Clint Patterson
Head ForesterOffice Info: Forester's Cabin CPO: 2133 Phone: 859-756-3315 E-Mail: clint_patterson@berea.edu Clint grew up in Illinois in the small towns of Brownstown and St. Elmo where he spent most of his time outdoors, exploring the land around him with his grandpa and step-dad. This time is what originally made Clint interested in forestry work. Appropriately, when Clint entered college, he decided to get his B.S. in Forestry at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and then his Master's degree in Forestry at the University of Kentucky. He was a District Forester for 9 years, and has been with Berea College's Forestry Department now for 7 years. A creative, big-picture thinker, Clint likes to draw and write, and finds an appreciation for the enchantment of forests, knowing that an open-minded approach to learning can break barriers and make new strides in fields of science such as forestry. Here at Berea, Clint loves working in the College Forest because of the beauty and history of this land and the enjoyment that other people can take from this place because of his work.
Glen Dandeneau
Assistant ForesterOffice Info: Forester's Cabin CPO 1771 Phone: 859-756-3315 E-Mail: glen_dandeneau@berea.edu Glen Dandeneau is the Assistant Forester at Berea College. Born into a military family in Manchester, New Hampshire, Glen moved around a lot before settling in Berea, where he was lived for the past 34 years. Glen graduated from Berea College in 1987 with a B.A. in Agriculture. Glen loves reading, playing sports, and music. In fact, he's been in three separate bands, and even released two CDs! However, his love for the outdoors is what drew him to his eventual career in forestry. Glen says he is passionate about life, and he loves the work he does in the natural environment, getting to learn about the dynamic and complex biological world around him. Glen loves that his work in forestry allows him to work with so many people. As the department's labor supervisor, Glen works closely with labor students and enjoys learning from them and sharing his knowledge. Glen is a joyful, upbeat person and shares his joy wherever he goes!
John Abrams
EcologistOffice: Forestry Outreach Center CPO 2084 Phone: 859-756-3315 Email: john_abrams@berea.edu John Abrams is a Berea native working at the Forestry Outreach Center as an ecologist. He attended Eastern Kentucky University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Wildlife Management. John has worked professionally on research involving bats, birds, and reptiles. In his free time, John enjoys hiking, birding, kayaking and just being outdoors. If you have any questions involving the wildlife or plant life of the forest, feel free to email him at john_abrams@berea.edu
Wendy Z. Warren
Forestry Outreach Center DirectorOffice Info: Forestry Outreach Center CPO: 2084 Phone: 859-756-6094 Email: wendy_warren@berea.edu Wendy Warren has been an interdisciplinary educator for over thirty years, working with kindergartners through graduate students. Wendy holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and currently serves as Director of the Forestry Outreach Center. She also works as Regional Seminar Coordinator for The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Education and Human Rights (TOLI). As a writer and educator for social and environmental justice, Wendy has published articles, book chapters, and is currently writing a book for publication by UK Press. Wendy notes the importance of a creative approach to education that creates conditions through which students might learn and practice empathy. Her dual focus on human diversity and biodiversity is a continual reminder that the world operates as an interconnected whole.
Abbie Phelps
Horse Care & Barn TechnicianOffice Info: Horse Barn CPO: 2133 Phone: 859-756-3315 E-Mail: phelpsa3@berea.edu Abbie was born in Kentucky and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. She returned to her birth state to attend Berea College, graduating in 2021 with a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources. During her studies, she focused on Equine Science. Abbie believes if we take care of horses, they will take care of us, and she applies this philosophy daily to her work with Berea College's nine equine employees.
Kayla Zagray
Education and Outreach CoordinatorOffice Info: Forestry Outreach Center CPO: 2084 Forestry Outreach Center Phone: 859-756-3315 E-Mail: zagrayk@berea.edu Kayla Zagray has a strong passion for animals and environmental education. Being from Ohio, Kayla attended Kent State University and earned a Bachelor's degree in Zoology. She completed two AmeriCorps service years are the Center before starting full-time in April of 2022.
Phil Vogel
College ForesterOffice Info: Forester's Cabin Phone: 859-756-3315 E-Mail: vogelp@berea.edu Phil and his wife Olivia live in Jessamine County. He studied Forestry at the University of Kentucky and went on to work for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Natural Resources Program as a nurseryman before coming to work with us as a Forestry Technician!! Phil currently volunteers as a groundskeeper for a church camp and enjoys music, songwriting, art, and American literature.
John Hite
Forestry Horse Program SpecialistOffice Info: Horse Barn CPO: 2133 Phone: 859-756-3315 E-Mail: hitej@berea.edu John grew up in Florida and Kentucky making him both an ocean and a mountain man! John graduated from Berea in 2019 and immediately started working at the College with the logging horses. He likes to spend his time outdoors working with the horses or his personal farm animals, hiking, caving, and scuba diving. His passion for conservation and restoration of these Kentucky lands he calls home is what drives him every day!
Sam Tackett
Forestry Horse Logging TechnicianOffice Info: Horse Barn CPO: 2133 Phone: 859-756-3315 E-Mail: tacketts@berea.edu Sam Tackett is from Stinking Creek, Tennessee. Sam is a TN Master Logger and certified Biological Woodsman. Coming from a family with loggers, saw millers, and stockman on both sides, Sam brings a lifetime of draft animal experience. As well as mechanical and draft powered logging knowledge and ability. When Sam is not enjoying logging or farming with his Suffolk Punch horses, he spends his time with his wonderful wife, Christy, and their four children.
Zen Dean
Forestry Horse Logging TechnicianOffice Info: Horse Barn CPO: 2133 Phone: 859-756-3315 E-Mail: deanz1@berea.edu Zen was born in Florida, where he lived for the first 9 years of his life before moving to Kentucky. He loves to be in nature and on the water. After graduating from Madison Southern High School, his love for the outdoors led him to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program at Berea College. He graduated with his Bachelor's in 2023 and immediately joined the team at The Mitchell Farm.
