M.A. in Sustainable Communities
- Graduated 2007
- Magna Cum Laude (4.0 GPA)
- Filmed, Edited short on Permaculture in El Salvador
- Thesis on an Alternative to Neoliberal Development
- Worked as U.S. Peace Corps Recruiter
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Robyn Wilson
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About
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Our Team
- Robyn
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Permaculture Activist
The philosophy behind permaculture is at the heart of everything Robyn does, which balances the environmental, social, and economic needs of land use and other decisions. She has been an instructor for six different college accredited permaculture labs and has expertise in food from the stages of growing, harvesting, processing, nutritional health, and cooking.
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Yoga Teacher
Robyn has practiced yoga since 1999. As a certified yoga instructor, she is passionate about encouraging others to live a healthy lifestyle. Her style is to combine Vinyasa Flow with Iyengar yoga philosophies. This allows for the benefit of building the practice on sequential poses while focusing on correct posture and body positioning to decrease the potential for injury and gain the most benefit.
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Grant Writer/Nonprofit Leadership
Robyn has worked with numerous non-profit organizations in different capacities from volunteer to executive director since 1995. She has successfully earned and managed over $600,000 in grants and fundraising events for different non-profits.
Robyn oversees a project that brought chickens to rural areas in El Salvador.
As the U.S. Peace Corps Recruiter at N.A.U. Robyn installed a peace pole that continues to stand today.
Robyn conducting a class at UCSM on sustainable development.
M.Ed. in Multilingual Bicultural Education
- Graduated 2007
- Cum Laude (3.8 GPA)
- Obtained TESL Graduate Certificate
- Advanced level of Spanish language
- Volunteered for New Day Peace Center
B.S. in International Business
- Graduated 1997
- 3.4 GPA in major
- Member of International Business Association
- Study Abroad in Seville, Spain
- Volunteered with Habitat for Humanity
Robyn's Career Highlights
- International trip leader for Project C.U.R.E since 2017
- Introduced yoga classes to Rangely, Colorado, Colorado Northwestern Community College, and Rocky Mountain National Park from 2013 to 2017
- Planted 10,000 trees in El Salvador as a volunteer for the U.S. Peace Corps
- Created the first accredited Permaculture Design Certification course and the Sustainability Certificate for Environmental Science at Colorado Mesa University. Taught six permaculture courses for CMU to date since 2010 with 90 students.
- Received $150,000 state grant plus schoarships for Colorado Northwestern Community College for first-generation/low-income students.
- Advised thousands of students from online and physical campuses in career and academic counseling; planned the interdisciplinary event, "Global Awareness Week" at Colorado Northwestern Community College.
- Filmed, edited and distributed film on Permaculture in El Salvador: An Alternative to Neoliberal Development
Robyn Resume
Professional Experience
Community Director 5/2017 – current; Grandma's Cabins, Fraser, CO
- Manage the property and tenants of the sustainably-focused community.
- Conduct community outreach to increase awareness and facilitate trainings on the property.
Adjunct College Instructor 2011 – current
- Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC)
- Colorado Mesa University (CMU)
- Prescott College
Director of Student Retention and Advising 3/2013-6/2016; Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC), Rangely, CO
- Lead the Advising and Department on two campuses with a staff of three and faculty advisors through advising and proactive intervention activities.
- Facilitate trainings to staff and bridge communication across departments.
- Grants: Leader of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI). Grant-writer of the $150,000 program grant and annual scholarships, lead instructor for academic and workforce skills. Lead of El Pomar Pipeline to College program
- Events: Global Awareness Week, Student Science Symposium, CNCC Orientation, Student Testing Advising and Registration days, Transfer Fairs.
Executive Director 6/2008-3/2013; University Centers of the San Miguel (UCSM), Telluride, CO
- Management of the non-profit organization: instructors, students, and staff, board of directors; communicate effectively with staff, grantors, colleges, and community; plan events; maintain and strengthen community and college collaborations.
- Education: Create and oversee continuing education classes and accredited courses; recruit and manage instructors and adjunct faculty; advise and register students; implementation of the Telluride Summer College with CMU.
