SERENA SEILER
Faculty Advisor, WYSE Alum 2015
Serena is a recent graduate of Western Kentucky University, where she earned her M.S. in Biology. Serena holds a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from George Mason University where she worked in Admissions as a Telecounseling Supervisor and Mason Ambassador, and completed a semester at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. After graduation, she spent time on a farm in upstate New York, studied elephant behavior in Florida, and even worked in a bakery before joining Lincoln Park Zoo for a reptile behavior study. Her master’s thesis focused on human-wildlife co-occurrence in Homer, Alaska. Serena is passionate about wildlife behavior, conservation, and helping others explore career paths in the environmental sciences. She’s so excited for WYSE 2025 and can’t wait to meet this year’s amazing Delegates!
SERENA SEILER
Faculty Advisor, WYSE Alum 2015
Serena is a recent graduate of Western Kentucky University, where she earned her M.S. in Biology. Serena holds a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from George Mason University where she worked in Admissions as a Telecounseling Supervisor and Mason Ambassador, and completed a semester at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. After graduation, she spent time on a farm in upstate New York, studied elephant behavior in Florida, and even worked in a bakery before joining Lincoln Park Zoo for a reptile behavior study. Her master’s thesis focused on human-wildlife co-occurrence in Homer, Alaska. Serena is passionate about wildlife behavior, conservation, and helping others explore career paths in the environmental sciences. She’s so excited for WYSE 2025 and can’t wait to meet this year’s amazing Delegates!
Gary Swick used his BS in Natural Resource Mgt. from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and a MSEd in Outdoor Teacher Education as the foundation for developing a field-based High School Environmental Science suite of eight courses. The related projects have earned numerous state & national acclaim for their innovative approaches and impressive results. Individually, Gary has received several recognitions on the national level as an outstanding Environmental Educator. With the motto, “Environmental Action through Education”, his students have been active agents of change in their communities. His primary focus has been getting students into their local streams as “Watershed Watchdogs”, collecting data and becoming stewards. He previously taught at Northern Illinois University and is now retired. In addition to teaching, Gary spent 18 summers as a whitewater raft guide in Wyoming. Gary serves as the President of the Friends of the Fox River, the Board President of the Elgin Math & Science Academy, and is a board member on several other non-profit conservation groups. He is an avid outdoor recreationist.
Corey earned his Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Florida studying issues of representation in STEM. He is currently an Evaluation Specialist at Oak Ridge Associated Universities conducting program evaluations for the Department of Energy’s Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW) portfolio which funds education initiatives at National Labs and Universities. During graduate school, he worked on an NSF-funded project to redesign chemistry laboratory curriculum for engineers to increase the retention and performance of underrepresented students. He has also worked with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in the forest ecology lab studying canopy structures in relation to global climate change. In his free time, he restores vintage mountain bikes, tubes in the Florida springs, and swims in the ocean with his dog.
A native Washingtonian, Mike earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and an M.P.A. from The George Washington University. He first realized his passion for the environment while attending his suburban Maryland high school in the 1970’s. Mike, who retired from federal service in 2021 after 38 years, worked in government, private sector and academe in the environmental field. His environmental experience spans wetland restoration and protection, pesticide regulation, hazards materials management, and air and water pollution control and testing. Mike lived and worked in Germany for nine years, managing hazardous wastes for the US military in Europe and Middle East. In that overseas position and other jobs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mike embraced the challenges associated with solving tough environmental problems. Mike is an adjunct professor of environmental biology at Montgomery College.
Kevin is a professional engineer with nearly forty years of experience in environmental protection. He holds a B.S. from Widener University and an M.S. in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering from Villanova University, and he has completed more than two dozen specialty courses and certifications throughout his career. Retired from the U.S. EPA, he worked in the Water Protection Division for thirty years. His work there, his numerous publications, and his teaching experience at several universities and at the high school level have been recognized by multiple awards, including the Gold Medal for Excellence in Government. Kevin continues teaching and advising at Temple University in several areas: Biotechnology, and Civil and Environmental Engineering at the graduate level, and Environmental Science at the undergraduate level.
Maction is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science (GGS) at George Mason University. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on topics like resource conservation, biogeography, geospatial technologies, and sustainable development. Dr. Komwa fosters a love for environmental problem-solving in his students by leveraging geospatial tools to tackle critical environmental challenges, including resource conservation, global food systems, and sustainable development initiatives. He actively collaborates with researchers across the university and international organizations focused on biodiversity, climate change, and sustainable food systems. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. He has served as Faculty Advisor for WYSE since 2010.
Jesi Hessong-Brown is a first generation WYSE-r! She attended the inaugural conference in 2010 and quickly became apart of the WYSE family. She has been a WYSE fall intern, summer intern, and faculty advisor. Since her first WYSE conference, Jesi has received her B.S. in Conservation and Environmental Biology with a double minor in Applied Conservation Skills and Non-Profit Studies from George Mason University where she graduate Magna Cum Laude and received the Senior Award in Biology for her undergraduate research. Jesi spent many years work in wildlife conservation before finding her true passion- teaching. Jesi has since completed her Masters in Education and is currently the wackiest middle school science teacher in her district. When not at work Jesi i is usually out rock climbing, hiking with her 1 year old daughter, looking for amphibians, playing with her pet lizards or walking her two dogs Hobbes and Holly.
Gretchen is the Natural Resource Manager at the Virginia Department of Conservation’s Division of State Parks. She implements resource management activities including invasive species management, native species habitat restoration, prescribed burning, sustainable trail work, policy development, and regulatory compliance. Gretchen was previously an environmental consultant where she focused on natural resource program management, strategic partnerships, encroachment strategies, and geospatial analyses. She completed her M.S. in Biodiversity, Wildlife, and Ecosystem Health from the University of Edinburgh. She obtained her B.S. in Environmental Science and Geography and received a GISc Certificate from the University of Mary Washington. She is a certified GIS Professional and is a member of the UMW Eagle Pipe Band. She enjoys hiking, backpacking, stand up paddle boarding, rock climbing, and spending time at her backyard farm.