AEE Leadership: Our Staff & Board of Directors

AEE Staff

headshot of Sherry BagleySherry Bagley
Executive Director

Pronouns: she/her/hers
Contact: Sherry@aee.org

303-440-8844 x100

Sherry Bagley is the Executive Director of the Association for Experiential Education. In this role, she gets to assist in the elevation and expansion of experiential education by building an inclusive and accessible community; supporting research and programs; and presenting resources to public audiences. Her career path has taken some hard turns from driving tug boats in the Marshall Islands to catering weddings on the beach. She found her true calling when she began working in the experiential education field over 13 years ago. She can often be found out on or in the water swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking, snorkeling, and scalloping. She lives in St. Petersburg, Florida in a 100-year-old house with her amazing husband, 2 great kids, 2 polite dogs, and 2 ridiculous cats. 

headshot of Steve PaceSteve Pace, M.S.W.
Director of Accreditations and Certifications 

Pronouns: he/him/his
Contact: steve@aee.org

303-440-8844 x102

Steve was introduced to the power of experiential education when he was an undergraduate at Antioch College. He was transformed after participating in a 3-month semester course and had the opportunity to lead a similar course before he graduated. Since that time Steve worked for eleven years at the Voyageur Outward Bound School as an instructor, course director, program director, and risk manager. He then spent 25 years at Prescott College teaching in the Psychology and Human Development and Adventure Education Programs and later as the Dean of Resident Degrees.  His areas of expertise include adventure education and college program administration, risk management of field activities, interpersonal and group communication, mediation and conflict resolution, and therapeutic use of adventure education.

In 1979 Steve went to his first AEE Conference and was introduced to this remarkable community of educators. Later Steve became an active member of AEE and served both as the President of the Board of Directors, and as the Chair of the Accreditation Council. For over twenty years Steve has witnessed the effectiveness of the AEE accreditation process and how it gives organizations a comprehensive method to evaluate and evolve. He is humbled to work with the many talented and dedicated volunteers who make this grassroots program so strong.

In addition to his work at AEE, Steve serves as a member of the Wilderness Risk Managers Conference Steering Committee, the Safety Committee of the Board of Outward Bound USA, and is an Emeritus Professor at Prescott College.

headshot of Anna MianoAnna Miano
Membership & Marketing Manager

Pronouns: she/her/hers
Contact: anna@aee.org

303-440-8844 x 101

Anna is thrilled to serve the AEE community through her role as the Membership & Marketing Manager.  Anna grew up exploring the natural world around her through hiking, camping, rock-climbing, kayaking, and countless other adventures with her family. Anna built her values around the natural world and learning through experience from an early age. Anna also had the opportunity to experience the benefits of experiential education early on in her schooling; as a "lifer" of a Quaker School in Philadelphia. Anna's professional background includes working within the Admissions department of an experientially-focused K-12 School, and as an Event Manager for corporate clients around the world. When she isn't serving the AEE community, Anna can be found hiking, running, baking, painting, or playing with any and all dogs she can find (including her own). Anna currently lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her husband and dog.


Board of Directors

 

headshot of Jay ZarrJay Zarr
President-Elect (2022-2025)
He/him
Pueblo West Colorado
Jay is a master of using natural settings and adventure-based experiences to teach leadership, teamwork, and self-esteem. He works quickly to establish trust among all group members and has them involved, interested and motivated. Jay offers a unique perspective from his 40+ years in the field about the value of self-knowledge, the collaborative nature of leadership, and a leader's role as a servant. His experiences range from working in Higher Education, a Senior Instructor for the Wilderness Education Association, United States Forest Service, At-risk (At Promise) youth, Aging to Saging Certify Instructor to serving as the Board President of the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo. In addition, his involvement has been creating programs at 3 Higher Education institutions and two At Risk ( I prefer the term "At Promise")  High schools and helping design the 10th Mountain Hut System in Colorado.  Along with his wife, Cleo is the CO-Owner of Story Tellers Travels and Imagine Iif a Mind, Body and Spirt Connections Company. Turning the Ordinary into Extraordinary. 
headshot of Jonah Hacker
Jonah Hacker
Treasurer (2023)

