Kasi Bumgarner

KASI BUMGARNER

Kasi Bumgarner is a video producer and content creator based in the Washington DC area.  Prior to starting her business, she worked as a Digital Producer at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). At NED, she created a variety of digital content to highlight events and capture stories of the organization’s grantees and fellows who advocate for democracy and human rights around the world.

Kasi’s love for storytelling and digital media began at a young age, but it wasn’t until she attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) that she realized she could turn her passion into a career. She has loved being a part of the WJMC family ever since, returning as a junior faculty advisor, speaker, and videographer.

Kasi received her bachelor’s degree in Film and Video Studies from George Mason University. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, exploring new spots in the DC area, and producing content for her lifestyle YouTube channel, Curlyhairlove, and her podcast, Side Hustle Generation.

Zoe Pitman

ZOE PITMAN

Junior Faculty Advisor

Zoe Pitman recently graduated from the of the University of Arkansas with a degree in Earth Science and minors in Geology and History. She was a WYSE delegate in 2018 and a JFA in 2022 and is passionate about conservation and climate change mitigation. Her undergraduate research focused on testing the accuracy of satellite data for evaluating climate change impacts through snow cover. She spent the fall 2022 semester studying human impacts on the environment in southern Argentina, and was the first student from the University of Arkansas to study abroad in Antarctica. In her spare time, Zoe likes biking, reading, hiking, baking, and hanging out with her cat, Spoon.

Evelyn Aponte

EVELYN APONTE

Evelyn Aponte recently graduated from the College of William and Mary with a B.A. in History and Hispanic Studies.  After an internship with the nonprofit organization Edu-Futuro, where she developed and delivered a Social Emotional Learning program, she is looking forward to working with faculty and students. Evelyn is actively searching for her first professional career, and in her free time you can find her doing Zumba and lifeguarding!

Liz Ye

LIZ YE

Junior Faculty Advisor

Liz Ye (she/her) just finished her second year at the University of Vermont in Burlington, VT.  She is majoring in Natural Resources with a minor in Law and Society. She loves to run, hike,  and explore the outdoors. Liz loves studying species of trees as well as learning about invasive  species! This summer she will be working on a sustainable farm as well as selling its organic produce at the farm stand in South Burlington, Vermont.

Meghan Stevens

MEGHAN STEVENS

Meghan Stevens is a rising junior at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.  She is double majoring in Biology and Environmental Studies. She also plays volleyball at school and is involved in several extracurriculars including the Student Athlete Advisory Council and the Sustainability Club. Meghan hopes to spend her life advocating for the environment and helping future generations have a chance to feel the same strong connection that she feels to the outdoors.

Nathaniel Aponte

NATHANIEL APONTE

Advance Team Member

Nathaniel Aponte is a senior at Christopher Newport University studying Marketing and Graphic Design. He hopes to pursue a career in digital marketing after finishing school. Nathaniel enjoys photography, museums, coffee shops, outings with friends, and listening to his favorite artist, Future.

Julie Walker

JULIE WALKER

Faculty Advisor

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.

Taylor Rutter

TAYLOR RUTTER

Taylor Rutter is a 2022 graduate from George Mason University’s Honors College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Law, and Society with a concentration in Homeland Security and Justice and plans to start the academy for her local police department in the fall.  While her degree and future career may not be environmentally focused, her passion for bettering the environment and teaching others how to be better environmental stewards, which started as a child, is still strong. Taylor has volunteered with the North Carolina Coastal Federation for several years, where she assisted educators in teaching youth during summer camps how to protect their local waterways and identify native species; she also helped build living shorelines and oyster reefs to restore coastline ecosystems. Taylor first attended WYSE as a North Carolina Delegate during the summer of 2017 and returned as an Intern the following summer of 2018. While Covid-19 prevented her from becoming a JFA earlier during her time in college, she is beyond excited to return to WYSE once again to help share her passion for the environment!

Abigail Loughlin

ABIGAIL LOUGHLIN

Faculty Advisor

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!

Elizabeth Allen

ELIZABETH ALLEN

Elizabeth Allen (WYSE 2018) is a junior Biology Major at Roger Williams University with a minor in  Educational Studies. She is originally from Watertown, Massachusetts and currently resides in Bristol, Rhode Island. While at Roger Williams, she has assumed the position of Treasurer of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society for the 2022-2023 academic year. She is part of the Marine Science Club and All Paws In Club on the RWU campus. She volunteers at the National Marine Life Center as a member of their Animal Care Team working in seal and turtle husbandry, rehabilitation, and release. Elizabeth is still in contact with connections she made during her time at the WYSE program in 2018 and cannot wait to return as a Junior Faculty Advisor!