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Speakers

Amanda Taylor

AMANDA TAYLOR

Fairfax County Health Department

Amanda Taylor studied Environmental Science B.S. with a concentration in Ecological Sciences at George Mason University and graduated in 2020. Since then, she has worked in water reclamation, mosquito and tick control, and now on-site septic and water for the Fairfax County Health Department. Amanda has enjoyed applying her passion for protecting our environment in each of these unique fields, all of which have given her immense opportunities and connections. Being out in nature every day with the mission to protect human health, as well as the health of the environment, brings her joy!

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Leadership Staff

Sue Muraida

SUE MURAIDA

Coordinator

Sue Muraida is a best-selling author, speaker, and pursuer of abundant life. Over the past 30 years, she has worked as a medical photographer, photojournalist, leadership trainer, writer, and teacher. Sue has published three books, Change For a Penny, The Silent Sound of Darkness, and her memoir Going Back For Me, as well as co-authored the anthology Deserts To Mountaintops: Our Collective Journey To (Re)Claiming Our Voice. She is currently the program director for Humanities North Dakota.

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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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Counselor Staff

Kelly Cardew

KELLY CARDEW

Counselor

Kelly Cardew is the Associate Director of Admissions at George Mason University. Kelly received her B.A. in English from Newberry College in 2017, worked in the admissions office at Newberry upon graduation and began working at Mason in the summer of 2018. During her time at Mason, Kelly has recruited and worked with prospective students in various states, oversees the office’s telecounseling team and serves as the liaision to the Mason Athletics program to support recruited student-athletes applications. Kelly received her M.A. in Higher Education from George Mason this past May.

 

 

 

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Photographer

Tyler Rubin

TYLER RUBIN
Videographer

 Tyler Rubin is the Assistant Director: Broadcast and Video Production for George Mason Athletics. Rubin has spent the last 10 years in the video and sports journalism field in college and the pros. A graduate of Arizona State’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication with a degree in Sports Journalism, Rubin has worked for ASU’s Sun Devil Athletics, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and George Mason Athletics.

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Speakers

Sean Gagnon

SEAN GAGNON

Environmental Project Manager, Bowman Consulting

Sean is an environmental consultant with over 15 years of experience with a diversified knowledge of environmental principles and practices in the environmental sciences field and related sciences and disciplines. He conducts complex field biology assessments including, but not limited to, wetland delineations, endangered species/habitat assessments and surveys, plant identification/tree surveys, and land use studies. Sean also directs and conducts field work and attends meetings both inside and outside the firm pertaining to existing and potential projects. He performs project development for complex projects, including finalizing scope of projects, preparing bid summaries, preparing project budgets, and cost estimates. He also monitors and supervises design, including reviewing plans, specifications, estimates, and calculations, and he gives technical advice on corrective actions. Sean has earned a BS and MS in Environmental Science from George Mason University.