Governance
DCEEC Interim Board of Directors
Kelsey Desmond, Interim Board Member
Kelsey is a Forestry Conservation Planner in Montgomery County and brings with her nine years of environmental education and community development experience. Throughout her environmental education career, she has supported sustainable agriculture, youth development, and volunteer and community education. She has developed Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences for 4th and 5th grade students in the DC Public Schools system, plus facilitated school tree plantings for students of all ages (including adults!). Kelsey is a steward for the local forests and cultivates profound relationships between humans and their local ecologies. She is passionate about connecting youth and adults alike to the natural world and inspiring awe for natural phenomena in her community.
Angela Kramer, Interim Secretary
Angela has over twenty years’ experience in art, history, and environmental education. Since 2015, she has worked closely with the National Park Service in Rock Creek Park to develop educational and interpretive programs at Peirce Mill, Washington’s last working gristmill. In November 2022, she became the Friends of Peirce Mill’s first full-time Executive Director. In her new role, Angela continues to advocate on behalf of the gristmill as a resource for environmental education, and as a place where students can learn about the relationship between energy and food production.
Brianne Studer, Interim President
Brianne is the Director of Programs for Friends of the National Arboretum and its Washington Youth Garden. She has worked in environmental education for 20 years and has happily worked to connect DC schools to garden-based and environmental education for over five years. Brianne’s favorite seed to start with children is peas, and she loves to find the perfect game to help explain science concepts in engaging, experiential ways. In her free time, Brianne loves hiking near bodies of water, baking bread, and training her dogs.
Ariel Trahan, Interim Treasurer
As a native Michigander who grew up swimming in crystal clear lakes and rivers, Ariel is passionate about making sure that everyone has access to clean water. Since coming to DC in 2009, Ariel has been working to find new ways to connect people to the Anacostia River. From 2009-2023, Ariel worked at the Anacostia Watershed Society, overseeing a variety of youth and adult recreation programs, as well as restoration and recreation programs on the Anacostia River. In 2022, Ariel was honored with the Mayor’s District Sustainability Award for her outstanding environmental leadership. She now works at the DC Department of Energy and Environment managing wetland restoration projects.
DCEEC Advisors
Grace Manubay, Advisor
Grace is the environmental literacy coordinator at the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education. She has been involved with DCEEC since 2003, serving in roles such as the schoolyard greening committee chair, co-president, and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Affiliate liaison. Grace is a Maryland Master Naturalist and also volunteers as vice chair of the Montgomery County Library Board.
DCEEC Executive Committee (2023)
Contact us: dceecnaturally@gmail.com
DCEEC Committees
Executive Planning Committee: includes the board, advisors, and committee chairs.
Environmental Education Networking Committee: invites all persons and organizations providing environmental education in the District to become a DCEEC member, and taps the District’s rich environmental education expertise to provide the DCEEC community with professional development opportunities, such as Lunch and Learns, listening sessions, field outings, and trainings.
Special Events Committee: hosts DC Teachers’ Night, an annual environmental education networking event, co-sponsored with the US Botanic Garden, and helps identify other events to support environmental educators and organizations in their careers and environmental work.
Interested in joining one of these committees? If you are not yet a member, please join the listserv by completing this form.
Questions? Email us!
DCEEC Past Co-Presidents
2018-2020 Alexis Dickerson
2017-2020 Jim Serfass
2017-2018 Naamal De Silva
2016-2017 Kurt Moser
2014 Cassie Hughes
2011-2016 Ariel Trahan
2010-2012 Rebecca Davis
2009-2010 Grace Manubay
2009 Carl Rollins
2008 Ann Posegate
2007-2008 Shelby Laubhan
2006-2007 Jen McDonnell
2006 Gilda Allen