As Executive Director of KMTA, Rachel oversees the organizations's strategic direction, program development, and overall operations. She is a community and environmental health advocate with over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, education, and research. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from Southwestern University, and a Masters in Marine in Environmental Affairs from the University of Washington. She has a deep respect for nature and a passion for helping expand access to the outdoors. As an avid outdoor enthusiast herself, you can find Rachel spending her spare time recreating with her family and dogs in Alaska's beautiful forests, mountains, and waters (many of her favorite which lie KMTA corridor).
You can reach her at rachelblakeslee@kmtacorridor.org.
Jessa West has previously worked as a project geologist with over seven years of experience within various areas of geosciences in Alaska. She received a B.S. in Geology with a concentration in Environmental and Engineering Geology in spring of 2014 from Western Washington University. Growing up in Anchorage with access to all the natural beauty that surrounds it, including the KMTA corridor, inspired her love for the outdoors. To this day, she enjoys camping, hiking, beachcombing, and recreating with her family throughout Alaska’s mountains, coastlines, and everywhere in between.
You can reach her at jessawest@kmtacorridor.org.
Karen was born in the KMTA community of Seward and raised in another KMTA community - Cooper Landing. She is now based out of Anchorage. Prior to KMTA she spent time running a documentary-style family photography business along with educating multiple children at home. As KMTA’s Marketing and Communications Manager she works to consistently articulate the vision and mission of KMTA and increase the awareness of the National Heritage Area in a progressive and collaborative manner. Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Communication with emphasis in Public Relations and Advertising from the University of Alaska Anchorage as well as a Digital Art degree from Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna. When not working or wrangling a herd of children or trying to read uninterrupted, she plays softball, runs, hikes, bikes and enjoys being physically active as much as possible.
You can reach her at karenlewis@kmtacorridor.org.
As the Education Program Manager, Sarah works to connect young Alaskans to their public lands through residential, place based educational programs. Drawn toward education in nontraditional settings, she has worked with The Glacier Institute, Montana Outdoor Science School, Teton Science Schools, and The Traveling School, teaching and traveling with students in South America on an experiential overseas semester. Sarah now lives and works within the National Heritage Area, calling Moose Pass home and working seasonally for the Forest Service as a backcountry ranger and wildland firefighter on the Chugach National Forest. She holds a B.S. in Molecular & Cellular Biology from the University of Puget Sound, and loves to be in the mountains learning, recreating, and foraging for her favorite wild foods.
You can reach her at sarahschuh@kmtacorridor.org.
Jessa West has previously worked as a project geologist with over seven years of experience within various areas of geosciences in Alaska. She received a B.S. in Geology with a concentration in Environmental and Engineering Geology in spring of 2014 from Western Washington University. Growing up in Anchorage with access to all the natural beauty that surrounds it, including the KMTA corridor, inspired her love for the outdoors. To this day, she enjoys camping, hiking, beachcombing, and recreating with her family throughout Alaska’s mountains, coastlines, and everywhere in between.




As the Alaska Outdoor School (AOS) Program Manager, Sarah works to connect young Alaskans to their public lands through residential, place based educational programs. Drawn toward education in nontraditional settings, she has worked with The Glacier Institute, Montana Outdoor Science School, Teton Science Schools, and The Traveling School, teaching and traveling with students in South America on an experiential overseas semester. Sarah now lives and works within the National Heritage Area, calling Moose Pass home and working seasonally for the Forest Service as a backcountry ranger and wildland firefighter on the Chugach National Forest. She holds a B.S. in Molecular & Cellular Biology from the University of Puget Sound, and loves to be in the mountains learning, recreating, and foraging for her favorite wild foods.








