Mike (he/him/his) started his NOLS journey by taking a Wind River Mountaineering course in 2011 and has taken many courses since. In 2023 he took his first Wilderness First Responder and Alaska Instructor Course. Outside of NOLS, he is a professor of sociology at a small liberal arts college in Grand Rapids, MI. He specializes in topics pertaining to environmental justice & sustainability and studies punk rock and skateboarding subcultures. He is inspired by community based-learning, experiential learning, and outdoor education.