Board of Directors
President - Steve Wasiesky
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Steve has been a staff member, volunteer, and Environmental Education Coordinator at Asbury Woods for a combined 50 years. He also worked in technical service for LORD Corp. starting full time at Asbury Woods in 1999. He served as Executive Director of Asbury Woods Nature Center from 2011 to July 2016. At that time, the Asbury Woods Partnership purchased Asbury Woods from the Millcreek Township School District. Steve is currently the Environmental Education Coordinator for the Millcreek Township School District, (MTSD), at Asbury Woods. He teaches the K-5, 8, and High School students that visit Asbury Woods from MTSD, and oversees the 6 & 7th grade watershed education curriculum.
Steve has served on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Association for Environmental Educators (PAEE), since 2010, and the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park (LEAF) since 1999. He was the NW PA Regional Director for PAEE from 2010 - 2018, and is currently the President of PAEE and Chairperson for the Educational Committee at LEAF. |
President Elect - Jessica Kester
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Jessica joined Allegheny Land Trust in June 2016 as the Vice President of Education. With more than 16 years of experience in education, she was tasked with starting ALT’s new outdoor environmental education department.
Jessica holds degrees in Biology/Marine Science and Secondary Education/Biology from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, and is the PAEE State Coordinator for Project WET. Prior to her time at ALT, she ran The Outdoor Classroom in Pittsburgh’s South Hills for over 10 years, which focused on educating youth about Southwestern PA’s variety of ecosystems and wondrous treasures. |
Past President - Scott Cope
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Scott Cope is the Vice President of Education at Wildlands Conservancy where he has worked since 2007. Scott oversees the education programming, including K-12 outreach, community programs, summer camp and offerings for scouts. His professional experience includes working for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and serving as bureau chief of recreation for Whitehall Township, which notably involved the development of the Ironton Rail Trail. Scott is active on several local boards and statewide committees, and is a certified parks and recreation professional. Currently the Past President of PAEE, he has also served on the Board of Directors as president, vice president and northeast regional director.
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Secretary - Angela Belli
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As Director of the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College, Angela is responsible for strategic partnerships, program development and outreach, and Reserve landscape and infrastructure. She has been engaged in environmental education for more than 15 years where she has developed and implemented an array of outreach programs in environmental science for Saint Vincent College and led the development of the 50-acre nature reserve.
Angela serves as Board Secretary for the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators, and was recognized as Outstanding Environmental Educator of the Year by the organization in 2004 and is the recipient of the 2015 Saint Vincent College Projectenmacher Award. She holds a Master of Science in environmental science and management from Duquesne University and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Seton Hill University. |
Treasurer - Pat McKinney
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Patrick McKinney is the Environmental Education Coordinator for the Schuylkill Conservation District and and serves as Treasurer for PAEE. Pat has worked for almost 30 years to implement educational programing in Schuylkill County about a wide variety of topics. He has received the Outstanding Environmental Educator of the Year Award, and the Sandy Cochran Award from the PA Forestry Association. Pat is active in many local and state-wide organizations and has worked to maintain environmental education as a priority in Pennsylvania.
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Membership Director - Julie Travaglini
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Julie Travaglini is the Education Program Director for Allegheny Land Trust and serves as the Membership Director for PAEE. She has more than 12 years of experience in non profit environmental education. As a Specialty Discipline Instructor for the state, she runs professional development workshops for early childhood educators about the importance of nature to young learners. She has participated in multiple national and international podcasts and webinars and has spoken at both local conferences and large national conferences across the country. Aside from her work at ALT and PAEE, she also serves as the Vice President of two non profits; Science Tots and the USC Citizens for Land Stewardship.
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Development Director - Craig Lukatch
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Craig is a Hazleton native, currently residing in Moosic PA who has extensive experience with more than 15 plus years in nonprofit administration and fundraising most recently working as the CEO of the Greater Pittston YMCA and the Director of Development at Wyoming Valley Children's Association, Forty Fort. He current is the President of Lacawac Sanctuary Environmental Education Center. He is a graduate of the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Theology. Lukatch as served on various boards of nonprofits from the NEPA chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, to the Hazleton YMCA and the Community Services for Sight organization in Hazleton. Over his tenure he has raised over $5 million for capital projects for local nonprofits.
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Public Relations Director - Taiji Nelson
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As Public Relations Director for PAEE, Taiji is excited to connect environmental educators throughout the state with opportunities to share their expertise and learn from one another. For his day-job as a Naturalist Educator with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Taiji is passionate about getting young people outside to explore and connect with nature in cities. He works primarily with middle and high school students, studying urban ecosystems and undertaking restoration projects to improve the health of the parks. He moved to Pittsburgh in 2006 to major in Environmental Studies at the University of Pittsburgh and started working at the Parks Conservancy in 2011 coordinating education and volunteer programs. Taiji now lives in Lawrenceville, and spends his time hiking, biking, running, and playing volleyball. He loves learning and being active outdoors.
