Staff & Board - Cottonwood Institute

Full-Time 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.

Governing Board Members

Whitney Bell Haggard, M.Ed. (she/her), Board Secretary, Vice President of Strategy at US Engineering

Allie Cohen, B.A. (she/her), Senior Philanthropy Officer, Southwest Region at The Wilderness Society

Kevin Lambert, B.S.B.A. (he/him), Consultant with the National Park Service

Robert Marquez, (he/him), CAP Alum & Student at Colorado Mesa University

Candace Richter, B.A. (she/her), Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist at Strat Labs

Elisha Roberts, M.Ed. (she/her), Assistant Director of Implementation and Partnership at The Colorado Education Initiative

Steve Schnepel, B.S., CPA (He/Him), Partner - International Tax Services at Plante Moran

Andrea Schwartz-Dulaney, B.A. (she/her), Board Chair, Nonprofit Consultant

John Wharton, J.D. (he/him), Board Treasurer, Attorney at Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Sarah Whitson, M.Ed. (they/them), Principal at Whitson Strategies

Phil Wofford, B.A. (he/him), Regional Vice President at Trader Joe’s

Past Board Members — Friends of Cottonwood Institute

Jessy Clark, (she/her), COO at Swallow Hill Music

Paul Dreyer — Jessy Clark, (she/her), COO at Swallow Hill Music

Advisory Board

Jeni Arbuckle, (she/her) Founder at Jeni Arbuckle Coaching.

Andrew Ekberg — Jeni Arbuckle, (she/her) Founder at Jeni Arbuckle Coaching.

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.