People

Judy Braus brings to her role as NAAEE Executive Director a wealth of experience in the environmental education profession, with a focus on conservation education, diversity and inclusion, and using the power of education to help create healthier communities that empower local communities, stakeholders, and individuals to help restore and protect the environment. She comes to NAAEE from the National Audubon Society, where she was the Senior Vice President of Education and Centers, overseeing an extensive nationwide network of nature centers and educators. Prior to that, she led the education programs at World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the U.S. Peace Corps, and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

I help Executive Directors, working Boards, and school leaders to find and save money, build positive community relationships, and train staff in order to reimagine and sustain high-quality programs that develop environmental and science literacy. I work primarily with organizations along the east coast and midwest.

Mary is the Avian Program Curator for Lorain County Metro Parks. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Baldwin-Wallace University and a Masters’ Degree in Environmental Interpretation from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Her career to date has spanned nearly 20 years, three states, three nature centers, and two zoos before finally settling back in Lorain and working for L.C.M.P. since 2007. Mary is a Certified Professional Avian Trainer, knowledge-assessed, accredited through the International Avian Trainers Certification Board. Mary also serves as the Enrichment Committee Chair for the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE).

Speeding up carbon drawdown by helping the inactive become active.

Michèle Andrews is the Co-Founder and Executive Director at DoorNumberOne.org - a Canadian registered charity providing practical inspiration for the transition to a just, beautiful, and regenerated world. She is leading the Climate Action Accelerator Program with K-12 schools across Canada to help them create and implement bold, high-impact, hope-filled whole-school climate action plans. In this program students, operations leaders, faculty and administrators are working together on school teams and with their colleagues around the country to chart an accelerated climate-positive path for schools everywhere.

Elizabeth ‘Libby’ McCann, Ph.D. is Director of Environmental Education Concentration, Environmental Studies at Antioch University – New England. Libby received her Ph.D. in adult education, with an emphasis in environmental education, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her dissertation, “Passion and Persistence: A Study of Communities of Practice in Schools,” earned her the Russell J. Hosler Award for Outstanding Dissertation.

Lori Mann has more than 40 years of experience in environmental education at the local, state, and national levels. Lori joined the NAAEE staff in 2012 as Program and Conference Manager and now serves as Director of Conferences and Programs. In this capacity, she manages all aspects of the NAAEE annual conference and coordinates several national projects related to building capacity to deliver high-quality environmental education. 

Lucy is an associate teaching professor in the Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management (RPTM) Department at Penn State University.