Jeriel Byron-Dixon
FOCJeriel is a third second-year student at Berea College studying Engineering Technologies and Applied Design with two minors in Sustainability and Environmental Science. She enjoys hiking, dancing, and spending time with friends in her free time. Jeriel is passionate about environmental and social justice and is grateful for the opportunities the Forestry Outreach Center provides to help her continue learning and making changes in her community.
Zeke Williams
FOCZeke is a third year at Berea College studying Archaeology and Geology. He loves to learn about the forest and what's in it! Right now Zeke is learning the plants of the Pinnacles and is more than happy to assist with any questions about rocks, programs that you would like to see, and anything else at The Pinnacles. Zeke encourages that anyone with questions about topics like these can communicate with him through email: williamsz2@berea.edu.
Reuben Hicks
Horse Program
Finn Mahoney
Forestry and Horse ProgramFinn is a senior from New Hampshire, where he's built hiking trails for the better part of a decade. Living and working in the north woods gave him both a love of forests and chainsaws. He's a co-founder of Trail Fixing Collective, and at Berea he's an independent major preparing for medical school. You can find him and his dog Junebug exploring the diversity of Kentucky's forests.
Kya Norman
FOCKya is a junior studying Psychology and African American studies. She has a passion for the arts and designed several of our stickers and some coloring pages! She also helps out with the website. Although nature is a bit of a new experience for her that has done nothing to subdue her passion for it and she hopes to help the FOC however she can!
Abigail Kingston
FOCAbigail is a junior Environmental Science major who transferred to Berea in the fall of 2023 after volunteering at the FOC since summer of 2022. She is passionate about raising trees, rewilding lawns, and learning the ways of all of Kentucky's native flora. Her favorite plant is Arundinaria gigantea, also known as giant river cane.
Senna Jenkins
Horse ProgramSenna is a senior at Berea College studying Agriculture & Natural Resources and Engineering Technologies & Applied Design. Her life-long experience with horses and love for the outdoors inspires her to explore pathways in which equines can be used for responsible land stewardship and conservation. Senna is grateful for the opportunity to work in the horse logging program where she is expanding her knowledge of timber stand improvement while gaining more experience with timber felling and skidding with draft horses.
Lilli Shelton
Horse ProgramLilli is a senior Appalachian Studies major graduating in May 2024. She has been working for the college farm since starting at Berea and decided to switch to the forestry program for her last semester to explore her interest in the traditions of horse logging in the Appalachian region. In her free time, Lilli plays music and performs with the Berea College Bluegrass Ensemble.
Citlaly Cruz Garcia
FOCCitlaly is a second year student studying biology. She wants to get a better understanding of the environment around her through working at the center.
Edie Jo Wakin
FOCFall 2021, Spring 2024
Vanessa Carroll
ForestryVanessa is a sophomore Environmental science and Chemistry major. She loves all things outdoors, especially hiking. Her favorite thing that she does with the forestry department is plant identification. She learns something new every day!
Joseph Marks II
Horse ProgramJoseph is a native of Jackson County, Kentucky, and is currently majoring in Agriculture and Natural Resources with a minor in Business Administration. He has previous forestry work experience at the Sand Springs Sawmill in Jackson County.
Simon Davies
Forestry and Horse Logging Labor Student
Spencer Powell
Horse Logging TechnicianOffice Info: Forester's Cabin E-Mail: powells@berea.edu Spencer comes from a heritage of many generations of teamsters and team-drawn loggers along with team-drawn farmers. Several of his relatives on his mother's side came from Clay County, Kentucky, to log for Berea College back in the day. Aside from his love of horses, Spencer also loves being out in nature, so what better job than horse logging! He appreciates a good pair of mules/horses to which his life is indebted for their service to my family for many generations.
Lie Ford
Labor StudentLie Ford is a third-year student studying English and creative writing. She likes to paint and write and is interested in reflecting the natural world in her work.
Nova Lee
Labor StudentNova is a sophomore at Berea, and she is planning to double major in English and French. She enjoys reading, hiking, and making art in her free time, and is looking forward to learning more about forests during her time at the Forestry Outreach Center.
Charity Gilbert
Labor StudentFall 2022 - Spring 2023
Buddy “Trey” Prather III
Forestry Technician
Alison Adkins
Americorps VISTA2018-2019
Lucas Collett
Labor Student2018-2022
Kennet Manley
Fall 2019
Ilona Perler-Tomboly
Labor Student
Ashley Mike
AmeriCorps VISTA2017-2018
Julia Roberts
Environmental Education Leadership Corps Member2020-2021
Patience Martin
Summer--Fall 2022
Chase Denny
Student2018-2020
Stephen Nwaloziri
Student2017-2019
Tim Thiessen
Fall 2019
Jordan Byrnes
Student2018-2019
Gabriella Epley
StudentSummer 2018
Eunice Jarquin
StudentSpring 2018
Alex Wilson
StudentSummer 2018
Jasmine Reitze
Labor Student
Elijah R. Hicks
Labor StudentFall 2019 -Spring 2023
Michelle Berendsen
Environmental Education Leadership Corps Member2018-2019
Blake Day
Labor Student2019-2022
Chase, Melany, Malaya
Summer 2022
Hunter McDavid
Labor StudentSummer and Fall 2019
Rachel Hidding
Labor StudentSummer 2019
Trent Powell
StudentSummer 2018
Aloyce Riziki
StudentSummer 2018
Nhan Phan
Student2017-2018
Imelda Saintilma, Nhan Phan, and Armando Buenrostro
StudentsFall 2017 Our first group of labor students!