People

Anne Umali has been working in the environmental education field since 2000 and has built a strong passion for teaching and training others, especially when it comes to leadership training, community engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Anne is the Project Manager for the ee360 Project at the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), U.S. EPA’s most recent National Environmental Education & Training Program. Before NAAEE, she was the Project Manager for EECapacity, the U.S. EPA’s National Environmental Education & Training Program housed at Cornell University 2011–2016.

Stacie joined the NAAEE team in April 2020. She has worked in or alongside the education field for over two decades and in communications for more than 15 years. She started her career teaching at a public charter high school in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining NAAEE, she managed communications for Annenberg Learner, a leading national nonprofit that connects K–12 and college educators with classroom content and professional development to support and strengthen their practice. She holds an M.A. in Spanish and Latin American Studies from American University, and a B.A. in Modern Languages and Linguistics and Certificate in Secondary Education from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She also completed a Certificate in Social Impact Storytelling at Georgetown University. Throughout her career, she has been committed to bringing exceptional educational opportunities to underserved areas and educating to promote civic engagement.

I am a lifelong learner, teaching middle school to create active community members for our future. 

Madeline is an international programs specialist at NAAEE, supporting the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP), youth leadership programs, and other global initiatives.

Katie is a dedicated elementary educator, creative entrepreneur, and lifelong learner who is passionate about helping others grow. With nearly a decade of teaching experience, she strives to create engaging, supportive learning environments where every child can succeed. Outside the classroom, Katie channels her creativity through her handcrafted beaded accessories business, combining artistry with meaningful connections. She values faith, family, kindness, and continuous personal growth, and enjoys setting new goals, staying active, and making lasting memories with loved ones. Whether she's teaching students, creating something new, or embracing life's next adventure, Katie is committed to making a positive impact and inspiring others through compassion, creativity, and authenticity.

I have been teaching for 27 years in both Massachusetts and Vermont. I have taught every kind of science from k-12, as well as Math, STEM, STEAM, and Enginering/Technology. I am a very hands-on project-based teacher so I thought this training would be interesting.

Jordan Bantuelle founded the Burrow Nature Center and leads its Forest School program in connecting children with nature through hands-on exploration and play-based learning. Jordan manages 111 acres at the Burrow, restoring pine savannah habitat through prescribed burning and sustainable forestry. He teaches practical skills including foraging, gardening, raising animals, natural building, and permaculture design. Jordan's philosophy centers on meeting human needs while enhancing ecosystems and building community connections.

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. She has built enduring working relationships across the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the 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 levels.

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. 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 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!

Tania Marien is the publisher of Transferable Solutions, a newsletter that reimagines environmental skills, helping environmental educators consider how to apply them to cross-sector work. She is the producer of the TALATERRA podcast, where she hosts conversations with independent environmental education and sustainability professionals, researchers, and authors. Past roles include serving as the publisher of ArtPlantae, a resource connecting artists, naturalists, and educators. Tania is a contributor to The Carbon Almanac (Penguin Random House, 2022) and Storytelling to Accelerate Climate Solutions (Springer Nature, 2024).

Community Development, Experiencial Education