AFF/BTW Staff
Jeanne Troy, Program Director
Jeanne is delighted to join the Bridging the Watershed team at the Alice Ferguson Foundation. Since moving to northern Virginia several years ago, she has been enjoying the region's national parks
Jeanne's environmental education career began at Riverbend Environmental Education Center, a small organization along the Schuylkill River, just upstream of Philadelphia. After a field trip there in first grade and a stint as a volunteer in high school, she stayed on as an educator, then director of camp programs. Her belief in authentic hands-on environmental education was inspired by seeing children connect with her own special place. Jeanne also worked with the Habitat Stewards program at the National Wildlife Federation, training volunteers nationwide to help others create natural spaces in their built environments, and for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of Environmental Education. Jeanne received a B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Studies from Bryn Mawr College and a Masters of Environmental Education from the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University. In her spare time, she enjoys running, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and hiking.
Rhonda Scott, Program Assistant
Originally from Georgia, Rhonda moved to Accokeek in 2004 after spending 7 years in the Air Force as a meteorologist. With a desire to leave the fast-paced world of commuting and honking horns behind, she decided not to continue her meteorological endeavors and opted for a life of fitness and flexibility. Rhonda joined the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Bridging the Watershed program, eager to learn more about the environmental education programs. Rhonda has a Bachelor’s degree in Oceanography from the United States Naval Academy and a Master’s degree in Meteorology from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Additionally, Rhonda is a certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor. In her spare time, she enjoys jogging, riding her bike, and spending time with her husband and children. Rhonda’s new life motto: Don’t sweat the small stuff, and never forget it’s all small stuff.
Laura Gillespie, Editor and Web Designer
A native of Accokeek, Laura grew up playing at and around Hard Bargain Farm. Though having strong ties to her home and an inclination for things environmental, Laura received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 1993, and went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Medieval Studies from the University of York, Yorkshire, England in 1994.
After five years teaching English from middle school up to the university level, Laura agreed to help out with the budding Bridging the Watershed project that has since blossomed into a regional high school science program. Once the full-time program assistant, Laura now helps out on a part-time basis editing curriculum and maintaining the BTW web site. She is currently a doctoral student at the University of Baltimore in Communications Design and a mom of two.
Rebecca Fordham, Educator
As a child growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Becca has always had a fascination with the natural world. In 2001 she left for college at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas to complete a B.A. in Environmental Science and Biology. While a student at Southwestern, she worked as a teen volunteer coordinator intern and teacher at Armand Bayou Nature Center in Houston. While working in the bayou, she became aware of a newly introduced invasive applesnail originally from South America. Along with her undergraduate advisor, Becca began an applesnail research program at Southwestern. After graduation in 2005, Becca worked as a summer fisheries technician for Texas Parks and Wildlife Coastal Fisheries in Houston. This experience increased her awareness of the impacts of water pollution on marine life in Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Becca completed her M.S. in Aquatic Biology at Texas State University - San Marcos in December 2007. Her research focused on macroinvertebrate diversity of the Rio Grande and water quality impacts on hellgrammite prey selection and reproduction. Becca moved to the DC area in January 2008 to begin her career as an environmental educator and marry her long-time boyfriend, Andrew. Becca enjoys hiking with her two dogs, fishing, gardening, kayaking, and dancing the Texas Two-Step.
Anna Wadhams, Educator
Born and raised in Ann Arbor Michigan, Anna graduated from the University of Michigan in 2005 with a B.A. in History and Spanish. Her journey to the banks of the Potomac began as an intern with the George Washington Memorial Parkway. During her experience with the National Park Service she was introduced to the Alice Ferguson Foundation through training for the Bridging the Watershed Program. Anna later moved to the D.C. area in 2006 with hopes of continuing her career in environmental education. After working with AFF as a part-time naturalist and coordinating the 19th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup she is happy to being working with BTW full time!
Will Sheppard, Educator
Will grew up in New York City, where frequent childhood trips to the Museum of Natural History and the Bronx Zoo set him on an early path to environmental stewardship. It is something that has stuck with him since. He graduated from Oberlin College in 2005 with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. During college he spent time in Namibia, Southern Africa conducting conservation research for Save the Rhino Trust about the effects of Human Induced Disturbance on local wildlife. Since his graduation, he has plied his trade across the country, working for the YMCA of Greenville, SC, the Oakland (California) Zoo, and the Hayward (California) Shoreline Interpretive Center, as a naturalist. He recently joined the AFF team after moving to DC from the West Coast. In addition to his work with AFF, Will is a keeper’s aide at the National Zoo’s Elephant House. He is excited to bring his diverse experiences to BTW.
Katrina Fauss, Educator
Katrina is from Myersville, MD and will be working in Hagerstown for the BTW program. She is a 2001 graduate of Hood College with a B.A. in Sociology. Her love of the environment began as a young girl while camping with her grandparents and parents and going to summer camp. Most recently she was the Program Director in charge of Environmental and Older Girl Programs at the Girl Scouts of Shawnee Council, Inc in Martinsburg, WV. In this capacity she managed a Future Leaders of Watersheds grant that spurred her on to move in to EE full time. In her spare time she likes to play softball and kayak.
