Executive Leadership

For us, being a Chrysalis leader is its own reward

Corey Hickman

Position: Executive Director
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area, Corey earned his undergraduate degree in therapeutic recreation from Brigham Young University and is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist. After several years of working as a recreation therapist and serving in leadership roles in residential treatment settings, Corey completed a master’s degree in human resources from Utah State University. His desire to study both recreation and organizational leadership came from a deep belief that, in order to help students achieve positive growth, the organizational culture must provide them with an enjoyable, healthy environment conducive to change. Early in 2015, Corey accepted the position of executive director at Chrysalis School in Eureka, Montana. True to his profession as a recreational therapist, Corey lives to recreate! Corey’s hobbies include distance running, golf, camping, snowboarding and wakeboarding and visiting America’s national parks. He is passionate about college football. He and his wife, Jessica, have four energetic young children, and they love living in an area that has so much in the way of outdoor recreation.

Corey Hickman

Executive Director

Robin Greene

Position: Admissions and Marketing Outreach Director

Robin was born and raised in a small ranching community in central Montana. She loved growing up in that environment and the time spent riding horses, doing ranch work and being outside. Robin later moved to Oregon where she became employed with the State of Oregon Judicial Department and worked in the court system for several years. After her first daughter was born, Robin started her own business doing legal transcription and enjoyed that for many years. In 2005 she moved back to what will always be home – Montana. Robin started working at Chrysalis in 2011. She began in the business office and soon learned that her favorite part of her work was the interaction she had with students and their families. With that goal in mind, she took the position of Case Manager at Lake House, and then as the Residential Manager. She loves that her job is ever-changing, fun, and fast-paced, with no two days the same. Robin is thankful and humbled that she is is able to witness the growth and change that girls and their families experience at Chrysalis, and grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow with them. Robin is married to her wonderful husband, Kelly, and has two daughters, Cami and Katie. They have a dog, two cats, and one very stubborn and tenacious beta fish. They enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and most any other outdoor activity that living in beautiful northwestern Montana affords.

Robin Greene

Admissions and Marketing Outreach Director

Kendra Meiklejohn MS, LCSW

Position: Clinical Director

LCSW, EMDR Trained Therapist
Kendra was born and grown in the mountains of Montana. She is passionate about exploring the world around her, loving her community and family, and challenging predictable notions. She has a vast amount of experience mentoring young women, utilizing the natural world to enhance awareness and agency. Kendra spent much her time since 2005 working in wilderness therapy, with 1500+ field days as a guide. Kendra earned a Dual Masters degree in Social Work and Kinesiology from the University of New Hampshire, and a Bachelors of Science in Behavioral Health from Southwestern College. While utilizing CBT, DBT, mindfulness and other therapeutic modalities, she strives to provide a trauma informed approach to therapy as well as relying on the healing power of wildness, kinesthetic/adventure therapy, and a strong therapeutic alliance. Kendra finds eternal optimism to be a cornerstone to leaning into the tough and arduous work necessary for a well lived life.

Kendra Meiklejohn MS, LCSW

Clinical Director

Krysten Fitzsimmons

Position: Academic Director

Krysten is the Academic Director for Chrysalis, and prior to this role she was the Special Education Coordinator and English Teacher.. Through her time at Chrysalis she has taught English 9, 10, 11, 12, Standards Based English, American Lit, British Lit, World Literature and more. Krysten grew up in Oregon and attended college in Montana. She completed her student teaching in Australia while earning a BA in English teaching. She also has a Masters of Science in Special Education. Krysten has worked in therapeutic group homes for teens as part of the direct-care staff and managed weekend programming. She has worked as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional, mainly in special education and English classrooms. Outside the classroom, Krysten enjoys participating in local community theater as well as volunteering to teach hunters, promoting safety and stewardship. For relaxation, she goes for Nordic skiing, hiking and, of course, reading.

