Executive Director Rose is an Ozark native and has also lived in NY, France, TN, and VA. In Virginia, she worked for several environmental nonprofits, including StreamWatch and The Nature Conservancy. Since returning to NWA in 2018, Rose has worked for Crystal Bridges Museum and co-founded a forest school. In her spare time, Rose spends time with her family, hikes, makes art, and gives presentations about sustainability.

Operations Director Brent Heatherly came to ONSC from Missouri with a passion for the outdoors and the knowledge to fix whatever may break on campus. He has worn many hats from farm work and photographer to construction and as an award-winning brewer for Mother's Brewery. In his down time you can find him fishing, backpacking, cycling or out taking pictures.

Office Manager Jill graduated from Oklahoma State University with a BS in Elementary Education and from the University of Arkansas with a Master’s in Education. Jill is originally from a rural area in central Kansas but currently lives in Huntsville with her boyfriend, Fields, and 4 fur babies: Ruger, Loretta, Sammy, and Stryker. Jill loves Llamas, alpacas, coffee, music, and all things Oklahoma State.

Kitchen, Hospitality, and Maintenance Assistant Hanna is originally from west Texas but has lived in Arkansas since 2019. She graduated with a BA in studio art from Ouachita Baptist University and continues to create art inspired by the natural beauty of the Ozarks. Hanna came to ONSC with a love of nature, cooking, and a knack for folding fitted sheets. In her free time she enjoys visiting local art galleries, reading, and hiking.

Program Manager Liz grew up in the Ozarks and has always loved nature, which grew into a career path after attending the AEGIS Wet’n’Wild camp at ONSC in high school. She has more than 15 years of informal environmental education experience (including 8+ years as a Teacher Naturalist at ONSC) and 3 years of formal teaching experience (as an AMS Montessori certified teacher). She enjoys local music, cultural events, gardening, hiking, bicycling, kayaking, camping, and traveling.

Program Coordinator Breana has a background in education at the Boys & Girls Club, and as a Montessori teacher. She earned a BA in Cultural Anthropology with minors in History and Gender Studies at the U of A, and graduated from the University of Colorado with her Master's of Public Administration and a specialization in Nonprofit Management in 2023. She loves music, reading, cooking, meditating, spending time in nature, and goofing off with friends and family.

Senior Teacher Naturalist Dr. Joanie obtained a PhD (UofA, Fayetteville) to work toward solutions that protect wild areas. At ONSC, Joanie connects children with nature and inspires them to consider the effect of their choices on the environment. Previously, she was a Visiting Professor at UofA, Ft. Smith, and was part of the team searching for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. She is VP of the NWA Audubon Society. She enjoys birdwatching, playing guitar, and gardening.

Teacher Naturalist Mack has been in the Ozarks her entire life. Inspired by her grandfather to pursue sustainability and conservation as a career, she obtained a bachelor's in Environmental Studies from Ouachita Baptist University and joined ONSC shortly thereafter. She is passionate about the preservation of natural environments and loves teaching young naturalists about the wonders of the outdoors. In her spare time, she attends local music events or goes on adventures with dog, Molly.

Teacher Naturalist Matthew graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources in 2021 where he discovered a passion for ecology. After working with Roaring River State Park, he discovered another passion: sharing his love of the Ozark natural environment with visitors. It was this passion that led him to ONSC. Matthew likes spending his spare time playing banjo, camping, hiking, listening to music, and spending time with loved ones.

Teacher Naturalist Having obtained a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Arkansas, Zachary is currently pursuing a Masters in Stream Ecology. Being a Fayetteville native, he has a profound affection for the region and aims to impart his knowledge to the next generation of environmental scientists. During weekends, he enjoys accompanying his wife and daughter to the numerous splendid parks scattered across the NWA area.