PLI offers innovative and inspiring programs, but what sets us apart is our leadership team.  Our goal is to have our leaders reflect the communities who use our program and we draw from the youth, university, greater community and professional pools.  Many of our staff have experienced a powerful transformation through these adventures and are looking to give back to the opportunities provided to them and ensure that others receive these same benefits.

PLI Management Team

Program Director: Drew Mc Adams

Drew McAdams is the director for Pacific Leadership Institute, with his Masters Degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies focusing on youth development from San Francisco State University. His experience includes 15 years of guiding adventure activities such as whitewater rafting and backcountry ski trips, teaching in public schools and summer enrichment schools, a volunteer coordinator managing a pool of 500 volunteers, national service organization and non-profit management. Drew specializes in leadership development through active learning. Drew operates his program, staff and training with both compassion and enthusiasm, and his energy is truly contagious.

SFSU - RPT Faculty Advisor and Principal Investigator (P.I.): Nina S. Roberts, Ph.D.

Nina S. Roberts, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism at San Francisco State University. Her areas of emphasis are outdoor recreation, adventure programming, leadership, and youth development.  She is formerly an Education and Outreach Specialist with the National Park Service. Prior to her work with the NPS, Nina worked with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) as the Assistant Director of SCA's National Urban & Diversity Programs. Here she managed five regional programs and provided opportunities in conservation, recreation, natural resources, and related fields, for primarily young people of color and women. She then became SCA's Research Associate conducting national level program evaluation. As a bi-racial woman, Nina's research has guided her to write about people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and explore their connection to the outdoors including experiences with adventure activities. Her research interests include outdoor programming and leadership, adventure education, youth development, recreation land management, wilderness studies, evaluation methods and techniques, race/culture, and gender issues.

Fort Miley Coordinator: Ian Mosier

Ian has been with PLI for many years. He was first a participant as a high school student, then as youth employment, and currently Ian is a team leader and program coordinator, for the past 8 years leading thousands of programs. Ian's personal story illustrates the power of our program enhancing his life from a low-performing “urban at-risk” student to a college student in his Junior year here at San Francisco State University . His responsibilities now include program management, staff and volunteer development.

Graduate Student Assistant:  Ben Kumli

Ben is the office manager for the PLI and one of the lead facilitators. He has been an Emergency Medical Technician since 2004 and has previously worked with Yosemite Search & Rescue. Ben received his Bachelor’s degree from SF State with an Outdoor Recreation emphasis and is currently a graduate student in the department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism. An avid climber, Ben started volunteering at the Fort Miley Adventure Challenge Course when he was in high school, over ten years ago. Because he benefited immensely from his involvement in a youth development program during his H.S. days, he has become passionate about empowering youth to develop competencies needed to be effective and successful future leaders.