| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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Barry
Chernoff 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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 | 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. |
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Kim O'Rourke
works as the Recycling Program Coordinator for the City of Middletown. She has served in this position since 1991, managing the City recycling program, overseeing its expansion, planning and directing educational campaigns and coordinating community projects. She has been instrumental in moving the City’s recycling program into new, less traditional areas. The City of Middletown has been placed on the CT DEP’s Municipal Recycling Honor Role, and in 2007, Kim received An Award of Appreciation from the CT Recyclers Coalition and the Environmental Professional Award from CT River Coastal Conservation District. Kim helped envision and launch Middletown’s Project Green Lawn campaign to promote safe lawns and alternative landscapes. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Conservation & Communications from the University of New Hampshire, and is working toward a Master’s in Public Administration at the University of Connecticut. |