Author: Allison Dodson

Emily Bohr holds a degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from George Mason University and attended the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (Class of 2021).  Since 2022, she has served as outreach specialist for Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, connecting the Fairfax community with ways to take climate action through creative digital storytelling and community events and making local environmental issues real and relatable for residents of all ages and abilities. She resides in Arlington where she enjoys crocheting and birdwatching. 

Ashley Fortner is an elephant keeper at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, where she works with Asian elephants and contributes to conservation-focused animal care and research. A 2017 graduate of George Mason University and alumna of the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, Ashley has helped mentor students, support behavioral research projects, and care for the Zoo’s elephant herd, including the Smithsonian’s first elephant calf born in nearly 25 years. Her work focuses on conservation, animal welfare, and inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders

Jordan Eccles is a Presidential Innovation Fellow working with the Executive Office of the President – Council on Environmental Quality as Deputy Director for Innovation.  In this role, Dr. Eccles brings best practices in digital strategy, AI and data analytics, and mission-driven outcomes to infrastructure planning and build-out.  He is a technology and data science professional with over a decade of experience working to transform processes and tools in the Department of Defense, most recently working with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Operational Energy to develop approaches for maximizing combat capability by optimizing fuel use. In this role, he pioneered a software and productivity approach to fuel logistics, delivering programs saving tens of millions of dollars in fuel costs wasted on non-mission inefficiencies. Dr. Eccles previously supported the Air Force Encroachment Management and Community Partnership programs, preventing impacts to mission operations at over forty installations. Prior to working with the Air Force, he helped found a startup working in credit card security and served as its Chief Technology Officer and worked as a postdoctoral associate and adjunct professor at Duke University, researching topics in the energy and environment space. Dr. Eccles also served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy and a high school science and math teacher in Raleigh, NC.