Jen was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, but somehow ditched the Southern accent when she left. She studied Geology at Colorado College, and really likes granite. Jen lived in Yosemite from 2003-2010, and now calls Talkeetna, AK home. She has a background in outdoor education and leading wilderness trips for adolescents. When she is not teaching for NOLS Wilderness Medicine she works for Talkeetna Air Taxi, which specializes in expedition support and flightseeing tours in the Alaska Range. She also started and directs a charitable nonprofit called Denali Rescue Volunteers. She started teaching for NOLS Wilderness Medicine in 2007.