We are actively seeking dedicated individuals to join our volunteer board, where they will play a crucial role in supporting all educators throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Join us in making a difference! Review the 2024 candidates here.
PAEE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President
Julie Travaglini
Julie is the Senior Director of Education and Curriculum for Allegheny Land Trust. With more than 15 years in the field, she has been honored with multiple awards, spoken at national and international conferences and been a guest on many podcast promoting environmental education. Aside from her leadership roles with ALT and PAEE, she also serves on the board of directors for the Western PA Mushroom Club, Beverly’s Birthdays and Wild Ones. She recently self-published a children’s book called Super Skills of Backyard Bugs, which is available on Amazon.
President Elect
Vacant
Past President
Matt Marsden
Matt Marsden works at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center at Penn State University with Outdoor School and Summer Camp programs. He has a B.S. from PSU in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management with a focus in Environmental Interpretation, and also an M.S. in Park and Resource Management through Slippery Rock University. He is excited to continue to help advance the mission of PAEE!
Treasurer
Craig Lukatch
Craig is a Hazleton native, currently residing in Lake Ariel PA who has extensive experience with more than 20 plus years in nonprofit administration and fundraising most recently working as the CEO of the Greater Pittston YMCA and the Director of Development at Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, Forty Fort. He is a graduate of the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Theology. Lukatch currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the Rainbow Alliance and the Newfoundland Rotary and has served on various boards of nonprofits from the NEPA chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, to the Hazleton YMCA, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary. Over his tenure he has raised over $9 million from foundations and for capital projects for local nonprofits. Lukatch has been employed with Lacawac Sanctuary for over 10 years.
Secretary
Sara Klingensmith
Sara is an Environmental Educator for Allegheny Land Trust. She has over 6 years of experience volunteering and working for non-profit environmental education organizations. She holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She considers herself a life-long learner and is always happy to help others understand and appreciate the natural world. Sara also serves as the Photography Chair for the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club and helps teach ecology courses for the PA Master Naturalists.
Membership Director
Sonia Jaiswal
Sonia is an adjunct instructor at Point Park University. Sonia holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Hertfordshire and a M.S. in Environmental Science with an Environmental Management specialization from Oklahoma State University. Sonia is currently pursuing a Doctor in Education from the University of Pittsburgh focusing on social justice and equity in STEM and investigating the lack of diversity in environmental science. Sonia is actively involved in the Cranberry Area Diversity Network to develop and implement initiatives that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. In her spare time, she is an avid traveler with a special interest in visiting national parks.
Development Director
Mike Zewe
Mike is a lifelong naturalist. He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with two decades of nonprofit development experience. He holds an Environmental Studies M.S. from Point Park University and an Organizational Leadership M.A. focusing on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (DEI). Mike initiated and managed a campaign to build a sea turtle rehabilitation facility in Boca Raton, Florida. He is a backyard beekeeper and grows a large perennial pollinator garden. He volunteers through guest lecturing in universities, coordinating fundraising events for the local county park, and leading nature hikes for friends, neighbors, and community members along the Rachel Carson Trail.
Public Relations Director
Jean Keene
Working in EE since 2003, Jean has worked with several well-known organizations such as Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, and Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve. She recently worked from 2017 to 2022 as an environmental educator at Keystone State Park before taking her career in a different direction. Today, Jean works with the Pennsylvania DEP’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation. Jean holds a B.S. in environmental science and policy from the University of South Florida and a M.S. in environmental studies from Point Park University. In her spare time, she enjoys kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, foraging, medieval re-enactment, crocheting, and spending time with her family.
Member At Large
Jen Schnakenberg
Jen Schnakenberg is Assistant Director of Education at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. She connects the Parks Conservancy’s education department, local schools, and other environmental education organizations while also managing projects and teaching in the field. Jen holds bachelor’s degrees in psychology and biology from the University of Pittsburgh. In all her work, she focuses on producing developmentally appropriate programs that increase understanding of our reliance on natural systems and help students acquire skills to continue learning about the world and sharing in its care.
Professional Development Director, Alexis Thorbecke
Alexis is the Public Programs Manager at Powdermill Nature Reserve, the ecological research station of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. As part of that position, she also coordinates the Laurel Highlands Climate and Rural Systems Partnership, a program that brings together diverse organizations cross the Laurel Highlands to collaborate on climate change communications and action. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, specializing in biodiversity and conservation. Alexis is passionate about climate change, civic action, and environmental education research. If you are looking for someone to nerd out about a journal article with, she’s your gal. In her spare time, you can find Alexis working with her scent dog, Teddy, or watching movies on the couch with her other dog, Boo.
