Our Staff
Meet the Families First Learning Lab Team! These experienced and dedicated people bring their passion for enriching the lives of families to work every day. Whether you’re looking for advice for helping a teething toddler or a testing teen, or your family seeks fun experiences to learn through play – these are the people who are there to listen, teach and create programs that are helpful, safe and inclusive of all families.
Hannah Zuraff, MPA Executive Director |
Hannah graduated with her Masters in Public Administration, with a focus in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Montana. She has degrees in Psychology and Sociology: Inequality and Social Justice, which fuel her passion for making a difference in our community and in the lives of the families FFLL serves. Hannah is currently a student in the Masters in Social Work program at the University of Montana where she hopes to focus her studies on intergenerational trauma in families and public health impacts. She is very passionate about partnering with other organizations to provide a coordinated approach to social services in Missoula and surrounding areas.
Hannah is particularly interested in impacting generational poverty, empowering women, and educating families in order to strengthen the likelihood for positive life outcomes later on. In her spare time, Hannah is with her dogs, Gunner and Bentley, exploring Western Montana. Email Hannah. |
Jed Liston, M. Ed. Director of impact |
Jed recently retired from the University of Montana after serving as an administrator in Admissions & Financial Aid, Marketing and Alumni Relations. He is honored to join this team of passionate professionals and exceptional humans. Jed and his wife, Jorrun, attended a Families First parenting workshop and came away with some valuable skills and an even more valuable sense that they were NOT alone in their parent experiences. He has served as an emcee for many local fundraising events over the years and currently serves on the Missoula Downtown Association Board.
Jed is a fifth-generation Montanan who is very proud of his three children and the adults they have become. Everyone in his household graduated from the University of Montana and are passionate Griz fans. Their dog, Boomer, is now the most recognized family member on campus. They all enjoy spending time together, especially at Flathead Lake. Email Jed |
Katie Little child enrichment Director |
Katie joined Families First Learning Lab in 2018. Before working for the organization, she volunteered on the Families First Board of Directors. Katie has been in Missoula working for Non-Profit Organizations for almost 20 years. Her biggest passion is spending time with kids and families, especially her own two children.
Katie’s hidden talent is fort building or, so her son thinks. She loves the magic of play, especially when it comes from the minds of kiddos. Katie can’t wait to explore and dream up fun with you and your family. Be on the lookout for our our new mobile exhibits! Email Katie |
Jadd Davis Family education director |
Jadd comes to Families First from the University of Montana, where he is pursuing a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He has a broad range of interests and is thrilled for the opportunity to work with the diverse clientele at Families First. Prior to his studies in counseling, Jadd worked for over twenty years in the performing arts as an actor, singer, dancer, director, and educator. He received a Master of Fine Arts from UM, where he taught acting and voice classes. Jadd has also served on the theatre faculty at Gonzaga University, Whitworth University, and Eastern Washington University. In non-academic work, Jadd was the Casting Director for Village Theatre (Seattle, WA), Artistic Director for The Inverse Opera (Seattle, WA), and racked up gobs of freelance work as an Equity actor, stage director and music director. He appears on a number of studio albums, most notably the original cast albums for A Christmas Story: The Musical (Sony Records) and the opera Brundibar (Naxos Records).
Jadd is an avid birder, distance runner and gardener. He is happily married and is the devoted father of two young children and proud to be raising them in Missoula! Email Jadd |
Brie Shulman, LCPC Clinical Director |
Brie has been dedicated to the field of Wilderness Therapy since her first role as a field guide in 2008. With her BA in Psychology completed in upstate NY, she moved to Missoula, MT, to attain her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Montana. She has worked as both a guide and a licensed individual and family therapist for Missoula's wilderness therapy program since 2013. Brie joined the Families First team in March of 2023 and will be leading the Inner Roads program at Families First. Additionally, Brie leads our clinical team for counseling. Brie is passionate about equal access to mental health care, social justice issues, and providing adolescents with access to inspiration. In her free time, you'll find Brie at local concerts, playing music and crafting with friends, and camping even more! Want to schedule a counseling session or learn more about Inner Roads? Email Brie
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Brittany Simonich Family Education Coordinator- Lake County |
Brittany joined the Families First Learning Lab family in 2023 as the Family Education Coordinator in Lake County. She has taught elementary and middle school for 13 years and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Carroll College. Brittany strongly believes in the power of community and is excited to share the incredible work that FFLL is doing with Lake County.
