People

Megan Fink serves as the Partnerships & Policy Manager for the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). Working in the field of Environmental Education for over a decade, Megan brings a robust place-based, outdoor education background to the NAAEE team and has built enduring, professional working relationships across the Chesapeake Bay watershed and Mid-Atlantic region. As a graduate of Virginia Tech, with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science and Biology, Megan began her career as an Environmental Educator at the North Carolina Aquariums before joining the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) in 2011. Through several program management positions with CBF she led students, teachers, school administrators, and environmental professionals on ecological, cultural, and historical investigations of the Bay. She also managed a statewide leadership program for high school students teaching them how to become environmental advocates at the local, regional, and national level.

Megan earned an Executive Master of Natural Resources from Virginia Tech’s Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability in 2020. In 2022-23 she served as Education Director for the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park supervising 15 Environmental Education Programs and expanding their reach to 14,000 participants annually. There she also initiated and managed a project to launch a brand-new, nature-based preschool and served on the Maryland State Department of Education’s Workgroup to develop statewide Outdoor Preschool licensing standards. 

Throughout her career, Megan has designed programs that inspire participants to act on behalf of their local natural resources and that enhance people’s understanding of and connection to the natural world through compelling environmental education experiences. In her spare time, she can often be found hiking, gardening, paddling, and spending time with her loved ones, including her dog, Ruby, splashing around the Bay watershed!

Jen Bruening is the Education Coordinator for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. She works with the Education Manager and many stewards to develop and facilitate interactive and inquiry-based programs for K-12 grade students. She brings a positive and compassionate perspective to her work and always strives to be as inclusive as possible.

Jen is a Native Arizonan and grew up in Cave Creek. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, with many credits from Scottsdale Community College. Her professional experience includes10+ years as an Environmental Educator, 8+ years contributing to wildlife research and local conservation efforts, and 2 years as a Registered Behavior Technician, working with individuals with autism.  She has worked with diverse populations throughout Arizona including those with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and underserved communities. Previous organizations include the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Phoenix Zoo, Liberty Wildlife, and the National Audubon Society.

When she is not collaborating with Stewards or interacting with students, she spends her time hiking, birding, kayaking, or simply just sitting in nature with her dog.

 

My name is Hannah Benge. i am orginally from Charlotte NC, but i moved to Taylorsville NC.i have always had a deep appreciation for nature and spending time outdoors. This passion has insprired me to dive in deeper into enviromental education, as i am eager to learn more about how we can protect and preservw our natural surroundings. 

I work at the Research Group at the Lawrence Hall of Science. My interests lie in the intersection of structural racism, equity, inclusion, and STEM education, and how we understanding learners' experiences. Current projects: BEETLES and Working Towards Racial Equity in Environmental Education.

I'm an oceanographer and behavioral neuroscientist by training, who has worked at all levels in conservation, from education to international policy. I teach people behavior change skills to make a difference on climate change, plus online courses in climate science and solutions.

My goal is to educate people about conservation and empower them to do so, all while sharing my passion for stewarding our beautiful ecosystems.