People

Dave Bader, Chief Operations & Education Officer at the Marine Mammal Care Center, has over 20 years of experience in informal science education. Since beginning his career in 1998, he has developed and managed programs spanning education, guest experience, and hospital operations. Dave has created capacity-building opportunities for staff, scientists, and educators nationwide, drawing on his background in marine science, conservation (including efforts to save the vaquita), and inclusive education. He holds a B.S. in marine biology from UC Santa Cruz and an M.S. in biology with a focus on educational media design from UC Irvine.

Derek Scott’s decade in leadership roles coupled with 12 years of experience in environmental education makes him an asset to the Pocono Environmental Education Center’s day to day operations.  In addition to being a passionate mission driven leader, he oversees all departments and operations at PEEC, including: education, dining services, facility care and maintenance, and custodial departments.  Derek serves as the primary host for school groups and guests to assure consistency and quality experiences to connect with nature during their visit.   He embraces best practices and safety for all programs and activities including staff training and development. 

My motto is strategic thinking for practical results! I like to start with the big picture, thinking about all the amazing ways that people in the field of EE are striving to make the world a better and more inclusive place for all our wonderful diversity. Then I seek to collaborate with people who bring many ways of knowing and lived experiences to developing strategies and pathways that lead to practical actions and results.

I live next to the Skykomish River near Index, WA. I am working to integrate environmental education programs into my community and local school district.

New York City Region

Famous for its energy, culture, shops and tourist sites, New York City is also the home to many state parks. These open space jewels provide the perfect oasis in the city that never sleeps. 

Hi, my name is Kaitlyn! I am originally from West Virginia, but now call North Carolina home. I have always loved nature and learning. Now I want to teach others how they can love and appreciate nature too. 

Marine science educator with a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction and over five years of experience designing and delivering hands-on, NGSS-aligned, phenomena-based curricula. Skilled in tidepool monitoring, intertidal species identification, and field-based education, fostering curiosity and ocean stewardship among diverse students. Proficient in project coordination, data analysis, and digital tools such as Google Workspace. Committed to advancing community science programs to connect audiences to California’s coastal ecosystems.

An environmental educator working in informal settings like Zoos, aquariums, and natural history musuems-Currently working with programs an informal education at the North Carolina Zoo. 

Bronwen coordinates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) B-WET program, a competitive grant program based at the NOAA Office of Education that funds outdoor experiential environmental education in schools throughout the United States. Bronwen came to NOAA in 2008 as a Sea Grant Knauss Fellow. She holds an MS in marine resource management from Oregon State University and BA in biology from New College of Florida.  Before joining NOAA, Bronwen spent two years as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Samoa, where she worked for a community-based marine protected area. This experience led to an understanding of the importance of working within social and cultural frameworks when trying to motivate the public to respond to complex environmental challenges, an interest that is well-served through her work in education at NOAA.