Regan was born and raised on the coast of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. She has always loved the outdoors, playing in the woods and on the water. After studying Psychology, with a focus on Substance Dependency Counseling at Harford Community College in Maryland, Regan realized that traditional treatment centers were not where she wanted to work. She chose to continue her education at Mount Holyoke College, in Western Massachusetts. There, she studied English and Environmental Science with the hope of making the joy she finds in the natural world accessible to people everywhere. In addition to assistant teaching Environmental Science college courses, Regan worked in an after-school program, tutoring underserved elementary through high school-aged students. She also guided an Outdoor Education after-school club for local schools each afternoon. Regan was moved by the experience of getting children and teenagers outside and empowering them with wilderness survival skills. She was particularly inspired by her high school students when she took them on a weekend camping trip. Many of them had never had the opportunity to leave the city, and their genuine gratitude and awe when they saw the stars and sat around a campfire together solidified Regan’s desire to help others find healing and inspiration in the natural world. Upon graduation, Regan followed that inspiration here to Open Sky, where she began as a Field Guide.

During her year as a Field Guide, Regan was inspired every day by the growing resilience and empowerment that she saw in her students as they learned about nature, practiced wilderness skills, and built meaningful relationships with their teammates. She believed in holding her students to their highest potential, compassionately pushing each of them to be their strongest selves. After her time in the field, Regan sought out other ways to support the important work of wilderness therapy, in a medical role as the Psychiatric Assistant.

Regan joined our Family Services team as an Associate Therapist in 2020 while completing her Master's degree at Smith School of Social Work. After working with students in several capacities over her years at Open Sky, Regan is excited to continue work through a Family Systems approach. One of the aspects of Open Sky that initially drew Regan to this work was the involvement of family in the treatment process, and Regan strongly believes that family work is essential to the success of our students. Every human is influenced by the systems we exist within, and Regan loves helping families discover how they can grow to better support their children.

In her free time, Regan enjoys learning local outdoor sports, like climbing and mountain biking. She loves kayaking, trail running, paddle boarding, hiking, backpacking, and exploring the many varied landscapes that surround Durango. Regan is an avid practitioner of yoga. She is still a voracious reader, especially enjoying nature-based poetry and non-fiction. She also loves to cook and share beautiful meals with the people she loves.