AEE Welcomes Kim Sacksteder as New Director of Accreditation and Certification
Association for Experiential Education Welcomes Kim Sacksteder as New Director of Accreditation and Certification
The Association for Experiential Education (AEE) is thrilled to welcome Kim Sacksteder, MSW, as its new Director of Accreditation and Certification, effective June 15, 2026. Sacksteder will succeed Steve Pace, who is retiring this fall after a decade of transformative leadership in the role.
Sacksteder steps into this important position with more than 25 years of deep expertise in experiential education, adventure therapy, and non-profit volunteer leadership. As Director, she will provide strategic vision and operational oversight for AEE’s globally recognized Accreditation and Certification programs, ensuring that professional standards remain rigorous, inclusive, and accessible to a rapidly evolving field.
"From my first experiences developing an adventure therapy program in the late 90s, I recognized the important role of both Accreditation and Certification in providing guidelines that help people understand what quality programs look like," said Sacksteder. "Volunteering for AEE illuminated how standards evolve over time, and I'm excited to be part of this ongoing evolution alongside the incredible volunteers, programs, and partners that work so diligently to make AEE's programs the excellent standard that they are."
Sacksteder is a deeply familiar face within the AEE community. She has dedicated years to the association in key volunteer leadership positions, including Chair of the Therapeutic Adventure Professionals Group (TAPG) Leadership Council, TAPG Best Practices Committee Chair, and both Member and Chair of the AEE Accreditation Council. Her professional journey includes building a foundational adventure therapy program at Camp Mary Orton in 1999, followed by 25 years managing community-based programs, training and supervising emerging professionals, and teaching in university settings. She holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Social Work from The Ohio State University.
Upcoming Transition
Current Director Steve Pace will officially retire at AEE’s 54th Annual International Experiential Education Conference, taking place November 12-14, 2026, at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado.
Pace’s retirement caps off ten years of extraordinary service as Director, alongside a lifetime of advocacy for AEE, including past roles as Board of Directors President and Accreditation Council member. Under his stewardship, AEE’s accreditation and certification programs grew in strength, integrity, and trust, elevating safety and professionalism worldwide. AEE will host a celebration honoring Pace's immense contributions during the November conference.
To ensure a seamless transition and continuous support for AEE’s accredited organizations, certified practitioners, and volunteer councils, Sacksteder and Pace will work closely together over the coming months.
"Kim is a relationship-centered, systems-minded leader who perfectly embodies the values of our community," said Sherry Bagley, AEE Executive Director. "Her profound understanding of our philosophy, combined with her extensive history as a practitioner and an AEE volunteer leader, makes her uniquely qualified to champion the next era of equity, access, and growth for our accreditation and certification pathways. We are equally full of gratitude for Steve’s remarkable legacy and energized for the future under Kim’s leadership."
About the Association for Experiential Education (AEE)
The Association for Experiential Education is an international, nonprofit professional membership association dedicated to expanding the power of experiential education worldwide. AEE connects a global community of educators, practitioners, and organizations, and upholds the premier accreditation and certification standards for adventure-based, therapeutic, outdoor, and experiential learning programs.