Formed in 2007 to mark SCA’s 50th Anniversary, the SCA Alumni Council has a mission to organize alumni in support of SCA and SCA’s Alumni Engagement Plan. Whether through serving as volunteer leaders at service days, helping to organize outreach events, or contributing content to SCA’s blog and social media pages, the Alumni Council assists in keeping SCA alumni connected and engaged.
Each year, current council members select new recruits from alumni nationwide for a two-year term. With a diversity of SCA service backgrounds – from former high school crew members, to special initiative interns, to year-long conservation corps programs – Alumni Council members represent the wide range of SCA’s programs and locations. Each member is equipped to represent and connect with SCA’s 90,000+ alumni.
Specifically, the Alumni Council goals are to:
- Support SCA service projects and alumni-focused social events
- Contribute to SCA’s online content in the form of blog posts, social media sharing, and editorial writing
- Strengthen SCA’s reputation as the nation’s preeminent youth conservation organization among partner organizations, agencies, and the general public
- Serve as a source of counsel for SCA staff and board members, as requested
Email [email protected] if you have any questions about the council.
Alumni Council Bios
CHAIR: Anna Wadhams, Ann Arbor, MI
Name: Anna Wadhams
Current Location: Ann Arbor, MI
SCA Program(s) Served: SCA National Park Service Intern, George Washington Memorial Parkway, VA (2005)
Current Position: Consultant
Education Background: B.A. in History and Spanish (University of Michigan); Master of Business Administration (The George Washington University)
VICE CHAIR: Rod Rolett, New Rochelle, NY
Name: Rod Rolett
Current Location: New Rochelle, NY
SCA Program(s) Served: Backcountry Intern, Hoh River Valley and Glacier Meadows, Olympic National Park (1976)
Current Position: Member of the Board of Trustees (volunteer) of The Osborn (Rye, New York), Brookhaven at Lexington (Lexington, Massachusetts) and New Rochelle Public Library Foundation (New Rochelle, New York)
Education Background: B.A. in Environmental Studies (Pomona College); Masters in City and Regional Planning (Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University)
SECRETARY: Tony Gurzick, Denver, CO
Name: Tony Gurzick
Current Location: Denver, CO
SCA Program(s) Served: National high school trail crew Rocky Mountain National Park
Current Position: Director of Marketing, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Education Background: B.S. Wildlife Biology, Colorado State University; Masters of Public Administration, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs; Certified Wildlife Biologist, The Wildlife Society
Kelly Burnett, Houston, TX
Name: Kelly Burnett
Current Location: Houston, TX
SCA Program(s) Served: Centennial Volunteer Ambassador (2015-2016)
Current Position: Activation & Volunteer Manager at Houston Parks Board
Education Background: B.S. in Natural Resource Ecology & Management (Oklahoma State University)
Christine Chung, Jolon, CA
Name: Christine Chung
Current Location: Jolon, CA
SCA Program(s) Served: Native Revegetation Project (2019), SCA Alumni Trail crew (2019), US Fish and Wildlife Service: Conservation Internship Program (now CDIP - 2009, 2010), Alternative Spring Break Grand Canyon (2009), US Forest Service Bear Management Intern (2008)
Current Position: Seasonal Wildland Firefighter with U.S. Forest Service
Education Background: B.S. in Environmental Sciences: Wildlife Conservation (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Karissa DeCarlo, Colorado Springs, CO
Name: Karissa DeCarlo
Current Location: Colorado Springs, CO
SCA Program(s) Served: High School Conservation Crew: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (1997), High School Conservation Crew: Ouachita National Forest (1999), Conservation Intern/AmeriCorps (2001): Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Current Position: Partnerships & Philanthropy Specialist at the National Park Service
Education Background: B.S in Environmental and Sustainable Resources (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) & M.S. in Recreation, Parks and Tourism (West Virginia University)
Jonathan Fennell, Olympia, WA
Name: Jonathan Fennell
Current Location: Olympia, WA
SCA Program(s) Served: Historic Preservation Corps, Delaware Water Gap, NJ (2014); Desert Restoration Corps, Ridgecrest, CA (2014-2015); Havasu Wildlife Refuge Chainsaw Leader Team, Mohave Valley, AZ (2015)
Current Position: Hydrogeologist, Water Quality Program Specialist, Washington Department of Ecology
Education Background: B.S. Geology, Mining Engineering, University of Pittsburgh
Deidra Goodwin, Asheville, NC
Name: Deidra Goodwin
Current Location: Asheville, NC
SCA Program(s) Served: Grand Teton National Park Service Academy (2016), Environmental Education Intern New River Gorge National River (2016 NPSA position), Historical Interpretation Intern Minuteman National Historical Park (2016), Grand Teton National Park Service Academy Peer Mentor (2017)
Current Position: ACE EPIC Member Coordinator for the NPS division (overseeing National Park Service Academy)
Education Background: Integrated Studies BA (Florida Gulf Coast University); Western Carolina University MS Experiential & Outdoor Education (expected 2023).
