Programs and Staff
Office Hours and Program Contacts
Community & Economic Development
Kristine Perry – Interim County Director, WSU Clark County Extension (Community & Economic Development Faculty), – kristine.perry@wsu.edu
The County Director administers the office, managing fiscal and personnel resources serving to maximize the benefit of WSU Extension programs to the citizens of Clark County. Kristine also oversees and manages the SNAP-Ed program. She has been with WSU Extension since 2009.
B.S. in Community Health Education, Western Washington University
M.S. Business, Leadership and Management, Western Governors University
4-H Youth Development
Missy McElprang – 4-H/Youth Development Regional Specialist Faculty, missy.cummins@wsu.edu
Missy Cummins grew up participating in 4-H in Idaho where her main focus of projects were home economics/miscellaneous and leadership. She comes to us from Bannock County (in SE Idaho) where she has worked as the 4-H Extension Educator for 5 1/2 years. In Idaho, Missy worked to increase the reach of the 4-H program in Bannock County through teen leadership, school enrichment, day camps, juvenile offender life skill development, and livestock programs for urban youth. She has four children, Sam, Jake, Aliza, and Addie.
M.Ed., Child and Family Studies, Idaho State University, Pocatello Idaho.
B.A., General Studies, Idaho State University, Pocatello Idaho.
Chantal Krystiniak – 4-H Youth Development Coordinator, chantal.krystiniak@wsu.edu
Chantal will be providing leadership for the Clark Extension work in the 4-H Youth Development Program of Clark County and efforts serving youth outside of the 4-H club system, specifically high-risk youth in detention and underserved populations. Chantal enjoys spending time in nature with Sherman, her miniature poodle.
M.S., Educational Leadership and Policy, Leadership for Sustainability Education Portland State University
B.S., Child and Family Development, Western Michigan University
Food Safety and Nutrition
Zena Edwards – Food & Nutrition Faculty, zena_edwards@wsu.edu
Zena Edwards does educational programming in the areas of Food Safety and Nutrition in Clark and Cowlitz Counties. In the area of Food Safety Zena helps consumers in handling food safely at home, as well as purchasing, storing, preparing and preserving food safely. She works with the Southwest Washington Health District and Cowlitz County Health Department in providing training in handling, preparing and serving foods safely to food service employees.
Courtney Payne – Program Coordinator, Courtney.e.payne@wsu.edu
Courtney Payne assists Zena Edwards in coordinating WSU Extension Clark County nutrition programs. Mrs. Payne conducts day-to-day outreach and logistical support for Extension activities, primarily for the WSU Extension Clark County Diabetes Prevention Program. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and taking her Cavalier King Charles pup on walks around the park.
M.S., Human Nutrition, Oregon Health & Science University
B.S., Human Environmental Sciences, Human Nutrition & Hospitality Innovation; Concentration in Dietetics, University of Arkansas
Family Nutrition Education Programs
EFNEP Adult Nutrition Education Program
Sara Peitzmeier – Interim EFNEP Coordinator Senior, sara.peitzmeier@wsu.edu
Sara is an EFNEP Educator with WSU Clark County Extension. She teaches classes in both English and Spanish. Sara is from Los Angeles but has fallen for the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. When she is not at work, Sara likes to be outside exploring the Columbia River Gorge with her husband and 2 children, walking her husky, or crafting a DIY project she found on Pinterest.
BS in Nutrition, Arizona State University. 2021
Maria Camacho – EFNEP Nutrition Education Assistant, maria.camacho@wsu.edu
Maria is an EFNEP Educator with WSU County Extension. She teaches classes for youth and adults in English, as well as Spanish classes for adults. She has experience in food safety and working with diverse communities. Maria was raised in Vancouver and loves exploring Washington state. After work, Maria enjoys going on hikes, cooking, road trips and spending time with her family.
AA in General studies, Clark College. 2019
Scotty Parrish – EFNEP Nutrition Education Assistant, scott.c.parrish@wsu.edu
Scotty is an EFNEP Educator with WSU Clark County Extension. He teaches nutrition education classes to students in Vancouver and Evergreen shool districts as well as adults in Clark County. After work, Scotty enjoys spending time in his garden.
Western Culinary Institute, Portland OR
SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program
Kristine Perry – Snap-Ed Program Manager, kristine.perry@wsu.edu
Kristine is the SNAP-ED Program Manager for Clark and Cowlitz Counties and has been with Snap-Ed since 2009. This program works in schools to educate youth on healthy eating and active lifestyles. In the community Snap-Ed works with families, teaching them how to shop, prepare, store and serve nutritious meals within limited resources. Classes are held in schools, community centers, WIC clinics, and food banks.
M.S in Management and Leadership, Western Governors University
B.S. in Community Health Education, Western Washington University
Anna Weyrauch – Nutrition Educator, anna.weyrauch@wsu.edu
Anna is a nutrition educator for the SNAP-Ed program. She teaches interactive nutrition to 2nd and 3rd grade within the Evergreen school district. She enjoys helping others learn about nutrition, so that they can increase health and wellness in their lives. Anna is thrilled to help members of her community find ways to take control over their health. In her spare time Anna enjoys being outdoors, whether it’s camping, hiking or rafting. If the Pacific Northwest weather is not cooperating she enjoys reading, dancing and cooking.
