After graduating from UC Irvine with a B.S. in Earth System Science and a minor in Psychology & Social Behavior, Kris began working in Education as a tutor and an instructional aide. He loved working with students but found himself interested in supporting their emotional and mental well-being more than their academic pursuits. Instead of going with the formal teacher training route, he took a job in Outdoor Education with a focus on the interdependence between California’s terrestrial and marine ecosystems. What he loved about working in Outdoor Ed is that it combined his passion for hands-on experiential learning, a focus on empowerment and collaboration, and his love for all things nature.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck and shut down the outdoor science camp Kris was working for, he had conveniently just started as a Pack Care volunteer after reading The Wolf Connection book and becoming intrigued by the organization’s work with wolfdogs and underserved students. He was looking for a way to bring the healing power of nature into his work. Kris spent the next year working with the wolves and getting certified as an Environmental Educator and a Life Coach, and when the programs returned, he was hired as a facilitator. Today, Kris’s role at Wolf Connection still includes leading programs as well as coordinating between the Programs and Pack Services departments. As he finishes getting a certification in Nature & Forest Therapy, he aims to deepen his work as a facilitator and to support the development of the Programs and Pack Services departments as the organization grows and expands.

On his days off, you can find him hiking, camping, or backpacking in any of California’s beautiful terrain. His work is driven by the question: How does the natural world teach us how to live?