Board of Directors

John Robertson, board Chair,
is the Shelter Supervisor for the Crosswalk program through Volunteers of America Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.  He strives to spread a consciousness of sustainable living through the medium of social art and community organization.  John is an adamant supporter of many local associations including Youth Sustainability Council, Our Kids Our Business, MCP Spokane, Community-Minded Enterprises, and RiVerSpeAK: Spokane’s Forum for Everything Artistic.     

Ian Sullivan, board Vice Chair, is a Youth Development Specialist at Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and Northern Idaho facilitating the Teen Outreach Program in Spokane area schools.  He also sits on the Leadership Team for Greater Spokane Progress and the Advisory Board for Gonzaga's LGBT Resource Center.

Lynn Jinishian, board Secretary is a clinical nursing instructor at the WSU College of Nursing.  She hopes to graduate with her master's degree in population health nursing with a focus on adolescents in May, 2013.  With a belief that understanding sexuality is a fundamental human right, she facilitates a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane for 12-14 year old youth.

Mike Petersen, board Treasurer, is the Executive Director of The Lands Council, and is a board member of a number of organizations besides Odyssey, including the Northwest Washington Forestry Coalition, the Coeur d' Alene Forest Coalition, and Farm Power. He has a mechanical engineering degree from Colorado State University and more than 30 years of experience in environmental advocacy. 

Lisa Avery, is currently a dean of instruction at Spokane Falls Community College.  She has held appointments as an assistant, associate and full professor of social work at Eastern Washington University and University of Southern Mississippi and has managed several large federal research and program grants. Avery earned her doctorate at University of Illinois at Chicago.  

Patsy Fowler, is the Chair of the Women's and Gender Studies Program and an Associate Professor of English at Gonzaga University.  Her work includes teaching courses in feminist, gender, and queer theory as well as women's literature.  She also is involved in organizing and participating in Women's and Gender Studies lectures and events on campus, and she has long been an advocate for LGBT and women's issues at GU and in the community.