The speakers are only part of what Fellows learn at CEE-Change. The cohort itself is a living library: people testing ideas in classrooms, cities, watersheds, museums, faith communities, universities, youth programs, and neighborhoods around the world.
The best place to browse first-person reflections is NAAEE’s CEE-Change, Together blog series. These stories show how Fellows changed projects after listening to communities, used civic engagement in environmental programs, built youth leadership, and learned from one another.
Start with Fellowship Reflections
- Jeftey Saint Fleur: From Belonging to Environmental Action: Shaping Green Bridges Through the Leadership Institute
- Molina “Mo” Walters: Listening in the Desert: How the CEE-Change Leadership Institute Reshaped My Community Action Project
- Lalitha Murali: From Fellowship to Civic Education: Empowering Students Through Civic Environmental Leadership
- Fran Agnone: Stronger Together: Peer Support in Building Green Career Pathways
- Margaret (Maggie) Beetstra: Supporting Lehigh Valley Colleges Towards Collective Action through the CEE-Change Fellowship
- Bridget Booth: Creating a Climate Change Education Model From the Ground Up
- Tusabe Richard: From Ssese Islands to Global Stages: My Safari in Environmental Advocacy and the TEEN-2024 Project
- Caroline Nickerson: My CEE-Change Journey: Connecting Communities to Climate Science
- Christopher J. Davis: We Are the Land: How Art Changes Hearts
- Jaclyn Stallard: ALOHA EE: Building Relationships Before Building Programs
- Cameron McKenzie: Ripple Effects: How the CEE-Change Fellowship Shaped a Tiny Forest and Outdoor Living Lab
- Teresa Cole: Through the Ebbs and Flows: Growing Student Leadership Through Expanded Participation
- Ginny Ellis-Kirifi: Blake Inspire: Turning the Legacy of Sir Peter Blake into Environmental Action for Young Leaders
2021 Cohort
A dedicated space for stories and reflections from the first Fellow cohort.
Browse NAAEE’s full 2021 cohort page
Siya Aggrey
Founder and director, EcoHealth180
Integrates environmental education with community health and disease surveillance in Uganda.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Cesar Almeida
DJ / creative director, Planet Chambo
Uses music, audio production, and public art to connect environmental justice with access to green space.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Mandy Sunshine Baily
University of Florida / CIVIC
Uses deliberative dialogue to help communities work through difficult natural-resource choices.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Deliberative Dialogue Forums: Effectively Engaging Communities on Challenging Topics
Ramona Big Eagle
CEE-Change Fellow
Focused her project on food security, gardening, nutrition education, and entrepreneurship with seniors and children.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Eileen Boekestein
Environmental education leader, Michigan
Connects environmental learning, public agencies, and workforce pathways.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: The Green Jobs Pipeline is Broken
Caleb Carlton
Executive Director, Young Voices for the Planet
Supports young people in telling hopeful stories and leading climate and environmental action.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Laura Cisneros
Assistant Extension Professor, University of Connecticut
Builds youth and adult capacity for community environmental action through mentoring, mapping, and civic engagement.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Facilitating Teen and Adult Community Environmental Action Projects via Near-Peer Mentors and Resources
Victor Davila
ACTION Program Manager, THE POINT CDC
Works at the intersection of youth development, neighborhood action, and environmental justice.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Fontoh Desmond Abinwi
Executive Director, Crusaders for Environmental Protection and Ozone Watch
Builds environmental leadership among children and communities in Cameroon.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Cepow Cameroon Helps Solve Cameroon's Plastic Waste Problem
Patricia Dugan-Henriksen
Middle school science educator
Uses community-based science and student-led projects to build civic voice.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Community-Based Science Gives Middle Schoolers a Voice for Education
Carolin Ellerkamp
Environmental sciences / water systems
Connects water quality, intergenerational exchange, and access to safe water.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Water Reflections Across Generations
Aubrae Filipiak
Director, Woodland Pond School
Advances nature-based, project-based learning and civic advocacy in schools.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Place-Based Education and Civic Engagement
Shannon Francis
Executive Director, Spirit of the Sun, Inc.
