Our Team

Betsy Warriner, Board President

Before moving to Bend, Betsy was the Service-Learning Partnerships Coordinator at Portland Community College. Previously, as the Volunteer Center Coordinator at Seattle University, she worked with faculty, students, and community agency partners to facilitate the service-learning curriculum. She holds an MA in Teaching degree from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in Guidance and Counseling from UNC Chapel Hill.

Kelly Herman, Board Secretary

Kelly is co-owner of Topspin Tennis, a thriving Bend business, and is a public relations consultant and executive coach. In California, she consulted with companies and organizations to shape and implement their public relations campaigns – including Community Impact, which is now Hands On Bay Area. She volunteers widely, and encourages her children's involvement in service-learning.

Sue Blackford, Board Treasurer

Sue is an artist and local business owner. She has a Ph.D. in statistics from UC Riverside, taught statistics at UC Berkeley, cofounded the Statistics Department at UC Riverside, and is a statistical consultant. Her published articles cover adolescent behavior and discrete probability. Her volunteer experience includes teaching art to people with disabilities. Sue brings considerable expertise in finance to the board.

Nick Biddle, Board Member

Nick is a founding member of our board. With a Ph.D. in Latin American history, from Duke University, he has taught Latin American history and led summer study abroad trips to Ecuador and Peru, where students lived with indigenous communities, learning and serving. Currently on leave from the board, Nick is teaching in Bolivia with Amizade, a service-learning-abroad program.

Beverlee Jackson, Board Member

Bev is a faculty member and program director for Health Information Technology at Central Oregon Community College. She utilizes service-learning methodology, has taught many service-learning workshops, and guided Crook County High School to its designation as a National Service-Learning Leader School. For two years, she was the Service-Learning Education Specialist with the Oregon Department of Education.

Alison Olkowski, Board Member

Alison is a student at Central Oregon Community College. She recently completed a year with AmeriCorps as a Program Specialist with Camp Fire USA. As such, she was a coordinator for the Gift of Giving service-learning program. Alison was on the student council at her high school and was part of the school's Sparrow Club. She also brings expertise in fund-raising through fashion.

David Stuehling, Board Member

David is a financial planner with Ameriprise Financial Services in Bend. His years of experience in financial advising are a significant asset to the board. Previously, Dave worked as an application engineer. He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and is currently a Big Brother. Dave holds a BA in organizational management.

Wendy Winchel, Board Member

Wendy is principal of the Westside Village Magnet School, in the Bend/La Pine School District. She has been a school administrator for four years, following sixteen years of classroom teaching. She encourages volunteering in the schools and student involvement in service-learning. Wendy is a strong advocate for the ethic of volunteering and giving back to the community.

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