Student Liaison
Kaitlyn Royal
Kaitlyn Royal is an undergraduate student at Allegheny College with a Biology and Environmental Science/Sustainability double major and a minor in Education. In addition to her studies, Kaitlyn works at Creek Connections, a watershed-based educational outreach program at Allegheny College, to provide environmental education to local middle and high schools. She is also an organizing member of 4th Graders as Scientists, which invites 4th graders from the local school district to come on campus to participate in hands-on science activities. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking down French Creek and being surrounded by family and friends!
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Northwest
Sarah Bennett
Sarah Bennett is the Director of Education & Community Programs at Asbury Woods Partnership. Asbury Woods is a nature center and trail system situated on 216 acres Millcreek Township, PA. They host over 20,000 people each year through nature-based programs and events. Prior to her work at Asbury Woods, Sarah was a campaign manager at PennFuture, and was sustainability officer, department chair, and senior lecturer of Biology at Mercyhurst University. She is a lifelong resident of the Great Lakes region; earning her B.S. and M.S. in Zoology at Michigan State University before moving to Erie. Sarah enjoys camping with her family, spending time with friends, reading, and playing soccer.
Northcentral
Kelly Gallo
Kelly is a 5th grade teacher for the Benton Area School District. Her professional career in environmental education began in State Parks 23 years ago. Since, she has gained experience in K-8 classrooms as a formal environmental educator as well as an informal environmental educator in various roles. Kelly has been named a National PLT Environmental Educator of the Year Honoree, Utah PLT Environmental Educator of the Year, has received the USU Extension Utah Water Quality Leadership Award and the Vail Resort Epic Promise Mountain Award for her work in creating an interpretive center for ski resort visitors. Happy to be home in Pennsylvania, Kelly is eager to work with others to champion the new STEELS standards and continue to further environmental literacy in PA. In her free time, Kelly likes to garden, snowboard, play in rivers, and mountain bike.
Northeast
Stephanie Sherman
Steph Sherman has been working in Northeast PA and Northwest New Jersey most of her life. Currently an Experiential Education Instructor at Princeton Blairstown Center and a Substitute Teacher with Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, Steph has as passion for connecting youth of all ages to nature. An adjunct professor in Outdoor Environmental Education and former Director of Education at PEEC, Steph loves to share the beauty of the Pocono and Lehigh Valley regions through hiking, site-seeing and learning about local history. She got her start at Wildlands Conservancy as a seasonal Naturalist and completed her graduate work at the New Jersey School of Conservation in Stokes State Forest. She looks forward to blending her non-formal field experience with formal k-12 teaching.
Southwest
Susie Moffett
Susie Moffett is the Southwest Program Coordinator for Pa Master Naturalist and has spent nearly 15 years in the environmental education field. She earned a BA in Biology from West Virginia University and a PhD in Human Genetics from the University of Pittsburgh. While life has led her away from active research, Susie has a passion for science education and communication and works to inspire people to conserve the natural world. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, gardening, board games and turkey vultures.
Southcentral
Jennifer Peglow
Jennifer Peglow is the Pennsylvania Professional Learning Coordinator with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Prior to working at CBF, Jennifer was an environmental science and English teacher for over 20 years. She earned a B.S. in English Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a M.A. in Science Education at Lesley University. She is currently completing a master’s degree in Natural Resource Management at Idaho University. Jennifer serves on a variety of committees and initiatives, but her main goal is to build relationships with educators as they develop meaningful environmental education experiences for their students. She lives in the Gettysburg area and enjoys reading, yoga, hiking, gardening, kayaking, and spending time with friends and family.
Southeast
Heather Drzal
Heather Drzal is the Director of School and Youth Programs at Longwood Gardens. She earned a B.S in Biology from Delaware Valley University and an M.Ed in Agricultural and Extension Education from Penn State. Prior to Longwood, she was a high school agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor. Using her experiences from the classroom, she hopes to continue building opportunities at Longwood for PreK-12 students, teachers and families. Heather is an active committee member in other organizations. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, reading, playing board games or doing puzzles and scrapbooking.
