Meet the 2024 Conference Team

Get to know the volunteers behind the scenes!

Volunteer Coordinator

Callie Auman

she/her/hers

What do you do outside of your AEE volunteer role?

I currently work in Venture Outdoor Leadership at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. I'm the Assistant Director for Challenge Course & Team Building. I teach challenge course classes within the Kinesiology department, train our student leaders, and run programs for the greater Charlotte Metro area.

What's your history with AEE?

I started volunteering with AEE in a regional capacity with the Southeast Region- starting as a conference committee member in 2013 and now helping with the Southeast Regional Council. My volunteer work at the International level began as a workshop reviewer for conferences, then led to acting as the lead for the Evaluation Subcommittee for the 2019 AEE/AORE Joint Conference, and finally has taken me to become the Volunteer Coordinator!

Why are you excited about your volunteer role?

I'm excited to help with the conference for so many reasons. I personally and professionally have learned how important it is to network within this field and have found that the AEE conferences are the best place for me to do that! I also love hearing people's stories and journeys in our field and seeing their passion for their careers. The volunteers are truly the lifeblood of this organization and it's been my honor to meet and work alongside so many amazing people! I know this year will be no different and I can't wait to meet more amazing volunteers during the conference!

Can you tell us about a moment, memory or lesson learned at an AEE Conference that has stuck with you?

I have so many great memories and lessons from my time at AEE Conferences! The biggest lesson I've taken from each conference I've attended is the importance of support. I distinctly remember the nervousness I felt walking into my first AEE International conference, yet feeling a crazy amount of support from my new friends when I left that conference. AEE members have supported me through each step of my journey in this career field- checking in on me during new jobs, providing encouragement during presentations, bouncing ideas off when I feel stuck. This level of support isn't something I've found in other organizations and it has helped me tremendously!

When you aren't working or volunteering, we can probably find you...

When I'm not working or helping out with AEE, you can usually find me hanging out with my cat at home (usually baking some kind of sweet item) or out on the ultimate frisbee field with some of the amazing local club teams I play with, we often travel to some pretty cool places here in the southeast US! I love staying active and burning off all of the energy I have so I keep my body moving all the time!

Host Committee

The Host Committee is comprised of volunteers who work under the direct supervision of the Co-Conveners and AEE Staff. The Host Committee helps with all planning aspects of the Conference, designs and plans selected Conference programs and activities, and provides creative input and a unique context.

Tuesdey Spangler

Callie Auman

Carla Hacker

Jay Zarr

Cleo Zarr

Lacey Nickell

Cara Wicks

Sub-Committees

The Conference Host Committee is supported by sub-committees that work to plan and implement specific events and activities at the conference. Other sub-committees include Education, ActivatEE, Auctions, Kidference, Exhibit Hall, Marketing & more! Information coming soon.

Symposium on Experiential Education Research (SEER) Co-Chairs

The Symposium on Experiential Education Research (SEER) provides an outlet and venue for researchers in the field of experiential education to present, share, dialogue, and further develop their research ideas each year at the AEE International Conference.

Ryan Zwart

Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Outdoor Recreation Studies at Montreat College

Ryan Zwart, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at Montreat College. His research interests are in leisure motivations, human health in connection with the natural environment, and more recently economic impacts of adventure recreation. When not teaching, instructing, or writing, he is most likely mountain or road biking, paddling, or hiking with his wife, Lindsey, in the scenic mountains of western North Carolina.

"SEER has been a forming place for me in my academic life. It is a large enough symposium to help expand one’s frame of reference with exposure to new ideas, topics, or methodologies within experiential education and a variety of associated fields. It is also small enough to provide presenters and attendees a feeling of support; We embrace questions and comments and work to foster discussion. It is also a great way to connect with colleagues."

