Our Staff

Danielle grew up exploring the forests of Southeastern Kentucky. Later Danielle earned a Bachelor’s in environmental science from Morehead State University. After two internships as an environmental educator, she completed New York University’s graduate program in Environmental Conservation Education. She is currently the Senior Conservationist at Clayton County Water Authority and a volunteer bird bander at Panola Mountain Banding Station. In her free time, she Crossfits, plays pick-up soccer, and photographs wildlife.

A native of Atlanta, Leo grew up in Wilderness Works after joining the program in his fourth grade year at Cook Elementary School in Atlanta. Leo particularly enjoyed connecting with nature at Camp Evergreen where he learned to love hiking and camping.

Leo graduated from G. W. Carver High School not before being accepted into a dual enrollment program at Emory University.

Leo always recalled the exhilaration he experienced at Wilderness Works and went onto join as a staff member in 2021. Leo helped lead groups on whitewater rafting trips in Tennessee and Colorado and later guided youth groups in the Collegiate Peaks of Colorado. Leo aims to share his enthusiasm for the outdoors with a new generation of Wilderness Works campers.

Atlanta native Nishawna designs enrichment programming for girls as the Wilderness Works Girls Program Coordinator.

As an alumna Nishawna brings her own memories into play as she brings quality care and role modeling for Wilderness Works girls.

Nishawna studied Business Administration at Atlanta Metropolitan State College after graduating from Atlanta’s Therrell High School.
During Nishawna’s college years she enjoyed being an exchange student and her studies in Toulouse, France.

Nishawna has an exciting work history working with aircraft for Delta Airlines, as a 911 Dispatcher for City of Atlanta and even a coffee barista!

Nishawn aims to inspire girls in Wilderness Works with many ideas for exciting futures.

Donovan organizes and leads all Wilderness Works Core and Field Camps. Donovan identifies and prepares engaged campers for the next level of programming. Donovan is keenly interested in equipping students with the skills needed to grow self-reliant in the outdoors and in life.

Donovan is a native of Atlanta and a Wilderness Works alumnus. Donovan holds a B.A. in Film with a minor in Journalism, and an M.A. in Communication from Georgia State University.

Donovan was introduced to Wilderness Works when he was 11 years old through Interfaith Outreach Home (I.O.H), a homeless shelter in Doraville. Over the years Donovan and his family overcame homelessness and Donovan grew to excel in college at Georgia State University where he eventually became an instructor.

During his time growing up in Wilderness Works, Donovan has experienced outdoor living in Yellowstone NP, Cumberland Island, the Appalachian Trail, Boundary Waters and Snowmass-Maroon Bells Wilderness. This love of the wilderness and drive to positively impact his community motivated Donovan to assist in the successful 2014 relaunching of Core Camp programming at Wilderness Works.

Donovan excels in trail and trip planning, we’re excited that Donovan joined the Wilderness Works staff in 2020.

Bill is actively engaged in staff management, board development, and budgeting development. He spends considerable time in cultivating donors, partners, and sponsors. Bill manages the building and property matters for Wilderness Works’ facility.

Bill Mickler is a native Floridian born and raised in Miami Beach, Florida and lives in Atlanta. Bill grew up backpacking and camping and extensively trekked major national parks and forests across the United States. He attended the Stetson School of Business and Economics at Mercer University in Macon. Bill taught tenth-grade mathematics in Macon for four years. He later attended both the Graduate College of Education and the Graduate College of Business Administration at Georgia State University. Bill launched Wilderness Works in 1997 with a focus on serving disadvantaged, at-risk, and homeless youth.