Board of Directors
Interested in becoming a board member? Nominations for 2023 -2024 will open in the spring of 2023.
Position descriptions can be found HERE.
President - 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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President Elect - 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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Past President - Jessica Kester
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With 20+ years of educational experience Jessica began her career as a field instructor in coastal marine sciences at the Chincoteague Bay Field Station in Wallops Island, VA. She moved westward to teach students from urban / suburban Chicago at the Lorado-Taft Field Campus of Northern Illinois University. Then for 10+ years she ran The Outdoor Classroom in Pittsburgh’s South Hills focusing on the variety of ecosystems and wondrous treasures in Southwestern PA. After the Classroom closed in 2016, Jessica moved on to start the new outdoor and environmental education department of Allegheny Land Trust as the Vice President of Education. She joined the ROCIS team as the Air Quality Education Coordinator in May 2020. Jessica holds degrees in Biology/Marine Science and Secondary Education/Biology from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and is a Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators board member and State Coordinator for Project WET (Water Education Today).
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Secretary - Sara Klingensmith
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Sara is an Environmental Educator for Powdermill Nature Reserve. She has over 6 years of experience volunteering and working for non-profit environmental education organizations. She holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from University of Alaska Fairbanks. She considers herself a life-long learner and is always happy to help others understand and appreciate the natural world. Sara also serves as the Photography Chair for the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club and helps teach ecology courses for the PA Master Naturalists.
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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 - Sonia Jaiswal
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Sonia Jaiswal is an adjunct instructor at Point Park University. Sonia holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Hertfordshire and a M.S. in Environmental Science with an Environmental Management specialization from Oklahoma State University. Sonia has had over 10 years of experience of teaching environmental science classes to students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Sonia is currently pursuing a Doctor in Education from the University of Pittsburgh focusing on social justice and equity in STEM and investigating the lack of diversity in environmental science. Sonia has been involved in various committees in schools and the community, including the Environmental Studies Advisory Committee at PPU. Sonia is actively involved in the Cranberry Area Diversity Network to develop and implement initiatives that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Sonia is excited to be part of PAEE and is passionate about learning. In her spare time, she is an avid traveler with a special interest in visiting national parks.
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Development Director - Mike Zewe
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Mike Zewe is a lifelong naturalist. He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with two decades of
nonprofit development experience. Mike holds an Environmental Studies M.S. from Point Park University and will graduate in 2023 with an Organizational Leadership M.A. focusing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Mike initiated and managed a campaign to build a sea turtle rehabilitation facility in Boca Raton, Florida. Currently, he contracts with Allegheny Land Trust to teach community education classes. He is a backyard beekeeper and grows a large perennial pollinator garden. He volunteers through guest lecturing in universities, coordinating fundraising events for the local county park, and leading nature hikes for friends, neighbors, and community members along the Rachel Carson Trail. |
Public Relations Director - Jacquelyn Omotalade
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Jacquelyn Omotalade aka “Jackie O.” is an innovative and accomplished public policy leader, environmentalist and social justice advocate who thrives on understanding and navigating public policy and public affairs on a global scale. With former residence amongst Indonesia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Germany, Spain, France, Kenya, and Nigeria, she has been recognized as an expert with international programs, campaigns, and technology.
A seasoned environmentalist, expert technologist, Afro-futurist and trusted strategist, Jackie provides strong team leadership in fast-paced, high-growth environments. Through clear and reliable communication, she forges stakeholder alliances and builds key partnerships while driving advocacy, environmental justice and corporate social responsibility. Aligning her creative and analytic abilities, she enables continuous improvement and continues to exceed all expectations. Jackie's work intersects policy, education, environmental justice and technology. Supporting these achievements are her exemplary educational qualifications. These include a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the University of Pittsburgh and a forthcoming Doctor of Education from Point Park University. Currently, Jackie O. leads the Environmental Health Project’s (EHP) support of policies that protect public health from the risks posed by shale gas development. She directs all EHP’s national, state, and local advocacy efforts which are grounded in quantitative and qualitative research. |
Member at Large - Jen Schnakenberg
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Jen Schnakenberg is Assistant Director of Education at Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. She serves as the interface between the Parks Conservancy’s education department, local schools, and other environmental education organizations, as well as grant writing and reporting, data wrangling, and teaching in the field. Jen holds bachelor’s degrees in psychology and biology from the University of Pittsburgh and has led programs for environmental education organizations in Pittsburgh and Syracuse, NY. In all her work, she focuses on producing developmentally appropriate programs that increase understanding of our reliance on natural systems and help students acquire skills to continue learning about the world and sharing in its care.
