PAEE Regional Directors
Regional directors facilitate communication within the counties in their region and serve as a contact person for our members. They’re the go-to person if you need advice about programming, want to advertise a professional development opportunity, or are looking for resources about education, ecology or grant opportunities. We’ll connect you with the diverse network of environmental educators in your region and throughout Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Environmental Literacy Network
The Pennsylvania Environmental Literacy (PA ELIT) Network consists of representatives from government agencies, nonprofits, and schools working together to increase environmental literacy throughout the commonwealth. The PA ELIT Network focuses on both shared, statewide goals and regional goals.
Northwest Region
PAEE Regional Director: Sarah Bennett
PA ELIT: Rebecca Schauffele
This region includes Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties.
The Northwest region of Pennsylvania is characterized by its scenic beauty, outdoor recreational opportunities, and rich cultural heritage. The region is known for its diverse geography, including rolling hills, forests, lakes, and rivers. Lake Erie borders the region to the north, providing access to water-based activities and stunning waterfront views. It has a combination of natural beauty, outdoor recreation, cultural heritage, and economic vitality, making it an attractive destination for visitors and a desirable place to live.
Southwest Region
PAEE Regional Director: Susie Moffett
PA ELIT: Kevin Willis & Alyssa Moore
This region includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
The Southwest Region provides ample opportunities to engage with the Environmental Education community from the vibrant urban center of the city of Pittsburgh to the rolling hills of the Laurel Highlands. This region features everything from waterways, botanical gardens, and nature centers to city, county, state, and federal public parks and protected areas that each tell a part of the story of the unique natural and cultural history of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Northcentral Region
PAEE Regional Director: Kelly Gallo
PA ELIT: Colleen Epler-Ruth
This region includes Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Northumberland, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, and Union.
The Northcentral Region of PAEE is comprised of educators and professionals dedicated to connecting people to the unique environmental assets and issues of our region. The Northcentral region includes parts of the Allegheny and Pocono mountains, as well as some of the Ridge and Valley mountains. Much of it is not urbanized and relatively sparsely populated, making it a unique place for recreation, conservation, and natural resource use.
Southcentral Region
PAEE Regional Director: Jennifer Peglow
PA ELIT: Jennifer Peglow & Carrie Lankford
The Southcentral Region includes Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, and York counties.
The Southcentral region of Pennsylvania offers a blend of history, culture, outdoor recreation, and economic opportunities, making it a dynamic and appealing area to explore and live in. This region is defined by the unique ridge-and-valley system and is home to part of Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Trail, the lower Susquehanna River, the iconic South Mountain Landscape, and numerous state parks and forests.
Northeast Region
PAEE Regional Director: Stephanie Sherman
PA ELIT: Alexandra Konsur-Grushinski & Stephanie Williams
The Northeast Region includes Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.
The beautiful Lehigh Valley was named for the 109-mile stretch of river through which it flows. It is an impressive part of the Appalachian Mountain Chain, bordered by South Mountain to the East and Blued Mountain to the west. Whether folks choose to explore the Chestnut Orchard at Trexler Preserve or birds of prey migration along the Kittatiny Ridge, Lehigh Valley’s natural treasures can all be enjoyed above and below via the Lehigh Valley Rail and Appalachian Mountain Trails!
Southeast Region
PAEE Regional Director: Heather Drzal
PA ELIT: Kelly Byrne, Ellen Schultz, & Diana Potts
The Southeastern Region includes Berks, Bucks, Lancaster, Lebanon, Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, and Chester counties.
The Southeast Region is a tourist mecca, according to USA Today. There is something in the area that appeals to all ages and all interests, from roller coaster thrills to historical national parks to an abundance of urban greenscapes. “Philadelphia alone has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American City.” The Southeast Region has also been called “the Delaware Valley,” as it is the valley through which the Delaware River flows.
