Who We Are
Administration
Nancy Rosenow, Executive Director
As the Executive Director of the Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, Nancy Rosenow brings her experience and training in educational administration and research to her work with staff at the Dimensions offices in Lincoln, NE, as well as with consultants located throughout the United States. She speaks frequently at national conferences, and has also presented internationally at the World Forum on Early Care and Education in 2005 and 2007. The Dimensions Foundation and the Arbor Day Foundation helped host the international Working Forum on Nature Education in 2006 and 2008. She has authored articles for national publications such as Exchange Magazine, Young Children Magazine, and Out of the Box Training. She delivers trainings and keynote addresses to a variety of groups throughout the county and has previously served as a certified High/Scope trainer. She currently works with the international Nature Action Collaborative for Children Leadership Team, and serves as Nebraska’s past-president for the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Valerie Cuppens, Creative Director
In her work as Creative Director, Valerie Cuppens specializes in multimedia, communications and educational design services and works on the development of research-based Nature Explore resources for educators and families. She has spent her career developing high quality educational materials particularly including the well-known piano method The Music Tree by Frances Clark and Louise Goss. In addition, she was a teacher-trainer at The New School for Music Study, Princeton, New Jersey, Associate Professor of Piano at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey, and Artist Faculty at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. She has been a consulting producer for Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NETV) and was responsible for outreach and logistics for By the People, an initiative created by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. She completed her Bachelors Degree in music at Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory, a Masters Degree in Piano Performance from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and earned a Certificate in Piano Pedagogy at The New School for Music Study where her interest in the teaching and learning process was developed.
Linda Maack, Financial Director
Linda Maack serves as Financial Director for the Dimensions Foundation and has been with the organization since 1982. She has a degree in education from Midland College, as well as experience in banking. In addition to working with various aspects of the Dimensions Foundation’s financial operations, she also serves as a certified Dimensions Foundation Trainer.
Rick Reeble, Treasurer & Systems Director
Rick Reeble has been with Dimensions Educational Research Foundation since 2006. Prior to that time he worked for Nebraska Book Company, Inc, Retail Division for 17 years. He has degrees in Marketing from Millikin University, and Accounting from Southwestern Illinois College. He oversees all Accounting & IT operations for Dimensions Foundation.
Tina Reeble, Programs Liaison Manager
Tina Reeble brings her training and experience in early childhood, elementary and music education to her role as Programs Liaison Manager. She works both to connect the efforts of the various departments within the Dimensions Foundation, and serves as liaison to the many national consultants and organizations Dimensions works with throughout the country.
Early Education Programs
Sue Erdkamp and Michelle Zimmer, Co-Directors
Sue and Michelle work very closely as a team to provide excellence in all areas of the Early Education Programs.
Sue Erdkamp, Co-Director
Sue oversees the daily operations, including staff scheduling as well as registration and scheduling for the Preschool portion of the Early Education Programs. She helps to provide professional development opportunities for staff and coordinates the parent classroom volunteer program. Sue facilitates the scheduling of student teachers from Southeast Community College, Concordia and Doane. Sue is certified in Family Education through Creighton University and is also a certified Stephen Minister. She has been with the Early Education Programs since 1979.
Michelle Zimmer, Co-Director
Michelle oversees registration and scheduling for the Infant/Toddler portion of the Early Education Programs as well as many aspects of program planning for Preschool. She is responsible for curriculum and planning for the Summer Program (infants through grade five). Michelle also serves as a communication liaison for teachers, staff, parents, website and product development.
Michelle has a degree in early childhood and elementary education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has been with the Early Education Programs since 1993.
