Helena Kotala came to PEC in 2018 with an eclectic background in outdoor recreation, mapping, storytelling and environmental stewardship.
A 2013 graduate of Penn State University, she holds a B.S. in Geography and Geographic Information Systems. During her time at Penn State, Kotala worked as a field assistant in Alaska and Japan for the Vegetation Dynamics Lab, and completed a GIS internship with the Riparia wetlands center in State College. After college, Kotala pursued a passion for writing and outdoor recreation as a freelance cartographer, outfitter, and web editor for Dirt Rag and Bicycle Times magazines.
Based in PEC’s State College office, Kotala is an avid outdoor adventurer and local advocate for conservation and human-powered recreation in Central Pennsylvania and beyond.