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Member at Large - Fran Bires
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Fran Bires had 35 years of service with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Fran worked at Raccoon Creek and McConnell’s State Parks before his tenure at the McKeever Environmental Learning Center. While at McKeever, Fran served as an Environmental Educator for 12 years and then as director for 21 years. Fran also was the director of the Macoskey Center for Sustainability at Slippery Rock University for four years.
Fran has a degree in Parks & Recreation from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master Degree in Environmental Education and Interpretation Administration from George Williams College. Fran retired in 2016 but remains active in EE. He serves as the Program Administrator for PAEE’s Non-Formal Environmental Education Certification program, is a board member and Treasurer for the Friends of Goddard State Park and is the International Coordinator of Centers and Associates and the International Membership Coordinator for The Institute for Earth Education. |
Member at Large - Julia Steiner
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Julia Steiner is the Education Coordinator at Brandywine Red Clay Alliance where she oversees school programming for over 10,000 students annually. Julia has a degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Delaware and dual certifications in Elementary and Special Education from West Chester University and Immaculata University. As a former classroom teacher, she realized that too many people were growing up without any sort of connection to the environment. A lifelong learner, Julia is a Registered Yoga Teacher, Master Watershed Steward and certified in Wilderness First Aid through NOLS. She serves on several environmental committees and helps out at her favorite local outdoor store Trail Creek Outfitters. If she’s not leading or creating education programs you can find Julia tending to her organic garden, experimenting in the kitchen, doing anything active outdoors or traveling to new mountain destinations.
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Regional Directors
Northwest Region Director - Wendy Kedzierski
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Wendy Kedzierski has been a member of PAEE since 2006. She received her B.S. in Biology from Penn State Erie and M.S. also in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has been with Creek Connections at Allegheny College since 2004. Previously, she was a wetland and stream permit writer for the Commonwealth of Virginia and before that she worked in environmental consulting. Wendy is passionate about environmental education and finding the best ways to bring environmental literacy to the youth and public in Pennsylvania.
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Southwest Region Director - Dr. Becky Thomas
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Becky is an Assistant Professor of Park Resource Management at Slippery Rock University and co-director of programming at SRU’s Robert A. Macoskey Center. She holds a BS degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Penn State, and MS and PhD Degrees from Colorado State University in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. Becky got her start in Environmental Education as a practitioner at the National Aviary, which also began a lifelong passion (aka obsession) with flying feathered friends. She is active in PAEE and NAAEE and has attended and presented at several conferences. Becky is a National Association of Interpretation Certified Interpretive Guide trainer, and has a passion for supporting the professional development of current and future EE professionals through her role at SRU. She is excited about connecting urban and rural people and places through shared resources and stories, and Western PA provides the perfect backdrop for this work.
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Northcentral Region Director - Matt Marsden
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Matt Marsden works at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center at Penn State University with their Outdoor School and Summer Camp programs. He earned an M.S. in Park and Resource Management through Slippery Rock University in 2016. He has enjoyed attending and presenting at PAEE conferences and is excited to help advance the mission of PAEE!
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Southcentral Region Director - Emily Thorpe
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Emily Thorpe works for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as the Pennsylvania Student Leadership Manager and oversees the Student Action and Restoration Program. Emily works with high school students from across the Commonwealth to advance advocacy, action, and awareness on clean water issues in their communities. She provides guidance and mentorship to CBF’s Student Leadership Council on projects ranging from tree plantings to designating the Eastern hellbender as the official state amphibian! When she’s not working, Emily enjoys backpacking, canoeing, and gardening. Emily has a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a B.S. in Biology from Salisbury University and is an ACA Level 4 Whitewater Canoe Instructor. Emily lives in Carlisle and is looking forward to bringing together environmental educators from across the southcentral region!
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Northeast Region Director - Jolie Chylack
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Like many conservationist, Jolie discovered her fascination for natural history on the banks of a creek and considers macroinvertebrates to be some of her best friends. Her degrees include a BS and an MS in Biology from Ursinus College and East Stroudsburg University respectively. After spending more than 20 years “wearing many hats” in the conservation field, Jolie returned home to her native Lehigh Valley in 2016 where she now serves as Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Lehigh County Conservation District. She feels fortunate to work in one of PA’s larger metropolitan areas where she enjoys the challenge of fostering environmental stewardship and finding unique ways to connect the community to the outdoor world.
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Southeast Region Director - Tarsha Scovens
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Through her vision, dedication and unfailing commitment to see more people of color experiencing nature and/or the outdoors, Tarsha laid the foundation for Let's Go Outdoors, LLC, a leading provider of outdoor-themed experiences for urban communities in Philadelphia, PA. In addition to being on the PAEE Board, Tarsha serves on the board of Friends of High School Park in Cheltenham, PA and is a volunteer teacher with Keep Philadelphia Beautiful. Tarsha lives in Cheltenham, PA with her husband and two daughters. Her dynamic energy, creative spirit, likable demeanor and drive to engage diverse audiences in the environmental and/or “green” arena, make her a vital up and coming leader.
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