People

I have been in the EE field for over 27 years. I am currently the Education and Outreach Manager and I oversee our classroom and adult education programs, website, social media, and marketing efforts. 

I am a senior at Mount Aloyuios College, and I am studying early childhood education prek-6. I have alwasy known I wanted to be a teacher because I love helpin gothers, and enjoy being around children. I can not wait to start my career as a teacher, and I am hoping these training I take in college help me on the route to sucess. 

Olga Schmidt is Chief Editor of ALLATRA Media and a contributing author. A healthcare professional with more than 20 years of experience, she brings a practical, evidence-based perspective to the publication’s editorial work and reporting.

She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Data Science at Eastern University, expanding her expertise in data analysis, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. She has also completed professional training in climate journalism through the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas at The University of Texas at Austin and the Global Investigative Journalism Network.

As Chief Editor, Olga contributes to ALLATRA Media’s editorial direction and standards while reporting on healthcare, artificial intelligence, data science, emerging technologies, and climate.

Vladimir Krivitsky is an independent photographer and author based in Israel. For over 20 years, he has been building a unique photographic archive of organic fruits and vegetables with non-standard, expressive natural shapes. His work focuses on leveraging nature’s own designs to inspire curiosity, observation, and imaginative thinking in children, offering a meaningful visual alternative to digital screens.

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.

Preethi Mony is a specialist in the field of environmental education, program evaluation and grants and has a wide range of experience from developing resource matierials, conducting programs with children and adults, as well as evaluating programs and grant reporting.

Growing up in the busy metropolis of Mumbai, she quickly recognized the importance of the social aspects of conservation in protecting the natural world. She has worked with organizations in India and the US to help with environmental education program planning and resource development. She has over 20 years of experience working with zoos and museums to evaluate programs and exhibits and recommend strategies to improve the overall visitor experience. Over the last 2 years, she has worked at a local community college to support grant work (federal, state, and private) as well as to inform data driven decision making in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space. She brings all of these experiences to her current role of EE Grant and Program Manager at NAAEE.

Preethi holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from The Ohio State University. She earned her M.S. in interdisciplinary Ecology from the University of Florida, and a B.Sc. in Life Sciences from the University of Mumbai, India.

My name is Chloe and I am a student at Appalachian State University studying Recreation Management with a minor in Leadership studies. I was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains therefore I have grown up to have a huge appreciation for the outdoors leading me to be interested in educating others about the environment. My goal is to instill a sense of care and responsibility among others when it comes to protecting our natural lands. I want people to understand that if we all care even just a little, it can make a huge difference in our quality of life. 

Elena is currently the Director of Conservation Education and Leadership Development at the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, where one of the programs she manages is Project WILD. Elena was an EE Specialist for NAAEE supporting the state capacity building program, Guidelines for Community Engagement, and Community Climate Change. Prior to coming to NAAEE, Elena was the Program Manager for National Geographic’s Chesapeake Bay FieldScope program. While at Maryland Department of Natural Resources, she was the co-lead staff for Maryland's Partnership for Children in Nature. With a B.S. in Natural Resource Management (Environmental Education concentration) from the University of Michigan, Elena has had the privilege of working with Dr. Bill Stapp, who has profoundly influenced her life and career. Additionally, she has an M.A. in Science Education from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins University. In her spare time, Elena enjoys playing taiko and dancing hula.