Alexa (she, her, hers pronouns) is the Administrative Coordinator for EarthCorps. She is the first one to greet you when you walk up the stairs and into EarthCorps’ office. Alexa helps to ensure that the office is running smoothly. Have a question? She is a good first person to ask and will point you in the right direction.
Alexa first came to EarthCorps as a crew member in 2013 and 2014. Since then, She has worked as a Crew Leader for the Utah Conservation Corps, a Restoration & Trails specialist for the City of Mercer Island, and had a short stint working at the local chocolate factory, Theo Chocolate! She is excited to be back at EarthCorps.
Alexa is an avid bread baker and loves sharing her creations with family and friends.
As a 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 entertaining her two dogs Orca and Ottie, hiking alongside rivers looking for cool plants and critters, playing board games and the Nintendo Switch, painting, and eating ice cream.
Britt has spent the past eight years working in the environmental field, doing everything from spending ten consecutive days in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness digging pit toilets (fun!) to managing volunteer programs that engage thousands of community members each year (also fun!). Britt will forever hold dear the time she spent with her EarthCorps cohort in 2014. Through her work, she hopes to share a little bit of EarthCorps magic with present-day corps members and volunteers. In her spare time, Britt likes to stare at the Internet and sit on her couch. Sometimes she rides her bike (named Hedwig) and goes on long walks with a heavy backpack.
From project design to implementation, Caitlyn supports the EarthCorps field team in the role of project management. She works closely with Corps members, the program team, and the field team to fulfill the mission of restoring the health of our environment. Caitlyn is passionate about team-building and empowering young people and relishes that EarthCorps holds the same values.
Before EarthCorps, Caitlyn worked in a variety of non-profit organizations, from the Monterey Bay Aquarium to various land conservancies. Caitlyn has a BA in Environmental Studies and is obtaining her MPA from the Evans School at University of Washington to continue a career in non-profit leadership and management. Her most recent role was as Restoration Program Manager in Ojai, CA, but she also holds a background in ecological research. You can ask her about it but at your own risk, since she may bore you with random facts such as how frogs have different smells or variables affecting salamander habitat.
When Caitlyn is not working or studying, she enjoys people watching, moreso dog watching, and even searching for Sasquatch. Her favorite activity is to daydream about what dog she one day will own. She can be found in several habitats outside of EarthCorps and the University of Washington, including breweries, tennis courts, and couches.
Connor works closely with logistics manager Paula to putter with all things vehicles, tools, supplies and miscellany. He finds value in playing a supportive role to the crews and staff at EarthCorps, and is on call for any odd job that presents itself.
Connor came to EarthCorps as a corps member in 2021. The ongoing opportunities to learn new skills and connect with people in the outdoors have kept him here for the time being.
When he’s not at work, Connor enjoys drawing, walking, tinkering, and spending time with the people he loves. He has a keen interest in biology and natural history, and holds a Bachelor of Science from the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.
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.
As Corps Coordinator, Ethan supports the Program Team in ensuring that the Program is running smoothly and the Corps Members are getting the support they need.
Before coming to Seattle, Ethan earned a BA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Brown University in Rhode Island. In 2020, he moved to Seattle to join EarthCorps as a Crew Member where he fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and the passionate people at EarthCorps. Feeling galvanized by the experience, he returned in 2021 as a Crew Leader before returning again in 2022 to the Corps Coordinator role to help the Corps have an even better experience.
In Ethan’s spare time, he’s often playing piano, attempting to learn bass guitar, or raising his puppy Jolyne.