David Kurapka, Berkeley, CA
Name: David Kurapka
Current Location: Berkeley, CA
SCA Program(s) Served: Acadia National Park national high school crew, Assateague Island National Seashore internship
Current Position: Writer/Editor
Education Background: B.A. in English, with minor in Natural Resources, University of the South
Elyria R Little, Medina, OH
Name: Elyria R Little
Current Location: Medina, OH
SCA Program(s) Served: Pacific Crest Trail Roving Backcountry Crew (2004), Randolph Mountain Club Trail Crew (2006)
Current Position:Consultant and small business owner at Home Harmonizers, LLC; Programming & Communications Manager with Michelle Belanger, LLC
Education Background: B.A. in Environmental Studies (Vassar College) & M.S. in Environmental Management and Sustainability (IIT), LEED AP
Lou Lunte, Picabo, Idaho
Name: Lou Lunte
Current Location: Picabo, Idaho
SCA Program(s) Served: 1977 national high school crew in North Cascades and 1978 Sherpa crew in Olympic National Park
Current Position: After 31 years with The Nature Conservancy, Lou has come full circle to once again be the Silver Creek Preserve Manager for the Idaho Chapter. With his partner and wife, Cindy, as a volunteer, they are sharing the wonders of nature with others every day.
Education Background: B.S. Bacteriology, University of Idaho
Amie Schiller, St. Paul, MN
Name: Amie Schiller
Current Location: St. Paul, MN
SCA Program(s) Served: National Park Service Academy: Grand Teton National Park (2015), Biological Technician: Invasive Species Management: Mt. Rushmore National Monument, Trails Partnership Intern: Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (2015-2016), GIS Specialist: National Park Service Headquarters- Washington D.C. (2017-2018)
Current Position: Stewardship Associate, Minnesota Land Trust
Education Background: B.S. Wildlife Biology, minor in Geospatial Technology (GST), University of Vermont
Kristen Schulte, Columbia, MO
Name: Kristen Schulte
Current Location: Columbia, MO
SCA Program(s) Served: North Cascades National Park, National High School Crew Member (2005), Oregon Caves National Monument, Interpretation Intern (2006), Wind Cave National Park, Interpretation Intern (2007), Grand Canyon National Park, Alternative Spring Break Crew Member (2008), Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area, Flood Recovery Corps, Crew Leader (2009), George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Alumni Crew, Crew Leader (2010), Grand Teton National Park NPS Academy Orientation Mentor, (2012), Kenai Fjords National Park, NPS Academy Orientation, Mentor (2013), Papago Park, American Express Earth Day Event, Team Leader (2018)
Current Position: Education Director at Missouri River Relief
Education Background: B.S. in Outdoor Recreation (Southeast Missouri State University) & M.S. in Natural Science Education & Environmental Natural Resources (Teton Science Schools & University of Wyoming)
Michiko Squires, Albuquerque, NM
Name: Michiko Squires
Current Location: Albuquerque, NM
SCA Program(s) Served: Interpretation and Outreach Intern, Biscayne National Park (2006), Environmental Education Intern, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (2011)
Current Position: Regional Data Manager and GIS Specialist, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Education Background: B.S. in Biology, B.S. in Computer Science (University of Miami); M.S. in Forest Resources and Conservation with a concentration in Geomatics (University of Florida)
Rob Thomas, Newark, NJ
Name: Rob Thomas
Current Location: Newark, NJ
SCA Program(s) Served: Community Crew Leader, Newark, NJ (2009), Sustainability Intern, City of Newark Office of Sustainability, Newark, NJ (2010)
Current Position: Chief of Energy & Environment/Deputy Energy Coordinator in the City of Newark
Education Background: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology (New Jersey Institute of Technology)
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