Marisa Sedlak, Executive Director
I am thrilled to be the Executive Director of Mountain Alliance. I volunteered with Mountain Alliance back in undergrad, and am excited to be back! I have a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management and a Masters in Public Administration with a focus in nonprofit management from Appalachian. In past jobs I have always been able to work with youth, so I am stoked to continue that in this position. I love working with youth and inspiring them to grow and learn! In my free time I love spending time with my family, pets, and friends. I also enjoy hiking, camping, and backpacking. Any day spent outdoors is an awesome day!
Rachel Witmer, Associate Director
I have been with Mountain Alliance for almost 15 years - starting off as a volunteer and working my way up into my current role - and it has been an absolute blast! I have a degree in Recreation Management from ASU and minors in Non-Profit Management and Photography as well as 9 years of experience working at summer camps and several years working for ASU’s Outdoor Programs when I was in college. In my personal life, I love theatre, dance, and Disney!
My absolute favorite thing about working for Mountain Alliance has been creating connections with students - watching them grow, celebrating their successes, helping them work through challenges, and just simply getting to be a part of their lives and be someone they can lean on for support. As far as programs go, I absolutely LOVE Youth Service Day! It’s the best day of the year! It’s always so exciting to get a bunch of people together and do service all over the community. Alternative Spring Break trips have also always had a special place in my heart. I have been particularly fond of our “Service in Savannah” programs. I love the combination of serving at a variety of locations, exploring a really cool city, and spending time at the beach. They have always been such a fun experience - and watching dolphins swimming in the ocean at sunrise isn’t too bad, either!
Leah Mosher, Watauga County Program Director
Hello my name is Leah Mosher and I’m so excited to be the new Watauga Program Director here at Mountain Alliance! I graduated from ASU with a degree in Recreation Management and a minor in leadership studies. I got involved with Mountain Alliance as a volunteer in 2020 and have stayed around ever since! Some of my most impactful memories have been through the outdoors and I hope to give the students a similar impactful experience.
In my free time I love all things outdoors ranging from hanging out basking in the sun to climbing and biking. I’m stoked to go on some adventures and create some lasting memories with Mountain Alliance!
Colleen McClare, Avery County Program Director
Hi, my name is Colleen McClare and I'm excited to be the Avery Program Director! I grew up in New Hampshire, attended the University of New Hampshire, and graduated with a Bachelor's in Outdoor Education. Since earning my degree I have worked in the Outdoor field in roles such as Naturalist and Kayak Program Director for the Fish and Game Department, Field Guide in Wilderness Therapy, and Program Director for a national Outdoor Education Company. My work has brought me across the country, and even internationally, where I worked in Australia for a year. In my free time you can find me drinking coffee and reading a book, riding some mountain bike trails, trail running, backpacking, or really anything outside! I love helping connect people to the outdoors and am excited to be able to work with high schoolers in Avery County!
Sarah Briggs, Program Administrator
I am so excited to be a part of the Mountain Alliance team as the new Program Administrator! I grew up near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but moved to the High Country in 2017 to pursue a degree in Recreation Management with a minor in Sustainable Development at Appalachian State University. I love traveling and adventuring outdoors whether it be skiing, hiking, camping, fishing, or kayaking, and bringing my fluffy golden retriever husky mix with me. I love working with youth as a mentor and watching them learn and grow while they teach me all kinds of things. I am so grateful for what Mountain Alliance does for our awesome high school students and love getting to be a part of the inspiring and transformative experiences at School's Out and on programs! I am looking forward to adventuring on more outdoor experiential trips with the students and bringing artistic and educational activities to School's Out!