Brien Sheedy Mount Everest collection, 2004

Brien Sheedy was born in Syracuse, New York in 1969. He earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Environmental Studies from SUNY ESF at Syracuse and a Master's degree in Geography from the University of Texas at Austin. He worked as a mountain guide beginning in 1990, and before coming to Whitman College he taught courses for the National Outdoor Leadership School for more than a decade. Since August, 2001, Sheedy has served as Director of the Outdoor Program at Whitman College. Prior to his Everest summit Brien Sheedy climbed Mount Denali, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Mount Aconcagua. He climbed Mount Everest from March 18 - June 4, 2004, as a non-guided climber on an International Mountain Guides Expedition, coordinated by Eric Simonson. He and his party summited the mountain on May 15, 2004.