As a Senior Project Manager, Anna helps to train and orient crews, scope new restoration sites, and communicate with agency partners to develop unique restoration plans. She grew up in the Seattle area with a deep love of the outdoors, especially our forests. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Washington, worked in a blood cancer pathology lab doing DNA sequencing, and then transitioned into the environmental field. Native prairie restoration in Central Minnesota with The Nature Conservancy was her first environmental job, where she spent 6 months harvesting seed from native prairie plants and assisting with prescribed burns. Her love and appreciation of learning and knowing plants really took root here.
Anna first worked with EarthCorps as a Crew Member and Crew Leader in 2019 and 2020, where she quickly affirmed that Pacific Northwest environmental restoration with a focus on equity and environmental justice within the field and for all members of the community would be a long term career path for her. She is excited to bring her recent corps experience to the team to advocate for the corps and provide background context to make every project meaningful.
When Anna’s not working, she is most often found exploring with her two dogs Orca and Ottie, wandering alongside rivers looking for cool plants and critters, and daily crochet as a way to relax.
Chris graduated from the University of Colorado with a BA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Chris began her journey with conservation/sustainability in the field, working on ecological monitoring sites and plant identification with several universities and non-profits. She eventually transitioned into more of an interpersonal role where she worked as an Advocate at a non-profit helping to eliminate barriers to success and teaching Child Youth Development to corps members.
As the Program Operations Manager, Chris primary role is focusing on the people that make up our Corps. Understanding needs and figuring out ways to address those needs. With the help of the Program Team, Chris helps with day-to-day logistics of programming and supporting corps members throughout their time at EarthCorps.
Originally from Boulder, Colorado, Chris recently moved to Seattle from Bend, Oregon. Outside of work, Chris loves nothing more than getting out and exploring everything Seattle has to offer. When she is not out exploring, she can often be found hanging out with her dog, watching horror movies, or belting out her favorite tunes at karaoke.
Christine (she/her) brings a lifelong dedication to equity, belonging, and environmental care to her role as Executive Director at EarthCorps. Her cross-cultural background and global perspective shape a leadership style rooted in community, accountability, and lasting systems change.
Over the past two decades, Christine has worked across sectors to advance environmental quality, sustainability and inclusion: from leading local government climate and resource initiatives to strengthening organizational cultures that serve historically excluded communities. Prior to joining EarthCorps, she served as Executive Director of Families of Color Seattle, where she expanded programs that supported thousands of families and helped shift regional conversations around systems change for equitable access.
At EarthCorps, Christine is focused on listening deeply, rebuilding relationships, and strengthening the foundation needed for long-term impact. She is committed to nurturing a new generation of environmental leaders who are skilled in ecosystem science and implementation, and reflective of the cultural and racial diversity of the communities most affected. This includes stewarding work like EarthCorps’ tree replanting efforts, which not only restore native habitats but also contribute to long-term carbon sequestration and our region’s climate resilience.
Outside of work, you can find her dancing, hiking, playing pickleball, or soaking up the sun at parks, beaches, and concerts with her kids.
Christyn Riehl (she/her) is originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania but has lived in Seattle since the beginning of 2023. Christyn’s educational background is in Outdoor Education and Cultural Anthropology, and she previously worked in higher education. As she was reflecting on her career, interests, and values, Christyn felt tugged toward returning to outdoor spaces, specifically exploring what it looks like to partner with the land and local communities to preserve, restore, and enjoy the natural world. After gaining experience in the field in Utah, Georgia, and Maine, Christyn’s journey brought her to EarthCorps to serve as a Crew Leader. The land, the community, and the culture of the organization convinced her to stick around and she stepped into the position of Project Manager in 2024. Transitioning into this new role at EarthCorps provides exciting opportunities to blend all aspects of her professional and personal background as she continues facilitating meaningful experiences for Corps members to learn, grow, and take ownership of truly meaningful work! In her spare time Christyn enjoys finding interesting hikes, exploring new places, seeking out unique experiences, and generally dabbling in an ever-fluctuating list of interests and topics.
Denali (she/her) is the Urban and Educational Farming Manager at EarthCorps. In her role, she supports EarthCorps’ various farming partners with capacity building and sustainable development, coordinates on-farm opportunities for corps members, and engages the local community in regenerative agriculture. As EarthCorps grows in a more environmentally just direction, Denali believes that food and farm justice should be a key part of the conversation. Her role investigates questions like “How can we nourish communities through more equitable and resilient food systems?,” and “How can we develop regenerative, diverse on-farm ecological systems?”.
Denali is originally from Ohio and got a degree in engineering and environmental science from Miami University. Upon graduation, Denali spent time exploring central Alaska before moving to Kauai to explore permaculture and community composting. She moved to the PNW in early 2024 to work as the Farm Specialist for EarthCorps and community partner, Wakulima USA. Denali’s favorite way to connect to the Earth is by digging her hands into the soil and watching life grow through the beautiful reciprocity between a farmer and the land!