- Special Initiative: Implement West End Strengthening Communities Grant ($25,000) allocation to perform a regional community education assessment, and launch the new video conferencing system between Naturita and Telluride.
- Regional Coordinator for Colorado Northwestern Community College supporting their distance courses and degrees and dual credit classes in 6 local high schools.
- Marketing: Created and implemented a regional multi-media marketing plan, recruit students.
- Accounting: Maintain fiscal responsibility and accurate bookkeeping and budgets.
- Fundraising and Grant Writing: Write grants to foundations, organizations, and governmental entities ($220,000), 2011 Event ($7,000), 2012 Event ($5,000) and ongoing scholarship fund.
- Accomplishments: Doubled enrollment, tuition income, programs, and partnerships
Environmental Educator and Development Assistant/Camp Counselor 8/2007-6/2008; Camp Colton, Flagstaff, AZ
- Education: Taught experimental environmental education to between 50-100 sixth graders at a residential camp through a combination of instruction and outdoor activities. Classes included: Wildlife, Botany, Pond and Water, Survival Skills, Personal Hygiene, and Map and Compass.
- Fundraising and Grant Writing: Wrote grants for $90,000. Managed fundraiser involving Arizona Tax Credits with a goal of $80,000. Assisted the community fundraising event with silent auction.
Northern Arizona Peace Corps Recruiter 12/2003-8/2007; United States Peace Corps, Flagstaff, AZ
- Managed the Flagstaff Peace Corps office in conjunction with the Los Angeles regional office.
- Recruited prospective volunteers through advertising, public speaking, conducting information meetings, and coordinating special events throughout the year.
- Possessed applicants through obtaining paperwork, interviews, and assessment.
- Accomplishments: Nominated 130 volunteers. Brought NAU from #20 to #10 in the country for currently serving alumni.
Municipal Development Volunteer 5/2000-7/2002; United States Peace Corps, El Salvador
- Assisted the municipal government in forming and training community groups. Wrote grants for developmental projects. Planned eco-tourism excursions. Aided medical missions and assisted the mayor’s office with translation and NGO partnerships.
- Provided short and long-term disaster relief for 30,000 local earthquake victims.
- Reforestation: Developed and implemented a two-year reforestation program involving 10,000 trees, 15 rural communities, and 300 students.
- Aided the formation of the regional chapter of Habitat for Humanity, participated in fund raising, and coordinated national and international volunteers.
- Facilitated women’s and youth education and sustainable development projects.
International Sales Coordinator 6/1997-7/1998; San Jamar, Elkhorn, WI
- Coordinated international activities by working with international managers and customers.
- Attended trade shows, supported promotional activity, and product development.
- Maintained contract pricing updates, international forecasts, and product allocation.
- Responsible for coordination of product orders, documentation, shipment for all international orders.
Teaching Experience
Teaching and Facilitation Experience:
- 2017 Yoga instructor – Rocky Mountain National Park
- 2015, 2016 World Interdependence: Population and Food – Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC)
- 2015 Introduction to College Experience - CNCC
- 2015 Teaching Internship - CNCC
- 2014- 2016 Yoga instructor (accredited and community education) - CNCC
- 2014, 2016 Instructor: Permaculture Design Certificate - Colorado Mesa University (CMU)
- 2011, 2012, 2013 Facilitator and co-instructor: Permaculture Design Certificate - CMU
- 2012 Facilitator: Certificate for Sustainable Practices - CMU (9 credits – Mycelium, Ecological Restoration, Beekeeping, Watershed, Permaculture Design Certificate)
- 2012 Mountainfilm for Educators – Graduate Continuing Education - CMU
- 2011-2012 Facilitator: Finding Solutions Series (ten annual with Wilkinson Public Library)
- 2009-2012 Instructor Pedagogy - University Centers of the San Miguel (UCSM)
