People

The Okayama ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) Promotion Commission is the network of various stakeholders, including universities, civic organizations, businesses and local governments in Okayama area in Japan. Since its establishment in 2005, it has been collaborating to make ESD a community-driven initiative in the area with the aim of establishing a community in which people learn, think and act together toward the realization of a sustainable society.

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. 

I am a PhD student at Antioch University-Graduate School of Leadership & Change. My research work is focused on Dance as a relational dialogue with which we can re-create a positive relationship with Nature, building regenerative futures. 

It's all about connection, colaboration and celebrating new intersections, leading to stronger global community networks.

Tina Harte Ballinger is a Project Support Specialist for the NASA Langley Science Directorate's Education Team. She is also the founder and Project Manager for the NASA GLOBE Goes to Camp Project providing informal outdoor education opportunities to communities across the United States. She has over 30 years of experience in STEAM based instruction and curriculum development with a M.S. in Secondary Science Education from the Univeristy of Tennessee at Martin. 

I'm a passionate and experienced middle school science teacher with a deep love for environmental education. I specialize in creating hands-on, engaging lessons that help students connect science to the world around them—especially through topics like sustainability and conservation. I'm particularly passionate about coastal conservation and enjoy finding ways to bring that into my teaching. Whether I’m in the classroom or outside exploring nature, I’m always looking for ways to inspire students to care for and protect our planet.

Dr. Becky Mathers is a postdoctoral researcher in the USTRIVE project at Arcadia University. She also teaches courses in environmental science & sustainability to undergraduate students. Her research interests include profound nature experiences, environmental education, and conservation psychology.