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Category: Staff

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Leadership Staff

Elena Johnson, M.Ed.

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 conference 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 several key partnerships for the Office of Admissions that focus on dual enrollment programming and college access initiatives. Prior to working in the Office of Admissions, 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.

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Leadership Staff

Richard Friesner, Ph.D.

RICHARD FRIESNER, PH.D.

Program Director, Washington Youth Summit on the Environment

 Dr. Friesner is the Director of the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment.  Richard develops the summit’s curriculum, identifies and recruits exceptional faculty and nationally recognized speakers in a variety of environmental disciplines and specialties, and coordinates with a fabulous group of staff in the Office of Admissions to make the summit an unparalleled experience for the student delegates attending. Richard earned a BS in Environmental Studies/Chemistry, a MS in Environmental Engineering & Science at the University of Kansas, and a PhD in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George Mason University. Prior to working with WYSE Richard was affiliated with the US 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 the Boy Scouts of America. Richard Currently works for NEIWPCC, a regional commission that helps the states in the northeast preserve and advance water quality.

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Junior Faculty Advisor Staff

Olivia Slack

OLIVIA SLACK

Junior Faculty Advisor

Olivia Slack is a freshman at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is double-majoring in Political Science (with a Public Affairs concentration) and Interpersonal Communication and double-minoring in English and Environmental Sustainability. At Meredith, Olivia is involved with student government and is also the Features Editor for the college newspaper, The Meredith Herald, and Poetry Editor for the college literary journal, The Colton Review. After graduation, Olivia plans to attend law school and eventually become involved in government in order to better advocate for the rights of both humans and the environment. Olivia attended WYSE in 2016 and was a summer intern in 2017. The experience truly changed her life forever, as it made her aware of her passion for politics and policy. She is so excited to be able to help make WYSE 2019 as amazing of an experience for the delegates as WYSE 2016 was for her!

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Junior Faculty Advisor Staff

Freya Patel

Junior Faculty Advisor

Freya Patel is a rising sophomore majoring in Biology and Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her free time, Freya enjoys reading fiction novels and she aspires to one day become a zoologist and work in the field of animal conservation. During high school, Freya was dual enrolled at Central Piedmont Community College and graduated in 2017 with an Associates in Biological Sciences. Freya attended WYSE as a delegate in 2016 and as an intern in 2017. She is excited to return as a Junior Faculty Advisor for WYSE 2018 and looks forward to meeting the new delegates.

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Junior Faculty Advisor Youth Advisory Board

Andrew Nestor

Junior Faculty Advisor

Andrew is a previous attendee and intern for the WYSE conference from West Chester, Pennsylvania, but is currently a freshman attending the University of Delaware, majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Journalism. He previously graduated from a small private high school for kids with social and mental disabilities and worked as a teacher’s assistant in many capacities helping to work with high schoolers and middle schoolers. Andrew is a member of the National Honors Society and has held a job working in customer service in his hometown since his junior year of high school.