Woolman Staff and Board

Join Our Team

Staff

Shannon Boling

Retreats Manager

Roger Ferrill

Maintenance Assistant

Eli Ferrier

Facilities Manager

Cletus Hainsley

Groundskeeper

Coleen Hedglin

Executive Director

Ethel Winchell

Director of Finance
and Operations

Morgan Street

Programs Director

Board of Trustees

Alexa Hauser

Interim Treasurer

Olivia Henry

Trustee

Phyllis Jewell

Trustee

Dana Mallozzi

Trustee

Patricia Phillips

Recording Clerk

Heidi Pidcoke

Trustee

Sandra Schwartz

Clerk

Dan Shoemaker

Trustee

Lew Sitzer

Trustee

Rebecca Young

Trustee
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Woolman inspires and prepares individuals to work for peace, justice, and environmental sustainability, and to deepen their personal and spiritual growth.

- Bringing people together for peace and justice.

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Shannon Boling

Retreats Manager

A veteran retreats and events professional, Shannon Boling runs the Woolman Retreats program. She grew up just down the road in Groveland, the Gateway to Yosemite. Though her educational background is in social work, her professional background is in the event planning and hospitality industry. She loves bringing people together, and has been doing so across the country for over 15 years. She is an avid outdoors enthusiast, and enjoys adventuring with her husband and 2 children (usually on or near rivers), backpacking, and swimming. Contact Shannon at shannonb@woolman.org.

Roger Ferrill

Maintenance Assistant

Roger is part of Woolman’s caretaking team and focuses on facilities repairs and regular maintenance, making sure Woolman operates smoothly and efficiently.

Roger lives on campus in the a-frame overlooking Mel’s Pond, surrounded by nature and the forest in recovery from the Jones Fire. He is a handyman extraordinaire who’s excited about the land and continued improvement and sustainability. Contact Roger at rogerf@woolman.org.

Eli Ferrier

Facilities Manager

Eli Ferrier joins Woolman well qualified for the job. Eli is an experienced project planner and crew leader and is experienced with overseeing maintenance and development of large campuses like ours here at Woolman. He is a licensed General Building Contractor in California as well as a state credentialed teacher. He has taught trade skills for residential and commercial construction at local schools, including the local high school district and for Sierra College.

Eli is a born-and-raised Nevada County local that has been visiting the Woolman Campus intermittently for nearly 30 years. A self professed wilderness nut with a mountain of outdoor leadership experience, he has a genuine passion for environmental stewardship. Eli is glad to be a part of the Woolman team and looks forward to maintaining the special parts of Woolman and upgrading its rougher edges, while improving fire safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency of the campus. elif@woolman.org.

Cletus Hainsley

Groundskeeper

Cletus grew up not far from Woolman, in Roseville, Ca, and moved to Nevada City 5 years ago.  He loves working outdoors, in nature.  When not working he is out on the water fishing. He often goes to Alaska for seasonal work.  Cletus keeps our campus fire safe, our lawn well-groomed, and everything greened up in the summer with a complex irrigation system. Contact Cletus at cletush@woolman.org.

Coleen Hedglin

Executive Director

Coleen Hedglin brings to Woolman more than twenty years’ nonprofit management experience, including project startup and fundraising. She enjoys developing programs, leading teams, and facilitating workshops. Coleen holds a degree in Education and is passionate about child rights and healthy child development. She lived and worked in Haiti for 16 years, beginning as a Peace Corps volunteer. Coleen values life-long personal growth and learning. She believes in the power of dialogue and loves helping groups hold meaningful conversations. Coleen enjoys hiking, which keeps her grounded, and listening to music, which feeds her soul. Contact Coleen at coleenh@woolman.org.

Ethel Winchell

Director of Finance and Operations

Finance, marketing, operations and grant development are some of the areas of expertise of Ethel See-Winchell. Ethel has over 30 years of work experience garnered from the healthcare industry, mutual water company, and owns her own Event and Consulting Company.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Science Major in Marketing and has a Masters in Business Administration with emphasis on Marketing and Finance. A recipient of the prestigious San Fernando Valley Business Journal -Top 40 Young Executives and two-time nominee for the category PR and Customer Relations.

Ethel and her husband moved from Oregon to Northern California when Paul was offered a job to be the medical director for a state-funded rural community clinic in Oregon House, CA. They eventually purchased a home in the wonderful neighborhood of Lake Francis Estates, which is by the lake and a winery. Here, Ethel reinvented herself and got a UC Davis Master Gardener certificate and volunteered in the Yuba Environmental Science Academy’s teaching garden. She also served as a Board Member for the Alcouffe Community Center and the Lake Francis Mutual Water Company. Presently, she is a part of the State of California Waterboard Advisory Group (SAFER).  Her best-half, Paul, is Ethel’s super hero. He is a volunteer Fire Fighter and Yuba Sheriff Posse. Community service is where the heart of this couple lies.