Krysten Fitzsimmons

Academic Director

Jeremy Meyer

Position: Director of Operations

Jeremy began working with young people in therapeutic programs over a decade ago. Like many of the students he works with, his first step on this journey was working in a wilderness program, where he spent four seasons in the Utah backcountry before returning to school as a nontraditional student. He earned his bachelor’s degree in adventure education from Plymouth State University in 2007. Jeremy jumped in with both feet at Chrysalis in January 2008 as a residential and adventure staff member. He continued on to become the designated Lake House parent with his wife, Nikki, from November 2009 to February 2014. In May 2013, Jeremy became the school’s first residential director. Adventure experiences continue to be a special component of the Chrysalis program to Jeremy, as he witnesses the impact they have on the growth and development of students. However, his focus is on strengthening the residential team and the relationships they have with the Chrysalis student community. In addition, Jeremy is a talented landscape photographer and holds an associate’s degree in photographic technology. He’s also renowned on campus for inventing key lime pancakes and continues to jump in with both feet – as the first one into the lake every spring.

Jeremy Meyer

Director of Operations

Kyle Lefler

Position: Program Director
Kyle was born and raised in the mountains of Western Maryland. Her parents taught her to love the natural world and she spent her childhood exploring by foot, bike and canoe. An avid reader & writer her whole life, Kyle received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Mary Washington in VA, studying English with a concentration in Poetry. Following graduation, she began her journey in direct care, working with unhoused women and children in the Metro DC area.
Kyle moved to Montana in 2014 to pursue her childhood dream of working at summer camp year-round, serving as the Retreat Host, Program Director, and eventually, Associate Director at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp in Lakeside.  At FLBC, Kyle grew in her love for hospitality, outdoor education, creative program management and leadership of young people. Along the way, Kyle hosted several Mother Daughter retreats for Chrysalis (at FLBC!), and her curiosity for and interest in therapeutic care grew.
Kyle moved on from FLBC in 2020, and began her journey at Chrysalis, serving on the adventure team. She is passionate about getting students outside and empowering them to be their truest selves through challenging and fulfilling experiences on trail. She loves learning from and alongside Chrysalis students and her fellow staff.
Away from work, Kyle takes full advantage of the landscape of NW Montana, spending her days biking, hiking, running, skiing and swimming.

Kyle Lefler

Program Director

Sara Bauer

Position: HR Director

Sara was born in Colorado and raised here in Eureka Montana.

She values her upbringing without much tech or even television, as it allowed her to be out in nature and connect relationally with people of all ages. Sara started traveling and doing service trips at the young age of 16, and fell in love with interacting with people of different cultures.  She also worked with youth throughout her life in a volunteer capacity, and loved to facilitate growth and change in young people’s lives.

Sara started out working at Chrysalis as a Youth Counselor in direct care, and immediately found that this type of work was what she was meant to do.  She worked as a shift supervisor for a short time and then spent 5 years as Residential Manager at Lake House.  Sara is grateful for the growth and knowledge that Chrysalis has offered her during every step of her journey, and has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with both the parents and students of Chrysalis.  In early 2022, she was offered a different path as HR Director and she jumped at the chance to expand her gifts in team management and training.  Sara loves her job, as there is always something new to tackle in this fast paced environment.  She finds joy in training the staff and equipping them with tools to grow in their roles.

Sara is married to her husband, James, and has 4 children of her own. She is an entrepreneur in her down time and runs a successful massage therapy business as well.  She and her family enjoy Montana summers most and are blessed to live in such a calm and beautiful place.

Sara Bauer

HR Director

Elizabeth Hill

Position: Adventure Director

Elizabeth grew up in the high desert of southern Idaho, where her family fostered connection with the outdoors and expanded her worldview through travel. She continued to travel extensively while working towards her undergraduate degree in music at a small private college in Chicago. After completing her degree, she further pursued her career in the outdoor industry and mental health.

Elizabeth worked as a guide in a high adventure camp in northern California, a wilderness therapy guide and family workshop facilitator, and a direct care staff at a therapeutic boarding school and in a transitional assisted living facility for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. She has developed a dynamic skillset for working directly with people experiencing a variety of struggles and utilizes the natural world and challenging experiences as a tool for working through those struggles. Elizabeth loves to find the metaphor in each moment and share meaningful experiences with the individuals she works with.

Outside of work, you can find Elizabeth outside! She lives off grid near Glacier National Park with her loyal dog, Nollie. Together, they love to mountain bike, rock climb, backcountry snowboard, hike, and travel. Elizabeth is a registered yoga teacher and teaches locally. She also is pursuing her Master’s in Counseling and Ed.S. in Adventure Based Counseling from Prescott College.

Elizabeth Hill

Adventure Director