PLAYA Staff
Kris Norris
Executive Director
Kris has witnessed PLAYA’s programs effect people profoundly. Sometimes the result is a life- changing decision, sometimes it’s an affirmation that the moment’s chosen path is the right one. Her job as Executive Director is to preserve the engagement PLAYA fosters between residents and the fascinating natural world of the Oregon Outback where our campus is located. Leading PLAYA’s scant and dedicated staff toward sustainable goals that support this relationship with the natural world motivates and inspires her to carry out our mission of transforming our world through creative inquiry in science and art.
She lives in Paisley, 17 miles south of PLAYA with her husband, Michael. She brings a skill-set from her diverse background in marketing and PR, development and budget management of non-profit organizations such as the Truckee Donner Land Trust and Truckee Tahoe Youth Theatre, a PreK-12 educator in English Language Arts and Theatre Arts in the U.S and abroad, budget management and instructing horsemanship for a 72-acre equestrian center, housekeeping, culinary and supervisory management in the local high-school dormitory and at PLAYA.
She travels everywhere by bicycle; commute, bike-pack, pedal for pleasure. Her competitive side is sated by participating in the Prefontaine Memorial 10k Run in Coos Bay, Oregon each fall, and she reads a gob of murder mysteries and thrillers and has authored several manuscripts in the genre.
Adriane Cloepfil
Site and Facilities Manager and Program Support
Adriane Cloepfil is the newest member to join the PLAYA team. Born and raised in Oregon, Adriane studied art at Carnegie Mellon University before graduating from Rhode Island School of Design in 2012. Most recently she worked as the Studio Technician at the Sitka Center on the Oregon Coast.
Adriane has been drawn to the high desert landscape since childhood and is looking forward to exploring it more with her camera and her new puppy, Lucy.
Carrie Hardison
Program Director
Carrie comes to PLAYA with over 20 years of education and program management experience. In 2011, she transitioned from working as an arts educator to managing various community education programs including SUN Community Schools in Portland, residency and workshops programs at the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, education programs for the Oregon Wine Board and family communication and connection programs for Planned Parenthood. She is most “at home” when managing programs at the intersection of creativity and community.
She first visited PLAYA in 2017 for a Cascadia Artist-in-Residence Network retreat and fell in love with the expansive landscape. The smell of wet sage unearthed fond memories of growing up in the desert in California. She felt immediately connected to PLAYA and is excited to be working as the Program Director and dig into developing programs that foster creative reflection of this magical place.
In her spare time Carrie enjoys the outdoors with her dog Rue, nurturing her personal painting and mixed-media practice, experimenting in the kitchen with (mostly) vegetarian recipes and observing and appreciating all forms of wildlife.
Shawna Negus
Cuisine and Lodging Manager
Shawna loves her job at PLAYA because she loves food and making people feel welcome. There’s so much pleasure in imagining and creating delicious entrees, salads, and desserts for the people who come here from all over the world. She also takes pride in readying PLAYA’s cabins for new residents. She grew up in this county but has lived in many beautiful places from Alaska to Arizona. Now she’s fortunate to call this area home again, as it’s her favorite place of all, where she has a wonderful garden, family, and many friends.