Introducing this year’s Eagle Rock Fellows

The Eagle Rock Fellowship selects promising young educators to participate in advanced service and leadership development focused on education and youth work. Located at the nationally recognized Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center in Estes Park, Colorado, Eagle Rock is an opportunity for young leaders who are passionate about working with 15-21-year-old students from diverse backgrounds for whom having voice and agency in their education is the pathway to success. We also support schools nationally to implement effective and engaging practices to equitably serve all students. 

The Fellowship at Eagle Rock is a residential, community-based opportunity for aspiring teachers, social workers, and youth advocates who are passionate about alternative learning strategies, youth development and empowerment, and re-engaging high-school students in their education. Fellows work with high school students in either teaching, professional development, residential life, outdoor education, or health & wellness. All fellows engage in residential life evening and weekend programming to support students outside the classroom. As the job is residential in nature, fellows also participate in a number of activities outside their typical workday: community meetings, dinners with house teams, evening activities, affinity group meetings, intramural sports, community service, and transporting students off campus.

This year’s fellows bring a wealth of passion, talent, and diverse experience to Eagle Rock, each committed to supporting students’ growth, well-being, and learning in unique ways.

Ja’Reese Barber – Societies & Cultures Fellow
Ja’Reese Barber, an alumna of Weber State University, holds bachelor’s degrees in History and Theatre Arts. Her passions for history and performance center on storytelling—the ways we share human experiences across time. With a focus on the Reconstruction Era and the American West, she brings both academic knowledge and hands-on teaching experience, from after-school arts programs to preschool classrooms. Ja’Reese believes in equitable, lifelong education and is excited to bring that spirit to Eagle Rock.

Diamond Mark – Health & Wellness Fellow
Diamond Mark (they/them), a graduate of Smith College, studied Africana Studies and English Literature. Their work has spanned racial equity, trans and non-binary inclusion, restorative justice, and community wellness, with experiences at the ACLU, The Breathe Collective, and Smith’s Mellon Mays Fellowship. A musician and nature enthusiast originally from St. Croix, Diamond hopes to foster holistic well-being and collective care at Eagle Rock.

Trinity Sison – Human Performance Fellow
Trinity Sison earned her B.A. in Psychology with minors in Communications and Social Justice from the University of Colorado Denver. Her college years included leadership as a Residential Assistant, DEI planning, sustainability work, and research projects. Passionate about education, music, and an active lifestyle, she hopes to pursue graduate studies in Special Education or Child Development. At Eagle Rock, Trinity looks forward to creating joyful, balanced days for students.

Sarah Benitez – Mathematics Fellow
Sarah Benitez is a recent graduate of the University of Redlands, where she studied Mathematics and Political Science. A dedicated runner since childhood, she competed at the collegiate level while also working as a camp counselor and tutoring students. With experience as a teaching assistant in elementary classrooms, Sarah brings enthusiasm for both numbers and building strong student connections.

Diamond Machabie – Health & Wellness Fellow
Diamond Machabie holds a B.A. in Sociology from UC Riverside and is pursuing a master’s in Clinical Social Work. She has extensive experience supporting individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, most recently serving as an Assistant Staff Analyst in Skid Row. Passionate about personal growth, she believes self-awareness and self-belief are essential for becoming one’s best self. Outside of work, Diamond enjoys pickleball, snowboarding, good food, and time with her nephews.

Nya Lizdas – Art Instructional Fellow
Nya Lizdas (they/them), a Brown University graduate in English and Creative Nonfiction, is a lifelong artist with a focus on sculpture. They’ve led community dialogue projects, taught design and fabrication skills, and recently served with AmeriCorps through the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England. Nya is passionate about imagination as a tool for change and looks forward to cultivating creativity and courage in the Eagle Rock community.

Meredyth Craig – College & Career Fellow
Meredyth Craig graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Health Sciences and a focus on community health. She has contributed to research on mental health, minority health disparities, and neurological outcomes, while also interning at nonprofits like Hebni Nutrition Consultants. With experience as a medical assistant, paraeducator, and international clinical shadowing, Meredyth blends research with hands-on care. She finds joy in hiking, live music, and experimenting in the kitchen, and is eager to support students’ pathways beyond Eagle Rock.

Tanya Sopkin – Literature & Literacy Fellow
Returning for a second year, Tanya Sopkin teaches English, runs Eagle Rock’s Spectrum club, and contributes as a Wilderness Instructor. A Colorado State University graduate in Sociology with a minor in English, she has led creative writing workshops with marginalized communities and published in multiple literary journals. Tanya is passionate about equity, the outdoors, and storytelling as a tool for empowerment.

We are thrilled to welcome this extraordinary group of fellows into the Eagle Rock community. Their dedication, creativity, and diverse perspectives will enrich campus life and strengthen our collective commitment to equity, learning, and growth. Here’s to a year of building connections, sparking curiosity, and helping every student thrive.  Interested in joining Eagle Rock as a Fellow?  Learn more here.