ELIJAH BIRCH
Intern
Elijah Birch is a student from Rootstown highschool in Ohio. He participates in many activities including band, bowling, drama club, quizbowl, baseball. He also participates in college credit plus programs offered at his school along with AP classes. He wants to go to college for enviornmental science when he graduates high school.
ELIJAH BIRCH
Intern
Elijah Birch is a student from Rootstown highschool in Ohio. He participates in many activities including band, bowling, drama club, quizbowl, baseball. He also participates in college credit plus programs offered at his school along with AP classes. He wants to go to college for enviornmental science when he graduates high school.
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 policy making. 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.
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.
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.
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 basketball 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 WYSE and can’t wait to meet new friends this summer!
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.