Faculty at Breckenridge and Dillon
Highly qualified and talented faculty enjoy teaching at CMC and living in Summit County and surrounding areas
For contact information, please use the CMC Staff & Faculty Directory
SHARON AGUIAR holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an M.A. in Multicultural, Bilingual and ESL Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Sharon has taught English to speakers of other languages abroad and in Summit School District for eleven years before becoming a full-time Associate Professor at CMC.
ALLEN BACHER, BSBA from George Mason University and an MBA from Lindenwood University, is a former senior level corporate executive with international experience with an industry dominant company. Over 20 years prior adjunct (with MBA level) experience (VA, MO & CO) has held RE and all Insurance industry licenses. He has owned and operated four previous companies. Has, as well, over thirty years’ experience in businesses acquisitions, development, divestitures, mergers, start-ups, and valuations. Military veteran, pilot, air traffic controller.
JEN BARCHERS holds a B.A. in Kinesiology from Western State College and an M.A. in Global Humanities from the University of Denver. She is finishing her Ph.D. in Human Science at Saybrook University. Jen has been teaching Anthropology, Humanities and Philosophy since 2006 has also served as an Instructional Chair at the Summit Campus.
KRISSY BARRETT has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agribusiness from University of Idaho as well as and Master's in Environmental Science, also from the University of Idaho. She has nearly 20 years of experience working as a consultant in the environmental industry in numerous, diverse disciplines including waste management, air pollution, energy conservation, pollution prevention, recycling, sustainable building design, health and safety and adult learning. Teaching at the college level is her new-found passion.
JOSH BLANCHARD holds a B.A. from the University of Texas at Dallas and an M.H. from the University of Colorado at Denver. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Lake Dillon Theater in Dillon, CO.
WILLIAM BLAIR holds a M.S. in Finance from University of Denver.
NANCY BRANCA has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth and holds a degree in Art Education from the Massachusetts College of Art. She is an accomplished painter and also teaches at Peak School in Breckenridge. Nancy began teaching at the CMC Timberline Campus in 1998 and transferred to the Breckenridge Campus in 2008.
ROBERT CARTELLI holds an M.S. in Strategic Technology Management from Marlboro College in Brattleboro, Vermont. He has a strong e-business background and previous teaching experience at Champlain College where he was responsible for overseeing the development and teaching of e-business courses in the College’s eBusiness and eCommerce program. While at Champlain College, Mr. Cartelli oversaw the use of Coretomic’s Colligo Net program by 200+ students. He is currently a consulting partner with Coretomic, Inc.in S. Burlington, Vermont. He teaches a Management Information System course for MBA students in the Middle East and India for the University of Wales. He recently completed his Ph.D. coursework with Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Rob considers himself a lifelong ski bum and skis 200+days per year.
JENNIFER CASSELL holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Kansas, and a M.A. in International Studies from the University of Denver. She has worked as a volunteer, campaign manager, and legislative staffer in Kansas, Colorado and Washington D.C. She is currently a lobbyist in Colorado and active in Summit County politics.
ANNE CHAPMAN holds an M.A. in Education from Appalachian State University and has taught math in the Summit School District. She has been teaching at CMC since 2003.
KEVIN CLARKE, J.D. has been the Director of Summit Campus Culinary Institute at Keystone since 1999.He holds an A.A.S. in Culinary Arts from Colorado Mountain College and a B.S. and J.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder. His fifteen year culinary industry work experience includes Sous Chef and Chef de Cuisine at Keystone’s Ski Tip Lodge. He is a member of the American Culinary Federation. Kevin works closely with the local high school and coaches the SHS Prostart Culinary Competition Team. He also coaches CMC’s culinary apprentice competition team. In 2004 he was honored as the Summit Education Alliance “Friend of Education.” Other awards include Outstanding CMC Alumni and Summit Campus full-time faculty of the year. Kevin and his wife Claire along with their daughters are active members of the local horse community.
KELLY CORBIN holds a Wilderness EMT-Basic through CMC and has worked as a professional river guide and trainer for 14 years. She is a nationally registered EMT-Basic, holds Intravenous Therapy certification and is a CPR instructor.
