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Tag: 2018

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Speakers

Dr. Katheryn Patterson

Foreign Affairs Specialist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Dr. Katheryn Patterson is a Foreign Affairs Specialist with the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement whose work focuses on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing through management and enforcement efforts, international engagement, and technical and capacity building assistance. She is also an accomplished marine ecologist whose previous research focused on topics related to coral reef disease mitigation, marine protected areas, and marine tourism. Dr. Patterson first became interested in marine policy while representing a non-profit during her first stakeholder meeting on a proposed marine protected area in Belize. Four years later, the Belizean Government established the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve. Knowing that her scientific findings influenced a policy was incredibly exciting and became a driving force for her desire to be involved in effecting change.

Dr. Patterson is a 2016 Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellow alumnae and holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George Mason University.

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Speakers

Dr. Joris van der Ham

Adjunct Professor, George Mason University

Dr. van der Ham is an environmental scientist with general interests in community dynamics, marine and estuarine ecology, and invertebrate ecology. Specifically, he is interested in how biological communities change over spatial and temporal scales, and how they respond to and recover from environmental disturbances. Heemploys experimental approaches, field studies, and long-term monitoring data to investigate the community dynamics and its significance within its ecosystem.

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Speakers

Craig Saffoe

CRAIG SAFFOE

Curator, Large Carnivores, Smithsonian's National Zoo

As the Curator of Large Carnivores (and Kids’ Farm) at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Craig Saffoe is responsible for the overall care and management of 18 species and more than 50 individual animals.  He works with a team of animal keepers to not only care for, but facilitate breeding with most of the Zoo’s large carnivores – which includes one of the most critically endangered species (Sumatran tigers) managed at the National Zoological Park. Craig started his career as an intern in 1994 and worked his way up to Animal Keeper, Biologist and now Curator. In that time, he has been a part of many successful teams including the team that managed, bred and successfully produced the first two cheetah litters ever born at the Smithsonian. Craig now leads a team that has been incredibly successful at breeding large carnivores – boasting multiple successful litters of lions and tigers and yes bears….Oh my!

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Junior Faculty Advisor

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.

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Speakers

Michael Latimer

MICHAEL LATIMER

Associate, The Pew Charitable Trusts

Michael Latimer first attended WYSE back in 2012. After becoming part of the WYSE community, he studied at George Mason University, graduating in 2017 with a major in Environmental Science and a concentration in Conservation. During his time at GMU, he was an intern for the Washington Scholars Program where he assisted in the preparation for WYSE and its sister conference, the Washington Journalism and Media Conference. Also during his undergraduate years, Michael studied abroad in Belize where he learned about the connectivity between terrestrial and marine ecosystems as well as the communities reliant on them. In 2016, Michael studied at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, where he learned about the connection between conservation and society, worked as a resident advisor, and worked with the endangered bird population on the facility.

Michael currently works at the Pew Charitable Trusts as an associate. Here, he works on multiple projects including preventing ocean plastics, reducing harmful fishing subsidies, protecting Antarctica’s Southern Ocean, and seabed mining. Along with these projects, Michael assists in the scoping of new projects and engaging the organization in international bodies such as the United Nations, Our Oceans Conference, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. He is very excited to be back to share his experience with the program that helped spark his passion in marine conservation.

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Junior Faculty Advisor

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.

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Junior Faculty Advisor

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!

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Junior Faculty Advisor

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!

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Junior Faculty Advisor

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!

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Faculty Advisor

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.