People

Lara Maupin is Executive Director of the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art in Millersburg, Pennsylvania, where she leads an organization dedicated to connecting people with nature and the arts through environmental education, conservation, and community engagement. Throughout her career, she has worked to expand access to high-quality, hands-on learning experiences, build strategic partnerships, strengthen nonprofit organizations, and inspire lifelong curiosity about the natural world. Her professional experience spans environmental education, STEM education, nonprofit leadership, civics education, fundraising, and organizational development, with a focus on creating meaningful educational experiences that serve learners of all ages.

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 just finished my 25th year teaching. I am a regular edudcation teacher who has taught K, 2nd, 6th grades.  I am preparing for my 15th year in 4th grade.  I have Regular Educatin students as well we Learning Support and Autisitc Support students.  I am on a team of Reg Ed and SPED teachers.  I teach ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies.

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.

With over 40 years of active education and conservation work, the Nisqually Reach Nature Center has a proud history of reaching thousands of community members in the South Puget Sound each year with our messages of environmental stewardship and conservation. Through the years, our emphasis has expanded from general public outreach to our current focus on providing supplemental classroom, laboratory, and field trip opportunities for schools in Thurston and Pierce counties and beyond. We also conduct community science monitoring of pigeon guillemots, forage fish, larval crabs, and water quality.

Jimena Cuenca supports NAAEE's digital presence, helping maintain and improve our websites like eePRO so that it serves as a welcoming and useful space for environmental educators. Jimena brings a deep curiosity about how online communities grow, connect, and collaborate. She enjoys learning new digital tools and is always looking to make our web spaces more engaging. When not at work, she's walking her huskies and birding.

Bug Hartsock is a graduating Master's student in an Entomology lab. When he's not staring at small critters, he spends his time reading, making art, and going on hikes (as well as playing plenty of Dungeons & Dragons). Bug is passionate about scientific outreach and communication, creating zines and comics designed to make science accessible to everyone. He's also spoken at conferences, on public radio, and at a variety of school outreach events. It's his hope to encourage the rest of the world to fall a little bit more in love with its tiny, many-legged residents.

Lead Educator and Program Manager at Piedmont Wildlife Center in Durham, North Carolina. Alumni of North Carolina State University College of Natural Resources. 

I have been involved in informal eduaction off and on most of my life. As a camp counslor in a Boy Scout camp I first learned my love for teaching outdoor skills and classes. About 10 years ago I quit my blue color job and began working as an outdoor educator. First with the US Forest Service and then a an NPS Park Ranger in the interpretative and education department. My current job combines a lot of my past experinces in a fulfilling way. 

Middle School Social Studies Teacher, avid gardner and outdoor enthusiast

learner teacher of ecology and art