CHRISTINA DAVIS holds a B.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Arizona. She has a wide range of experience in the classroom as well as design and freelance work for the business sector.
JEREMY DEEM holds a M.A. in History from Colorado State University and is working on a doctorate in education through University of Northern Colorado. He taught for the Colorado Outward Bound for 7 years, and has 20 years' experience raft guiding, rock climbing, canyoneering as well as multi-day & international guiding experience. He teaches Outdoor Education, History, Sustainability, and EMS courses for CMC; and helps to manage OUT, WEMS, and STEM programs.
LYNN DONOVAN holds a B.S. from Colorado State University in Political Science with a music performance minor. She has a background in English & Literature and has worked in the Learning Lab since 2003.
COOKE FISHER received a Master’s degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction in 1986 from the University of Denver. Cooke’s career has varied from special education teacher, to real estate investor, yoga entrepreneur and inventor of the yogasizer power pyramid.
ERIC FISHER holds a Juris Doctorate from American University.
HANA FOREST studied at Masaryk University Brno, the Czech Republic. She holds an M.A. in English, a M.S. in Mathematics and a B.A. in Finance. She has worked with CMC since 2002.
KYLE HAGADORN has taught whitewater kayaking courses since he was in high school, and was a sponsored whitewater paddler. He’s also worked on Arapaho Basin Ski Patrol for ten years, and has worked in CMC’s River and WEMS programs since 2012.
MONIQUE HAVERKORN is a Colorado certified ELA teacher. She earned her first TESOL certificate from Oxford House College in London, England. She earned her second Master’s Degree in the TESL graduate program at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte in May 2006.
JESSICA HOOVER holds a M.A. in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from American University.
BARBARA JACKMAN holds a B.S. in Special Education and an M.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Wisconsin -Eau Claire. Barbara has worked in the early childhood field for twenty years and is currently working as a consultant. Her two major focus areas are early childhood teaching training/mentoring and mental health in early childhood.
BÉNÉDICTE JEANSON holds an M.S. in Mathematics from Florida Atlantic University and a B.A. in Business. She has eighteen years experience in teaching mathematics, facilitating challenge/rope courses, and academic advising at colleges granting associate degrees.
JEAN KRAMLICH holds an M.S. in Counselor Education and a B.S. in Human Services from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Jean has worked in higher education/student development since 1988 and is currently the Student Development Counselor at CMC-Breckenridge.
KAREN LAPIDES holds a B.S. in Human Psychology/Kinesiology from C.U. Boulder. Karen is a Wilderness EMT and paramedic for the Breckenridge Ski Patrol and Estes Park Medical Center. She has over 15 years experience as a mountaineering instructor and course director for the Colorado Outward Bound School. An EMS adjunct faculty at CMC, Summit Campus, she enjoys ski mountaineering, trail running, and rock climbing in her spare time.
JAMES 'SCOTT' MARR holds a BA in Elementary Education and M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from Colorado Christian University. Scott worked as a survival swimmer for the U.S. Coast Guard in the early 90s where he began working in the EMS field. In 2005, he became an elementary school teacher in Glenwood Spring, CO. While working as a teacher, he also joined the CO Army National Guard becoming a Special Forces Medical Sergeant; where he still applies his medical training in the most austere environments. As a NREMT-P he comes to the Breckenridge campus as the new lead instructor for EMT courses, excited to work with students embarking on their own medical careers. An avid outdoorsman who loves all the activities that Colorado has to offer.
KRISTY McCLAIN holds an M.A. in English Literature from Iowa State University. She is currently a full-time instructor at Summit High School. Kristy began teaching at CMC in 2007.
MISTY McMILLIAN holds an M.A. in Communication Consultancy and a B.A. in Speech Communication from Oklahoma State University. She has worked as a workshop facilitator and instructor in Speech Communication.
