CEI - Key Persons
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- Virtual Field Education Assistant, 2022 - Present
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- Teaching Associate, 2018 - 2019
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- Marketing & Communications Associate, 2017 - 2018
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- Marketing & Outreach Associate, 2021
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- Galbreath Logistics Manager
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- Virtual Field Education Assistant, 2021 - 2022
Chris has worked with earth observing systems in both industry and academia for over 30 years, including leading cross-disciplinary research teams to address complex large-scale projects all over the world (such as the Arctic, Australia, and even for space!). His areas of expertise include environmental observation and sampling, statistical quality control, algorithm development, and data synthesis. As Nature!Tech Lead, he creates industry/academic/community research collaborations on environmental and technology projects. He serves as a link between stakeholders by assisting faculty in framing projects for the classroom, supervising individual students, engaging citizen scientists, and summarizing research findings for industry partners. Chris firmly believes that everyone needs an appreciation of both technology and the natural world to help society move forward in resolving pressing environmental issues.
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- Marketing & Outreach Associate, 2022 - Present
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- Instructional Student Assistant, 2012 - 2013
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- Copeland Creek Restoration Assistant, 2020
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- Center Director, SSU Sustainability Programs Director
Dr. Claudia Luke guides and grows the Center to teach students and community the skills needed to solve the environmental challenges of the North Bay. Since coming to SSU in 2007, she has established the Center for Environmental Inquiry by combining the inspirational learning experiences at SSU's three preserves (4200-acres) with programs that engage faculty and students in finding solutions to North Bay challenges. Under her direction, programs have grown 10-fold, and now annually engage 3,000 SSU, K-12 and community members with 50 faculty and 90 partnering organizations.
Claudia earned her Ph.D. in Zoology from UC Berkeley in 1989. Since 1993, she has worked for the University of California and California State University field stations and marine laboratories. Throughout her career, she has worked extensively on building regional research-management collaborations targeting watershed management, habitat connectivity, biodiversity, fire, education and environmental technology. Her tireless enthusiasm comes from a desire to share the awe of nature and excitement of "aha!" moments that can only come from a love affair with discovery.
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- Teaching Associate, 2017 - 2018
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- Sustainability Associate, 2020
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- Copeland Creek Restoration Assistant, 2021 - Present
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- Copeland Creek Restoration Team Leader, Preserve Steward, 2020 - Present
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- Marketing & Communications Associate, 2018 - 2019
Job Titles:
- Copeland Creek Restoration Assistant, 2021 - Present
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- Sustainability Communications Assistant, 2022
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- Teaching Associate, 2009 - 2010
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- Marketing & Communications Associate, 2020 - 2021
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- Teaching Associate, 2019 - 2020
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- Naturalist Education Specialist
- Teaching Associate, 2016 - 2017
Julie Wittmann, the Center's Community Naturalist Program Coordinator, is an advocate for environmental awareness through inquiry-based learning. Julie is a credentialed biology teacher and California Naturalist with a Master of Science in Biology from Sonoma State University, Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology from UC Davis and Associate of Science from Santa Rosa Junior College. Julie published her graduate research conducted at Sonoma State University which involved integrating citizen science and herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles). Julie has a passion for including the general public in areas involving education and research and has created citizen science curriculum to engage students virtually or in person. Julie also conducts local special-status surveys on amphibians and other vertebrates in the North San Francisco Bay Area.
Job Titles:
- Virtual Field Technician, 2020 - Present
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- Marketing & Communications Associate, 2020
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- Educational Outreach & Communications Lead
- Teaching Associate, 2013 - 2016
Kerry Wininger serves as the Center's Educational Outreach & Communications Lead. She creates events where experts in everything from poetry, mushrooms, health, fire and technology, to sustainability, ecosystem resilience, wildlife-human interactions and more guide the public in skill-building experiences that make a difference and reinforce our connection with nature. These events also showcase SSU research and community collaborations, and supplement course curriculum for students here and around the world, such as through The Virtual Field initiative. With the help of a Marketing & Outreach Student Associate, Kerry also handles communications for the Center, including radio & tv appearances, social media, marketing and news stories. She believes that a diverse, engaged public is crucial to addressing environmental challenges, and strives to foster inclusivity such as with accessible events, those in Spanish and by presenters with a wide variety of backgrounds.
With undergraduate degrees from UC Berkeley in both Integrative Biology and Theater, and a Master of Science in Biology from SSU, Kerry values the role each side of our brains plays in this pursuit. She has worked with various environmental organizations as a researcher, educator, developer, and naturalist. She is a passionate communicator, presenting research at international conferences and in scientific journals, and working with the media. She also serves as coordinator for the Sudden Oak Death Program through University of California Cooperative Extension Sonoma County, Advisor to the North Bay Science Discovery Day, and Secretary for California Native Plant Society's Milo Baker Chapter.
Job Titles:
- Galbreath Program Coordinator
As program coordinator for the Galbreath Preserve in southern Mendocino County, Margot works closely with local students, community members and organizations to help them learn about, understand, appreciate and begin to take responsibility for our diverse, robust natural world through exploration activities on the Preserve. She worked in the Bay Area in environment education and community leadership for over 20 years and throughout her life has spent her weekends working and playing on her family's ranch. She and her husband are now living on that ranch which is adjacent to the Preserve.
"This is my dream job," Margot explains. "I get to work in the field, help others explore their world, contribute to preserving our precious resources and constantly learn."
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Associate, 2019
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- Marketing & Communications Associate, 2019 - 2020
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- Marketing & Outreach Associate, 2021 - 2022
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- Sustainability Communications Assistant, 2021
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- Marketing & Outreach Associate, 2022
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- Copeland Creek Restoration Assistant, 2020 - 2021
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- Marketing & Communications Associate, 2018
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- Faculty Project Coordinator
Wendy St. John coordinates environmental projects funded by the Center, particularly those that connect SSU faculty and students with community partners in the areas of water systems, fire resilience, use of technology, and field research. She also manages ecological restoration and monitoring of the riparian habitat along Copeland Creek on campus, working with students across multiple departments and disciplines, as well as local organizations and community volunteers. Wendy is an ecologist and wildlife biologist who earned her master's degree in the Biology Department here at SSU, and now teaches in both the Biology and Geography, Environment, and Planning departments, where she strives to inspire others with a love of science.
Job Titles:
- Copeland Creek Restoration Assistant, 2021 - Present