Product Manager, MSI Data
Jonah is a Product Manager at a growing software company in Milwaukee, WI. As treasurer of the board, Jonah is committed to ensuring that AEE thrives financially as it pursues its mission of elevating experiential education as a positive force for change in the world. Jonah holds a BA in French from St. Olaf College, and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. Jonah is an adventuresome home cook, amateur string bass player, and mediocre gardener. Prior to entering the private sector, Jonah worked as a teacher for several years. He is excited to contribute to the future development of AEE.
headshot of Vinay SirsiVinay Sirsi
Member at Large​ (2023)
Educator/Leadership Consultant
Vinay is an educator/leadership consultant based out of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. He grew up climbing & hiking in Southern India and has continued to do so across the world. He has worked in various leadership/advisory roles across the adventure travel and outdoor education industry. He is a Certified Professional Facilitator working with adult populations in the areas of Team Performance & Leadership Development, NOLS Field & Wild Med Instructor and continues to look for new adventures paragliding, scuba diving & kiting with his 11yr Old twins.
headshot of Jeromy SlabyMx. Jeromy Slaby​ (he/him)
Secretary Elect (2024)
Elementary School Teacher
Jeromy is an elementary teacher now based in Seattle, Washington. Previous to Seattle, he called Durango, Colorado his home where he studied Adventure Education at Fort Lewis College. It was here that Jeromy first came to know AEE through helping plan the Rocky Mountain Regional Conferences. Being a young professional, his experience with online, outdoor, and classroom settings for education provides him with a diverse lens that will strengthen the association. Likewise, his experience with and knowledge of modern social justice and political movements will support AEE's ends.
As for the outdoors, Jeromy is an avid hiker, backpacker, and camper. While he will try any adventure at least twice, he can confidently say that he is most comfortable on the ground. You can find Jeromy anywhere you can set up a hammock that is as far away from the highway as possible. 
headshot of Stephanie SpeicherStephanie Speicher
Member at Large​ (2023)
Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
Dr. Stephanie Speicher’s diverse teaching and professional experience provide her a unique skill set to guide and support the success of the Association for Experiential Education. Stephanie holds a defined skillset built and strengthened over time in varied settings with a concentration on authentic curriculum design, school leadership, and the development of powerful learning communities. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to work in a variety of educational settings from traditional schools as a social studies teacher to a backpacking/rock climbing instructor for Outward Bound, and public charter school administrator. As a Board Member, Stephanie aims to bridge multiple facets of the education community together to sustain the momentum of powerful educative experiences on a global scale. She currently is an Assistant Professor of Teacher Education at Weber State University. Her research interests include pre-service teacher agency development through the use of experiential methods and the implementation of learning communities in the classroom. She is living in Utah where she can boundlessly recreate with her family. 
headshot of Abby OxboroughAbby Oxborough
Member At Large (2021-2024)
Director of Leadership Programming and General Manager at a family-owned resort in Northern Minnesota
Abby is the Director of Leadership Programming and General Manager at a family-owned resort in Northern Minnesota. She was first exposed to experiential education as a camp counselor, where her love for the outdoors translated to meaningful experiences with campers and staff alike. Abby has done everything from working a corporate Marketing job to teaching English in Thailand to writing and editing travel articles - all of which have contributed to her current role in helping small businesses and groups discover strengths and grow as a team in a retreat setting through experiential learning. Abby grew up in Northern Minnesota and her accent really comes to life when talking with her mother. She’s visited over 55 countries (and counting), will be giving a TED Talk in the Spring about the power of customer service, and recently graduated with her MS in Experiential Education from MSU Mankato. 
Headshot of Tom ShorrockTom Shorrock
Member At Large (2021-2024)
Operations Manager for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award based in Abu Dhabi
Tom Shorrock is an Operations Manager for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award based in Abu Dhabi and oversees the development of the Award in the UAE. After obtaining a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Bristol, Tom worked in Industry for 6 years in the UK & France. Alongside his work, he was also a member of the local Army Reserve unit. He developed his love for the outdoors and non-formal education by taking part in various courses as well as being involved with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).  His activities with the RSC, allowed him to develop teaching and learning beyond the classroom and create community outreach activities with the help of his local section. Work with the Society has continued throughout his career and was subsequently awarded with a Fellowship. It was during his involvement with the cadet force and working with the RSC, he made the decision to become a teacher and trained through the Graduate Teacher Training Programme. Having taught in the UK, Tom went on to teach Chemistry, Science and French at various schools in Qatar, Bahrain and UAE. He has an interest in Education but in particular Non-Formal Education and how the latter is important for young people throughout school ages but also later on for the world of work.
Tom holds various qualifications: Certificate in Business Management, Diploma in Risk Management, Certified Foresight Practitioner(Futures Foresight and Strategic Planning through The Futures School by Kedge). 
rosanne headshotRosanne Mistretta
Secretary-Elect (2021-2025)
Assistant Director for Program Development, SUNY New York State Master Teacher Program
Rosanne started her experiential education adventures at Girl Scout camp, where she spent all her time backpacking and canoeing.  That formative experience led to her job at Minnesota Outward Bound School. The environment is one of her passions, which led her to her first career as a Senior Assistant Regional Counsel for the US Environmental Protection Agency in Philadelphia. After 11 years, Rosanne went back to school for a Master's in Environmental Education at Arcadia University. That led her to a career in K-12 schools, first as a science teacher, then as Director of AFS Outside, an outdoor learning program.  She became Director of the Center for Experiential Learning at Abington Friends School, and then the Director of Sustainability and Experiential Learning at the Darrow School. Rosanne now serves as the Assistant Director for the SUNY New York State Master Teacher Program. She lives on a rural mountain in Upstate New York where she is outside in the forest as much as possible with her family and rescue dog, Jasper.
Headshot of Kymberly LacrosseKymberly Lacrosse
Member-at-Large (2023)
President of Growing Greatness and MA student at California Institute of Integral Studies in the Transformative Leadership Program
Kymberly Lacrosse has been a game changing leader for over thirty five years. She served on her first  Board at the age of 15 and has continued to live a life of  Board service since. Leadership and advocacy for Kymberly emerged in organic and authentic ways through life’s experiences and are integrated in all she does. Her formal education includes a BA from UCSC and MA from SJSU, both in Sociology. Her work has earned both local  and national recognition. Kymberly helped to establish Leadership for Community Transformation with Dr. Monica Sharma, which strives to design community change that makes a real, lasting and sustainable difference. Her newly established non-profit and curriculum, Growing Greatness  have been established as a cumulative work from all of her life experiences and professional perspective. She facilitates engaging workshops that activate the infinite potential within each of us! Kymberly partners with youth, adults and communities to manifest our goals- creating a container of community engagement that shifts the way we achieve powerful results. Kymberly brings a heartfelt passion to social justice, experiential education and community engagement that is rooted in an undeniable commitment to see individuals and communities to be inspired, powerful and unstoppable. Her commitment to equity and justice drive her to work diligently to change the systems in place for a more equitable and thriving world. Kymberly has also worked as a Non-Profit Consultant for the last eight years.

Interested in serving on the AEE Board of Directors? Have Questions or a Grievance?

Email the Board at board@aee.org