In her free time, Denali loves to be outside, whether it be camping, backpacking, or hiking. She also loves doing ceramics, cooking big curries and soups for loved ones, and dreaming of the farm and community space she hopes to create one day.
Elizabeth has a desire to connect people to the green places around them, to empower them to steward our urban forests and natural places and to help them discover their own leadership potential.
Elizabeth first joined EarthCorps as an AmeriCorps member in 2002 and led as a Crew Leader in 2003. Over the years she has been a Project Manager for EarthCorps’ Volunteer Program and the Program Manager of our Volunteer Team. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in English.
Jimena grew up in the South Seattle area and is a proud Mexicana. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Informatics, specializing in Human-Computer Interaction, from the University of Washington.
She oversees office operations and documentation, provides administrative support, and collaborates with data and development teams to manage donor information and drive growth.
Outside of work, Jimena enjoys going to concerts, traveling, trying new restaurants, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
Johnny started working as an Ecologist for EarthCorps in 2025. In his position he plans ecological field studies to determine the health of habitats, conducts GIS mapping and analysis, develops vegetation management plans, and conducts quantitative data analysis. He is passionate about human and animal rights, environmental restoration and cares deeply about giving back to his community by helping maintain healthy ecosystems for all beings to enjoy.
Johnny grew up in Martinez California but has called the PNW his home for the last 8 years. Prior to joining EarthCorps, he earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental science freshwater and terrestrial ecology with a minor in GIS from Western Washington University and has worked in a variety of environmental fields including habitat restoration, water quality, and GIS. In his spare time, Johnny enjoys long walks and hikes, trail running, native plant gardening, camping, spending time with friends, vegan cooking, and hanging out with his cat, Xena Warrior Princess.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Kenza has always been drawn to the ocean and the natural world. She earned her B.S. in Marine Sciences and Biological Oceanography from Rutgers University before moving to the Pacific Northwest to deepen her understanding of marine ecosystems and the role of community engagement in climate action. They went on to complete a Master’s at the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, where her capstone focused on public perceptions of aquaculture expansion in Oregon. She gained indispensable knowledge on marine policy & law, ecosystem functions, conservation & management strategies, and diverse stakeholder involvement.
Kenza is passionate about advancing transdisciplinary approaches to addressing environmental challenges and is committed to bridging the gap between science, policy, and community well-being in the pursuit of climate resilience. They seek to build a professional career that combines her dedication to sustainability and climate adaptation with her experience in collaborative research, project co-creation, and community outreach.
Outside of her professional work, Kenza enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, exploring new natural areas around the greater Seattle region, playing video games, collaging, and spending quality time with her partner, friends and family, including her cat Loki.
Kesia Cisse (she/her) brings a deep passion for people, connection, and community impact to her role as Senior Development Manager at EarthCorps. Her journey in development began as a student caller for Vandal Connect at the University of Idaho, where she discovered a passion for connecting people to their alma mater and supporting access to higher education. She went on to manage multiple call centers across the country with Ruffalo Noel Levitz, helping institutions raise critical funds through annual giving programs.
Most recently, Kesia served on the philanthropic recognition programs team at the University of Washington, focusing on donor stewardship and cultivating lasting relationships with supporters. Her expertise in annual giving and donor engagement informs her work at EarthCorps, where she supports fundraising to support the organization’s work towards achieving their mission.
While she is goal oriented and enjoys hitting fundraising goals, Kesia enjoys development work because it gives her the opportunity to hear from many different people and understand their passions and interests.
Kesia was drawn to EarthCorps by its commitment to environmental restoration and justice, and its unique leadership development model that empowers corps members to learn through service and carry their skills into their own communities. She is proud to be part of an organization that cultivates both ecological and human resilience.
Outside of work, Kesia enjoys video games, reading, swimming, music, and dancing. Her curiosity and creativity fuel both her professional and personal life, making her a vibrant part of the EarthCorps team.
Marlo relocated from El Paso, Texas where he got a Bachelor’s in Neurosience conducting nicotine dependence research. He has also conducted environmental health research for La Mujer Obrera studying the environmental health impacts of environmental racism on redlined barrios. They have been a part of local climate justice campaigns; organizing voter registration drives, training voter outreach volunteers, and canvassing over 10,000 El Pasoans. Marlo was also a supervisor at the Casa del Sagrado Corazon migrant shelter. He provided a comfortable humanitarian haven for newly arrived migrants. Ecological experience includes arroyo restoration projects in New Mexico- building erosion control features in the Chihuahuan desert in efforts to restore a niche of the grasslands that used to thrive in the now arid deserts; before developers and states canalized/militarized the Rio Grande for border and agricultural purposes. He fulfilled his role as a Crew Member at EarthCorps in 2024 working with state and private agencies to steward the land throughout Washington. His favorite project was working in Norse Peak, a trail restoration 10-day spike where he celebrated his birthday, and saw aurora lights and a meteor shower.
