Matthew joined Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE) in January 2023 as its Communications Coordinator. He works with the Center’s LEAF and KEEP programs to promote their outdoor and environmental education resources throughout the state. Matthew’s prior work includes seven years as Communication Director for CAP Services, a private nonprofit Community Action Agency serving central and eastern Wisconsin. Matthew holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma. In his free time, Matthew enjoys playing pickup soccer, indoor rowing, making short films with friends, and taking long walks with his wife.
Office: 201B Student Service CenterPhone: 715-346-2146Email: matthew.brown@uwsp.edu
Jamie has a B.S. in Environmental Education and Interpretation from UW-Stevens Point and has been with the WCEE since 2006, currently in the role of Outreach Support Coordinator. She and her family enjoy camping, hiking, and fishing in the Northwoods.
Office: 201D Student Services CenterPhone: 715-346-4818Email: jamie.mollica@uwsp.edu
Heather joined WCEE as a KEEP team Project Assistant in October 2022 and took the role of WCEE Resource Specialist in June 2023. She manages the WCEE kit collection, lending kits with hands-on materials to educators around the state. She also engages high school green teams around the state through KEEP’s Mini-Grant program and supports sustainability efforts in their schools. Before joining the WCEE, Heather worked with the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change and as a youth librarian, as well as teaching English in the Philippines and China. Heather has a Master’s in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a B.A. in political science from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. Heather enjoys reading, playing handbells, painting, baking, and playing with her cat in her free time.
Office: 201E Student Service CenterPhone: 715-346-2205Email: heather.phelps@uwsp.edu
Victoria has been supporting educators across Wisconsin as the Environmental Education Consultant in the Department of Public Instruction since 2010. She is a staff member of the WCEE with an office in Madison that allows her to work closely with other subject area specialists. Prior to working with the DPI, Victoria taught 7th and 8th grade at an environmental charter school she helped open in 2002. She has an A.A.S. in graphic design from Western Technical College in La Crosse, a B.S. in education from Winona State University and an M.S. in environmental education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Victoria enjoys gardening, hunting, fishing, kayaking, and teaching herself to cook.
Phone: 608-266-0419Email: victoria.rydberg@uwsp.edu
Gina has a B.A.S. from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in Earth Science, Life Science, and Middle School Science Education. She taught at both the high school and middle school levels prior to joining the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education team as a Resource Specialist in 2021. Gina is an outdoor activity enthusiast and enjoys spending time in nature with her family.
Office: 201D Student Services CenterPhone: 715-346-3005Email: gina.smith@uwsp.edu
Samara joined the K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) in July 2020. Samara maintains and builds partnerships that strengthen energy education throughout Wisconsin. She is equally passionate about nurturing carbon sinks (conserving natural spaces) and reducing carbon emissions, especially through the adoption of clean energy practices and technologies. She has lived and learned around the world but keeps herself grounded through yoga, paddling, cross-country skiing, and time laughing with friends and family.
Phone: 715-346-2802Email: samara.hamze@uwsp.edu
Laureanna joined KEEP as an ad hoc instructor in 2013. In 2023, she came on board full time as a KEEP Education Outreach Specialist. She brings energy education and professional development opportunities to students across Wisconsin from 4K through adults. Laureanna has a BS in Elementary Education from UW-Madison and a MS in Environmental Education from UW-Stevens Point. She previously taught elementary age students in the Hamilton (Sussex) School District and through the Environmental Education Program in the School District of Waukesha. Outside of work, Laureanna volunteers with the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE), and loves exploring her curiosity about the natural world, writing picture books, and spending family time playing games, baking, hiking, and planning their next vacation.
Phone: 715-346-3012Email: laraymon@uwsp.edu
Wendy joined the KEEP – Wisconsin’s K-12 Energy Education Program team at the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education as a Youth and Community Engagement Specialist in February 2022. She engages PK-12 formal and non-formal student audiences in statewide energy conservation and clean energy initiatives delivered through school programming and community outreach events. She also assists KEEP in facilitating the Energy Educator of the Year Awards. Wendy earned a B.S. from Michigan State University in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. Before joining the WCEE team, she taught high school Biology and Chemistry in New York and Indiana, developed Environmental Education curricula for a Wisconsin charter school, and worked as a laboratory technician at UWO. Wendy enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially when it includes running, hiking, cross-country skiing, gardening, or rock hounding.
Phone: 715-346-2707Email: wendy.stelzer@uwsp.edu
Nicole has a B.S. in Biology/Ecology, a secondary science teaching certificate, and an M.S. in Science Education from Northern Michigan University. She has been with the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education since 2013, assisting with professional development for the LEAF – Wisconsin’s K-12 Forestry Education Program and serving as the state coordinator for Project Learning Tree. She is headquartered in Minocqua.
Phone: 715-346-3220Email: nicole.filizetti@uwsp.edu
Jonathan joined the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE) as a Forestry Education Specialist with the LEAF – Wisconsin’s K-12 Forestry Education Program in May of 2022. He works with Wisconsin schools seeking ways to use their school grounds and urban forests as outdoor teaching sites. He has a B.A. in biology and history from Grinnell College (Iowa) and a Master’s degree in Science Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A Michigan native, he’s excited to work for WCEE, surrounded by the water and woods of central Wisconsin.
Office: 201A Student Service CenterPhone: 715-346-3229Email: jonathan.ismail@uwsp.edu
Gretchen has been a member of the LEAF – Wisconsin’s K-12 Forestry Education Program team since 2008 and is a former high school biology teacher. She coordinates Wisconsin’s school forest program and works with educators to enhance outdoor learning opportunities for students. She has a B.S. in both Resource Management: with an emphasis in Environmental Education and biology education with teacher certification, and then earned an M.S. in environmental education – all from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Gretchen enjoys traveling with her family, watching her boys play hockey, and outdoor recreation.
Office: 202A Student Services CenterPhone: 715-346-2633Email: gretchen.marshall@uwsp.edu
Steve joined LEAF – Wisconsin’s K-12 Forestry Education Program in 2018. His work supports the school forest program, in particular, with other LEAF/WCEE projects related to his experiences in science education. He has a BS in Environmental Science from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and an MS in Natural Resources (Fisheries) from UWSP. Steve taught pre-K- college science for over 20 years, including after-school science and school forest programs. He is an ARMADA Project Master teacher who was fortunate to have participated in climate science research aboard the USCGC – Healy in the Arctic Ocean in 2004. Steve enjoys spending time with his family, especially on Washington Island, Door County, WI, bird hunting with his retriever Griffin, and exploring the waters of Lake Michigan from a kayak or with underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
Office: 202B Student Services CenterPhone: 715-346-3113Email: steve.schmidt@uwsp.edu