Meet the AEE Board of Directors
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Assistant Professor, Dept. of Recreation and Leisure Studies Brock University, St. Catharines, ON 905.688.5550 x5387 mbreunig@brocku.ca I have been working in the field of experiential education for over 20 years. I have a long-standing commitment to the Association for Experiential Education, having served as Chair of the Northeast region in the late 90s and more recently, as Co-Editor of the Journal of Experiential Education. I received my Masters of Science degree in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University-Mankato and my PhD in Education from Lakehead University. I taught in the K-12 classroom for 6 years and am currently teaching in the post-secondary classroom as an Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock University in Canada. My teaching praxis and research focus on the impact of students' attitudes to and relationships with the environment and how that relationship informs pro-social and pro-environmental behaviours. I am a NOLS instructor and have worked for Outward Bound Australia, Wilderness Inquiry and the Cradlerock group. I continue to climb, paddle, and ski and enjoy engaging in these activities with students and friends. |
Maurie Lung, President-Elect
First enamored with AEE in the early 90’s, I quickly became involved both regionally and nationally with AEE because of the people with whom I found genuine community and a keen wisdom. Currently, I am the founder and Director of Life Adventures Counseling & Consulting, LLC in St. Petersburg, FL. I am actively involved in providing direct service as well as supervising therapeutic experiences using adventure. Our diverse clientele range in age from 3 years to 92 years! Not only am I the primary administrator, I also supervise interns, facilitate international training, and provide consultation regarding evaluation and curriculum development. I bring this same passion and energy to help facilitate AEE’s aspirations toward a more viable, dynamic, and relevant association.
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Ed Maggart, Treasurer
Instructor of Chemistry, Director of Mountaineering
Asheville School
Asheville, NC
828-254-6345 ext. 4069
maggarte@ashevilleschool.org
http://www.ashevilleschool.org
Ed Maggart is the Director of Mountaineering at Asheville School in Asheville NC. Ed also teaches science and assists other teachers in designing experiential activities for academic classes and sponsors the school’s environmental organization. During the summer he is a climbing guide for Appalachian Mountain Institute. Ed earned a B. A. in Chemistry from Sewanee and worked in environmental research at Oak Ridge National Lab before becoming a classroom and outdoor educator. He earned an M. A. from Prescott College in Experiential and Adventure Education. His thesis focused on Place-Based Education. Ed loves to travel. He has visited 37 countries for cultural exploration as well as adventures involving trekking, kayaking, climbing, etc. Ed writes music and plays guitar and enjoys performing in the Asheville area. Ed’s wife Sue shares his love for the outdoors. Ed’s daughter, Jessica, is pursuing her MAT at USC Columbia.
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Paul Shirilla, Past-Treasurer Paul is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin- River Falls coordinating their Outdoor Education program. He enjoys watching future teachers learn how to utilize experiential methods in their classrooms and curricula. Paul has enjoyed the opportunity to serve AEE in a variety of leadership roles over the past 10 years and looks forward to continuing to move the organization forward. In his free time, Paul enjoys running, biking, and cooking with his wife, Amy, and daughters, Elizabeth and Claire. |
University of Wisconsin- River Falls
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Liz Speelman, Secretary Liz Speelman is currently a lecturer and Director of the Outdoor Center in the Department of Outdoor Education at Georgia College in Milledgeville, GA. Her background is in challenge course and environmental education. She is also currently working on her PhD in Educational Psychology. In her previous work with Clemson University's Youth Learning Institute, she was involved in program and curriculum development. Teaching high school physics in West Africa with very few resources instilled a passion for thinking outside the box and creating genuine meaning in teaching based on who and where one serves. A Canadian native, she enjoys being outside discovering new (to her!) places and wonders. |
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Marin Burton is currently the Associate Director of the Faculty Teaching and Learning Commons (FTLC) at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In this role, she focuses on training and development in experiential and engaged teaching methodologies, as well as focus on leadership development for individuals, departments, and groups. She has worked with universities, schools, corporations, and nonprofit organizations and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on the theory, philosophy, and practice of experiential education. She is also adjunct faculty at the Center for Creative Leadership in the Leadership Beyond Boundaries Division and serves as a design lead for program development. Marin has served AEE in a variety of capacities and is excited to now contribute to the Board.
Alison Rheingold is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Education at the University of New Hampshire. Her professional background includes being a middle school special education teacher, leading professional development workshops/designing curriculum for Project Adventure and working as an Outward Bound instructor. Her recently completed doctoral research at the University of New Hampshire examines student engagement and the cultural practice of assessment in Expeditionary Learning schools. She has been involved with AEE by attending and presenting at regional and international conferences, evaluating workshop proposals, and being a reviewer for the JEE.
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Alison Rheingold, Member At Large 
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Sam Steiger, Member At Large
Sam received his M.S. in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University, Mankato; his B.S. from the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point in Resource Management: Environmental Education and Interpretation with a minor of study in Youth Summer Camp Administration and Youth Programming. He has lived in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, California, Alaska and the US Virgin Islands teaching through Outdoor Education, Ecotourism and Adventure Education. He has over 18 years of experience as a Teambuilding, High Ropes and Challenge Course Facilitator. His current position is at Minnesota State University, Mankato as a Program Coordinator within Campus Recreation- coordinating the Adventure Education Program & Climbing Wall programs, with emphasis in developing the AEP to serve the University and surrounding community with educational, adventure based programming. Sam enjoys photography, stained glass work, family time and time with his dog Ryno.
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