Curt Davidson

Ph.D, Assistant Professor, University of Wyoming. President, Alpenglow Education

Curt Davidson, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at the University of Wyoming. He is also the President of Alpenglow Education. Curt's love of the outdoor started when he worked as a mountaineering ranger with the Forest Service. Since then, he has worked for over a dozen Adventure Education and guiding programs throughout the globe. His research interests focus on mental health, outdoor recreation, and education. Curt is the author of the Behavioral First Responder Certification and the Outdoor Facilitator's Handbook. When not teaching and writing, you can find him skiing, climbing, or sailing.

"Coming to SEER is like breathing new life into your passion for research. It’s a great place to connect with colleagues, generate new ideas, and be inspired by what others are doing in the field. I always walk away with ideas for new research. I also find it incredibly inspiring to hear about all the good work others are doing to advance the field of Experiential Education. The crowd is always very welcoming and a great place to connect."

Kathy Chau Rohn

Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Connecticut

Kathy Chau Rohn is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Connecticut. She received her Ph.D in Higher Education from Boston College and her Ed.M. in Higher Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her areas of research interest include postsecondary access and success for marginalized student populations, college student experience, and outdoor education. She serves on the board of Summits in Solidarity, a non-profit organization that fosters justice and equity in the outdoor recreation community. When not conducting research, you can find her hiking, backpacking, skiing, or practicing yoga.

"I presented at SEER for the first time last year and learned so much from fellow presenters and attendees. SEER is a place where I have been able to engage in meaningful discussion about current topics in experiential education with colleagues from around the world. I’m grateful to be a part of this community!"

Michael (Mike) Froehly

Mike PhD Candidate, University of Utah

Michael (Mike) Froehly is a current PhD Candidate in Parks, Recreational and Tourism and a graduate teaching and research assistant at University of Utah. Michael began his PhD at the U of U in 2020 to pursue research on the learning and development that happens within the out-of-school time context. He is especially interested in the lasting impacts of outdoor adventure education programs, and how people integrate these experiences into who they are and who they want to become. He is also Senior Field Faculty at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and instructs backpacking, climbing, mountaineering, canyoneering, winter programs, and custom leadership courses. When not teaching or conducting research, you can find him fly fishing, climbing, or birding.

"I presented at SEER for the first time two years ago as a graduate student. It was so great to meet other graduate students, practitioners and researchers in the field, and be welcomed into the research community with open arms. I look forward to joining this year as a co-coordinator for SEER!”

Workshop Committee

The workshop committee oversees the submission and review process for all workshops at the AEE Conference. Workshops provide a time to present our collective resources and knowledge to elevate and advocate for Experiential Education.

W. Thomas Means

he/him

What do you do outside of your AEE volunteer role?

I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse. I teach in the Therapeutic Recreation program within the Department of Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation. In the summertime, I am the Director at Camp Brosius- a family camp located in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin.

What's your history with AEE?

I have been a member of AEE for 10ish years and have been on the Education committee for the last 4 years. I have presented at several conferences and am a Past ActivatEE speaker.

Why are you excited about your volunteer role?

Madison was actually my very first AEE conference back in 2012 so I am super excited to be returning this year to help facilitate a conference that new attendees will love as much as I did back then.

Can you tell us about a moment, memory or lesson learned at an AEE Conference that has stuck with you?

My favorite memory was walking into my first AEE conference, see all the bears, and vests, and Chaco's, and flannel- I knew it was the place for me.

When you aren't working or volunteering, we can probably find you...

In the summer, I'm probably sailing or mountain biking- In the winter I'm probably skiing or sitting at a coffee shop.

AEE Staff Members

AEE currently has three Staff Members who help to plan all aspects of the conference and work directly with all committee members and volunteers. AEE is supported by so many incredible volunteers and could not plan large conferences like this one without them! Meet the AEE Staff

The AEE Social Justice Taskforce

The entire conference team is further supported by the SJTF, who help to ensure conference programming and events are planned and executed with inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility at the forefront. Learn more and meet the Taskforce here