People

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.

I am a Life Science teacher at a middle school in Charles County, Maryland.  I have been a teacher for over 20 years but have only been teaching science for 5 of them.   Not only am I a life science teacher to 7th graders, but my family owns a 250 acre farm where we focus on stewardship and conservation.  My husband is also a watermen on the Potomac River where he catches Blue Crab and plants and harvests oysters. Our family acheived the Aldo Leopold Conservation Award in 2021 with our efforts of conservation on the land and water.  Environmental education is near and dear to my heart.

Hi everyone! My name is Abby, and I use she/her/siya pronouns. I am a proactive and mission-driven aspiring environmental educator. I'm deeply passionate about community care and promoting sustainability, with experience in community outreach and education, and have a strong understanding of the importance of diversity in shaping effective policies and programs. My goal is to inspire the younger generation while continuously learning and applying environmental best practices to ensure equity for all.

Director of Marketing and Development at Camp Fitch YMCA

Founded in 2011, Bow Seat is the world's largest environmental youth program for the creative arts. We provide an innovative space for youth to connect, create, and communicate for our blue planet. Working at the intersection of ocean science and arts education, our award-winning Ocean Awareness Contest emphasizes creative thinking and making in exploring the natural world. Through art exhibitions, publications, and scholarships, Bow Seat uplifts diverse youth voices to advance dialogue and participation in environmental conservation. We empower young thinkers and creators to be active and empathetic global citizens, starting in their local communities and watersheds.

I am an Assistant Professor of Environmental Education in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University. I work collaboratively with educators and youth on design-based research to understand and develop pathways for people to learn about and care for the natural world we are all a part of. I focus on urban communities and explore questions of environmental identity, environmental literacy about complex ecological issues, and the structure and function of learning ecosystems.

Katie has been active in the field of environmental education for more than 20 years. She currently works as an environmental and outdoor learning consultant, supporting organizations and networks with planning, professional learning and field-building initiatives. Previously, Katie served for 17 years as Executive Director of the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE), where she led environmental literacy planning and implementation efforts and played an active role in advancing environmental education at both the state and national levels.

I'm a student who works as a nanny with young children with a basis of emergent and nature-based teachings.

Brittany Petish is the creator of the True Heart Tails series, award-winning children’s books inspired by real wildlife rescue and rehabilitation stories. Through gentle storytelling, accurate natural science, and social-emotional learning, her books help young readers understand animal behavior, ecosystems, and compassionate coexistence with wildlife. Brittany collaborates with wildlife centers, educators, and conservation organizations to develop stories and educator guides that support environmental literacy in classrooms and communities.

Long-time outdoor and environmental educator, conservation educator, and sustainable agriculture educator, and naturalist/natural & cultural history interpreter, now getting back into the field.