Ben hails from the Great Lakes state of Michigan, where he graduated from Western Michigan University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. During his time at WMU, he was also a swim instructor, where he gained experience working with a variety of age groups and skill levels. Since living in Washington, Ben has worked seasonally as a sea kayak guide in the San Juan Islands. This is where his interest in education and birds began. As a guide, Ben was always excited to expand his knowledge of the local flora and fauna and share the information he found with the guests on kayak trips. Ben has been a full-time faculty member at Meridian since 2023, though he has also been a long-time substitute teacher at Meridian and a substitute at multiple schools throughout Seattle. Outside of work, Ben is an avid reader, runner, and outdoor enthusiast, and is always continuing his outdoor education.
