Staff Spotlight – Mara Gans

Born and raised in Lander, Wyoming, Mara developed an early connection to the natural world that continues to shape her personal and professional journey. As a child, she fell in love with studying science outdoors, an experience that sparked a lifelong curiosity about landscapes, ecosystems, and the stories they hold. Outside of work, Mara enjoys spending her time skiing and climbing-activities that keep her grounded in the places that first inspired her.

While Mara did not earn a degree directly from Central Wyoming College, CWC played a pivotal role in her educational path. After completing her bachelor’s degree and spending several years working in outdoor education, Mara returned to CWC to build upon her academic foundation and develop new technical skills. She enrolled in two courses focused on Geospatial Information Science (GIS), seeking tools that would deepen her understanding of place-based work and research.

During her time at CWC, Mara also participated in summer expeditions with the Expedition Science program at the Alpine Science Institute and pursued undergraduate research exploring archaeology through the lens of geography in partnership with Professor Todd Guenther. These experiences proved transformative. Through her coursework, research, and mentorship at CWC, Mara gained both the skills and confidence to pursue graduate education, as well as a deep appreciation for public education at the community college level.

Mara took classes at CWC in the fall of 2017. Prior to returning to CWC, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Conservation Biology from Middlebury College in Vermont. Following her time at CWC, she went on to earn a Master of Science in Cultural and Environmental Resource Management from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington.

Today, Mara describes herself as having her “dream job”-teaching at Central Wyoming College. She currently teaches Expedition Science and Geospatial Information Science (GIS), a field focused on making maps and using spatial data to explore and solve real-world problems. Expedition Science blends outdoor education, GIS, field skills, and environmental science, preparing students for careers in science, land management, and outdoor professions. Her students are often interested in paths with agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, Game and Fish, the National Park Service, or the U.S. Forest Service, as well as careers in alpine research, wildland firefighting, avalanche education, and wildlife biology.

Reflecting on her time as a student, Mara says her favorite part of CWC was working alongside the incredible faculty and having the opportunity to study the unique ecosystems of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the Wind River Basin.

She recalls how deeply the faculty care about teaching and how much heart and energy they bring to their work. Especially meaningful were alpine expeditions in the Wind River Mountains, learning about human history through archaeology fieldwork with Todd Guenther, and studying glaciers and river systems during science expeditions with Jacki Klancher and Darran Wells.

One experience stands out above all-summiting Gannett Peak with CWC students during the total solar eclipse, a memory that continues to inspire her work with students today.