Jonah Center, Inc. Board of Directors

	John C. Hall, Executive Director, has been the Senior Minister of First Church of Christ, Congregational since 1990. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Carleton College and his Master of Divinity degree from Yale. He is the primary initiator of the Jonah Center project. Over the years, he has been actively involved in regional energy and environmental efforts such as regulating the “Sooty Six” power plants, reducing diesel particulate emissions from idling school buses, promoting the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities program, and protecting local waterways. John has been active working with local government leaders and energy professionals to develop renewable energy projects in Middletown, especially on the North End Peninsula. He is a member of the City of Middletown’s Clean Energy Task Force.
	Barry Chernoff, President, is Professor of Biology and Earth and Environmental Sciences and Robert Schumann Professor of Environmental Studies at Wesleyan University, where he directs the Environmental Studies Certificate Program. He previously served as Associate Curator and Curator of Fishes, Department of Zoology, at Chicago’s Field Museum with concomitant appointments as Lecturer at the University of Chicago in Evolutionary Biology and Adjunct Professor of Biology at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Barry received a BSc. in Biology and BA in Environmental Studies from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, a MS in Biology from Adelphi University, and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from The University of Michigan. He has served as member, Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Biological Scientists through appointment by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on conservation of aquatic ecosystems in Latin America and the evolutionary biology and ecology of South American freshwater fishes. He has published more than 70 scholarly papers and books. Barry and his students are investigating aquatic invertebrate ecology and community structure as well as heavy metals of fishes in Connecticut rivers.
	Diana Lane, Vice President is a senior scientist at Stratus Consulting, an environmental research consulting firm. Her research has focused on the science of restoration ecology. Dr. Lane also has maintained a long-standing interest in sustainable agriculture and development. She spent one year working for a non-profit organization in Chile as a Rockefeller Fellow. She also has been involved with community supported agriculture. She received her BA in Biology from Harvard University, an M.S. in Rangeland Ecosystem Science from Colorado State University, and a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a member of Congregation Adath Israel in Middletown.
	Susan Brown, Secretary, worked for 25 years in museums in Minnesota and Missouri as an editor, curator, associate director, and director. Prior to moving to Middletown in 1997, she was Curator at the Laumeier Sculpture Park and Museum in St. Louis. She is currently the Development Director for Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater, a freelance writer, and the clerk at First Church of Christ, Congregational in Middletown. She received her bachelor’s degree in art history from Carleton College and her master’s in art history from the University of Minnesota.
	Charles P. Bates, Treasurer, retired from Northeast Utilities in 2001. During his 30 years of employment, he held positions as an accountant, programmer/analyst, supervisor, and finally as manager of information technology as related to accounting applications. He is the Treasurer of First Church (since 1984) and of several other non-profit organizations. He maintains a consulting practice, assisting individuals and small businesses with accounting, tax and computer issues.
Jeff Caiola is employed as a Civil Engineer III with the Inland Water Resources Division of the Department of Environmental Protection. He administers the Stream Channel Encroachment Line Program, and is the Divisions liaison to DOT. Jeff has been employed with the Department for more than 6 years in this capacity in which he has reviewed numerous land use applications. Prior to the DEP Jeff was employed with the Department of Transportation for 3 years where he worked on environmental permit applications for some of the state's major highway projects. He received Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Roger Williams University a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of New Haven.
	Kate Miller is currently working toward a PhD in Biology at Wesleyan University. Most recently she was adjunct biology faculty at Middlesex Community College and the coordinator for the Brownfields Job Training Program at Middlesex. She has a Master’s degree from Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and over twenty years of experience in environmental work including advocacy, policy development, program implementation, education and consulting. Kate is also a member of the City of Middletown’s Conservation Commission.
	Eric Mosher recently finished a Master's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut. His research focused on the relationships between land use history and biological invasions. His particular areas of expertise are geographic information systems and conservation biology. A Middletown resident since 1979, Eric has been a member of the city's Resource Recycling Advisory Council for the last eight years. He is currently conducting an invasive plant survey in the Eight Mile River watershed for the Connecticut chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
	Cynthia Sanders is a manager of learning and performance at Aetna, Inc. For nearly 30 years she has conducted and coordinated business-focused training in the areas of data entry, workflows, strategic initiatives, and customer service. She is a member of First Church where she has served on many boards and committees. Currently she is a member of the church’s Executive Committee.

Other Members of the Jonah Center Action Team

Lori Paradis Brant, Education Coordinator for Connecticut Forest & Park Association, is the state co-coordinator of Project Learning Tree, an interdisciplinary environmental education curriculum for teachers, scout leaders and other educators. Throughout the last 12 years, Lori has worked with teachers to incorporate the environment into their curriculum and to meet state education standards; trained nature center staff in environmental education; created and led after-school and vacation programs for children; developed outdoor family adventures and contributed to community program initiatives. Her work has led her to farm to forest to sea as she has enjoyed employment with the Department of Environmental Protection, Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Bauer Farm Park and Connecticut Audubon Society. She has also actively participated in several local community and environmental committees and boards in Connecticut.

Lydia Brewster is a founder and lead community organizer of the North End Action Team (NEAT), an advocacy group located in Middletown’s lowest income urban neighborhood. Her work with NEAT is focused upon building participation and leadership skills among community residents and developing collaborative strategies for responsible revitalization of the neighborhood. She received a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Springfield College and an M.S.W. from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work with a specialty in Community Organizing. She is particularly interested in education and workforce development opportunities for Middletown’s North End.

Trevor Davis is the President of Trevor Davis Commercial Real Estate in Middletown. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Valley Railroad (Essex Steam Train & Riverboat); the Middletown Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission; the Board of Directors of the Rockfall Foundation ; and as a Director of INFORM (Industry for Middletown). He was previously elected to the Haddam Planning and Zoning Commission and has served on a wide variety of local and regional environmental and church-related organizations and projects. Trevor attended the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 as Non-Governmental Organization Representative of the United Church of Christ.

Timothy C.W. Ku is Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. He received a B.S. degree in Geology in 1994 from the University of Rochester and M.S. and Ph.D degrees in Geology from the University of Michigan in 1996 and 2001, respectively. Dr. Ku is a geochemist whose research focuses on modern geochemical processes at or near sediment - water interfaces in terrestrial and marine environments. He teaches several classes at Wesleyan University including Introduction to Environmental Sciences, Forensic Geology, Environmental Geochemistry, Isotope Geochemistry: Tracers of Environmental Processes, and Senior Seminar.

Robert Evans is a graduate of the University of Bridgeport and recently retired as a Mechanical Engineer, having worked for a variety of manufacturing firms in Connecticut.  Robb’s work for the Jonah Center has focused on the “Green Corridor” project along the Coginchaug River, walking the area, documenting possible trail locations, and identifying property owners to request public access easements. He has had a life-long interest in the outdoors and nature, especially canoeing and hiking.  Robb is also a volunteer on the schooner, Quinnipiack, a marine educational program based in New Haven dedicated to the conservation of the environment, particularly Long Island Sound and the rivers of Connecticut and appreciation of their history.