Interns & Staff

Staff Bio:
Scott and his family have a long history with CASA. Scott served on the CASA of Orange County Board of Directors for six years, the last two as Chairman. Scott’s wife, Maura, was an Advocate in Orange County and two of his children started a club in their high school to raise money in support of CASA. Scott and Maura recently moved to Missoula after falling in love with the community during their visits to their son, who is attending the University of Montana.

Scott has over 35 years of professional experience providing public and private companies with accounting, auditing, financial reporting and business advisory services. He spent the last 20 years in executive management positions with professional services organizations. Scott recently retired from Hein & Associates LLP where he served as the Office Managing Partner of the Irvine Office and as a member of the firm's Executive Committee and then from NextLevel where he served as the Managing Partner of the Seattle Office.

Why did you decide to join CASA?
"I believe that we have an obligation to provide every child with a safe and healthy environment and the opportunity to grow and thrive. CASA helps make that happen for those children most at risk."

Office: (406) 542-1208 ext. 100
Fax: (406) 542-1211
Email: [email protected]

Staff Bio:
Emily is a Helena native who graduated from Helena High School in 2006. She received a Bachelor's degree in English, minor in history, and a secondary teaching certificate at the University of Montana in 2011. For eight years, Emily primarily worked in English education. Five years into her teaching career, Emily and her husband decided to take time off to travel the world for nine months before moving from East Helena back to Missoula. During their travels, they visited 25 countries on 5 continents. Through this life-changing experience, Emily witnessed the struggles people face in developing countries; it made such a powerful impact on her that she decided to shift to a career in nonprofit. Emily started at CASA in the summer of 2019 as the Volunteer Coordinator and lead CASA educator. In 2021, Emily completed her Master's Certificate in Nonprofit Administration through the University of Montana.

Why did you decide to join CASA?:
"CASA speaks to me as an organization because it gives a voice to our community’s most vulnerable youth. As a teacher, I saw the impact an unstable home life had on a child. Kids can’t focus on learning, relationships, or personal growth when they aren’t safe or their basic needs aren’t being met. If they’re experiencing abuse or neglect, it affects every aspect of their lives. I enjoy working for CASA because it allows me to help the kids who need it the most, while still utilizing my writing, event planning, and marketing skills to support CASA volunteers in their role."

Office: (406) 542-1208 ext 106
Fax: (406) 542-1211
Email: [email protected]

Staff Bio:
Margaret grew up in Cascade, where the plains meet the mountains in Central Montana along the Missouri River. She first traveled to Humboldt State University in Northern California on a high jump and triple jump scholarship but later transferred home to finish a Marketing and Management degree at the University of Montana. Margaret became an AmeriCorps Senior Leader for the Montana Campus Compact, focusing on post secondary education for first-generation college students in Montana. Later, she began her work for the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center focusing on programs for the youth of Missoula as well as the senior population. These two roles greatly impacted the trajectory of her career and further ignited her passion for the Missoula community. Margaret enjoys rafting, fly fishing, running, gardening, cooking and spending as much time as possible outside with her two dogs, Caddis and Keta, and her husband Jake.

Why did you decide to join CASA?:
"I greatly admire the work that CASA provides for our community, and the positive impacts that it makes for so many children. I am constantly inspired and thoroughly enjoy working with volunteers and discovering their unique qualities, along with their selflessness and dedication to the mission of their choice. Volunteers make the world go round, and I’m so happy to be there to offer support!"

Office: (406) 542-1208 ext 101
Fax: (406) 542-1211
Email: [email protected]

Staff Bio:
Ike was born and raised in Missoula. He graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman with a degree in Elementary Education in 2014. He has worked as an Educator in formal and informal Elementary, Middle, High School, and adult education classrooms and programs across Montana, Wyoming, Southern California, and also in Thailand. He enjoys fly fishing, running, gardening, traveling, and trying new things. When not in the CASA of Missoula office, you may see him walking with his dog Vinnie in the North Hills of Missoula or running around town with members of the Hellgate High School Cross Country team, of which he is an alumni and assistant coach.

Why did you decide to join CASA?:
"Having worked in the field for a variety of non-profit organizations, I was drawn to the Education Manager position at CASA of Missoula for the opportunity to continue to work as an educator helping train and maintain our network of volunteers and also to learn more about the administrative side of non-profit work. Almost everyone I’ve mentioned my new professional opportunity to has known someone who is or has been a CASA volunteer. I’m excited to learn more about how CASA is making a positive difference for youth and their families in our community and to be a part of that process."

Office: (406) 542-1208 ext. 102
Fax: (406) 542-1211
Email: [email protected]

Staff Bio:
Lindsay grew up in Somers, New York, and went to Siena College just outside of Albany, New York, where she majored in Political Science. After graduating in 2020, she spent a year with Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest, where she served as a JV/AmeriCorps member with Missoula Interfaith Collaborative here in Montana. There, Lindsay served primarily as an Employment Specialist with MIC's division Missoula Works— where she assisted folks from marginalized backgrounds to reenter the workforce— while also working with different aspects of MIC's Housing Advocate Network. During her JV/AmeriCorps year, she fell in love with Montana and is thrilled to be back in Missoula working with CASA. Lindsay's simple pleasures are caramel iced coffee, an abundance of sunshine, and befriending every cat and dog that crosses her path.

Why did you decide to join CASA?:
"I had heard so many wonderful things about the important work that CASA of Missoula does in our community before joining this organization. Connecting dedicated volunteers with children in need can make an incredible difference in those kids' lives, and I'm so excited to be a part of that process!"

Office: (406) 542-1208 ext. 103
Fax: (406) 542-1211
Email: [email protected]

Staff Bio:
Kate R. Morris is so happy to be joining CASA of Missoula as Volunteer Coordinator and Data Analyst. Kate was born and raised in Montana, and is passionate about improving the lives of youth and helping our communities thrive. To that end, she’s worked with various nonprofits since 2009, including Child Care Resources, The Poverello Center, and the Zootown Arts Community Center. Kate also loves to write and teach, and holds a MA in Theatre from the University of Montana and an MFA in Writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she then served as a Faculty Lecturer in Liberal Arts. Kate has also taught with the American School Foundation of Guadalajara and the University of Montana. Her plays have been produced in various cities in the United States, and her writing can be found published in print and other corners of the internet. When not helping or making stories, she is out in the woods.

Why did you decide to join CASA?
"Children and their wellbeing are really important to me. I have always wanted to spend my life helping to improve as many lives as possible. I loved being a teacher because I think knowledge and agency are crucial to happiness, even and especially for kids. I think a lot about the systems of protection, care, and service we create as a society. Sometimes these systems, which are made by and for adults, forget the perspectives and needs of children. For years, CASA has been an important organization to me because it focuses on children and their experiences during times when community care is essential. Our societal conditions raise children nearly as much as their families, and I want to raise the perspectives of children within our social systems. I feel very lucky to join CASA because I see this organization as one that can grow and influence our society to change toward better systems of care."
Office: (406) 542-1208 ext. 104
Fax: (406) 542-1211
Email: [email protected]