Brittany and her family have lived in Polson for the last 14 years, and she enjoys being an active community member. She serves as a North Lake County Library Foundation board member and has directed musical productions for Polson High School. In her free time, Brittany enjoys playing pickleball, running with her friends (as long as it ends with coffee), and cheering on her daughters at their sporting events. Email Brittany |
Hannah Wright Family Education Coordinator |
Hannah graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Communication Studies with a concentration in Organizational Communication, and a minor in Business Administration. She has worked with numerous Missoula-based organizations and nonprofits since graduating from the university; her focus always being with youth and families and outdoor recreation. She is passionate about community and togetherness and is especially excited to be surrounded by like-minded folks that share her passion for helping and supporting families. In her spare time, Hannah loves skiing, mountain biking, trail running, and yoga.
Email Hannah W. |
Dylan Wright, NCC, PCLC WELLNESS Education COORDINATOR |
Dylan Wright is a National Certified Counselor™ with an M.A. in Counselor Education from the University of Montana. During his final year in the UMT program he served as an intern at Families First Learning Lab, spending a majority of his time doing research and curriculum development for the Montana Happiness Project. He also served as a School Counselor Intern at Frenchtown High School where he was able to implement the Montana Happiness Project’s exciting new evidence-based programs.
As the Wellness Education Coordinator at Families First, Dylan enjoys working with parents in one-on-one consultations, and presenting to groups and organization on an array of topics from cultivating a well-lived life, to working with parent educators, to raising healthy and happy families. As a father himself, he especially enjoys running the Dads & Dialogues group at Families First. When taking a break from all the “irons in the fire,” Dylan relaxes with long bike rides, and by spending time with his very supportive wife and daughters. Email Dylan |
Jessica Carrol Child Enrichment Coordinator |
Jessica is new to Missoula and is so excited to be a part of the city and the FFLL family! Jessica relocated from beautiful Bend, OR and is currently attending University of Montana, go Griz! She is continuing her education in the biological sciences program and loves exploring her new campus.
Jessica is passionate about animal welfare programs and women in science organizations. Her goal is to be a fun, positive, and productive addition to the community. In her free time she enjoys exploring western Montana! But she always has time to sit down with a good book at the end of the day. Email Jessica |
Corinne Garrett Teen Coordinator |
Corinne is an Oregon-native and world traveler, but in 2015 Montana captured her heart while cycling across the United States with friends. She has been drawn to Missoula ever since; she also studied Social Work at the University of Montana. In addition, Corinne brings years of experience mentoring adolescents through a bicycle co-op youth program. Also a former wild-land firefighter, Corinne has logged many trips in the backcountry during which she learned group safety skills and undeniably fell more in love with working with teens, the outdoors, and its growth-inspiring magic! Corinne believes whole-heartedly in the transformative power of the natural world, human connection, and taking a moment to stop and reflect. When not hiking (or running with her dog, Mordecai!) through the forest, she loves making baskets, exploring new places, and being silly with friends. She can’t wait to share in the beauty of the backcountry with students and walk alongside them, both literally and metaphorically! Corinne runs the Dream Bigger and Teen Mentorship program. Email Corinne
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Sydney Driver Child Enrichment Ambassador |
Sydney was born and raised in Missoula and recently graduated from the University of Montana with her bachelor's in biology. She has always been passionate about hands-on learning and has years of experience working with kids at spectrUM Discovery Area. Her current favorite animal is an echidna (a hedgehog-like animal from Australia), and she is well-known for her extensive sticker collection! Email Sydney
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