Centers Indigenous leadership, restorative healing, environmental justice, and policy engagement.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Erica Hall
Community economic development and environmental justice leader
Works across food systems, resilience, equity, policy, and community organizing.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Jenna Hoover
Program educator; also known as Jenna (Hoover) Cobb
Connects nature, spirituality, equity, civics, and youth-led community transformation.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Adapting Formal Education Curriculum to Fit a Nonformal Setting
Justin Kaput
Teacher, Suffield Public Schools
Uses wildlife ecology and place-based learning to help students lead environmental action.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Students and Teachers Find Inspiration in Leading Their Community
Shougat Nazbin Khan
Sustainability educator and advocate
Works on sustainable communities, education, and solar-powered environmental solutions.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Matt Kirchman
President / Creative Director, ObjectIDEA
Explores how museums can strengthen environmental literacy through interpretation and design.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Sandra Luna
Educator, Occidental College
Links school gardens, food justice, community greening, and environmental learning in Los Angeles.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Judith Morales
Regional Manager, Mexico Program, Parley for the Oceans
Focuses on marine conservation and plastic-pollution education in Mexico.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Parley for the Oceans: Fighting Marine and Coastal Plastic Pollution
Kevin O'Connor
Associate Professor and Chair, Mount Royal University
Builds community partnerships and place-based environmental monitoring with schools and universities.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Angela Rivera
Educator, Prairie View Middle School
Engages students in food-waste research and school-level civic action.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Food Waste Reduction Program Inspires Middle Schoolers to Engage
Natasha Sarkar
Teacher, Inner City Youth Development Association
Connects Indigenous knowledge, native plants, student leadership, and healing gardens.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Melanie Schikore
Communicas Collaborative
Uses action research, dialogue, social justice, and community knowledge to support sustainability transitions.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Neighbor2Neighbor: A Community Action Research Project to Scaffold Transitions Towards Sustainability
David Silverman
Sustainability, communications, and community-learning professional
Explores dialogue, storytelling, institutions, and neighborhood-level sustainability change.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Kimi Waite
Teacher educator and Ph.D. student
Works at the intersection of environmental education, geography, social studies, and critical pedagogy.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Olivia Walton
Education Coordinator, St. Croix Environmental Association
Creates equitable, culturally relevant environmental education and community food-system learning.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Danny Woolums
Environmental Education Program Manager, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
Helps young people understand municipal environmental systems and participate in civic decision-making.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Environmental Leadership Project Connecting Youth to Their Communities
Lisa Yeager
Educator / climate communicator
Uses arts, conversation, and improvisation to broaden who participates in climate dialogue.
NAAEE 2021 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Climate Conversations Collaborative
Zee Zetino
Program Coordinator, Community Nature Connection
Works to expand equitable access to nature for communities affected by racial, socioeconomic, and disability inequities.
2023 Cohort
A dedicated space for stories and reflections from the second Fellow cohort.
Browse NAAEE’s full 2023 cohort page
Harrison Ashangwa
Executive Director, International Student Environmental Coalition
Youth climate leadership, environmental education, sustainability, and climate justice.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Building Environmental Education and Civic Engagement Leadership for Climate Action in Cameroon
Vanessa Barela
Outdoor Learning Specialist, Environmental Education New Mexico
Equitable outdoor learning and place-based education.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Creating Equitable Community and Place-Based Education and Fighting Systemic Inequities from the Inside
Cedar Barg
Youth Climate Program Manager, The Wild Center
Intergenerational partnerships for climate action.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Margaret (Maggie) Beetstra
Senior Climate and Education Researcher, Nurture Nature Center
Community engagement around climate resilience, hazards, and preparedness.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Supporting Lehigh Valley Colleges Towards Collective Action through the CEE-Change Fellowship
Bridget Booth
Middle school science teacher and outdoor classroom coordinator
Student-driven climate and outdoor education in public-school curricula.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Creating a Climate Change Education Model From the Ground Up
Kim Botelho
Education Director, Westport River Watershed Alliance
Outdoor learning through art, gardening, adventure, and STEM.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Heather DeLagran
Education Producer, National Film Board of Canada / Ocean Frontier Institute
Media and citizen science that help students take action for the ocean.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Gloria Desanker
Principal Consultant, Map Your Story
GIS, data, and maps for public storytelling and decision-making.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Jaeydah Edwards
Citizen Science Program Director, Groundwork Ohio River Valley
Community science, air quality, urban heat, and environmental advocacy.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Air Pollution and the Urban Heat Island Effect, Climate Change Issues We Can't Always 'CEE'
Jeff Geist
Manager of Community & Professional Education, Duke Farms
Experiential, place-based professional learning and community resilience.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Building Climate Resilience through Community
Danielle Hefferan
Regional Education Coordinator, Climate Generation
Community-centered climate education and co-creating hopeful futures.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Ashley Herrmann
Associate Director of Education, Action for the Climate Emergency
High-school climate education and youth action.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Courtni Holness
