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Dr. Charles Scaife

DR. CHARLES SCAIFE

PhD, Hydropower & Climate Science, US Department of Energy

Charles Scaife is a scientist at the US Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office. He found his way to Washington, DC through NOAA’s Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship – a year-long program meant to expose early career scientists to policymaking. Charles has a love for the outdoors that he turned into a research career focused on ecology and hydrology. Prior to DOE, he conducted extensive climate change research across Appalachia in partnership with the US Forest Service and earned his PhD in environmental sciences from the University of Virginia. Now, he works to understand climate change impacts on water resources and renewable energy across the US. In his free time, you’ll find Charles trail running, cycling around town, or reading in the park.

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Dr. Colin Sasthav

DR. COLIN SASTHAV

PhD, Hydropower & Climate Science, US Department of Energy

Colin Sasthav is a hydropower engineer at the Department of Energy’s Water Power
Technologies Office. Since middle school, Colin has been passionate about sustainable energy and the environment. He first studied biological engineering before going to graduate school to earn his PhD in Energy Science and Engineering from the University of Tennessee where he learned about the interdisciplinary challenges of hydropower. Outside of work, Colin plays almost any sport with a ball (tennis being his main sport) and he enjoys playing video games and reading sci-fi/fantasy novels.

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Erica Lynn Porta

ERICA LYNN PORTA

Policy Analyst, Concurrent Technologies Corporation

E. Lynn Porta is a water resources policy analyst working at the intersections of communities and governments. She received a Master of Science in Water Resources Policy and Management and a Certificate in Water Conflict Management and Transformation from Oregon State University, and published her MS research on international water politics and changing values of water. During the day, Lynn is currently an Energy & Climate Analyst at Concurrent Technologies Corporation supporting the Department of the Air Force to have water-resilient, mission-supportive systems amid rapidly changing climate and energy policies. In her second “evening” career, Lynn is one of the Co-Founders and current USA Co-President of the North American Youth Parliament for Water, which she helped establish when at Oregon State University. NAYPW works to support the visibility and inclusion of youth and young professionals (ages 18-35) in water resource decision-making spaces across North America/Turtle Island in support of the continent’s progress to achieving SDG 6. Her work with NAYPW led to her speaking at the recent United Nations Water Conference as an expert stakeholder on water and youth. community values, particularly from youth and young professionals, in water management spaces across North America and in the Middle East. If she is not working on one such project, she is reading a book about dragons and elves at the top of a nearby mountain overlook or a tucked-away waterfall.

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Dr. Katheryn Patterson

KATHERYN PATTERSON

Foreign Affairs Specialist, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement

Dr. Patterson is an accomplished marine scientist with 15 years of experience specializing  in international affairs, international fishery policies, marine conservation, and science communication, education, and outreach. Current portfolio primarily focuses on U.S. and global implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement and addresses policy  issues related to combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Previous works include: coral disease mitigation, marine protected areas, sustainable tourism, and ecosystems management. Katherine is a past WYSE Faculty Advisor too and earned her PhD from George Mason University.

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Counselor Uncategorized

Chrissy Wiedemann

CHRISSY WIEDEMANN

Counselor

As a teacher for 19 years, Chrissy enjoys working with students in English and Journalism at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Va. Chrissy received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from George Mason University. A proud Patriot, she connected to an international community there and developed her love of writing. As part of Patriot Nation, she traveled to Indianapolis in 2006 to watch the Cinderella team head to the Final Four. (Florida continues to be her least favorite team.) No English teacher has loads of free time during the school year, but when she can, Chrissy loves to see live music in DC. Summers on the beach and traveling to other countries are also favorites of hers. Chrissy is excited to return to to WYSE and can’t wait to meet new friends this summer!

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Holly Bisbee

HOLLY BISBEE

Program Manager, Department of Homeland Security​-Science & Technology Directorate

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.

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Leadership Uncategorized

Dawn Aponte

DAWN APONTE

Administrative Assistant, Washington Scholars Program

Dawn Aponte is an Administrative Assistant for the Washington Scholars Program (WSP) and K-12 Partnerships Program Office, within the Office of Admissions at George Mason University. Dawn joined the team in 2012, following a career with the U.S. Dept. of Justice. She loves supporting the WSP summer programs, the students and their families, and her teammates. In her opinion, Mason is an inspirational and progressive place to learn and serve. Dawn spends her free time outdoors as much as possible and loves to read and be with her young-adult children.

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Uncategorized Youth Advisory Board

Justin Lee

Justin is senior at Chantilly High School in Chantilly VA, and he is excited to be part of the Youth Advisory Board for WYSE 2018. He absolutely loved his time on the George Mason campus during WYSE 2017 and would give almost anything to relive that week. His interest in environmental science stems from his father who raised him in his home in the Shenandoah Valley. He loves the Appalachian Mountains and Shenandoah Valley a great deal, and his goal in life is to help preserve them in order to make sure that he can raise his children the way that his dad raised his. Justin is currently a tour guide at Skyline Caverns, routinely taking people over 250 feet underground and telling them all about the very rare crystal formations. One of his favorite pastimes is to go up onto the roof of his home in the mountains and take pictures of the beautiful sunsets and the awesome wildlife.

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Amy Takayama-Perez

AMY TAKAYAMA-PEREZ

Vice President of University Marketing and Enrollment Planning, College of Charleston

Amy Takayama-Perez is the vice president of university marketing and enrollment planning and began in this position in August 2020.

In this role, Takayama-Perez provides the leadership of the Division of University Marketing and Enrollment Planning, made up of the Office of University Marketing, the Office of Admissions, the Visitor Center, the Office of Financial Assistance and Veterans Affairs and the Office of Enrollment Information.

Takayama-Perez previously served as the dean of admission and as executive director of the Washington Scholars Program at George Mason University. As the dean of admissions, she was responsible for the overall management and execution of George Mason University’s recruitment strategy. She also held several roles at Mason, from director of recruitment to director of K-12 outreach and partnerships. While at Mason, she led the university to record-growing enrollments, making George Mason University one the of the most diverse institutions in the nation, and the largest research (R1) university in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Before her involvement in the Washington Scholars Program and her role as dean, Takayama-Perez was the guidance specialist for Loudoun County Public Schools and served as the director for a countywide college access program for underrepresented minority and firstgeneration students.

Takayama-Perez has worked with countless students and families on the application and college search process and is very active in regional and national college counseling associations. She has been a presenter at national professional development conferences including the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), Common App and the Center for Community College Student Engagement and has served on the board of directors for Northern Virginia Family Services, the board of advisors for ACT/NRCCUA (the National Research Center for College and University Admissions) and the Mason Alumni Board of Directors, where she chaired the Alumni Scholarship committee.

Takayama-Perez holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s in education in counseling and development from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.