Ian Thompson

M.S. – Sustainability – Arizona State University
B.S. – Environmental Technology and Management – North Carolina State University

Ian grew up in North Carolina, which is where his passion for the outdoors developed. While working on his undergraduate degree, Ian had the opportunity to travel to Peru and Nicaragua which ignited a love of learning about other cultures and experiencing the diversity of experiences that traveling internationally has to offer.

After completing his schooling, Ian travelled to South America where he volunteered on various farms in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, before returning to Peru to run permaculture volunteer programs in the Peruvian Andes. It was during this time that Ian started to realize the impact that such a cross-cultural exchange could have on his life and chose to pursue a Masters in Sustainability with a focus on international development. Obtaining his degree enabled Ian to conduct research in Indonesia and Nepal, focusing on sustainable agriculture and community development.

Upon completing his degree, Ian settled in Colorado to work in outdoor leadership, empowering youth to take healthy risks in exploring the outdoors and cultivate new passions. During his free time Ian can be found exploring the mountains through backpacking, climbing, or any avenue that leads to more time in the outdoors.