When not working (in her mind, she is always working), you will find Ethel in her garden tending to beds of vegetables and an orchard of fruit trees. This hobby led her to learn how to preserve food by canning. There is also a creative part in Ethel. She expresses this by being an ‘edible artist’ wherein she paints on cookies! Ask her to see her portfolio. Ethel and Paul have 3 fur kids: Soda Pop – boss dog Bichon, Megan – princess Labrador Retriever, and Bella – kisser cuddly Border Collie. Contact Ethel at ethelw@woolman.org.

Morgan Street

Programs Director

An avid lifelong learner, Morgan comes to Woolman with an extensive background in nurturing innovative education programs for people of all ages that highlight community building, collaboration, and experiential learning. With a background in art and design, she is a practicing craftsperson and values incorporating creative exploration and hands-on activities into programming alongside activism, stewardship, and environmental appreciation. Originally from New England, Morgan has traveled and worked extensively throughout the US. She has many hobbies and often enjoys backpacking, kayaking, swimming, ceramics, basketry, and boatbuilding. Contact Morgan at morgans@woolman.org.

Coming Soon

Camp Director

Alexa Hauser

Interim Treasurer

Alexa happily joins the Board bringing 40 years of experience in the public school system as a teacher, staff developer, systems change facilitator, and principal.  From an undergrad major in Dramatic Art, followed by elementary teaching and administrative credentials, and a Master’s in staff development, she offers a commitment to equitable education, joy in the Arts, and an interest in how systems can work toward moral and humane aims.  In retirement, she has focused on community building, housing and food justice, and has become a neighborhood farmer.

Olivia Henry

Trustee

Olivia (she/her/hers) is a media and cooperative advocate living in Sacramento. She recently completed a master’s degree in community development at UC Davis, and served as a graduate intern for University of California Cooperative Extension, the Sustainable Economies Law Center and The Mendocino Voice. Olivia previously worked as a consultant for The Listening Post Collective in support of community information projects in California’s Central Valley. She’s also served in communications, outreach and community engagement roles with the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, KALW Public Radio, San Francisco Public Press, the Institute for Nonprofit News and Mother Jones.

Phyllis Jewell

Trustee

Phyllis (Flip) Jewell is the parent of a Fall 2013 graduate of The Woolman Semester, who still maintains ties with his Woolman cabin-mates as they each are following their own path to useful and fulfilling work.  Her son’s pivotal experience at Woolman, and her own Quaker heritage, have inspired Flip to remain committed to the organization.  She served on the Woolman board initially from 2015 to 2018, during which time she clerked the board’s Personnel Committee.  She rejoined the board in September 2020, and is assisting with board governance matters as they relate to the wide variety of projects the organization is considering and implementing.  She holds a B.A. in Modern European Languages & Literature from Pomona College and a J.D. from Tulane University School of Law.  She has practiced immigration law full-time in San Francisco since 1985, and founded her current firm 20+ years ago.  Her organizational management experience includes serving as her firm’s managing partner and overseeing its growth from four to thirty employees.  Her nonprofit governance experience includes past appointed and elected roles in the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Dana Mallozzi

Board Member

Dana is a John Woolman School alumna from the class of 1996. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from Dominican University of California as well as certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Luma Practitioner. Dana brings with her experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Currently, she works as an Audit Advisory & Risk Management Manager for a Bay Area software company where she has also supported Finance teams worldwide in the implementation of new systems and processes. Prior to that, after having spent several years as a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Northern California, she took on a council position managing the Fall Product and Cookie Sale fundraising programs for her region. She is the recipient of the Girl Scout Appreciation Pin, Green Angel Award, Centennial Award, and Honor Pin. Additionally, Dana has served on a number of volunteer lead boards in her local community supporting education and youth sports.

Patricia Phillips

Recording Clerk

Pat is a nurse for Home Health and Hospice.   She was raised mostly in New York State and moved to California in 1972 to attend college in Oakland.  She graduated from Merritt College with an A.A. in Early Childhood Education.  Then she attended Holy Names College and graduated with a B.A. in Sociology and Recreation and co-owned and operated a nursery school.  She moved to Nevada County looking for a spiritual home and to introduce her children to an organized spiritual group.  She discovered the Quakers in the Grass Valley Friends Meeting and has been a member for the last 40 years.  She was on staff at the John Woolman School from 1985 to 1992, serving in a variety of positions including running the farm and Health Care Coordinator.  In 1994 she graduated from American River College with a A.S. in Nursing.  As a Board member her interest stems from a deep love of the school and years there.  In many ways she felt transformed in my Woolman experience by working with the extraordinary staff, students and the mission of this type of education.  She believes that in these difficult times the world really needs education with the emphasis on sustainability, ecology, peace and Quaker values.

