Former Board President

Jesine Munson was born and raised in Montana. Hailing from Havre, she has lived in Bozeman since 2007. Jesine has gone to school for far too long and has a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Art History and a BFA with a focus in Ceramics. In 2023, she completed her PhD in American Studies and occasionally still teaches as an adjunct professor at Montana State University. Her research is in Pragmatist Aesthetics and Moral Imagination, and she profoundly believes that living more artistically is key to the survival of our species. She based her research Compassion Project, a Bozeman non-profit whose mission is to teach and spread compassion through art and mindfulness. Jesine embodies these values every day and believes the key to community building is through compassionate dialogue and creative connection, the art of living, as she calls it. Public art is foundational in these beliefs, and she is eager to get to work in cultivating a strong community in Big Sky with the idea that Public Art is Public Health. Jesine loves art and the outdoors, and her dream day is to be out-of-service with her dogs (Lucy & Chester) and brand new baby, Monte Edgar.

Founder and Former Board President

Kayte serves as the Senior Assistant Dean in the College of Education, Health and Human Development at MSU. She is the proud founder of Compassion Project and is so proud of how far the organization has come as we need compassion now more than ever. In her spare time, Kayte finds joy in her hubby Adam and her little ones Ethan (3) and Esther (1.5), traveling all over the world and across the United States, and serving on the Roots Family Collaborative Board of Directors.

Former Executive Director

Tia Goebel, MS, PCLC, is a Behavioral Health Consultant in Bozeman. A longtime resident of the Gallatin Valley, she earned her master’s degree from Montana State University. Counseling has been a transformative part of Tia’s own healing journey, inspiring her to pursue a career that supports others while continuing her personal growth. She approaches counseling with compassion, honesty, and cultural humility, aiming to build strong, authentic relationships with her patients. Tia believes in the power of education to help individuals regain control over their lives and values teamwork in removing barriers to healthcare. Outside of her practice, she enjoys swimming, reading, playing board games with friends, and hiking with her dog.