Meet Our Staff
Lauren Gleason
DIRECTOR
lauren.gleason2@colostate.edu
Casey Malsam
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
casey.malsam@colostate.edu
Casey (she/her) is directly responsible for any research initiatives that happen at CSU’s Mountain Campus as well as the day-to-day office management and emergency preparedness. Additionally, in her role as Associate Director she is charged with the overall management of the Mountain Campus while in season. An alumna of CSUs Counseling and Career Development Master’s program, she also has a Master’s degree from Lake Forest College and a BA in Art History from the University of Kansas. Casey has worked in both Student Affairs and in Women’s studies before joining the Mountain Campus in March of 2023. Casey enjoys her time in the mountains with her family and her dog Piper. She can often be found out staring at the wildflowers or on her patio with a blanket and a good book.
Jessica Smolenske
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EVENTS
jessica.smolenske@colostate.edu
Jess manages all aspects of conference services for groups coming to the Mountain Campus, manages the Challenge Course program, assists with marketing and outreach, and coordinates seasonal staff hiring. She is an alumna of the CSU Warner College of Natural Resources, attended field courses at the Mountain Campus, and worked at the Mountain Campus seasonally in many positions before joining the full-time staff in 2019. She enjoys photography, camping, skiing, looking for moose from the comfort of her cabin porch, and spending time with friends and family.
Susan Brown
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES
susan.brown@colostate.edu
Susan is responsible for coordinating academic programming at the Mountain Campus, which includes classes hosted through several colleges at CSU and the Eco Experience program for elementary and middle school environmental education. Susan is a two-time alumna of Colorado State University with Bachelor of Science degrees in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and Zoology and a Master of Science degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education. She previously worked with the CSU College of Agricultural Sciences Student Success Team for four years before joining the full-time team at the Mountain Campus in July 2023. Susan enjoys camping, skiing, cooking, reading, knitting, hanging out with family and friends, and going on walks with her goofy rescue dog, Elmer.
Kyle Engel
FACILITIES & MAINTENANCE MANAGER
kyle.engel@colostate.edu
Kyle is responsible for the Projects Management and Facilities Maintenance for the Mountain Campus. He started in May of 2020 and spent three months of that season evacuated from the Mountain Campus due to the Cameron Peak Fire. Kyle is an avid outdoorsman, dabbling in mountaineering, canyoneering, rock climbing, and hunting. He has spent years exploring Colorado and Utah. Kyle comes from Boulder Valley School District with 16 years of maintenance and project experience.
Joe McGirr
GENERAL MANAGER OF DINING
joe.mcgirr@colostate.edu
Joe is responsible for all dining operations and menu development. Joe started at CSU in 2011 in Housing and Dining and spent much of his time managing in HDS. He enjoys family time with his son exploring all the Mountain Campus has to offer, riding through the canyon on his motorcycle, and finding a nice quiet spot to read a book. Before coming to the university, he attended culinary school in Southern California and spent time as a restaurant Chef and manager around Northern Colorado.