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Author: Allison Dodson

Rachel Cleaver, MPA

RACHEL CLEAVER, MPA

Student Support and Senior Associate Director, K-12 Partnerships

Rachel is the Senior Associate Director of K-12 Partnerships in the Office of Admissions where she creates and oversees partnerships that help bring more students to the Mason campus. She works with departments and organizations across the campus as well as the broader community to talk about the great things happening at George Mason as well as college access and success. Prior to coming to George Mason, Rachel led the programmatic efforts at two college access and success programs on the East Coast, Let’s Get Ready and The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund. She has experience in curriculum design and program management and in helping under-served high school students achieve their college dreams. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education and Human/Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University and a Masters in Public Administration from George Mason University. She loves living in Washington, D.C. and looks forward to welcoming you this summer!

RACHEL CLEAVER, MPA

Student Support and Senior Associate Director, K-12 Partnerships

Rachel is the Senior Associate Director of K-12 Partnerships in the Office of Admissions where she creates and oversees partnerships that help bring more students to the Mason campus. She works with departments and organizations across the campus as well as the broader community to talk about the great things happening at George Mason as well as college access and success. Prior to coming to George Mason, Rachel led the programmatic efforts at two college access and success programs on the East Coast, Let’s Get Ready and The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund. She has experience in curriculum design and program management and in helping under-served high school students achieve their college dreams. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education and Human/Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University and a Masters in Public Administration from George Mason University. She loves living in Washington, D.C. and looks forward to welcoming you this summer!

Elena Johnson, MEd

ELENA JOHNSON

Director, Washington Scholars Program

Elena is the Director of the Washington Scholars Program (WSP) which includes the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) and the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE). As the director, she works to create fulfilling Summit experiences by developing curriculum for the programs, as well as recruiting professional faculty and nationally recognized speakers in the fields of journalism and the media and environmental science. Under her leadership the programs have tripled in size and furthered their reach through key partnerships. Elena also manages college access initatives, events, and recruitment partnerships for the Office of Admissions. Prior to working at George Mason, Elena worked as a College and Career Specialist helping high school students explore their educational and career goals and choices. Elena earned a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and her Masters in Education from George Mason University.

ELENA JOHNSON

Director, Washington Scholars Program

Elena is the Director of the Washington Scholars Program (WSP) which includes the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) and the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE). As the director, she works to create fulfilling Summit experiences by developing curriculum for the programs, as well as recruiting professional faculty and nationally recognized speakers in the fields of journalism and the media and environmental science. Under her leadership the programs have tripled in size and furthered their reach through key partnerships. Elena also manages college access initatives, events, and recruitment partnerships for the Office of Admissions. Prior to working at George Mason, Elena worked as a College and Career Specialist helping high school students explore their educational and career goals and choices. Elena earned a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and her Masters in Education from George Mason University.

Richard Friesner, PhD

RICHARD FRIESNER, PH.D.

Program Director, Washington Youth Summit on the Environment

Richard is the Director of the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment. He develops the Summit’s curriculum, recruits exceptional faculty and speakers in a variety of environmental disciplines, and coordinates with staff to make the Summit an unparalleled experience for student delegates. Richard earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies/Chemistry, a M.S. in Environmental Engineering & Science at the University of Kansas, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George Mason University. Prior to working with WYSE, Richard was affiliated with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and as an environmental consultant for a nationwide engineering consulting firm. Richard also has extensive experience with student leadership experiences both at the University of Kansas and with Scouting America. Richard currently works for NEIWPCC, a regional commission that helps the states in the Northeast preserve and advance water quality.

RICHARD FRIESNER, PH.D.

Program Director, Washington Youth Summit on the Environment

Richard is the Director of the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment. He develops the Summit’s curriculum, recruits exceptional faculty and speakers in a variety of environmental disciplines, and coordinates with staff to make the Summit an unparalleled experience for student delegates. Richard earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies/Chemistry, a M.S. in Environmental Engineering & Science at the University of Kansas, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George Mason University. Prior to working with WYSE, Richard was affiliated with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and as an environmental consultant for a nationwide engineering consulting firm. Richard also has extensive experience with student leadership experiences both at the University of Kansas and with Scouting America. Richard currently works for NEIWPCC, a regional commission that helps the states in the Northeast preserve and advance water quality.

Dr. Dann Sklarew

DR. DANN SKLAREW

Professor, George Mason University

Dr. Sklarew has researched and developed numerous methods to assist environmental policy, management and compliance. For EPA’s Office of Water, he identified and characterized watershed management tools, and created a Web-based decision support system to help companies comply with industry- specific federal water pollution permitting rules. As a Smithsonian Fellow, he developed a nitrogen budget for the semi-rural Rhode River basin (MD), validating demographic and agricultural census data through local interviews with residents, farmers and even the town veterinarian.

Dr. Sklarew has investigated various ways to help diverse partnerships address common ecological problems. He documented global challenges and successes in managing coastal and marine resources as producer and scriptwriter for a video documentary, Turning the Tide: Sustaining Earth’s Large Marine Ecosystems.

DR. DANN SKLAREW

Professor, George Mason University

Dr. Sklarew has researched and developed numerous methods to assist environmental policy, management and compliance. For EPA’s Office of Water, he identified and characterized watershed management tools, and created a Web-based decision support system to help companies comply with industry- specific federal water pollution permitting rules. As a Smithsonian Fellow, he developed a nitrogen budget for the semi-rural Rhode River basin (MD), validating demographic and agricultural census data through local interviews with residents, farmers and even the town veterinarian.

Dr. Sklarew has investigated various ways to help diverse partnerships address common ecological problems. He documented global challenges and successes in managing coastal and marine resources as producer and scriptwriter for a video documentary, Turning the Tide: Sustaining Earth’s Large Marine Ecosystems.

Kate Sheppard

KATE SHEPPARD

Executive Editor at The Assembly

Kate is a New Jersey native who had the good fortune of marrying a North Carolinian.
She came to The Assembly from HuffPost, where she had been a senior enterprise
and national editor. She previously covered environment, health, labor and other
policy issues for Mother Jones, Grist, and The American Prospect, among others.
Her reporting has been recognized with awards from the Society of Environmental
Journalists, the Online News Association and the Deadline Club, and featured in
the Best American Science and Nature Writing. She also teaches journalism at the
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

KATE SHEPPARD

Executive Editor at The Assembly

Kate is a New Jersey native who had the good fortune of marrying a North Carolinian.
She came to The Assembly from HuffPost, where she had been a senior enterprise and national editor. She previously covered environment, health, labor and other policy issues for Mother Jones, Grist, and The American Prospect, among others. Her reporting has been recognized with awards from the Society of Environmental
Journalists, the Online News Association and the Deadline Club, and featured in the Best American Science and Nature Writing. She also teaches journalism at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill