Our Team - Meet the forestry folks!

Clint Patterson

Head Forester

Office Info: Forester's Cabin CPO 2133 Phone: 859-985-3587 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 This time is what originally made Clint interested in forestry work.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.

FORESTRY

Wendy Z. Warren

Director: Forestry Outreach Center

Office Info: Forest Outreach Center CPO: 2133 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.

Education, Forestry

Glen Dandeneau

Assistant Forester

Office Info: Goldthwait Agricultural Building Room 114 CPO 1771 Phone: 859-985-3587 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!

Forestry, Flora, Fauna

John Abrams

Ecologist

John Abrams is a Berea native working at the Forestry Outreach Center as a Program Coordinator through the Americorps VISTA program. 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

Education, Hiking, Trees

Kayla Zagray

Education and Outreach Coordinator

Office Info: Forestry Outreach Center Phone: 859-756-3315 E-Mail: zagrayk@berea.eduKayla 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.

Education, Outreach

Phil Vogel

College Forester

Office Info: Forester's Cabin 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.

FORESTRY

John Hite

Horse Logging Technician

Office Info: Forester's Cabin 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!

FORESTRY

Sam Tackett

Horse Logging Technician

Office Info: Forester's Cabin 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.

FORESTRY

Abbie Phelps

Horse Care & Barn Technician

Office Info: Horse Barn E-Mail: phelpsa3@berea.edu

FORESTRY

Zen Dean

Horse Logging Technician

Office Info: Horse Barn E-Mail: deanz1@berea.edu

FORESTRY

Willow and Holly

Horse

Willow and Holly are special horses who are part of the Forestry Outreach Center team. They are both Suffolk Punches, a very rare breed of draft horse. They help the center perform sustainable logging within the forest.

Lucy and Theo

Horse

Lucy was born May 5th, 2021 and is the daughter of Holly. Theo is a bit younger and came from a farm in New Hampshire in late 2021. They are both growing into beautiful horses, inside and out.

Current Labor Students

Jeriel Byron-Dixon

Labor student

Jeriel is a second-year student at Berea College studying Engineering Technology and Applied Design with a minor 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.

Fall 2022 - Present

Zeke Williams

Labor student

Zeke 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.

Fall 2023 - Present

Simon Davies

Forestry Labor Student

Simon is an Agriculture and Natural Resources major, with a Math and English minor. He is interested in becoming a wildland firefighter after graduation and eventually getting a master's degree in forestry. His hobbies include hiking, painting, reading, and exercising. He has worked in both trail maintenance and with the horse loggers.

Fall 2022- present

Kya Norman

Labor Student

Kya is a Sophomore 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!

Fall 2021 - present

Jasmine Reitze

2021-present

Finn Mahoney

Forestry Labor Student

Finn 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.

Citlaly Cruz Garcia

Labor Student

Citlaly is a first-year student studying biology. She wants to get a better understanding of the environment around her through working at the center.

Fall 2022- present

Abigail Kingston

Labor Student

Fall 2023- present

Past Team Members

Spencer Powell

Horse Logging Technician

Office 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.

FORESTRY

Lie Ford

Labor Student

Lie 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.

Summer 2023

Nova Lee

Labor Student

Nova 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.

Summer 2023

Charity Gilbert

Labor Student

Fall 2022 - Spring 2023

Music
Hiking
Outreach

Buddy “Trey” Prather III

Forestry Technician

FORESTRY, FLORA, FAUNA

Alison Adkins

Americorps VISTA

2018-2019

Hiking, Nature Photography, Nature Trivia

Lucas Collett

Labor Student

2018-2022

Edie Jo Wakin

Fall 2021

Joseph Mecham

Summer 2020

Kennet Manley

Fall 2019

Olivia Dobson

Fall 2018

Emily Newton

Student

Summer 2018

Hiking, Outdoor Rec

Ilona Perler-Tomboly

Labor Student

Summer 2023

Ashley Mike

AmeriCorps VISTA

2017-2018

Education, Outreach

Julia Roberts

Environmental Education Leadership Corps Member

2020-2021

Patience Martin

Summer--Fall 2022

Chase Denny

Student

2018-2020

Stephen Nwaloziri

Student

2017-2019

Media, Hiking, Outdoor Rec

Tim Thiessen

Fall 2019

Jordan Byrnes

Student

2018-2019

Education, Hiking, Outdoor Rec

Gabriella Epley

Student

Summer 2018

Education, Outreach, Flora

Eunice Jarquin

Student

Spring 2018

Education, Outreach, Flora

Alex Wilson

Student

Summer 2018

Hiking, Science

Elijah R. Hicks

Labor Student

Fall 2019 -Spring 2023

Mycology
Hiking
Outdoors

Michelle Berendsen

Environmental Education Leadership Corps Member

2018-2019

Blake Day

Labor Student

2019-2022

Cameron Stites-Stevens

Fall 2021

Caleb Flege

Summer 2020

Chase, Melany, Malaya

Summer 2022

Hunter McDavid

Labor Student

Summer and Fall 2019

Rachel Hidding

Labor Student

Summer 2019

Trent Powell

Student

Summer 2018

Education, Hiking, Trees

Aloyce Riziki

Student

Summer 2018

Education, Hiking, Birds

Nhan Phan

Student

2017-2018

Education, Outreach, Art

Imelda Saintilma, Nhan Phan, and Armando Buenrostro

Students

Fall 2017 Our first group of labor students!