Gillian grew up in a small New Jersey town and attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York where she graduated with a BA in psychology and philosophy and a minor in child advocacy. Studying abroad in England was where she first found her passion for the outdoors. She now cherishes all outdoor activities, but especially backpacking, skiing, trail running, and cycling. She maintains that travel is one of the best things someone can do to gain cultural exposure and humility, endure and conquer hardships, and learn about oneself.
Upon graduation, Gillian moved to Colorado and earned her Master of Social Work degree with certificates in Human-Animal-Environment Interactions and Global Social Work. During this time, she gained experience working with people of all identities in both therapeutic and recreational settings. In the past few years, her work has focused on enhancing the physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being of those with disabilities and those who are under-resourced. Gillian has led gap semesters with ARCC to Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands, as well as a custom program to Costa Rica; she is so excited to experience her first summer with ARCC!