DREW MIKITA, LPC holds a B.A. in Psychology, a M. Ed. In Rehab and Community Counseling from Ohio University. He is currently pursuing his Psy. D. in Sport Psychology from the University of the Rockies. Drew has a small private practice working with athletes. He is also the co-owner with his wife of Vertical Runner Breckenridge. Drew taught adjunct at CMC from 2008-2011, he is currently an Associate Professor of Social Sciences in Summit county. He has two dogs and two cats and loves to be outside.
PATRICIA MOORE holds a Doctor of Ministry from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, a M. Div. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a B.S. in Recreation with a second major in Driver and Traffic Safety Education from Appalachian State University. She has been leading worship at the Breckenridge Ski Area since 1991. Pat has been teaching guitar at the Summit Campus since 2002.
LAURIE MOROCO holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Rhetorical Studies from Duquesne University with an emphasis in interpersonal communication and ethics. She also received a master's degree in Corporate Communication from Duquesne and a bachelor's degree in Communication from Slippery Rock University of PA. Her research is in the field of interpersonal communication and relationship development. Her dissertation focused on the idea of phenomenological distance in relationships.
JOYCE DEVLIN MOSHER holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Literature and Criticism, an M.A. in Language and Communication from Regis University and a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Penn State. Joyce has taught college writing, literature, mythology, and French for four decades. She has published on classroom pedagogy, women writers, and western writers.
TONI NAPOLITANO holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Montana and Masters Degrees in Psychology and School Psychology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She has worked as a school psychologist in public school settings in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and Summit County, Colorado for over 30 years.
MARIE ORLIN holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Assessment and a B.S. in Elementary Education. She owns a web design and graphic art business. She has operated a consulting business in Summit County since 1998. Classes taught at CMC including the Adobe CS series (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator and Fireworks), MS Office, web design and others beginning in 2003.
BILL PAINTER holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Colorado State University and an M.S. and B.S. in Zoology from Clemson University. He has taught at both Indian Hills Community College in Centerville, Iowa, and at Front Range Community College in Fort Collins.
MARK PALZ earned his MA in Fiction and Literature from Florida State University and his MFA in Creative Writing from Bennington College. He has been teaching at Colorado Mountain College since 2008 and continues to write both fiction and nonfiction while teaching Literature, Composition, and Creative Writing with CMC. He has also been an instructor and fly fishing guide in the local community for many years. He lives in a cabin with a spotted leopard named Spock.
VICTOR PAULIS holds a Ph.D. in Modeling & Simulation and a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Central Florida. He is also a registered Professional Engineer (PE). Dr. Paulis will be teaching in the Math department. His interests include teaching skiing at Winter Park Resort, music, flying, biking, and scuba diving.
LAURA PLESS holds an M.A. in Liberal Arts and Education from Regis University and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds a teaching certificate for K-12 from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, and is certified as a Developmental Education Specialist from the Kellogg Institute. Laura is the Associate Professor of Developmental Studies and has taught for Colorado Mountain College since 1991.
JUSTIN POLLACK earned his N.D. at Bastyr University in Seattle, worked as a resident and adjunct clinical faculty at NCNM in Portland, OR and holds a B.A. from the Evergreen State College. While working through his doctorate, he had an "early retirement" working as an herbalist, kayak instructor, raft guide, outdoor educator, naturalist guide and medical volunteer (in the US and Central America). Dr. Pollack maintains a private practice at the Mountain-River Naturopathic Clinic in Frisco, co-owning the clinic and the Backcountry Herbal Apothecary with his wife, Dr. Kim Nearpass. He has been with Colorado Mountain College since 2004, and is now an associate professor.
ELIZABETH ROUSH holds a M.A. in curriculum and Instruction from University of Denver.
ABIGAIL RUBY holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Iowa and a Masters in Humanities and Social Thought from New York University. She has worked extensively with interdisciplinary issues of gender and sport. She has also taught Composition classes at Pikes Peak Community College.
MARIO SANTA CRUZ received his B.S. in Physics from Loyola Marymount University, and he received his M.S. in Physics from University Colorado Colorado Springs. Mario was an officer in the US Navy, where he served as division officer on board a destroyer. He worked in industry as a Quality Engineer and Product Manager at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Virginia. He has worked as a math and science teacher in middle school and high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the Jefferson County School District (Jeffco) here in Colorado. Since 2009, Mario has taught physics here at CMC as an adjunct professor.