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Member at Large - Julia Steiner
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Julia Steiner is the Environmental Educator for the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art where she serves as a liaison to communicate the organization’s dual mission of art + environment. Julia has a degree in Agricultural Sciences from the and dual certifications in Elementary and Special Education. 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 - Susie Moffett
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Susie Moffett is the Southwest Program Coordinator for Pa Master Naturalist and has spent nearly 15 years in the environmental education field. She earned a BA in Biology from West Virginia University and a PhD in Human Genetics from the University of Pittsburgh. While life has led her away from active research, Susie has a passion for science education and communication and works to inspire people to conserve the natural world. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, gardening, board games and turkey vultures.
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Northcentral Region Director - Aislinn Benfield
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Aislinn Benfield is an instructional STEM coach at Reach Cyber Charter School and mentors
several environmental extracurricular clubs for K-12 students. Prior to working as a coach, she taught science in cyber and brick-and-mortar schools. Aislinn earned Master’s degrees in Biological Anthropology from University of Pittsburgh, Pharmacology from Thomas Jefferson University and Biological Sciences from Miami University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Sustainability Education through Prescott College. Aislinn lives in the Endless Mountains and enjoys working with local organizations on sustainability and history-based projects. |
Southcentral Region Director - Tarrea Potter
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Tarrea Potter is the Pennsylvania Education Outreach Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Pennsylvania. She serves on the Pennsylvania Advisory Council for Environmental Education, the Pennsylvania Environmental Literacy Task Force Leadership Team, Project Learning Tree’s State Planning Committee and as a member of the Standards Content Committee (2020) responsible for revision of the PA State Academic Standards for Science and Technology and Environment and Ecology. She is native to South Central Pennsylvania and prior to working at CBF, enjoyed a long career in the classroom. Tarrea is passionate about learning outside and the idea that not all classrooms have four walls.
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Northeast Region Director - Stephanie Sherman
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As the Director of Education at Pocono Environmental Education Center, Stephanie Sherman has been fulfilling her dream job of inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards. Getting her start in the field 15 years ago with Wildlands Conservancy, Steph has worked her way up from a humble summer camp assistant to Naturalist while earning her Bachelor’s in Wildlife Management and Conservation from Delaware Valley University. She then went onto working with residential school field trips as an AmeriCorps Conservation Specialist for the New Jersey School of Conservation (NJSOC). As a graduate student at NJSOC, Steph completed her Master’s from Montclair State University concentrating in Environmental Education. She now enjoys living and working in the Poconos with endless opportunities for new hikes and river explorations.
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Southeast Region Director - Heather Drzal
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Heather Drzal is the Director of School and Youth Programs at Longwood Gardens. She earned a B.S in
Biology from Delaware Valley University and an M.Ed in Agricultural and Extension Education from The Pennsylvania State University. Prior to Longwood, Heather was a high school agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor. Using her experiences from the classroom, Heather hopes to continue building opportunities at Longwood for PreK-12 students, teachers and families. Some of the opportunities currently offered through the School and Youth department are educator guided field trips, virtual field trips, Discovery Boxes, summer workshops, Scout programs, teen volunteer program, Unearth It!, STEAM competitions, and teacher professional development opportunities. Heather is an active committee member in other organizations including Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators, PA SEED Ecosystem and the Brandywine Valley Educators Collaborative. |