- 2008-2013 Curriculum and Program Development: Second Languages, Computer Applications, Business/Non-profit Development, Sustainable Studies, Film, Cultural Enrichment - UCSM
- 2010 Instructor: Introduction to Permaculture - CMU
- 2010 Instructor: Environmental and Multicultural Education - Prescott College
- 2009 Instructor: Introduction to Permaculture - CMU
- 2009-2012 Private Instructor: Spanish – Telluride, Colorado
- 2008 Private Instructor: English as a Second Language – Telluride, Colorado
- 2007-2008 Environmental/experiential education teacher - Camp Colton, Flagstaff, Arizona
- 2006 Practicum: Spanish Education at Puente De Hozho Bilingual school, Flagstaff, Arizona
- 2000-2002 Project Lead in El Salvador: Reforestation, Efficient wood burning stoves, disaster relief; Instructor: cultural awareness training for new volunteers, English as Second Language
Volunteer and Training Experience
Volunteer Experience
- Project C.U.R.E. - Trip leader, International volunteer medical clinics(2017 - current)
- Red Cross: Disaster Relief Volunteer – Western Slope Chapter, Colorado (2011 – current)
- Rangely Community Garden member – Rangely, CO (2015 – 2017)
- Ridgway Community Garden member – Ridgway, CO – (2009 – 2011)
- Flagstaff New Day Peace Center–Co-Founder, Board Member - Flagstaff, AZ (2003-2008)
- Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Northern Arizona – Chair (2004-2008)
- Mountain Meadows Permaculture Farm Volunteer - Flagstaff, AZ (2003-2007)
- English as a Second Language Tutor – Winter Park, CO (1999)
- Habitat for Humanity - Whitewater, WI and El Salvador (1993-1997, 2001-2002)
- International Business Association – Whitewater, WI (1994-1997)
Additional Training and Experience
- 2017: Small Business Development training – Grand County
- 2013 – 2016: College Advising/Intervention workshops and conferences
- 2015, 2016: Diversity Summit, Title IX and Sexual Assault Advocacy
- 2008 – 2013: Non-profit trainings: leadership, budgeting, fiscal responsibility, program and personnel management, evaluation, strategic planning, marketing, grant writing, etc.
- 2004 – 2012: Wilderness First Responder Certification
- 2011: Biodynamic Farming; Beekeeping; Social Media; Women in Leadership
- 2010: Permaculture Design Certificate; AIARE Avalanche Level 1
- 2009: Building Farmers
- 2008: Passive Solar Home Design
- 2007: Master Gardener; Beekeeping
- 2006: Documentary Film Production
- 2005: Grey Water Systems; Permaculture Practicum
- 2003: Community Market Design and Evaluation
- 2002: ACTFL/ETS Advanced level of Spanish Language
- 2001: Disaster Preparedness and Relief; Community Leadership Development (El Salvador)
- 2000: Peace Corps Technical, Cross Cultural, and Language Training (El Salvador)
- 1996: Foreign Study – Sevilla, España
Publications and Presentations
Publications:
Video Documentary Production: “Permaculture In El Salvador”, featuring the Permaculture Institute of El Salvador (http://www.mountainmates.com/pages/Projects/IPES-movie.htm).
Presented at:
- 8th International Permaculture Conference (Brasil 2007)
- RESET: Humanitarian Impacts of Climate Change and Peak Oil (England 2008)
- Rocky Mountain Conference on Latin America (Arizona 2008)
Permaculture Design Certificate recruitment video (2012)
“Confessions of a Permaculture Activist: Design Course Facilitation”, (Pending publication)
“New Horizons: Sustainable Community Living” (Blog)
Presentations:
- 2016 Science and Service Symposium at Colorado Northwestern Community College
- 2015 Global Awareness Week at Colorado Northwestern Community College
- 2015 Rangely Community Garden Permaculture Orchard Project
- 2012 Rocky Mountain Experiential Education Conference, Quiviera Conference: Exhibitor
- 2012 Ouray Agriculture Symposium, and Winter Park Workshop: Permaculture and Orchards
- 2010-2012 Ridgeway Community Garden Permaculture Orchard Project
- 2012 UCSM Video Conferencing Telluride-Naturita launch
- 2006 World Aids Day Presentation - NAU, Flagstaff, AZ
- 2005, 2006 Peace Pole Ceremonies for Peace Corps – Flagstaff, AZ