Staff
Michele Richards-Williams, CEO/Director (michele AT piceweb.org )
Michele Richards-Williams holds a B.S. Degree in environmental biology from Juniata College, PA. For the past sixteen years, she has directed her career towards education as it relates to natural resource conservation. That career path has taken her into private, nonprofit and governmental arenas. She is currently directing the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education, a new educational non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, that she co-founded. Prior to this, she coordinated the education program of the American Wilderness Leadership School in Wyoming. A majority of her career has been spent directing field-based experiential programs in Pennsylvania. Michele has been deeply involved in the development and implementation of state, national and international environmental education programs.
Serving as a facilitator, she has lead programs for students of all ages dealing with the wide spectrum of natural science and conservation topics and issues. She served on the Board of the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art for six (6) years in the role of Education Chairperson for much of her tenure. In 1999, she was appointed by Governor Tom Ridge to serve as an advisor to his Youth Sportsmen's Advisory Council. Most recently, she was asked to serve on Governor Rendell’s Outdoor Leadership Task Force Committee. Bird banding, nature photography, outdoor sports, international eco-tourist guide are other activities that she enjoys.
Gail Farmer, Program Coordinator (gfarmer AT piceweb.org)
Gail Farmer received her M.S. in ecology from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She has been involved in wildlife research for ten years and has applied her research experience to developing innovative and exciting field ecology education programs for people of all ages. While directing the Starr Ranch Bird Observatory for Audubon California, Gail managed the Sanctuary’s bird research activities and developed hands-on, inquiry-based field ecology education programs for the public. In 2004, Gail joined the staff of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, where she worked as a research biologist and an educator. She coordinated and administered Hawk Mountain’s Conservation Science International Internship Program, where she trained young biologists from all over the world in avian research techniques and science education. She has also co-developed and instructed professional development workshops for teachers in applications of wildlife tracking data to science education. In addition to her duties at the Institute, she currently teaches two college courses in raptor behavior and ecology at Cedar Crest College.
Gail has served on both scientific and education working-group committees for California Partners in Flight, served as managing editor of migration reports for Pennsylvania Birds, and has published several scientific and education manuscripts.
Emily Brodsky, Program Assistant (ebrodsky AT piceweb.org)
Since receiving her B.S. in Environmental Education from Unity College in Maine (2004), Emily has involved herself in conservation through various seasonal positions in education and assisting ecological research. While working as a field ecology instructor for Ecology Project International, Emily led groups of high school students through hands-on field research projects at rainforest and sea turtle reserves in Costa Rica. As the Program Director for Bangor YMCA Camp Jordan’s Nature Program, Emily designed and implemented entertaining and educational classes for children in topics ranging from wildlife to gardening to wilderness survival. She was able to broaden her knowledge of the biological side of conservation while studying birds as a research assistant for the Avian Research and Conservation Institute in Florida, and during a Conservation Science Internship at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, where she later returned as an educator.
Emily enjoys a variety of activities in her free time such as travel, arts & crafts, cooking, and outdoor sports.
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