Environmental Education Association of Indiana

Kara Salazar
e-mail

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

Length of time on the Board: 2009-Present

Current organization you work for and position there:
Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

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!

Jan Sneddon
e-mail

Position on the Board(current and past):
Past-President (current)
President (2010 - 2012) President Elect (2009 & 2010)
Director at Large (2004-2009)

Length of time on the Board: 9 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: 2 Years


 
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.

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.

Ann Niednagel
e-mail

Position on the Board(current and past): Secretary

Length of time on the Board: New Member in 2012

Current organization you work for and position there:
Marian University’s Nina Mason Pulliam ECO Lab, On-Call-Science-Instructor Cold Springs School, Indianapolis, Volunteer Greenhouse Coordinator

Why you are involved with EEAI:
After early retirement I chose to spend my free time blending my two passions, children and the outdoors as ‘Outdoor Ann’. I have volunteered/worked in a number of schools and classrooms from Kindergarten through high school promoting EE. EEAI fosters this passion and provides a source for educators both formal and informal. I can’t think of a reason why I would not be involved.

Interesting hobby or fun fact:
I am an avid gardener living in suburbia, promoting organic gardening that can look mainstream. This fall I made gallons of kimchee with a Korean friend. I am hopping my garden can start including the ethnic vegetables found at the Asian and Indian markets around town.

John Brady
e-mail

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

Length of time on the Board: 4 months

Current organization you work for and position there:
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, Indianapolis where I teach AP Environmental Science, a science research course and am Science Department Chair.

Why you are involved with EEAI:
I am involved with EEAI because I desire to support the organization focused on engaging the youth of Indiana (future decision makers) in learning experiences focused on the environment, especially working to have authentic and fun outdoor learning experiences. I also believe that a community of committed individuals learning with and supporting each other is a powerful resource for professional and personal development. Lastly, I believe the work on the Environmental Literacy Plan is of great importance and I want to work with membership to complete the vision of an environmentally literate Indiana.

Interesting hobby or fun fact:
Out of high school I wanted to be a wildlife biologist and attended Northland College in Ashland, WI. I made the minor transition from animals to kids, married my high school sweetheart, Jen and now we enjoy taking our daughter and 3 dogs to Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis.

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.

Ericka Popovich Coy
e-mail

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

Length of time on the Board: First Year 2013

Current organization you work for and position there:
City of Elkhart Environmental Center, Environmental Education Coordinator/Volunteer Coordinator http://www.elkhartindiana.org/eec

Why you are involved with EEAI:
I support and seek to advance the field and profession of environmental education. As a professional organization, EEAI helps me connect with other EE professionals in Indiana and provides me with opportunities to grow as an educator. I am proud of the work that EEAI is doing in Indiana and of initiatives, like the ELP, that it has taken to ensure environmental education for all citizens.

I see a great need to support informed, reasonable, responsible behaviors among Hoosiers at all stages of life. This can be very challenging, especially considering how complicated and messy the environmental issues are: invasive species, habitat loss, water quality, issues of access and equity, etc. However, by sharing our success stories, new ideas, innovative models, and research from a variety of fields we can strengthen environmental education in our state and support one another as Indiana’s EE community.

Last, but not least, I strive both personally and professionally to realize the 5 EE objectives endorsed in the Tbilisi Declaration (1977) and I consider participation to be one of the most important ways I can effect positive changes in our environment. http://www.gdrc.org/uem/ee/tbilisi.html

Interesting hobby or fun fact:
There are 3 Green Drinks networks in my area (Goshen, Elkhart, and South Bend) and I make it a priority to attend at least one (or more!) each month. I think it’s important to continually work to build connections in my community. It’s invigorating to see how many individuals identify as ‘green’. I find it incredibly inspiring and empowering! I walk away ready to take on challenges with renewed vigor!