Category: Faculty Advisor

Suri Raut has been teaching for the special education department at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia for eight years, specializing in Biology and Earth Science. He is the school advisor for the Best Buddies and Special Olympics programs. Prior to working at Yorktown, Suri was the Academic Coordinator for the Mason LIFE Program, which provides college aged students with intellectual and developmental disabilities a comprehensive university experience here at GMU. He helped develop curriculum and supervised the instructors in becoming special education teachers. Suri obtained his Master’s in Special Education at Mason and has been a proud member of Patriot Nation ever since. Though he loves all sports, Suri is an avid fan of the Caps! Suri also loves catching live shows, relaxing on the beach, camping, hiking and exploring new countries.

Julie Walker completed her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology from the University of Florida. Her research focuses on the influence of climate change on coastal ecosystems and investigating the potential for the advancement of coastal wetland management. Prior to her graduate studies Julie worked at the Chesapeake Bay Program, where she was a part of the Stewardship goal team aimed at increasing science literacy, public access, and land protection. In her current position as a Postdoctoral Researcher for the University of Massachusetts and USGS Woods Hole, she works on utilizing geospatial data to assess the influence of historical human modifications on salt marsh vulnerability to sea-level rise. In her spare time, Julie likes exploring nature, whether it’s paddleboarding, taking pictures while hiking, or walking her dog.

Abigail Loughlin is ecstatic to be joining WYSE for her fourth summer!  She attended the program as a high school student, a Junior Faculty advisor, and is thrilled to be working as a Faculty Advisor for the second time. Abigail is an alum of George Mason University, and is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Climate Change and Anthropogenic Roles at Columbia University. When she is not in the classroom learning, she can be found teaching fellow graduate students, engaging with elementary students on sustainability topics, or reading in a nearby park. Abigail can not wait to rejoin the WYSE team in-person this year, as well as learn from fellow advisors and incoming students!

Born and raised in Fairfax, VA, Thomas is a George Mason alum, where he received his B.S. in Environmental Science. While at George Mason, Thomas was involved with Student Government, Greek Life, and was an Orientation Leader. After graduating, Thomas went on to work for the University of Chicago Marine Biological Laboratory as a lab assistant before moving to Baltimore to teach middle school science. He is now a teacher in Fairfax, VA. His hobbies include going to the movies, rock climbing, and volleyball.

Ben Rich is an AP Environmental Science and Physics teacher at the Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) in Montclair, NJ.  After earning a BA in Physics at Colgate University he earned a MEd at the University of Maryland. As the Sustainability Coordinator and Green Roof Director at MKA, he leads both students and faculty in making the school more environmentally friendly and led the school to earn the Green Flag Award from Eco-Schools USA twice. During each summer from 2013-2018 he traversed the US on an electric motorcycle making Youtube videos to encourage quicker EV adoption. Now he drives a Tesla Model 3 across the US, with his latest trip traveling 21,000 miles in 2 months. He is the Co-Chair of the Montclair Environmental Commission, leading projects to reduce the carbon footprint of the town. In his free time he hikes mountains, paddle boards on rivers, and swing dances in NYC.

Jazmin is an environmental scientist at a consulting firm, supporting environmental condition proposals and other documentation for Army Reserve Centers across the U.S. Jazmin’s current focus includes environmental justice and education. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Health and a minor in Public Policy and Management, as well as a M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from George Mason University. During her undergraduate career, Jazmin also served as an on-campus tour guide and was a member of George Mason University’s Women’s Track and Field team as a 400-meter hurdler.

Elizabeth Hoke earned her BS in Biology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.  Since attending WYSE herself in 2012, Elizabeth’s environmental experience has been split between public engagement and research. She spent her undergraduate years working at the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment where she facilitated student engagement with sustainability concepts via an annual concert, a film festival, and maintaining the Institute blog. Her undergraduate summers were spent doing a variety of environmental research, namely a behavioral toxicology project at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences and a soil microbiology analysis in Costa Rica with the Kean University School of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences. More recently, she was a canoe guide with the National Parks Service, promoting conservation via recreation. She then completed a molecular microbiology research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health where she studied fungal meningitis, an infectious disease that is spreading more easily due to the changing climate. She currently does research at Whitman-Walker Institute, a Washington, D.C. community health clinic that operates at the intersection of social justice and public health. Off-hours, Elizabeth enjoys performing improv comedy, exploring the D.C. go-go scene, and baking.