Environmental Education Association of Indiana

Brad Rody
e-mail

Position on the Board(current and past): Past President

Length of time on the Board: 5 years

Current organization you work for and position there:
IDNR Division of Forestry as a District Forester

Why you are involved with EEAI:
EEAI promotes education in an area which is important to me personally and professionally. EEAI stimulates personal growth and knowledge about current and future issues in the world around us while creating a great network of resources for formal & non-formal educators as well as the interested & engaged citizens of Indiana.

Interesting hobby or fun fact: Teresa, myself and our 3 children have created a 4H hobby farm and enjoy kayaking, geocaching, fishing and camping all 4 seasons.

Jan Sneddon
e-mail

Position on the Board(current and past):
President (current)
President Elect (2009 & 2010)
Director at Large (2004-2009)

Length of time on the Board: 7 years

Current organization you work for and position there:
Earth Force, Inc. Director of Community Partnerships

Why you are involved with EEAI:
I am involved in EEAI because I am passionate about education and the environment! I believe environmental education can solve many of the world's woes, from climate change to inner city poverty! The environment can be used as an integrative base for learning about a multitude of subjects - obviously science and ecology, but also math, technology, literature, writing, philosophy, history... the list goes on. I believe the way to world harmony is through deeper understandings of and connections to the natural world around us. And I believe that a vibrant statewide EE organization is necessary to move Indiana off the bottom of the list of desirable and healthy places to live. I want to help EEAI be a better, more effective organization, and I want to see the environment and education highly valued by all Hoosiers!

Interesting hobby or fun fact: My all-consuming hobby these days is raising my son Ian - one of my life's great joys! The books I read are for or about him, the activities I do must involve him... so we now have a baby backpack and a bike trailer... to allow us to continue our personal hobbies and still be with him! Now, we just have to get him to like the bike trailer! :)

Bernadette DeLeon

Position on the Board (current):Vice President


 
Length of time on the Board: 1-2 months (I'm uncertain when I took over from Ingrid)


 
Current organization you work for and position there:
Indiana University, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER); Director or HPER Technology Services as well as PhD candidate (in "spare" time)


 
Why you are involved with EEAI:
I first learned about the environment as an adult, and I have regretted that I did not enjoy the natural world as much as I could have as a child. Don't get me wrong; I was a very curious child and had a "zoo" of spiders, mice and beetles that I used to collect and keep for short periods. However, I always feared the woods when I stepped into the forest across the road. When I took my first terrestrial ecology course at about age 30, I realized that each tree and plant had a name, and the forest became a friendly place for me. I wanted to know all the names of all the inhabitants, and I wanted to make certain that others, regardless of age, "leave no INNER-child inside." Thus, I want to promote environmental education every chance that I am given. The world is a wonder-filled place!


 
Interesting hobby or fun fact: I am the eighth of twelve children, and I have seven sisters.

Kara Salazar
e-mail

Position on the Board (current and past):
Member at Large (Past), President-Elect (Current)

Length of time on the Board: 2009-Present

Current organization you work for and position there:
IUPUI Center for Earth and Environmental Science, Education Outreach Coordinator

Why you are involved with EEAI:
I am interested in advancing the field and profession of EE in the state. Interesting hobby or fun fact: I enjoy lots of outdoor activities, spending time with my family and friends, and traveling when I can!

Paul McAfee
e-mail

Position on the Board(current and past): Currently treasurer ... past - President

Length of time on the Board: ~ 8 years on and off

Current organization you work for and position there:
Software Engineer at Logikos, Inc.

Why you are involved with EEAI:
It is a very important aspect to protecting the environment.

Sarah O’Hara
e-mail

Position on the Board(current and past): Secretary

Length of time on the Board: 2 years

Current organization you work for and position there:
Substitute Teacher with local schools, and administrative assistant for church

Why you are involved with EEAI:
To help support and promote EE within the state of Indiana, and to be involved with a diverse network of other educators and supporters of EE in the state who are also seeking to support and promote EE.

Interesting hobby or fun fact:
I enjoy camping, hiking, reading, knitting, spending time with family, and friends, and taking care of all the critters and plants that reside on our small hobby farm.

Matt Jones
e-mail

Position on the Board(current and past): Board Member At-Large

Length of time on the Board: >1 yr.

Current organization you work for and position there:
Allen County Partnership for Water Quality

Why you are involved with EEAI:
Because I find the organization and the people most informative and professional.

Interesting hobby or fun fact:
Historic boat tour guide during the Summer

Jabin Burnworth
e-mail

Position on the Board(current and past): Director-At-Large

Length of time on the Board: 4 Months

Current organization you work for and position there:
Manchester Junior Senior High School. I teach Biology and AP Environmental Science.

Why you are involved with EEAI:
At Manchester Junior Senior High School I have traveled with students to the Dunes National Lakeshore, and many state parks throughout Indiana. I believe students are better stewards of the environment when provided a chance to experience it. EEAI provides me with a network of individuals that can help me access outdoor experiences. The network of educators involved with EEAI is incredible, and I believe more public school educators could utilize EEAI as a resource.

Interesting hobby or fun fact:
My wife Hannah and I enjoy backpacking and camping. One of my favorite places in Indiana is Devil's Backbone at Pine Hills Nature Preserve.

Jennifer Amstutz
e-mail

Position on the Board(current and past): Director-at-large, 2 year term

Length of time on the Board: 1 year

Current organization you work for and position there:
Lancaster Central Elementary School - Kindergarten Teacher
Indiana Department of Natural Resources/Ouabache State Park - Seasonal Interpretive Naturalist

Why you are involved with EEAI:
Educating our current and future generations about our environment and how to take better care of it are components of the EEAI organization that made me want to get involved. The wide variety of organizations and companies that are represented by the individuals affiliated with EEAI bring a large group of people together for a common cause. It is an honor to be recognized as a member of such a diverse organization of people that are promoting not only a better informed Indiana, but a better world.

Interesting hobby or fun fact:
I sang on stage with the Banana Slug String Band when they were in Goshen. Later that evening, there was a tornado warning issued for Goshen, so the people eating supper with the Slugs went down into a basement and kept right on singing while the sirens were going off. It was a very memorable evening!