HOLLY BISBEE
In her current position at the U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Ms. Bisbee and her team review DHS S&T proposed projects for possible environmental, health, safety and energy impacts. In her role as Senior Environmental Protection Specialist / NEPA Program Lead she ensures S&T compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to include: the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; the Endangered Species Act; the National Historic Preservation Act; the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; and Environmental Justice concerns. During her time in college, Ms. Bisbee was provided the opportunity to work as a Cultural Resources Technician in the Noatak National Preserve, Alaska, for the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. She has an active interest in planting native plant species and is slowly converting her 1-acre property into native plant habitat. When not puttering in the gardens she’s running the local trails with her 8-year old black lab, Ori.
HOLLY BISBEE
In her current position at the U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Ms. Bisbee and her team review DHS S&T proposed projects for possible environmental, health, safety and energy impacts. In her role as Senior Environmental Protection Specialist / NEPA Program Lead she ensures S&T compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to include: the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; the Endangered Species Act; the National Historic Preservation Act; the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; and Environmental Justice concerns. During her time in college, Ms. Bisbee was provided the opportunity to work as a Cultural Resources Technician in the Noatak National Preserve, Alaska, for the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. She has an active interest in planting native plant species and is slowly converting her 1-acre property into native plant habitat. When not puttering in the gardens she’s running the local trails with her 8-year old black lab, Ori.
Dr. Lauren Gibson specializes in empowering young people to take environmental action for societal change. She currently serves as the first special advisor on youth engagement at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), working to bring more youth voices into agency decision-making. In previous roles, Dr. Gibson has consulted on youth-adult partnerships, researched the factors that drive young people to engage in large-scale environmental advocacy behaviors, and communicated the importance of environmental education efforts to Congress. Her experiences growing up as a youth environmental activist herself continue to inform her work.
Juan Rodriguez is the director of the Clearwater Nature Center in Clinton, Maryland, a facility that offers a variety of interpretive programs hosted by park naturalists. Environmental education is strongly supported at the nature center through exhibits, displays, programs, special events, clubs, trips, and volunteer opportunities.
Bri Nakamura is a 2nd generation water engineer with over a decade of experience in the industry. In 2022, she took on a new role with Xylem Inc. as an Innovation Analyst as part of Xylem’s Innovation Labs (XIL) team. In this role, she works with the Technology Scouting and Evaluation team, and oversees many of Xylem’s open innovation ecosystem partnerships, manages the Accelerator and Incubator cohort selection process, and leads the XIL external marketing efforts. Prior to Xylem, Bri served as the Practice Leader of Innovation at the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) Water Science and Engineering Center (WSEC) for 7 years. She also has experience as a design engineer with an engineering consulting company in the DC metro area; mainly
Julia Anastasio joined the Association of Clean Water Administrators in May 2014 as the new Executive Director and General Counsel. Ms. Anastasio has 18 years of experience in government law and policy. In the early 2000s she worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and for the last 9 years she has worked with the America Public Works Association (APWA). With APWA, she focused on environmental, sustainability and infrastructure development at the local, state and federal levels and has extensive experience in with federal advocacy and administrative law before Congress and the Executive branch agencies. She is passionate about the role of state government in in developing and implementing national water policy and looks forward to working with ACWA’s membership.
Jackie Spicer has been an animal care professional for over 12 years, all with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. She began her career volunteering and worked her way up through temporary keeper to her current position as senior keeper on American Trail. She has worked with all types of animals: fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, primates, carnivores, and marine mammals. She has a bachelors degree in wildlife management and a masters degree in environmental management and policy. She plays an active role in her local chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers, currently working as the chapter president.
Dr. Ahn is currently a Professor in Environmental Science and Policy, and an affiliated faculty member in Civil, Environmental & Infrastructure Engineering, Biology, Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Food Studies, and the School of Art. He served as a University Life Faculty Fellow (2013-2018) and became a Faculty Research Fellow appointed by Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship (School of Business). At Mason, Dr. Ahn teaches Wetland Ecology and Management, Ecosystem Modeling and Analysis, Ecological Sustainability, Ecological Engineering and Ecosystem Restoration, and Urban Ecosystems and Processes. Ecological Sustainability (Mason Core, Capstone) and Urban Ecosystems and Processes are both R&S (Research and Scholarship) intensive courses for undergraduates sponsored by the Students as Scholars program, through the Office of Student Scholarship, Creative Activities, and Research (OSCAR). This program is Mason’s award-winning undergraduate research and creative activities initiative. His most recent new course, EVPP 381: Nature and Culture in Global Wetlands has been designated as Mason Core for Global Understanding, which will be taught starting in the Spring 2022 semester.