Evlyn brings not only a passion for the environment and youth development but also extensive experience in management, finance, fundraising, organizing, and advocacy across the academic, government, and nonprofit sectors. Evlyn is joining us from her most recent position as a Policy Advisor on Land Use, Environment, and Environmental Justice to San Diego County Board Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer. Evlyn’s experience also includes serving as the Development Director at Climate Action Campaign, and Manager for both the Office of Diversity and the Center for Public Health Practice at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. She has also served in numerous volunteer positions supporting low-income families on topics ranging from college admissions to substance abuse and addiction. Evlyn has been a passionate proponent of social, economic, and environmental justice and has served on various executive boards for Democratic clubs throughout the San Diego region, as well as the Sierra Club. She also has experience working on local, regional, and national political campaigns.
As Administrative Coordinator Irene oversees and improves upon organizational systems and office culture. Irene hails from California’s central valley (proud descendent of migrant farm workers and the people of the Aztecs), and in the recent decade has made the PNW her chosen home. With a degree in Environmental Studies from WWU, and an eclectic background dabbling in urban food systems, social media/events/product photography, and most recently finance, she can be considered the Swiss Army Knife of the organization. Irene considers herself to be a high functioning introvert, a secret master of deadpan comedy, and a bird nerd (just please don’t ask for any of the latin names). As a lover of all things environment (flora/fauna/green tech), healing and reconnecting with the land and food access and sovereignty rank high on her list of advocacy, and has experience with both through previous roles such as Produce Lead and as an ongoing Seward (Park) Steward with Green Seattle Partnership.
In her free time you can find Irene napping in a hammock, soaking up the weather (yes, rain or shine) with her comrades and some good food/local brews, enjoying a new film at the local arthouse, or tending to her houseplants.
Jorge began his journey in conservation and environmental science while at the University of Redlands where he studied organic pollutants in the Sierra Nevada mountains. After graduation, he went on to work as an environmental specialist with a Native American tribe in Southern California, working to protect and preserve natural resources on Native lands. Most recently, Jorge was the Program Director for a wilderness summer camp providing environmental and experiential educational opportunities for individuals from historically marginalized communities.
Jorge Mendoza serves as the Corps Operations Manager where he supports and supervises corps members throughout their EarthCorps experience. Together with other staff, Jorge facilitates trainings and workshops that allow corps members to develop their leadership abilities and foster genuine connections with themselves and their communities.
Outside of his time at EarthCorps, Jorge can be found hiking or running with his dog Maya, climbing mountains, performing as part of a mariachi, reading, or testing out new recipes in the kitchen.
As part of EarthCorps’ development team, Julia oversees communication and the engagement program for both international and U.S. alumni. She is passionate about building relationships with and between EarthCorps alumni through programming, professional development, and cross-cultural exchanges.
Julia comes to EarthCorps with over seven years of experience in Communications and PR both domestically and abroad. She received her B.A. in Communication and Media Studies from Franklin University Switzerland and worked in Europe and Scotland before returning to her home of the Pacific Northwest. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Strategic Communication at Purdue University alongside her work at EarthCorps.
Julia weaves her passion for travel and cultures throughout everything she does, but never forgets the beauty of her own back yard. In her spare time, Julia can be found skiing, hiking, biking, or seeking the perfect trivia team.
Justine has over 20 years of experience building relationships to advance program and organizational goals within a variety of fields, including the environment, international development, health, and education. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Justine moved to Seattle in 2012 after spending eighteen months in Dhaka, Bangladesh managing a youth development program, including a four-week cultural exchange and community service pilot program on environmental sustainability for Bangladeshi and U.S. high school students. In her role as a fundraiser, Justine has enjoyed supporting the important work of organizations like PATH, CARE, and Facing the Future. Justine’s earlier career was in cultural exchanges, which solidified her love of travel and meeting new people. She has a BA in Political Science from Sonoma State University and an MA in International Relations from San Francisco State University.
In her free time you can find Justine running after her two small children, while dreaming about when she will have time to dance salsa, act in a play, read a book, and travel the world.
From creating budgets to paying bills, Keith makes sure that the office and EarthCorps systems are working smoothly and efficiently. He works closely with the Director’s team and the board Finance Committee to keep EarthCorps at the top of its financial game.
