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Junior Faculty Advisor

Emily LeBrun

EMILY LEBRUN

Junior Faculty Advisor

Emily LeBrun is a current sophomore at George Mason University majoring in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a minor in Ocean and Estuarine Science. She is also a WYSE 2021 Alumni. Emily harbors a strong passion for the environment, leadership, and social justice. Within Mason, she is a part of many organizations such as The Green Coalition, Student Ambassadors, GMU Gen Act, and Be The Change. Outside of school she is the Director of Operations for a grassroots organization called “Our Youth for the Climate” as well as a strike coordinator for “Friday’s for the Future: DC”. Emily looks forwards to meeting all the new delegates at WYSE this summer!

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Speakers

Ana Leilani Ka’ahanui

ANA LEILANI KA'AHANUI

Co-Founder, Capital Nature

Ana Leilani Ka’ahanui is co-founder of the DC metro area nonprofit Capital Nature.  Her organization’s mission is to connect the people and visitors of the DC area to the abundance of nature in the region. She is a forest bathing guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs and is devoted to sharing the practice, needed now more than ever. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post and on LA’s NPR affiliate KCRW. Ana is also a Virginia Master Naturalist and committed to connecting people to nature through citizen science and other biodiversity initiatives such as the global City Nature Challenge. She enjoys engaging others in citizen science by leading nature walks and teaching about the app iNaturalist. She has worked at the U.S. Green Building Council since 2003 in various capacities that connect people to the green world. Currently on the Marketing and Communications team, she manages projects, curates digital assets and serves as the staff photographer. Ana is passionate about using the built and natural environment as a teaching tool.

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Speakers

Juan Rodriguez

JUAN RODRIGUEZ

Director, Clearwater Nature Center

Juan Rodriguez is the director of the Clearwater Nature Center in Clinton, Maryland, a facility that offers a variety of interpretive programs hosted by park naturalists.   Environmental education is strongly supported at the nature center through exhibits, displays, programs, special events, clubs, trips, and volunteer opportunities. 

Juan is a zoo professional and educator with over 20 years of public engagement, visitor education and animal care management experience. Previously, Juan was the animal keeper at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute for 16 years, most notably working with the giant pandas.

Born in San Juan Puerto Rico, he moved to the mainland and relocated to Washington D.C. with his two older siblings and mother. He has a BS in biology from George Mason University and an MS in Leadership in Museum Education from Bank Street College of Education.

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Speakers

Bri Nakamura

BRI NAKAMURA

Practice Leader of Innovation, Water Science and Engineering Center

Bri Nakamura is a 2nd generation water engineer with over a decade of experience in the industry. In 2022, she took on a new role with Xylem Inc. as an Innovation Analyst as
part of Xylem’s Innovation Labs (XIL) team. In this role, she works with the Technology
Scouting and Evaluation team, and oversees many of Xylem’s open innovation ecosystem partnerships, manages the Accelerator and Incubator cohort selection process, and leads the XIL external marketing efforts. Prior to Xylem, Bri served as the Practice Leader of Innovation at the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) Water Science and Engineering Center (WSEC) for 7 years. She also has experience as a design
engineer with an engineering consulting company in the DC metro area; mainly
focusing on municipal wastewater projects. She holds a BS in Civil Engineering
from Syracuse University and recently expanded her knowledge of business
management by completing the PowerMBA program. Bri recently was awarded the 2022 Outstanding Young Professional of the Year from the Water Environment Federation, and is a 2016 Water Leadership Institute graduate, a licensed professional engineer (PE) in the District of Columbia, and a certified Envision Sustainability Professional
(ENV SP).

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Speakers

Audrey Lin

AUDREY LIN

Green New Deal for Schools Organizing Manager, Sunrise Movement

Audrey Lin (she/her) is an organizer from the Boston area currently based in Washington, D.C.  After graduating high school in 2019, she co-lead the September 20th Boston climate strike and helped bring 15,000 people to the city. She now works full time for the Sunrise Movement, and has been involved in student organizing campaigns, direct actions, and campaign planning. Outside of movement work, she enjoys spending time with her housemates, running in Rock Creek Park, and making art.”

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Photographer

Rafael Suanes

RAFAEL SUANES
Photographer

A professional photographer with over 25 years of experience, Rafael has covered a huge gamut of events in the DC area.  Ranging from private events of all sizes to Supreme Court nomination hearings, Rafael has covered it all. Specializing in college and professional sports, Rafael is currently the staff athletics photographer for both George Mason and Georgetown universities and has worked directly with every professional sports team in Washington, DC.

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Photographer

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.

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Speakers

Julia Anastasio

JULIA ANASTASIO

Executive Director & General Counsel, Association of Clean Water Administrators

Julia Anastasio joined the Association of Clean Water Administrators in May 2014 as the new Executive Director and General Counsel.  Ms. Anastasio has 18 years of experience in government law and policy. In the early 2000s she worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and for the last 9 years she has worked with the America Public Works Association (APWA). With APWA, she focused on environmental, sustainability and infrastructure development at the local, state and federal levels and has extensive experience in with federal advocacy and administrative law before Congress and the Executive branch agencies. She is passionate about the role of state government in in developing and implementing national water policy and looks forward to working with ACWA’s membership.

Ms. Anastasio earned her B.A. from Franklin Marshall College, her Masters in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School, and her J.D. from American University.

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Speakers

Jamoni Overby

JAMONI OVERBY

DC Conservation Advocate, Nature Forward

Jamoni Overby is an environmental justice advocate and lover of nature from Prince George’s County, MD. Jamoni uses her background in policy, project management and community engagement to focus on issues surrounding water quality, food security, and intersectional issues that impact Black and brown communities. She strives to continue working and consulting with local organizations to create a legacy of programs that increase access to nature, advocate for increased resources while addressing the climate crisis and its impact on underserved and overburdened communities. Jamoni is proud to work as the DC Conservation Advocate for Nature Forward where she can continue to pursue this work on behalf of the organization’s mission.

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Speakers

Jackie Spicer

JACKIE SPICER

Senior Keeper, National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Jackie Spicer has been an animal care professional for over 12 years, all with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.  She began her career volunteering and worked her way up through temporary keeper to her current position as senior keeper on American Trail. She has worked with all types of animals: fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, primates, carnivores, and marine mammals. She has a bachelors degree in wildlife management and a masters degree in environmental management and policy. She plays an active role in her local chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers, currently working as the chapter president.