Governance

DCEEC Executive Committee

Kelsey Desmond, Committee Member
kdesmond@caseytrees.org
Kelsey is the Youth Programs Manager at Casey Trees and brings with her eight 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 is a Certified Interpretive Guide, trained in Project WILD Aquatic, and a certified yoga instructor. Kelsey holds a B.A. in French Language and Literature from The George Washington University. She is passionate about connecting youth and adults alike to the natural world and inspiring awe for natural phenomena in her community.

Angela Kramer, Secretary
education@friendsofpeircemill.org
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.

Jim Serfass, Committee Member
jserfass@naturebridge.org
Jim is the Operations and Outreach Manager for NatureBridge: Mid-Atlantic Region. Jim has been in the experiential education field for his whole career, working as an educator, ropes course director, and program manager across several organizations on both coasts of the United States. Jim has a B.S. in Environmental Science from Juniata College and an M.S. in Recreation and Parks Management from Frostburg State University. Outside of work, Jim enjoys rock climbing, backpacking, and generally exploring the outdoors.

Brianne Studer, Chair
bstuder@fona.org
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, Treasurer
arieltrahan@gmail.com 
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. As Director of River Restoration Programs, Ariel oversees a variety of youth and adult education programs, as well as restoration and recreation programs on the Anacostia River. She serves on the Prince George’s County Public Schools Environmental Literacy Steering Committee, the Mid Atlantic Environmental Literacy Workgroup, and on the board of the DC Environmental Education Consortium. In 2022, Ariel was honored with the Mayor’s District Sustainability Award for her outstanding environmental leadership.

Grace Manubay, Advisory Member
gmanubay@gmail.com
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)

DCEEC Committees
DCEEC is updating its committee structure.

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

Founding Executive Board of DCEEC
Gloria Allen, Jim Butler, Dorothy Barton, Jim O’Connor, and Julia Washburn were founding members.
Gilda Allen and Louise Chapman joined the group and became part of the Founding Board.