Board Member (Past President)
Chris Bremner is a native of St. Louis, MO, a lover of mountains, who now calls the Hollywood Hills home. He was both a participant and trip leader for RLT, with more than 13 trips under his belt across 3 continents, and went on to run The Road Less Traveled's Staff Training Program. After studying History at Brown University, Chris became a screenwriter. Working in genres from action to comedy, drama to history, in television and film, he still tries to escape LA once a year, and get back to the wilderness. Expecting his first child this fall, Chris is dedicated to helping other young people experience the wilderness travel and education that has been so formative in his own sense of self and the world.
Board Member
Eric Nussbaum, M.D. has been intimately involved with both the Road Less Traveled and Geography of Hope for the past decade. Born in the Midwest, he was raised with a family tradition of outdoor education. Having traveled four continents, Eric now resides in Seattle, Washington and spends his free time when not working in the ER, at the base of Mt. Rainier, any number of slopes in the Pacific NW or on the trail with his trusty huskies - Flip and Boot. His daughter, Zoe, participated for five summers on RLT programs and Eric acted as Medical Director from 2016-2022. Eric is deeply committed to expanding opportunities for GOH to continue its work in the world opening eyes and broadening horizons for the next generation.
Board Member (President)
Donna Stein has been seeking adventure, perfecting travel, and teaching youth for over 30 years. In 2013 she brought new life to Geography of Hope: reestablished the organization in Chicago and refueled its purpose with her passion. Donna’s love of the outdoors began growing up in Detroit, Michigan. At an early age, during the turbulent ’60s, Donna escaped the hot summers of Detroit and found respite in the north woods of Michigan, where she discovered independence and solace in the outdoors. Donna gained extensive business experience in corporations and non-profit organizations before leaving the corporate world to found The Road Less Traveled, Donna is most happy these days in Michigan where she resides in nature with Daisy and Romeo deep in the woods.
Director Emeritus
Mark A. Smylie is a Professor of Education, Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Visiting Professor at Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University. A former high school teacher, he worked with schools, school districts, and regional and national educational organizations concerned with leadership development. Mark and his wife live in Oak Park, IL, and have three daughters each of whom traveled and studied abroad as high school and college students. Their daughter, Rachel, is a Road Less Traveled alum, a participant in the Hujambo trip to Tanzania. The Geography of Hope’s Rachel G. Smylie Memorial Scholarship was established in her memory and provides opportunities for high school students to experience the greatness of the people and natural environment of Africa.
Director Emeritus
Christopher B. Mann, PhD, Yale University, alumni staff of The Road Less Traveled founder of Geography of Hope and native Chicagoan, Chris shares a deep passion and commitment to providing life changing outdoor experiences for ALL children. Chris founded Geography of Hope in 1997 to share the value and enjoyment of the wilderness with young people who were not blessed with the opportunities he had to explore the wilderness as a child. Chris began backpacking in Colorado at the age of four with his grandfather and other family members. In addition to countless (but never enough) personal trips, he was a participant on Outward Bound, a leader for the Road Less Traveled, head ski guide, and is still working on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. Chris now lives in Saratoga Springs, NY with his wife and two children and is a professor of political science at Skidmore College.