Research
Dr. Dana L. Miller, Research Director
As Research Director for the Dimensions Foundation, Dana Miller oversees the work of a cadre of teacher co-researchers, analysts and national consultants. She has published articles focusing on Nature Explore research, including The Seeds of Learning, published in Applied Environmental Education and Communication. Since 1993, she has been the Director of Research and Graduate Seminar for the Master of Arts in Management program at Doane College in Lincoln, NE. She is a teacher, researcher and author who has taught introductory research methods, program planning and evaluation, training and development, leadership in organizations, and human relations at the undergraduate level. Since 1994 she has taught graduate courses in introductory research methods, qualitative research methods, and thesis proposal development. As a visiting professor, she has been the primary qualitative research instructor for doctoral students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln since 1992. She has a Bachelors degree from Vancouver Bible College in Canada, a Masters degree in from Talbot Theological Seminary in California, a Masters degree in Social Science/College Student Development from Azusa Pacific University in California, and a Ph.D. in Administration, Curriculum, and Instruction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.She belongs to the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and has presented numerous research papers at national conferences. Her most recent publications include several co-authored works, including an ethnographic study of a soup kitchen for the homeless, published in the journal Qualitative Inquiry; an article on teen tobacco use and prevention, published in Qualitative Health Research journal; an article on determining validity in qualitative research, published in Ohio State's Theory into Practice journal; and a chapter in the book, Innovations in Feminist Psychological Research. Currently Miller is working on a qualitative research methods textbook titled: Applying Qualitative Research -- A Practical Guidebook, for Sage Publications in California.
Design Consultations
James Wike, Senior Landscape Architect
With more than 23 years of professional practice, and being licensed in 14 states, James Wike, ASLA, RLA has assembled a wide variety of land planning and site design experience in a multitude of situations. He has been responsible for the site planning of parks, hospitals, schools, churches, multi-family housing, single family housing, commercial centers and various public works projects. His experience includes site analysis, land use studies, conceptual design, preparation of construction documents, competitive bid administration, and construction administration. Jim was the President, responsible for the day- to-day operation and supervision of Kersey/Wike Associates, P.C, a Memphis-based landscape architectural firm employing three architects. He has taught several classes in landscape architecture at the college level in Memphis and in North Carolina. Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University. He holds a Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Board certification and is a member of many local, state and national landscape architecture associations. At present Jim is working with Dimensions Educational Research Foundation and the Arbor Day Foundation on the development of Nature Explore Classrooms throughout the United States. He is on the Leadership Team of the international Nature Action Collaborative for Children.
Sourcebook
Jason Kelly, Sourcebook Manager
In his capacity as Sourcebook Manager, Jason Kelly oversees development and delivery of field-tested Nature Explore components for outdoor classrooms. He is always interested in hearing people’s ideas and needs for resources that will help connect children with nature. He has been with the Dimensions Foundation since 2007 and has degrees in business administration and journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Workshops
Julie Rose, Workshops/Design Consultation Director
In her role as Workshops Manager, Julie Rose works with groups throughout the United States to meet their requests and needs for Nature Explore Workshops. She has served in this capacity since 2006. Prior to that time she served as the Staff Development Coordinator and co-researcher for Dimensions Early Education Programs. She also taught for the Dimensions Early Education Programs and Lincoln Public Schools for over twenty-five years. Julie has taught classes at the college level on early childhood development and literacy. As a certified lead trainer for Nature Explore, Julie presents keynotes and workshops all over the country. She served as an analyst at the Working Forum on Nature Education in 2007 and has authored articles for Exchange Magazine.
Tara Hild, Workshops Coordinator
As Workshops Coordinator, Tara Hild handles the logistics of all the Nature Explore workshops held throughout the country. She works with scheduling, materials and individual site requests and needs. Tara has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and has been with Dimensions since February 2007.
Outreach
Susan Wirth, Outreach Director
Susan currently serves as Nature Explore Outreach Director for the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation. In her 21 years with the Arbor Day Foundation, Susan has served as Education Director and been involved with the design and development of many interpretive and interactive nature experiences at the Arbor Day Farm national education center as well as in the creation of the Arbor Day National Poster Contest and other national youth education materials for print, video, and the Web. Her current work focuses on the collaborative Nature Explore program to help reconnect young children with the natural world. Susan has spoken and authored articles nationally on the subject. She heads the Early Childhood and Environmental Education committee for the North American Association for Environmental Education and conducts national Nature Explore workshops, community forums and design consultations.
Susie has degrees in Education and Zoology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an advanced degree in Medical Technology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She serves on the Greater Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair Board and Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts Board. Susan has received awards from the Girl Scouts of America and Project Wild for her work in conservation education.
Christine Kiewra, Outreach Liaison
In her role as Outreach Liaison for the Dimensions Foundation, Christine Kiewra devotes her time to several initiatives for creating connections between families and nature and expanding quality educational opportunities for children. With a Master’s degree in early childhood special education, she also currently teaches in the Dimensions Early Education Programs, serves as a co-researcher, and coordinates the Nature Explore Families’ Club activities and field-testing.
