about geology and glaciology, as well as wildlife. I’m super excited to give gear recommendations and share outdoor wellness related experiences with our community!

Sara (She/Her) – OWL

Hello! My name is Sara Allami and I am a third year majoring in LEPP. I love watching sunsets on the beach, being in nature and hanging out with friends. I am always down for any adventures!

Gary (He/Him) – Marketing Coordinator

I’m majoring in Law, Economics and Public Policy alongside Media and Communication Studies at UW Bothell. When I don’t have homework I like to explore the world, especially by going on hikes around the Pacific Northwest and doing photography. I’m also more than happy to help other people enjoy the outdoors just as much as I do.

Rileigh (She/Her) – Program Manager

Hi y’all! My name is Rileigh and I was an Outdoor Wellness Leader for 4 years prior to becoming the Program Manager. I am passionate about acting as a bridge between humans and nature and nurturing peoples love for the outdoors. I believe that everyone has a right to enjoyment, experience, and education in natural spaces and hope to provide all of the above for my student team and the UWB/CC campus community. My favorite outdoor activities include climbing, hiking, backpacking, camping, snowboarding, and forest bathing.

Interested in becoming a part of the team?

Outdoor Wellness has closed applications for the 2026-2027 school year. Our applications for the 2027-2028 school year will open in Spring of 2027.

Looking to boost your chances at securing an interview? We suggest you do the following:

  1. Get to know us and let us get to know you! As an OWL or Student Coordinator you will need to know the program inside and out, and have a close bond with your team. You can jumpstart that process by coming on our programs, dropping by the Nest Gear Shop, and introducing yourself to current OWLs and the Program Manager.
  2. Get to know our mission and how you can help actualize it. Find our mission and guiding principles on this page.
  3. Reach out to the Program Manager, Rileigh Thompson at rthomp33@uw.edu and express your interest in the position!