Heidi Pidcoke

Trustee

Heidi received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 1988 from Bryn Mawr College, and Masters in Psychology with an emphasis in Somatic Family Therapy in 1995 at the California Institute of Integral Studies.  She is a California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  Currently she works for the UN Institute for Training and Research, developing a cross-cutting program to address stress, trauma and increase resilience and well-being for those working in conflict and post-conflict settings.  She also has a private practice as a Tri-lingual Psychologist, with an international practice in English, Spanish and Portuguese focusing on a range of issues from trauma to depression, attachment issues and marital conflict.  She lived in Africa for 11 years working as a psychotherapist and Quaker Missionary. During her time in Kenya, she provided counseling as an income generating project for Watoto wa Lwanga whose activities focused on providing skills and schooling for orphans and vulnerable children.  Later she worked supporting the Alternatives to Violence Project  Kenya Trust in their work in refugee camps, slums and prisons. Previously in South Africa, she helped establish and direct the Mahube AIDS Project at the Wesley Methodist City Mission in Pretoria.  She also worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marin & Napa as Associate Executive Director, and the Marin YMCA as Director of Youth & Family Services. She began worshipping with Quakers during her college years, and became a member of San Francisco Monthly Meeting in 2001. She currently lives in Pasadena, California.

Sandra Schwartz

Clerk

Sandra became interested in CPFEA during the Woolman Semester School.  She saw youth blossom from the experience and knows that it made a real difference in their lives.  Sandra started attending a Friends Meeting in 1983 with her family while living in Bloomsburg, PA and was active with all the Quaker Meetings that she attended or been a member.  In 1997 she and her family settled in the Bay Area where she attends SF Friends Meeting.  She graduated from the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research in 1985 with a Masters in Social Policy and Program Development.   She earned a second Master’s in Law and Social Policy.  She has worked with Palestinian activist, Mubarak Awad, and Nonviolence International as well as Bread for the World.

Among many positions, she served on Hospitality, Children’s Religious Education, and Peace and Social Concerns Committee in San Francisco.  She has also served on the Latin America Concerns Committee of Yearly Meeting.  She worked for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) as the Peace Education Coordinator since 1999.  She has served on the Steering Committee for some of the large pre-war demonstrations that took place in San Francisco before the Iraq War started to small work committees that keep programs alive and growing.  She supervises the work of Pablo Paredes who started a youth program that is focused on migrant youth.

Dan Shoemaker

Trustee

Dan brings with him to the board more than twenty years of experience in higher education, and a passion for values-driven institutions. Dan holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of New Mexico, a Master’s degree in Popular Culture from Bowling Green State University, and a BA in Communications and Media Arts from Antioch College. Dan is also a 1990 alumnus of the Scholar Intern Program at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, in Atlanta, where he studied the history of the Civil Rights movement and Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence. While a student at Antioch, Dan worked in several different capacities for their Admissions Office, and was involved in alumni efforts to save the school from closure in 2008. Dan is delighted to be back in his native California, and to be amidst the natural beauty and calm of the Woolman campus.

Lew Sitzer

Board Member

Lew worked at JWS from 1974-78 teaching Farm and Garden, Math, Photography and PE. Previously, Lew and his wife, Eddy, established Sunflower School, a K through 8 parent-cooperative that accommodated many of the JWS staff children and served as the first alternative elementary school in the County.

Lew has spent his working life in education at each of the local public high schools. His career includes service projects in Mississippi, Laos and Romania. His board experience extends to BriarPatch Coop, United Way, Nevada County Public Access TV, KVMR, and the Nevada City Schools.

Lew returns to Woolman at Sierra Friends Center in hopes of reinvigorating the education program, developing a retreat center and stewarding the scarred landscape by supporting the organic farming program and helping to re-establish a vital community spirit.

Rebecca Young

Board Member

In the recent decade, Rebecca has been a business coach consultant with a global coaching organization. Presently she works with Human First Works, whose goal is to support purpose-driven founders and their teams in their quest for discovery and self-betterment, and to scale the impact of their organizations. They seek to provide clients with the resources they need to become inspiring and successful leaders, empower those around them, and building organizations that can shape a better future for all.

Past work experience includes holding senior positions (VP, SVP, COO/Co-Founder) positions in organizations ranging from financial services to technology to a genomics company.

Rebecca is energized when organizations grow because their teams are working well together, and individuals feel challenged and fulfilled in their roles.  She has managed marketing, sales, product development, and acquisitions teams, built business financial models, delivered leadership training programs, and helped make organizations more functional by streamlining organizational structure considering staff capacity and capability. Rebecca holds a BS from the University of Santa Clara and has completed UC Berkeley’s Professional Program in Life Science Business.