People

Lee is a devoted social innovator and environmental educator. As an assistant teaching professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, his work explores how collaborative approaches to community engagement can improve the design, implementation, and assessment of cross-border environmental initiatives. Lee holds a PhD in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder, an MA in Environmental Conservation Education from NYU, and a BS in Computer Science from the University of Rochester. His recent projects include a community-based planning initiative with Boulder Food Rescue, co-leading community development projects in Spain, Israel, and Costa Rica with The Sustainability Laboratory, and a global action network study with the Savory Global Institute. Lee's long-term professional goals include building new programs in transformative environmental education and bridging gaps in cross-cultural understanding towards a more unified human society.

Bora Simmons serves as the founding director of the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education. The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) initiated the Project in 1993 to help educators develop and deliver effective environmental education programs. The Project has drawn on the insights of literally thousands of educators across the United States and around the world to craft guidelines for top-quality environmental education.

Charissa V. Jones (she/her/hers) is the Outreach and Access Manager for the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service Outdoor School Program and a scholar-practitioner working at the intersections of Black Studies, outdoor and environmental education, Extension and Engagement, and community-engaged scholarship. With more than 20 years of experience across formal, informal, and environmental education, her work explores how race, gender, power, place, and joy shape experiences of nature, recreation, and public space. Her research centers Black Joy, belonging, and community as pathways toward more equitable and liberatory futures.

Ariel joined the NAAEE team in September of 2021 as a Senior Administrative Assistant. Prior to this role, she has over 15 years of administrative experience in a laboratory and office setting. She is originally from the suburbs of Illinois and moved to Washington DC in 2009, where she attended Howard University. She received her B.A. in Psychology at the College of Arts and Sciences with a minor focus in Administration of Justice. She aspires to travel the world to learn and experience cultures outside her own. Should Italy be next?

• I am currently developing and starting a small home outdoor program, on five acres in the Sierra foothills, primarily for students and their families who will benefit from outdoor learning experiences that provide sensitivity to sensory and/or learning needs, while providing challenging and fun activities. With a background as a special education teacher informing me, I will include activities that meet a variety of cognitive, cultural, and physical differences, focusing on experiential environmental learning experiences that provide layers of depth to the exploration.

I am an educator and environmental science professional with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Forest Biology and a passion for connecting students with science, nature, and their local environment. I currently work in elementary education while completing my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential through CalStateTEACH. My background includes environmental and outdoor education, STEM and robotics, and hands-on, inquiry-based learning. I am passionate about creating inclusive learning experiences that inspire curiosity, environmental literacy, and lifelong stewardship.