Marlo has presented educational harm reduction workshops as a chapter leader and board member for Students for Sensible Drug Policy, advocating for evidence-based approaches, policies, and perspectives on stigmatized substances. His passion for research, ending the failed war on drugs, climate justice, and migrant rights all interconnect towards the liberation of all people and reparations to communities fighting colonialism. At EarthCorps he is now the Volunteer Specialist Lead and hopes to do the hard, good work in ecological restoration while being guided by intersectional principles. He strongly believes all people have a role and belong to nature, especially those who have faced environmental injustices. On his off-time, Marlo enjoys political commentary, hiking, thrifting, and volunteering.
In 1993, Miguel came to Seattle from Chile to help launch the early stages of the EarthCorps program. He later joined founder Dwight Wilson taking the model created in Seattle to multiple countries worldwide. Now he has returned to EarthCorps to help the team expand and diversify our community of partners, projects, and services, especially among BIPOC communities.
Miguel is a social entrepreneur with extensive experience in creating multicultural and inclusive organizations. Throughout his professional career, Miguel’s work has focused on creating opportunities for underserved communities, promoting environmental protection, facilitating equitable access to technology, empowering women and girls, enhancing civic and community engagement, and establishing social innovation clusters.
When not working on his main activities. Miguel is an artmaker, enjoys carpentry and construction. A serious coffee lover, an avid cyclist, mountaineer, and a cuisine enthusiast.
Nelson conducts quantitative data analysis, develops vegetation management plans and site resource inventories, and addresses a variety of management goals and objectives. He has been providing GIS/GPS mapping and analysis for projects since 2005. In addition, Nelson trains and leads volunteers in restoration monitoring, forest inventory and analysis and native plant seed collection.
Nelson worked as an ecologist with Seattle Urban Nature before they merged with EarthCorps in 2010. Prior to that, he has worked with the Bureau of Land Management and the Student Conservation Association. He holds a BS in Botany from Humboldt State University and currently serves on the board as Botanist for the Puget Sound Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society.
Nelson can often be found squinting through a hand lens studying or photographing the lichens, bryophytes, and fungi that also make the Pacific Northwest their home. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring and discovering the natural world with his wife and two children.
Sean Day (they/them) hails from the Ohio River Valley. After earning a bachelor’s in IT and working a desk job for a few years, they began shifting towards environmental work through an internship on a small organic farm. Soon after Sean would put career aspirations on hold to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. After moving to Seattle in 2020 they wanted to serve the community and environment and found that could be best done through service at Earthcorps. After serving a term as a crew member, Sean worked as a crew lead before joining the staff as a Project Manager.
“My grandmother always made an effort to get us outside, be that in the backyard or on four-hour road trips to cave systems. Her persistence paid off as I developed a respect and admiration for various ecosystems. The curiosity she instilled has led me to eventually follow a career path that aims to restore and preserve these ecosystems. I’m excited to continue that work this year with an all new cohort. I’m certain we will have so much to learn from each-other.”
After graduating with a B.A. in Psychology from TWU, Sophia has hopped around the non-profit world working sort-term contracts. In the summer of 2025, she moved from Metro Vancouver to the Greater Seattle Area with her husband (a handsome mechanical engineer she met on Hinge) and pet snake (Mr. Crimson). Ever curious about people and our place on this rock named Earth, she hopes to cultivate a career in which she can promote environmental stewardship.
Whitney brings over 11 years of strategic leadership in ecological restoration, with experience spanning non-profit organizations, private firms, and government entities. A proud alumnus of EarthCorps Corps Program, Whitney rejoined EarthCorps in 2019 and has since become a member of the EarthCorps Senior Leadership Team as Director of Sustainability and Conservation, where she guides the organization’s strategic direction for ecological restoration and environmental sustainability. Whitney holds a Master of Environmental Horticulture from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from Ball State University. She has dedicated her career to advancing sustainability through her work in ecological restoration, ensuring that both environmental and community goals are integrated into long-term conservation strategies. With a strong background in building high-level partnerships, Whitney has collaborated with over 50 agencies, NGOs, and academic institutions to align conservation goals with broader environmental strategies. She has successfully led the development and implementation of large-scale restoration initiatives focused on habitat preservation, sustainable land management, and the advancement of science-driven environmental policies. Whitney’s leadership is rooted in her ability to bring together diverse stakeholders—ranging from governmental bodies to private sector partners—to drive collaborative, impactful solutions. Her work has helped shape regional strategies for coastal resilience and environmental restoration, ensuring that projects not only meet but also exceed long-term sustainability goals.