Keith did two years of service with AmeriCorps, first with Rural Action in Athens, Ohio and then as corps member with EarthCorps. After a year working at Amazon, Keith returned to EarthCorps in 2004 and has been the Finance Director since 2008. He holds a Master’s degree in nonprofit leadership from Seattle University and an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Ohio University.
When not downing coffee and chasing after two young children, Keith attempts to get out rock climbing as much as possible, which he has been doing for twenty years.
From 2017-2019, Mahleah Grant went to school for Environmental Studies and discovered that the best way to get to know others is through struggling together in the mud outside and working towards a common goal. She was an outdoor wellness leader in college and loved facilitating experiences for students and building connections. Through her time there, she discovered restoration and worked on a team to restore a small site at North Creek Forest in Bothell. She and her team organized volunteer events and witnessed firsthand the amazing transformation of the land when everyone worked together. This led her to seek out further opportunities to work in the field and learn more about the work being done in the Seattle area. Mahleah joined EarthCorps as a crew member in 2019 and returned the next year as a logistics specialist. Mahleah is very excited to be back as a field coordinator to help support the team and feels energized to be here in this important time in EarthCorps’ growth.
In Mahleas’s spare time, you can find her binge-watching shows, reading books or Co-Star and playing with her two dogs. She can also be found listening to music, swimming and getting artsy.
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 no 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.
From tool and vehicle acquisition to inventory and maintenance, to project management, Paula makes sure that behind the scenes systems and logistics are field ready. Paula works closely with the field team and corps members.
Before joining EarthCorps in 2010, she worked in conservation-related fields including habitat restoration, trail construction and as a wilderness ranger. She has years of experience as an international volunteer working on sustainable agriculture and land rights issues abroad. She has a BA in Political Science from The Evergreen State College.
Paula spends off time with her daughter enjoying local parks, mountains, and beaches.
As corps program manager, Rahel coaches crew members and crew leaders to make the most of their time at EarthCorps. She develops and leads retreats, workshops, and training for participants to grow their leadership skills, build community and develop a broader context for their work.
Back in 2009, Rahel first joined EarthCorps as a corps member. She then went on to complete a Masters of Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. After studying at UW Rahel returned to EarthCorps in 2013 to join the program team.
When she’s out of the office Rahel enjoys biking with her toddler and introducing him to the natural world of the Pacific Northwest.
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.”
Sassy, witty, and full of energy are the best ways to describe Vincent in a nutshell. He is passionate about creating an inclusive and belonging environment for everyone and ensuring that there are pathways for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) to access environmental and Green Jobs. He is EarthCorps’ Human Resources Generalist, and his focus is to ensure that everyone will thrive as a community in the organization. Vincent hopes to one day ensure that Human Resources is not focused on upholding White Supremacy but decolonizing it through collaboration and restorative practices.
Before EarthCorps, Vincent worked as a professional in community-based organizations focused on youth leadership development and employment services. He holds a Master’s Degree in Asian American Studies from San Francisco State University. His background in nonprofit leadership and ethnic studies give him an equity-focused lens that he applies in his work as the HR Generalist in EarthCorps.
When he is not in the office, you will catch him watching all the seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race and playing Pokemon on his Nintendo Switch. Random fact: He wishes he owned a corgi.
As a Project Manager, Whitney develops and manages ecological restoration projects for EarthCorps. Whitney is passionate about collaborating with stakeholders to develop ecologically healthy ecosystems.
Whitney has a BS in Natural Resources and Environmental Management and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Washington. In 2013, 2014 and 2016 Whitney was a crew member, crew leader, and field specialist right here at EarthCorps! Between time spent at EarthCorps, Whitney was a trail construction intern for the NPS, a trail construction supervisor for the USFS and a landscape technician for In Harmony organic landscaping.
Whitney enjoys typical PNW activities, such as hiking, backpacking, KEXP, and music events.