Senior Policy Advisor, Carbon180
Climate justice and equitable carbon-removal policy.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Holly Hummel
Community Coordinator, The School for Field Studies
Community-driven learning, research, and climate action in study-abroad settings.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Engaging the Bocas del Toro Community in Climate Change Action Through Aquatic Sports
Aneesa Jamal
Educator, researcher, and founder
Children’s climate storytelling, climate justice, and youth voice.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: A CEE-Change Fellow Expands Their Reach from Local to International
Deepika Joon
Research Associate, Institute for Sustainable Development and Learning
Youth voice, sustainability education, climate action, and justice.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Mariam Kabamba
National Coordinator, Congo Environnement et Nature
Youth climate leadership, environmental education, and green opportunity in the D.R. Congo.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: CEE-Change Fellowship Inspires Climate Change Action in the D.R. Congo
Evan Kuras
Evaluation consultant; board member, Massachusetts Environmental Education Society
Power, equity, community-engaged planning, and evaluation.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Addressing Inequities at the State Level through Community-Engaged Strategic Planning in Massachusetts
Hamza Malik
Teaching and Research Fellow, Lloyd Center for the Environment
Research on learning across schools, nature centers, and other community settings.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: A Community Action Project Made Possible by Community Partnerships: A Live-Feed Osprey Camera Installation
Joy Hayley Munthali
Executive Director, Green Girls Platform
Girls’ and young women’s rights, climate resilience, and youth-led environmental action in Malawi.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Caroline Nickerson
Executive Director, Florida Community Innovation; citizen-science communicator
Citizen science, civic technology, climate communication, and digital field experiences.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: My CEE-Change Journey: Connecting Communities to Climate Science
Alma A. Padilla
Volunteer Member, Ossining100
Conservation science communication, stewardship, and lifelong connection to nature.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Gitanjali Paul
Learning designer and facilitator
Systems thinking, sustainability education, and climate/civic action.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Empowering PK-12 Educators with Systems Thinking to Promote Climate Education and Civic Action
Jenna Potter
Environmental leadership program manager, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful
Youth environmental leadership and local action for global change.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Catherine Price
Senior Program Manager, Cumberland River Compact
Clean water, community connection to nature, belonging, and climate resilience.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Building Belonging with the CEE-Change Fellowship
James Nathaniel Refugio
Founder, Act Now For Ranow Movement
Youth leadership, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and sustainable development.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Katie Russell
Communications Coordinator, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition
Coastal education, schools, stewardship, and community science.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Sarada Sangameswaran
Environmental educator and program leader
Climate impacts, solutions, and action-oriented learning with students and teachers.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Breaking Down Climate Change into Climate Action
Patricia Tolly
Middle-school educator / program leader
Youth stewardship and environmental learning.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Tusabe Richard
Environmental advocate and graduate student
Youth environmental learning, leadership, and community action in Uganda.
NAAEE 2023 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: From Ssese Islands to Global Stages: My Safari in Environmental Advocacy and the TEEN-2024 Project
2025 cohort
A dedicated space for stories and reflections from the third Fellow cohort.
Browse NAAEE’s full 2025 cohort page
The 2025 cohort includes 30 U.S.-based Fellows and 11 virtual international Fellows from nine countries. NAAEE describes the 2025 Leadership Institute as hybrid.
Kgosietsile Velempini
Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Community/civic science and water quality, with research spanning Sub-Saharan Africa and the U.S.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Avadhut Abhyankar
Project Officer, Centre for Environment Education
Urban mobility, climate education, solid-waste management, and urban governance.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Fran Agnone
Education Director, Sanitation Foundation
Circular economy learning, stewardship, and green-career pathways.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Stronger Together: Peer Support in Building Green Career Pathways
Blessing Apamaku Asianzu
Ph.D. student, University of Texas at Austin; Kichini Gardeners, Uganda
Agroecology, traditional ecological knowledge, science, women, children, and household food security.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Tandrali Baruah
Ocean Literacy & Wildlife Educator, Zoo Outreach Organisation
Ocean literacy, wildlife education, and community conservation.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Morgan Buchanan
Senior Education Programs Coordinator, ShoreRivers
Student voice, watershed learning, and Eastern Shore conservation.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Teresa Cole
Director of Education, James River Association
Youth leadership and participation for healthy rivers and communities.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Through the Ebbs and Flows: Growing Student Leadership Through Expanded Participation
Sarah W. Davis
4-H Youth Development Extension Agent III, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Sarasota 4-H
Youth development, service, environmental exploration, and life skills.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Christopher J. Davis
Renewable-energy professional; community coordinator, Compton Art and History Museum
Place-based environmental storytelling, art, history, and urban stewardship.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: We Are the Land: How Art Changes Hearts
Joel Donelan
Environmental Education Coordinator, City of Huntsville
Youth development, environmental education, and community leadership.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Ginny Ellis-Kirifi
Programme Manager, BLAKE
