Born and raised on the Southeast Coast of Massachusetts, Alyssa moved to Arizona to earn her Bachelors degree in Psychology from Northern Arizona University. Upon graduation, Alyssa began work at an integrative community behavioral health center, specifically working with adults struggling with mental illness and addiction. It was at this job where she led a mindfulness & movement group and saw how impactful both are in alleviating overall health conditions. Inspired by this, Alyssa began work at a holistic residential treatment center that served adults struggling with physical ailments, addiction, and mental illness, where the focus was teaching awareness of the self in overcoming life challenges and illness.   With a strong belief that everyone holds the ability to create the world around them, Alyssa is passionate about empowering others and shining a light on everyone’s strengths and gifts they bring to the world. She was drawn to Dragonfly Transitions, and the Homestead specifically, because the program seeks to assist in the development of the self while connecting with and learning from the natural world around them.  In her free time, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, reading a good book, writing, driving back roads and listening to music, and spending time in nature… especially by the water!

Holly is an alumna of Oregon State University where she studied agriculture science. She was born and raised in Klamath Falls, Oregon. She has spent her life enjoying the Pacific Northwest and all that it has to offer with camping, hunting, and fishing. She is married to her high school sweetheart of seventeen years. Together they have a young daughter who is the light of their life. Holly enjoys the country lifestyle and the tranquility it offers. She raises chickens, loves gardening, and relishes wide open spaces.

Holly enjoys helping students process and lending an open ear to those who need someone to talk to. Dragonfly has provided her with the best of both worlds. She able to connect with others and help them on their journey and also get her hands dirty on the farm while putting her studies in agriculture to work.

Born in New York, Jon grew up in the Adirondack Mountains. For close to a decade Jon spent his summers teaching swimming, wilderness survival, working high ropes, and leading 50-mile canoe treks. His passion for education and the outdoors lead him to study at SUNY Potsdam where he earned a degree in Sociology and Wilderness Education. Afterward Jon spent two years working as a Community Organizer before leaving his desk job for the Appalachian Trail. Jon brought these experiences with him as he spent the next few years working for a prominent Wilderness Therapy company in Utah. There he learned the value of turning inwards, how to examine and expand one’s emotional world, and how to find your way out of the desert. In his own time Jon developed a passion for canyoneering, white-water rafting, and Dungeons & Dragons. In 2018 Jon followed some close friends to Klamath Falls where he began working at Dragonfly. When he isn’t on campus Jon can be found rafting the Deschutes, playing games, and making excuses to avoid running.

Ivy was born and raised in Bend, Oregon where she learned to love and appreciate the outdoors and all of the people she met along the way! She has lived in Klamath Falls since 2009 and loves the small-town vibe and the wide variety of weather. Ivy lives here with her boyfriend, son and dog and loves to take them hiking, fishing, camping, swimming, biking, or anything outdoors. She is super crafty, and kind of a handywoman. Ivy is currently attending college for a bachelor’s in psychology. She is looking forward in using her studies and skills here at Dragonfly to help others!

Ivy is so honored and happy be to a part of the Dragonfly team, to teach and to learn from staff and students.

Amanda grew up in Rockingham North Carolina and spent her childhood outdoors hunting, fishing and exploring. As she grew older she realized that she was struggling with depression and anxiety. Fishing with her dad was a sure-fire way to help calm anxiety, but Amanda was looking for additional skills to support her in her transition into adulthood. She decided to enroll at Dragonfly Transitions.Dragonfly supported Amanda in learning self-love and confidence. She gained an immense knowledge of coping skills (that still includes fishing!).

Upon graduation from Dragonfly, Amanda worked as an elementary school P.E. teacher at Conger Elementary in Klamath Falls. Working with elementary school students was a joy and a learning experience for Amanda. Her time in the school system only increased her desire to help young people find the same self-love that she had grown to know.

Amanda decided to return to Dragonfly, this time as a staff mentor. She wants to help others find the path to success and joy within themselves. Her experience in the program brings a unique perspective that allows her to truly understand where our students are coming from and show them that it is possible to find personal success.

Outside of work you can find Amanda fishing (of course) as well as hiking, spending time outdoors and taking care of her plant babies.

Taylor was born in Roseburg, OR and moved to New Mexico in high school. There, she got involved in her local church and discovered a passion for campus ministry at UNM. She was involved with that before moving to Minnesota in 2015. There, she gained 3 years of experience working at a group home which predominantly served clients with physical and mental disabilities. She also developed a love for powerlifting and went on to compete at a national level for 3+ years. Taylor moved to Klamath Falls early 2018 with her husband, daughter, and three dogs. Helping others has always been a main focus for her. In her free time, she loves to be outdoors, spending time with family and friends, and baking. 

Cat comes to Dragonfly with many years of experience working with at risk youth. She was raised in the small agricultural town of Watsonville, CA. Before she moved with her family to Oregon in 1982, she fostered at risk adolescents in her home. She continued to work with and foster at risk adolescents when she moved to Southern Oregon. She re-established the Jackson county foster parent association with a little help from some very committed and passionate foster parents and DHS caseworkers.

The commitment to helping adolescents led her to a job that started her working with youth in a treatment setting in Ashland Oregon where the goal for the adolescents was treatment, education, work experience and independent living skills. She continues to use this past experience with the young adults as a Mentor at the Dragonfly Transitions Ashland campus. She loves to camp, listen to music, is an avid reader and loves to drive to parts unknown.