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Tag: 2018

Christa Madison

CHRISTA MADISON

Junior Faculty Advisor

Christa Madison is a Christian Conservationist who grew up in small-town Roanoke, Virginia. She developed her love for nature from her time growing up surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is currently a senior and will hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from George Mason University pending her graduation in the spring of 2020. Christa is also perusing a minor in Tourism and Events Management, and a concentration in Conservation. She just completed a semester at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. Her professional interests involve photography and mending the relationship between humans and nature by community outreach and environmental education. Christa found her passion for the community and the environment through her faith and education.  Her faith leads her to believe humanity should be good stewards of the environment. Christa’s future ambitions are to continue to learn, grow, and advocate for the protection of the environment. She would like to explore careers in environmental education, the exotic animal trade, and environmental consulting in the private sector. She hopes for a future where humans interact peacefully with the environment and one another, it is her life goal to be a part of this process.

Michael Latimer

MICHAEL LATIMER

Senior Associate, Pew Charitable Trust

Michael Latimer attended WYSE in 2012 and later studied Environmental Science with a concentration in Conservation at George Mason University, graduating in 2017. During his time at GMU, he interned with the Washington Scholars Program and studied abroad in Belize to learn about ecosystems. He also attended the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, working with endangered birds.

Currently, Michael is a senior associate at the Pew Charitable Trusts, focusing on preventing ocean plastics, reducing harmful fishing subsidies, protecting Antarctica’s Southern Ocean, and seabed mining. He also assists with new project scoping and engages with international bodies like the United Nations. Michael is excited to share his experience with the program that ignited his passion for marine conservation.

Jesse Wong

JESSE WONG

Junior Faculty Advisor

Jesse is a senior at George Mason University from Brandywine, Maryland studying Environmental Science with a concentration in Conservation and a minor in Computer Science within the Honors College. He attended the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment in 2014 and returned as a Junior Faculty Advisor in 2017 and 2018. Jesse previously worked as an intern in George Mason Office of Admissions for the Washington Scholars Program and as a research assistant for the Department of Environmental Science and Policy as a research assistant focusing on wetland ecosystems. Currently, Jesse is an intern for the United States Geological Survey National Climate Adaptation Science Center examining how our changing climate is affecting food and water resources. While on campus, Jesse works with a variety of research projects with the George Mason Department of Biology and Department of Environmental Science and Policy. During his free time, Jesse enjoys going outside and bird-watching or hiking.

Rosa Wolf

Junior Faculty Advisor

Rosa Wolf is the loudest and proudest fighting Texas A&M Aggie of the class of 2019. She is currently studying Ocean and Coastal Resources at Texas A&M University at Galveston and is currently working as a resident assistant as well as volunteer with the Galveston Humane Society and the Texas Marine Mammal stranding network. During the summer of 2013, Rosa attended WYSE. This experience deepened her passion for sharing her concern and love about the environment and animals. She is excited to meet and get to know all of the new delegates for this year’s summit!

Dominic Straquadine

Junior Faculty Advisor

Dominic Straquadine is a senior at George Mason University, majoring in Environmental & Sustainability Studies with a concentration in Environmental Policy & Politics. Dominic has been heavily involved in sustainability affairs at Mason with volunteering at the Presidents Park Greenhouse, and the Innovation Food Forest, attending meetings with the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition, and being a member of the Environment & Sustainability Living Learning Community (LLC). During his time with the LLC, he has assisted in the organization of the 2017 and 2018 LLC Showcase, as well as manage the sustainability facet of the 2016 Rappahannock Neighborhood Council year-end party. In 2017, Dominic received the Student of the Year award from Keep Ohio Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. In 2016 and 2017, he served as an intern with Marion County Recycling & Litter Prevention in Marion, Ohio. Dominic has also served as a Junior Faculty Advisor in 2016 and 2017, as well as an intern with the Washington Scholars Program. Dominic is looking forward to meeting this year’s delegates!

Serena Seiler

SERENA SEILER

Junior Faculty Advisor

Serena Seiler is a senior majoring in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a concentration in Conservation and Sustainability and a minor in Conservation Biology. She’s a WYSE 2015 alumni and has worked the conference for the last 4 years. On campus, she works in the Admissions office as a tele-counseling supervisor, a Mason ambassador, and is a member of GOGA (GMU Organic Gardening Association). She just finished a semester at the Smithsonian Conservation and Biology Institute (SCBI) where she had the chance to work side by side with a professional in the conservation field, specifically animal care of the endangered ungulates. Outside of academics, she volunteers in the National Zoo as a keeper aide in Amazonia. When she graduates this coming spring, she plans to join the Peace Corps and serve for two years, then pursue a career in animal conservation. She’s so excited for WYSE 2019, and can’t wait to meet all the delegates this year!

Caitlin Wall

CAITLIN WALL

Faculty Advisor

Caitlin is currently directing Potomac Conservancy’s Policy program in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C, working to empower a local clean water movement through grassroots engagement and advocacy efforts. She previously worked at Marstel-Day, LLC, leading policy efforts to develop compatible use partnerships between military installations and communities and conducting studies on environmental challenges facing the military. Caitlin earned a B.A. from the College of William and Mary in public policy and environmental studies and an M.A. from Colorado State University in political science. She is a Senior Fellow in the Environmental Leadership Program, is an RYT 200 certified yoga instructor, and enjoys hiking, camping, and triathlons.

Gary Swick

GARY SWICK

Faculty Advisor

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 Payne

COREY PAYNE

Faculty Advisor

Corey earned his PhD in Science Education from the University of Florida studying issues of representation in STEM.  He is currently an Evaluation Specialist at ORAU 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. Outside of educational research he has worked with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in the forest ecology lab studying canopy structures and their relation to global climate change. He has volunteered at the Whitney Labs studying climate change and the effect of the expansion of mangroves into Florida. In his free time, he enjoys restoring vintage mountain bikes, tubing in the Florida springs, and swimming in the ocean with his dog Maple.

Mike McDavit

MIKE MCDAVIT

Faculty Advisor

A native Washingtonian, Mike earned a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and a MPA 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 just 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 US Environmental Protection Agency, Mike embraced the challenges associated with solving tough environmental problems. Mike is an adjunct professor of environmental biology at Montgomery College. In his free time, Mike enjoys birding, fishing, visiting museums/historical sites, and attending cultural events. He delights in showing people the marvelous cultural and historical sights of Washington, DC.