People

4-H Youth Development is the youth development program of the Cooperative Extension and land grant universities throughout the US. Over 6 million youth, ages five to19, are engaged in 4-H in the United States, making it the largest youth development program in the country. 4-H is a program that relies heavily on adult volunteers to provide programming and develop opportunities for experiential learning. The youth development professionals who work with those volunteers seek the most appropriate and effective methods of educating volunteers, relying on evidence-based research in best practices and new approaches. Adult 4-H Volunteers, like everyone else, have busy lives, minimal time available for training, and in many cases live in rural or urban areas where training opportunities are limited by available transportation or by distance.
The Washington State University 4-H Youth Development’s T3 project will address enhancement of in-person training experiences, the creation of hybrid online and in-person training, and development of a library of online resources for use by volunteers and staff, to facilitate highly effective, hands-on learning experiences for 4-H youth.

Dianna Ullery has been involved in environmental education for several decades, working for the National Audubon Society at the Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm in Ohio, as well as various private, public, and outdoor schools. Dianna earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Master of Science in Recreation and Parks from the Pennsylvania State University, and completed an internship at the Sharon Audubon Center. Dianna was among the first group of naturalists to visit the wintering site of the Monarch butterflies in Mexico, and has had wonderful birding experiences throughout North America. Dianna has had extensive experience working with youth in the out-of-doors and 4-H Youth Development has been a natural fit with its historic focus on hands-on, experiential learning. In Dianna’s free time, gardening, birding, baking, and music provide recreation, spiritual renewal, and opportunities to share experiences with her husband and three children.

I am an executive recruiter with RPA Inc.

I began my teaching career in early childhood as a preschool teacher and parent educator. After some time in early childhood, I moved into elementary teaching in which I began working with students in grades 2-5. I have a masters degree in K-8 math & science and love environmental studies and STEAM.

Hawaii is, by definition, an insular place. As island communities, they oscillate from being extremely well connected (in that ‘small town’ way where everyone knows each other and wears multiple work and community “hats”), to isolated and disconnected from both each other and the continental world (in that they are separated by ocean, geographic identity, demographics, education level, and much more).   Elizabeth works for two organizations that allow her to connect people to each other and to places in new ways. She works on wildfire and coastal issues that are caused by a changing world (climate change, drought, invasive species, development, social inequities). She works with people of all ages, demographics, and sectors.  And this all means that she works a lot (two full time jobs)! Yet the more she works, the more she feels like there are some pieces missing.  As Elizabeth sees it, what is needed are some fun, supportive, non-threatening, inclusive, and interesting new ways to connect lives and roles within communities to people, to people’s work and passions, and to address the climate change impacts increasingly faced in Hawaii and the Pacific.The overarching theme of Ocean Warriors— the youth program that Elizabeth created and co-coordinates— is “It’s All Connected.” So in designing her project, she thought to herself… what and who haven’t we connected yet? Whose voices are missing? What experience could be created that would support the many people and entities working on seemingly disparate issues like natural resource protection, substance abuse prevention, job opportunities, Hawaiian language and culture, education, and the whole variety of things people care about in Hawaii? What kind of experience could bring together diverse people and disciplines to celebrate place— their place, this place, Hawaii— and share new conversations in new ways, especially as we begin to face the impacts of a changing climate? And how can we make it fun, supportive, non-threatening, inclusive, interesting, and awesome?Thanks to the innovative, enthusiastic, and thoughtful participants in the EECapacity fellowship, Elizabeth is now in the midst of designing an experience that will aim to bring the people of Hawaii together in new ways, to discuss climate change and Hawaiians' connections to each other and to the lands and waters of Hawaii through art, story, and music. She is currently in conversations with local artists, poets, dancers, musicians, teachers, land managers, scientists, people of faith, and more about what this concept might become in real life. It is continually taking shape as more and more people offer their ideas and willingness to participate. Right now it is looking to be an event that will host art, music, dance, video, and theater exhibitions around the theme of climate change and the people and places of Hawaii. Local conservation and other community efforts will be invited to get involved and share more about their work and opportunities for community members to get involved.

Elizabeth works both mauka and makai (toward the mountain and toward the sea) in Hawaii, and has recently expanded her work to include US-affiliated Pacific islands. A resident of Hawaii Island for more than 12 years, Elizabeth cares deeply about the people and places in Hawaii and the Pacific. To this end, she focuses her efforts on boundary-spanning projects that aim to bring more connectivity between people, disciplines, and geographies. As Executive Director for Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, Elizabeth works with incredible Board and staff members to implement wildfire prevention, mitigation, planning, and education projects throughout Hawaii and the Pacific. Wildfires are an under-publicized problem in Hawaii, yet impact watershed forests, community safety, human health, coral reefs, fisheries, municipal resources, and local economies. Elizabeth loves working collaboratively and across sectors with land managers, emergency responders, and communities to address the wildfire issue. Elizabeth also coordinates an extra-curricular youth program for the Malama Kai Foundation. The program, called Ocean Warriors, is an environmental education and service-learning program that is based on substance abuse prevention strategies. “The beauty of Ocean Warriors,” says Elizabeth, “is that students are mentored and involved in experiential learning that is directly connected to real-life conservation and community projects in their neighborhoods. In many cases, their enthusiasm leads the way for all-age level community involvement in local service projects. We just support the kids to be healthy, informed, courageous, and to lead the way in their communities.” Elizabeth earned a Masters of Environmental Science degree from Yale School of Forestry in 2007, where she focused her research on public impact on and contributions to natural resource management in Hawaii, and a Bachelors degree from U.C. Berkeley in 2000.  When not working, Elizabeth can be found kitesurfing, making art, and sharing time with friends

A chartered civil engineer working in industry since 1978; designed & constructed water industry infrastructure projects; developed and implemented H&S and environmental design standards and managed major road construction projects. Co-founder of Civic Ecology and Life Infrastructure Research Group.

A Midwestern transplant to the California coast with a penchant for plants, tide pools, exploring new places and finding joy in everything. Working in environmental education since her first volunteer job at a local nature center, she is now a naturalist at East Bay Regional Park District.