People

I have a Ph.D. in Entomology and over two decades of experience in education, research, and conservation, including aquatic habitat biomonitoring, natural resource outreach & education, citizen science projects, field surveys, and species & habitat management plans.

Dawn Chávez brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in nonprofit management in the environmental field as the Executive Director of the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP). Prior to joining ELP in June 2023, Dawn led Asheville GreenWorks as the executive director of the 50-year old environmental organization for eight years. A native of the Bronx in New York City, Dawn has lived and worked across the country in many different communities, from wilderness outposts to small towns to large urban centers. Throughout her career, Dawn has been passionate about equity issues, environmental protection, and the intersection of the two. Before moving to Asheville in January 2015, Dawn worked in Boston for twelve years as the Boston Youth Environmental Network director and education director of the Urban Ecology Institute. Dawn serves on the board of NAAEE and the NC Center for Nonprofits. In her free time, Dawn enjoys hiking and camping in the mountains around Asheville with her husband, Andrew, two children, Noah and Phoebe and the family dog, Finn.