[This article originally appeared in the Fall 2019 HMI Newsletter]
Since April, we have welcomed seven new faculty and staff members to HMI. We are thrilled about the experience and energy that they bring and are excited to introduce them to you!
Dave Clark-Barol
Position: Director of Summer Programs and Wilderness Coordinator
Hometown: Falmouth, MA
When did you start at HMI: I’ve been lucky enough to work at HMI in a fair number of capacities off and on over the years, the first being as a Spanish Apprentice in 2011.
What were you doing before coming to HMI? Before beginning this new position, I was working for Downstream Construction here in Leadville building timber frame homes as well as the new faculty housing for HMI!
What do you love about your new job? I love the broad scope of the position— working with the semester as an evac coordinator, the Gap as a climbing instructor, and the summer programs as an administrator allows me to continue to be involved with numerous facets of the school.
What’s the most interesting thing that you’ve noticed about HMI or Leadville so far? Fall never disappoints in Leadville! The days are crisp, but not cold, the alpine vegetation turns a beautiful red and the aspens pop with color. It’s just the best time to be in the high country.
What is your unique talent? Tough question… I suppose I consider myself a radical moderate, not in political terms, but in the sense that I’m uniquely pretty okay at a lot of things. It’s no way to get sponsored, but it suits me and allows me to engage with a variety of people and places through all sorts of mediums.
Moe Leneweaver
Position: Director of Development
Hometown: Chandler, AZ
When did you start at HMI: April 2019
What were you doing before coming to HMI? I was fundraising for an environmental advocacy organization based in Denver.
What do you love about your new job? I love getting to know our community of supporters and hearing what an impact they have on the world through our students and alumni.
What’s the most interesting thing that you’ve noticed about HMI or Leadville so far? Before coming to HMI, I have never been greeted by colleagues with an enthusiastic “Wow, you look so CLEAN!” This, of course, happened after they all returned from 18 days of not showering in the backcountry.
What is your unique talent? I have a really good memory. In fact, I still remember my lines from a play in second grade!
Amy Roberts
Position: Director of the Semester Program & Academic Dean
Hometown: Old Saybrook, CT
When did you start at HMI: July 2019
What were you doing before coming to HMI? I was the Dean of the Class of 2019 at The Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, NY
What do you love about your new job? I love leading a team of hard-working, dedicated faculty members who care deeply about our school and our students.
What’s the most interesting thing that you’ve noticed about HMI or Leadville so far? I’ve tried about 12 different types of seltzer since moving here. HMI folks are obsessed with seltzer.
What is your unique talent? I’m a total pool shark!
Lupe Bobadilla
Position: Admissions Associate
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
When did you start at HMI: August 2019
What were you doing before coming to HMI? I was in grad school at Loyola Marymount University and obtained my Masters in Higher Education Administration
What do you love about your new job? I love the community at HMI and the constant support I receive from my co-workers and students. I enjoy connecting with students and hearing their amazing stories.
What’s the most interesting thing that you’ve noticed about HMI or Leadville so far? At HMI your co-workers are truly your friends. Also, in Leadville there is only one main coffee shop—that line gets long!
What is your unique talent? I guess my curiosity and adaptability. I always throw myself into new experiences without giving it a second thought. At times it is rewarding, but there have been moments I made crummy decisions. For example, at age 7, I put my hand in a blender because I was curious.
Izzy Zucker
Position: Math Faculty
Hometown: Orinda, CA
When did you start at HMI: September 2019
What were you doing before coming to HMI? I was leading backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada mountains and learning to climb.
What do you love about your new job? I love being a part of such a supportive and fun community of both staff and students in an incredibly beautiful place.
What’s the most interesting thing that you’ve noticed about HMI or Leadville so far? Leadville is home to a community of some of the most caring, welcoming and passionate people I’ve ever met.
What is your unique talent? Endurance. Endurance running, endurance swimming, endurance dancing, endurance knitting.
Joe Marks
Position: Maintenance Assistant
Hometown: Boonville, NY
When did you start at HMI: June 2019
What were you doing before coming to HMI? I was building a 13,000 square foot concrete home on a mountain side near Pikes Peak.
What do you love about your new job? I love the group of people I work with. Everyday is fun and my co workers are full of energy.
What’s the most interesting thing that you’ve noticed about HMI or Leadville so far? Leadville and HMI are very healthy and happy places. You have to be tough to live at 10,000 feet.
What is your unique talent? I can swim in an alpine lake for at least a full minute.
Erik Schmidt
Position: History Faculty
Hometown: Newmarket, NH
When did you start at HMI: August 2019
What were you doing before coming to HMI? I was working at an all boys camp in central New Hampshire.
What do you love about your new job? From day one, I was welcomed into the HMI family. I have felt at home from the very beginning. Hiking around in the wilderness for 18 days at a time is a really nice bonus too!
What’s the most interesting thing that you’ve noticed about HMI or Leadville so far? The miner pride is fierce.
What is your unique talent? I make a mean smoothie.