Youth environmental leadership, participation, and guardianship in Aotearoa New Zealand.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Blake Inspire: Turning the Legacy of Sir Peter Blake into Environmental Action for Young Leaders
Jennifer Embree
Subject Librarian and Sustainability Hub Coordinator, Binghamton University
Libraries, plants, partnerships, curiosity, and sustainability action.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Favour Eragbie
Youth for Environmental Conservation Initiative
Youth-led community conservation and reducing environmental degradation in underserved African communities.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Denby Freeland
Director of ʻĀina Education, Hawaiʻi Land Trust
Place-based environmental education and connections to local landscapes.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Shaul Gayle
2025 CEE-Change Fellow
NAAEE’s cohort page lists Shaul as a Fellow; use the profile page for the most current project details.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Zahra Golshani
Visiting Instructor, Cornell University Civic Ecology Lab
Sustainability education with international professionals, immigrant communities, and faith groups.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Sagan Goodpaster
Environmental Educator, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
K-12 STEM, outdoor learning, and community engagement.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Madeline Halvey
International Programs Specialist, NAAEE
Global environmental-education networks, storytelling, and leadership.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Jose Helio de Souza
Biology Teacher, Normandy Schools Collaborative
Ethnobiology, climate action, and student changemaking.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Javan Hunt
Special Projects, Waterkeepers Bahamas
Creative, place-based environmental education, youth leadership, and community engagement.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Candace Jones
Founder, East Wind ARTS
Food sovereignty, land stewardship, community-driven solutions, and experiential EE.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
K Sugitha P Kanniaseelan
Programme Leader, Education for Sustainable Development, WWF-Malaysia
Youth-focused environmental initiatives, sustainability learning, and community action.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Nicole Kerr-Walker
Chemistry master teacher; Association of Science Teachers of Jamaica
Science education, mentorship, leadership, and environmental action.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Ambreen Khan
Programme Manager, Hindustan Unilever Foundation
Community-centered, science-based conservation and systemic change.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Christine Li
Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Youth, nature and place-based education, community resilience, and environmental literacy.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Darien K N Manning
Philadelphia Program Manager, Student Conservation Association
Green career pathways and access for systemically excluded young people.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Rebeca Martínez
Youth biodiversity and communications leader, WWF Ecuador / GYBN Ecuador
Youth advocacy, strategic communication, biodiversity, and inclusive sustainability.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Cameron McKenzie
Natural Climate Solutions Researcher, Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program
Forest science, citizen science, art, underserved communities, and place-based stewardship.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Ripple Effects: How the CEE-Change Fellowship Shaped a Tiny Forest and Outdoor Living Lab
Monica Miles
Assistant Professor of Engineering Education, University at Buffalo
Engineering, environmental education, civic engagement, equity, and Black youth leadership.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Lalitha Murali
STEM, Gifted and Talented Coordinator
STEM, civic leadership, inclusion, and student environmental action.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: From Fellowship to Civic Education: Empowering Students Through Civic Environmental Leadership
Caleb Atsu Nyatuame
Ph.D. student, University of Florida
Traditional ecological knowledge, AI, nonformal environmental education, and community engagement in Africa.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Gustavo Requena Santos
2025 CEE-Change Fellow
NAAEE’s cohort page lists Gustavo as a Fellow; use the profile page for the most current role and Community Action Project.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
David Riera
Professor, Miami Dade College; environmental scientist and advocate
Ocean stewardship, equity, mentorship, advocacy, and community-led conservation.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Asenette Ruiz
Facilitator and creative engineer, trubel&co
Technology, environmental justice, and community action in the Gulf South.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Jeftey Saint Fleur
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Florida
Youth climate leadership, technology, belonging, research, and community engagement.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: From Belonging to Environmental Action: Shaping Green Bridges Through the Leadership Institute
Jaclyn Stallard
Project Learning Tree / Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Relationship-based environmental education, curriculum, partnerships, and Hawaiʻi.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: ALOHA EE: Building Relationships Before Building Programs
Tiffany Stone Wolbrecht
Deputy Director of Education and Public Engagement, AUI
Science education, civic engagement, stewardship, and global partnerships.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Rachel L. Stronach
Executive Director, Lloyd Center for the Environment
Connecting children and adults to local nature through environmental education.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Molina “Mo” Walters
Clinical Professor, Arizona State University
Environmental literacy, citizen science, intergenerational engagement, resilience, and community relationships.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project | Read: Listening in the Desert: How the CEE-Change Leadership Institute Reshaped My Community Action Project
Alex Webb
Watershed Ranger, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Watershed health, student inquiry, local nature, and stewardship.
NAAEE 2025 cohort profile and Community Action Project
Adam Wicks-Arshack
Friends of Heybrook Ridge
Place-based environmental education and outdoor classrooms with a local K-8 school.
Have a story to share?
Consider a moment that changed your thinking, a challenge you are learning through, or a question emerging from your Community Action Project. Contact info@naaee.org to ask about contributing.
Give your learning somewhere to go.
Choose one question to reflect on, one idea to try, or one conversation to begin.