Will Richardson received his Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, studying bird communities in Sierra Nevada aspen habitats. He has has been intensively studying the Sierra Nevada region’s natural history and ecosystems since 2001, and is the Founder and Director of the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science.
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Outreach and Fundraising Coordinator
Tara is an experienced higher education science and engineering educator who strives for inclusive excellence through empathy, compassion, mutual aid, and community advocacy. Passionate about the educational advancement of traditionally underserved students, Tara uses outdoor science outreach to increase the representation and retention of first-generation BIPOC students in STEM. As a first-generation college graduate, she received her B.S. and M.S. in biology from the University of Nevada, Reno. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in STEM Education with an emphasis on justice-centered learning of social and political issues in post-secondary STEM classrooms.
Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, she is a self-taught carpenter and enjoys spending time in her pollinator garden with her dogs, cat, and chickens.
Program and Fundraising Manager
Rian Fried graduated from Brandeis University with a double major with B.A.s in Environmental Studies and International and Global Studies and a minor in Economics. He has worked at summer camps and most recently Supervised the program ambassadors for Sierra Nevada Alliance. He joined Headwaters because of his passion for science! He moved to Tahoe a few months after graduating for the winter season and fell in love with the area. In Rian’s free time, he loves skiing, rock climbing, mountain biking, and basically anything else outside.
Program Manager of the Bay Area
Katie is the Program Manager of the Bay Area, managing after school and summer camps. Katie is originally from North Carolina and just recently made the move to California. She has her degree in special education and is working on her master of arts in biology through Project Dragonfly out of Miami University in Ohio. When not working, Katie loves to hang out with her rescue dog Charley and explore new areas in her new hometown.
Program Manager
Morgan manages school programs and summer camps in the Tahoe, Reno and Sacramento areas. She has a Master’s degree in ecology, evolution and conservation biology from the University of Nevada, Reno where she studied black bear denning and hibernation. Morgan is excited to share her excitement for research and ecology with Headwaters students. Originally from Minnesota, she loves any activity that involves snow.
Program and Fundraising Assistant
Savannah graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies and Public Policy from UC Berkeley. Her thesis was on social and policy dimensions of public lands protection. Savannah grew up in Truckee and is passionate about protecting our environment and engaging others in her love of nature. She loves food systems and being outside, and has most recently worked as a farmer in Nevada County. In her free time, she is happiest swimming in the river, mountain biking, and trying new recipes.
Data Analyst and Research Experience Manager
Programs
Mary Ellen holds a BA in Biology/Environmental Studies from University of California, Santa Cruz. She has worked as an environmental education guide for more than 10 years, balancing that with substitute teaching K-12 in the local school district. For fun she coaches a high school Nordic ski team and tries to get in as much play time outside, skiing, running and biking. She hopes to inspire students to be curious about natural processes in order to foster a deeper appreciation of our environment.
Grants and Programs
Anne holds a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno where she researched the impacts of human-induced changes on sexually selected signals of a butterfly. She has also been a part of several scientific outreach programs, including a community science project (Pieris Project) and the University of Nevada’s Museum of Natural History. Anne is excited to continue sharing the scientific process and research with a diversity of students through the Headwaters Science Institute!
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