ANDREW SCHOENEMAN holds an M.A. in Liberal Studies from Regis University with emphases in Philosophy, Intellectual History, and Literature.
STACY SMITH earned a Master’s in Community Counseling and runs a private counseling business. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Psychology.
BRIAN TAYLOR holds a B.S. in Outdoor Education from Northland College, Ashland, WI. Brian is a wilderness EMT and paramedic for local agencies. He has over ten years experience as a wilderness guide and outdoor educator. Brian also volunteers with Summit County Rescue Group as a team leader, technical rescue specialist, and is on the avalanche response team. Brian is the EMS Coordinator and Faculty Chair at CMC-Summit.
MARILYN TAYLOR holds an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Denver, an M.A. in Secondary Education from San Francisco State, M.Ed. in Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a B.A. from University of California, Berkeley where she majored in English. She has also held Secondary Teacher of English and Reading Licenses and/or K-12 Administrator (principal) licenses in California and Colorado. Her professional experience in teaching in secondary and higher education spans 40 years during which she has held tenured faculty positions at University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Alaska Southeast, and Metropolitan State University in the field of teacher education, and a subject area focus on teaching English Language Arts. In Alaska, she was Dean of the School of Education at UAS. Prior to higher education, Marilyn was a high school English teacher in California and Colorado. She is currently a member of the Summit County Schools School Board, and an adjunct instructor at CMC in Developmental Education—Composition and Reading.
MORGAN THOMPSON is proud to say that she is a Breckenridge, Colorado Native! She graduated with a BA in Human Development and Early Childhood Education in 2005 from The Metropolitan State College of Denver. She went on to finish a MA in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Early Childhood Education in 2009. Aside from teaching at the CMC, Breckenridge Campus, she has been the Assistant Director at The Little Red Schoolhouse for 6 years.
EMILY TRACY received her Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in environmental management from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and her BA in Humanities from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She worked for more than 25 years in human services, including child protection, foster care and adoption. She served for eight years on the City Council of Cañon City, and has been a candidate for the Colorado Legislature. She also managed the mediation in the courts program for four years for the Colorado Judicial Branch in four judicial districts, is a trained mediator, and has served as a trainer in conflict resolution. Emily has served on Summit County’s Countywide Planning Commission for nine years, and works for a local nonprofit. She has taught at CMC since May 2014.
LISA VENZ has a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature and an M.A. in Education from the University of Maryland. She has taught and developed Spanish curriculum at Summit School District for nine years. Sheen joys teaching Spanish and its culture to students and continues to tutor in Spanish at all levels.
STEVE VLASS – Executive Chef at Keystone Ranch.
SUSAN VLASS – Executive Pastry Chef at Copper Mountain.
LEANNE M.WIRTA holds an M.A. in Art (drawing and painting emphasis) from California State University at Chico, did postgraduate work in painting at California State University at San Diego, and holds a B.A. in Studio Art (drawing and painting emphasis) from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Leanne has taught as an adjunct faculty member for CMC for more than ten years.
MICHELLE WOODS-PENNISI holds a B.F.A. with an emphasis in ceramics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She furthered her education by attending Utah State University and participating in multiple residencies.
PAGE VAN METER holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from Michigan State University and earned a B.S. from Emory University. Her research has focused on the endocrine physiology of several species living both in the wild and in captivity, including the orangutan and the spotted hyena. She currently studies a third species Homo sapiens as a data analyst at Columbia University. She has been teaching biology at CMC since 2014.
JOANNE YANTZ holds a Masters in the Art of Teaching (MAT) from Marygrove College in Detroit, a B.A. in English and a B.A. in Elementary Education from Kean University in Union, New Jersey. She worked in public education in NJ and taught on-line at Marygrove College. Joanne began working as an adjunct at CMC in 2006. She enjoys all outdoor activities, hiking, biking and skiing are her favorites.