About Us
Staff
Travis Southworth-Neumeyer, Executive Director
Travis has led and directed outdoor and education programs for over 15 years. Prior to joining the Institute, he worked with youth education programs and non-profits as a consultant focusing on programming, grant design and grant management. Travis worked as the Director of Outdoor Science Education and Classes at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry for 6 years and served as a Principal Investigator on multiple National Science Foundation education grants. He has served a Peace Corps Volunteer in southern Africa. Travis has worked as a classroom science teacher and an outdoor adventure guide leading backpacking, snowshoeing, rafting and sea kayaking trips.Travis has undergraduate Biology degree from Lewis and Clark College and a Master’s in Education Leadership with a focus on sustainability education from Portland State University. When Travis isn’t working he spends his time hiking, camping, playing with his elementary school-age children, volunteering at their school, playing pick-up basketball at his neighborhood community center and sailing in Puget Sound.
Ray Yurkewycz, Science and Education Manager
Working on Mount St. Helens as a researcher since 2007, Ray loves to share his enthusiasm for science at Mount St. Helens. Most recently, Ray worked as a biologist on Mount St. Helens, interacting with creatures as diverse as shrews, salamanders, trout and trees. He earned his Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Washington State University – Vancouver, studying the impact of pocket gophers on plants and soil in the Pumice Plain region of Mount St. Helens. Before coming to southwest Washington, Ray worked as a botanist for the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Montana across the Great Basin Desert and Intermountain West after graduating with his Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. When Ray isn’t on the mountain, you will find him playing music, walking his dogs, cooking up a storm, tending the garden or volunteering at the Oregon Food Bank with his wife.
Caitlin Sinkewicz, Administrative Assistant
Caitlin is a recent graduate of Washington State University, class of 2010, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. During her studies, Caitlin stayed busy as a WSUV Ambassador, volunteer for state and local non-profits, and maintained a steady part-time job at a local restaurant. Caitlin joined the Institute in July, 2011, in the newly appointed role of administrative assistant. Caitlin is enthusiastic to be approaching her second summer with Mount St. Helens Institute. Her hobbies include reading, travel, culinary exploration and cat naps.
Luke Wakefield, Conservation Corps Coordinator
Luke joined the team in May 2012, after finishing his 2nd AmeriCorps service as the Intern Program Leader, with the Northwest Service Academy. In between the two positions he was able to backpack through Nicaragua and Costa Rica gaining some Spanish skills along the way. Luke encountered his love for trails and the Northwest during an unexpected visit to his cousin’s house in Trout Lake, WA back in 2008. The next year he signed up to do six months of work on the Pacific Crest Trail and knew trails were going to be a bigger part of his life. Originally from the Midwest, Luke’s heart was gobbled up by the wildness of the Northwest and has now made permanent residence in Portland, OR. He feels incredibly fortunate to be with the Mount St. Helens Institute and can’t wait to get volunteers out on the trails this summer. Luke spends his free time playing soccer, mountaineering, mountain biking, travelling, grilling out and dancing to James Brown.
