Executive Director--Jeanne Bennett

Prior to joining the Institute in September 2007, Ms. Bennett served for five years as Director of Workforce Programs for southwest Washington counties; providing program leadership for an $8 million, multi-year grant program to prepare students for the working world.  From 2000 to 2002, she served as District Director for U.S. Representative Brian Baird managing three local offices in southwest Washington.  In 1994, after graduating from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science in History she worked in Portland, Oregon as a congressional caseworker for former U.S. Representative Elizabeth Furse.

Jeanne lives in Vancouver, WA with her husband.  She has four grown children, enjoys activities including camping, hiking and white-water rafting as well as cooking, baking and is an avid reader.

Volunteer Program Manager--Hailey Heath

Hailey has been working with non-profit organizations for over 10 years.  Prior to accepting the position with the MSHI, she worked as a Site Director at a 21st Century After School program for middle and high school students.  She worked as a Regional Director for Camp Fire USA, providing outdoor education and recreation programs for youth.  She studied for her Bachelor's Degree in Human Services at Western Washington University.  During this time, she served as an AmeriCorps member working to assist foster youth with their emancipation from foster care.  She has been involved in many volunteer organizations including 4H, Moses Lake/Yonezawa Sister City Program, Campfire USA, and Washington State Leader Corps.  Hailey joined the MSHI in January 2008 after having relocated to the Portland Metro area from Moses Lake, WA. 

Science Education Coordinator -- Laura Kerr

Laura comes to the Mount St. Helens Institute with over 8 years of experience in environmental and science education. She is dedicated to making science education more place-based, kinesthetic and fun.  Prior to joining the Mount St. Helens Institute in March 2009, Laura was a field instructor for the MESD Outdoor School program. An aficionado of travel and wilderness landscapes, she has worked at the Virgin Island Sustainability Institute, led the Turtlewatch educational program on the island of St. Croix, created organic gardens in Ecuador, taught environmental education in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, raft guided on rivers through the Southeast and received wilderness training from the National Outdoor Leadership School in Kenya.  Laura earned a Bachelor's Degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN.  In her spare time, Laura enjoys gardening, biking, hiking and reading.