Administrative Staff
Ford Church, M.A. – Founder & Executive Director
Ford (he/him) oversees the success of Cottonwood Institute, bringing 24 years of experience in environmental education, outdoor programs, and public schools in Colorado. He holds a B.S.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Denver and an M.A. in Adventure Education Program Management from Prescott College, where he developed the Community Adventure Program.
Chelsea Tossing – Associate Director
Chelsea (she/her) combines her passion for immersive learning, leadership development, and the outdoors to create engaging, student-centered curricula. With eight years in public education, she believes in the transformative power of relationship-driven learning to inspire wonder and connection.
Teagan Papke – Director of Strategic Partnerships
Teagan (she/her) brings expertise in bilingual education and international program management, combined with her love of outdoor activities like trail running and backpacking. Her experiences fuel her passion for building community partnerships that connect students to Cottonwood’s impactful programs.
Erin Angel, M.S. – Senior CAP Instructor
Erin’s (she/her) adventurous spirit and environmental education background have led her to guide and teach across the U.S. and abroad. With a master’s in Recreation Administration and a passion for pushing students to embrace life’s opportunities, Erin thrives teaching CAP classes for Cottonwood Institute.
Maeve O’Meara – Operations Manager
Maeve (she/her) believes challenge fosters growth and connection, a philosophy that drives her work managing Cottonwood’s gear, travel, and logistics. From guiding Arctic expeditions to planning environmental programs, Maeve is passionate about supporting meaningful outdoor experiences.
Instructor Team
Harmony Esqueda – AXL Academy CAP Instructor & Social Media Coordinator
Lori Powell – New Vista High School CAP Instructor & Communications Coordinator
Sara Grillo – Angevine Middle School CAP Instructor & Events Coordinator
Governing Board Members
- Whitney Bell Haggard
- Fay Hartman
- Kevin Lambert
- Robert Marquez
- Candace Richter
- Elisha Roberts
- Steve Schnepel
- Andrea Schwartz-Dulaney
- John Wharton
- Sarah Whitson
- Phil Wofford
Advisory Board Members
- Jeni Arbuckle, (she/her) Founder at Jeni Arbuckle Coaching
- Andrew Ekberg, (he/him) Investment Specialist at Garrison Financial Group
- Matt Holzmann, (he/him) Americas Channel Director at Leapwork
- Whitney Thompson (she/her), Youth Mental Health Advisor, and Owner and Psychotherapist at Anchor Counseling Centers
- Tim Trauth (he/him) Vice Presidents of Investments at AutoCamp
Past Board Members — Friends of Cottonwood Institute
- Jessy Clark, (she/her), CEO at Swallow Hill Music
- Paul Dreyer, (he/him), Consultant
- Adam Fiedor, (he/him) Managing Director at GLC Advisors & Co., LLC
- Chris Franks, (he/him) Founder, CEO, and Faculty Lecturer
- Matthew Keeney, (he/him) President at Agency Off Record, Inc.
- William J. Kelly, III, (he/him), Managing Partner at Kelly Law Partners, LLC
- Juan Perez Saez, (he/him/el), Executive Director, Water Education Colorado
- Rick Medrick, (he/him) Executive Director at Outdoor Leadership Training Seminars
- Ana Soler, (she/her) Program Director, Gates Family Foundation