M.S. in Nutrition, National University of Natural Medicine. 2016
B.S. in General Science, emphasis in Biology & Human Physiology, University of Oregon. 2009
Ringo Nickel – Nutrition Educator, ringo.nickel@wsu.edu
Ringo leads the Snap-Ed Garden Enhanced Nutrition program to teach limited income children about nutrition through experiential gardening and cooking activities. Jodee works with students, teachers, Master Gardeners, Clark County Public Works, Clark County Juvenile Court, and others to provide these activities and opportunities to cultivate healthy young people.
B.A. in Sustainability/Community Development, The Evergreen State College. 2006
Angela Shields – Nutrition Educator, angela.shields@wsu.edu
Angela is a SNAP-ED nutrition educator. Her focus is teaching nutrition and wellness to the middle school population in the Evergreen School District and supporting the various SNAP-ED programs. Angela has extensive work experience throughout the years in health, wellness and community education. She is excited to work with a team that shares a love of teaching people the importance of nutritious food and the life changing benefits of exercise. Outside of work Angela’s second passion is coaching High School distance runners. She loves to run, hike, read, cook and spend time with her family.
B.S. Exercise Science, University of Oregon. 1992
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Southwest WA Commercial Agriculture Program
Justin O’Dea – Regional Agricultural Specialist Faculty, justin.odea@wsu.edu
Justin administers the Southwest WA regional Agriculture Extension program for WSU in Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania counties. Justin focuses on specialty crop production and strategies for farms to be profitable, sustainable, and resilient in regions with high urbanization pressure, but with strong potential for growth in local, high-value, and direct markets.
Justin trained in agronomy, soil science, and ecology, and primarily worked on projects in soil health, cropping systems/rotation, cover crops, reduced tillage, value-added grain production, and integrated weed and pest management. Before joining WSU, Justin worked for five years at Cornell Cooperative Extension in the Hudson Valley region of New York. His varied background includes working on multiple farms producing vegetables, fruits, and field crops in New York, Vermont, India, and Montana. Justin, his wife, and two children enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling, and visiting their extended families.
M.S. Land Resources and Environmental Sciences. Montana State University, 2011
B.A. Cultural Ecology and Sustainable Development. Evergreen State College, 2003
Kyle Bouchard – Research Technician and Program Assistant
Kyle assists with a project on rose stem girdler, an emerging pest of cranberries within the Southwest WA Commercial Agriculture Extension program.
Home/Community Horticulture, Natural Resource Stewardship & Land-based Economic Development
WSU Master Gardener Program
Erika Johnson – WSU Master Gardener Coordinator, erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu
A military brat, Erika spent her childhood in Texas, Mississippi, California, and the Philippines. She taught English in Korea, coordinated the summer youth volunteer program at the Oregon Zoo, and
most recently coordinated an AmeriCorps program out of Educational Service District 112, in Vancouver. Erika lives with her husband, Mark and their two dogs, Tucker and Lester. Erika enjoys gardening, cycling, and spending time with family.
B.S. in Biology, California State University, Stanislaus – Turlock, CA. 1993
Bekah Marten – School Garden Coordinator, rebekah.marten@wsu.edu
Bekah Marten partners with schools in Clark County to help support and resource teachers, staff and parents in the use of school gardens with students. As a child, an elderly neighbor first introduced her to gardening, and she now loves having the opportunity to introduce kids to the fascinating world of plants. Bekah enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, reading and volunteering as a Clark County Master Gardener.
B.A. in English, emphasis in Secondary Education, Central Washington University, 2000.
Small Acreage Program
Terry Koper – Small Acreage Program Coordinator – terry.koper@wsu.edu
Terry develops and coordinates educational programs for Clark County residents to increase their awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary to implement sustainable land management practices, with a priority on water quality.
Terry is enthusiastic about sustainable local agricultural systems and improving soil health. Terry has worked as a Resource Conservation Development (RC&D) Coordinator and Soil Scientist for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS-USDA). Terry also served as a Climate and Agricultural Analyst, the Coordinator of Northwest Rural Farms and Climate Change Initiative, and Adjunct Faculty at Mount Hood Community College. During leisure time, Terry is typically off skiing down a mountain, floating on a river, or hiking in a forest.
M.S. in Biology and in Soil Science. Utah State University – Logan, UT
B.S. in Environmental Biology, Chemistry Minor. Fort Lewis College – Durango, CO
Regional Forestry Program (based in Lewis County)
Patrick Shults – Regional Extension Forester – patrick.shults@wsu.edu
Patrick is the WSU Extension Forester for the SW corner of Washington. He started this position in the winter of 2018 and is working diligently to create educational opportunities for small forest landowners in this region. Prior to taking this job, Patrick lived in Michigan, where he was born and raised, and had spent the last several years working for non-profit organizations that utilized volunteers, education, and outreach to create healthier forests in both urban and natural settings. Patrick went to Michigan State University to earn his B.S. in Forestry and then went on to earn an M.S. in Forestry (also from MSU), where he conducted research focused on agroforestry and restoring soil with sustainable nutrient cycling. He hopes to use this range of experience and passion for teaching to develop programming that enables small forest landowners to achieve diverse management objectives.
Office Administration
Annette Vary-Getty – Fiscal Specialist II, annette.vary-getty@wsu.edu
Annette supports WSU Clark County Extension working with the County Director and Faculty by ensuring fiscal responsibilities, assisting the public and training workforce preparation employees. Before coming to WSU Clark County Extension, Annette worked in various positions where she gained experience in many areas, from permitting to warehousing.
Originally from Rhode Island, she has lived in Texas, Maryland, and Virginia before putting down roots in Vancouver. Annette is married; they have cats and love antiquing.
B.A. in Business Management, Pacific University