Mary Catherine originally hails from Austin, Texas, and is enchanted by central Oregon’s beauty and unique ecology. With a master’s degree in conservation biology, she is passionate about nature’s power to affect positive change in our lives. This passion drew her to the work of Deschutes Wilderness Therapy. She believes connecting people to the earth promotes a sense of well-being and can also inspire environmental stewardship and leadership in changing our choices for a more sustainable future. Mary Catherine spent many years working with retired laboratory and former entertainment chimpanzees to provide cognitive enrichment and tend to their psychological welfare. She enjoys backpacking through countries around the world as well as through the central Oregon wilderness. When she’s not hiking or snowshoeing, Mary Catherine also spends her free time seeing live music or being engrossed in a good book.