Education Program Staff

Scientific Staff Member
Alan R. Berkowitz. Ph.D. Plant Ecology. 1986. Cornell University.

Head of Education since July 1985. Research on the ecology of plant communities in agroecosystems and along rights-of-way; schoolyard ecology; ecology curriculum, program and exhibit development; undergraduate and teacher education; recruitment, retention and training of ecologists; defining and measuring ecological literacy; program administration.

Program Leader-Ecology Education Research
Gel Alvarado. PhD. Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife, 2010. Michigan State University.
BS Biology, 1998. Xavier University, Philippines; Master in Marine Affairs, 2002. University of Washington.

Gel works on three NSF-funded projects: Teaching the Nature of Ecological Science [TNOES], Data Exploration in Ecology Project [DEEP], and Pathways to Environmental Science Literacy. Areas of specialization: environmental education theories, approaches, and methods; human dimensions research (use of surveys, interviews, focused groups, and observations); worked as an Evaluation Specialist at Michigan State University Extension prior to joining Cary Institute; wide experience in teaching (formal, informal, and non-formal) and education research; research interests: how environmental and science education foster opportunities for building students’ capacity for environmental action competence; pedagogical content knowledge; likes gardening, cooking, collecting stamps, scuba diving, photography, walking, and dancing.

Program Leader - BES Education Programs
Bess Caplan. B.S., Environmental Science and Policy, University of Maryland, College Park, M.S., Environmental Science, Towson University.

Ecology Education Program Leader since 2008. Works to enrich opportunities for Baltimore youth to learn about urban ecology inside and outside the classroom. Also trains teachers to integrate inquiry based ecology lessons into their curriculum. Prior to joining BES, Bess worked as an environmental consultant designing ecological restorations and performing a variety of environmental assessments. She also worked for an outdoor science school in southern California where she taught middle school students.

Education Program Specialist
Celia Cuomo, B.A. Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz; Teaching Certificate, University of California, Berkeley; MS Adolescent Education (Biology) SUNY, New Paltz (in progress).

Designs and leads ecosystem education programs for students, develops curriculum for the Changing Hudson Project, and conducts professional development for teachers. Prior to joining the Cary Institute, Celia taught and lived in the San Francisco Bay watershed, working as a teacher and curriculum developer at natural history and science museums and in public schools. In her free time, she hikes, travels, spends time with family, gardens with native plants, creates collages, and learns about the flora and fauna of the Hudson River watershed.

Program Leader - Middle/High School Programs
Cornelia "Lia" Harris. BA, Biology, Vassar College, 2000. MA, Teaching, Johns Hopkins Univ., 2002, MS, Biodiversity Conservation and Policy, SUNY Albany, 2011.

Leads ecology programs for students, develops curriculum for a variety of education grants, conducts education research on student understanding of biodiversity and ecological data, and leads professional development sessions for teachers throughout the region. Prior to joining the Cary Institute, Lia taught sixth grade science through Teach for America in Baltimore, and spent three years traveling and teaching in Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, and Germany. Interests include gardening, hiking with her husband and dogs, painting, eating locally grown food and working with the Poughkeepsie Farm Project, and reading.

Education Program Specialist
Jennifer Rubbo. B.S. Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY ESF, 1997 M.S. Ecology Penn State University, 2004.

Supports the schoolyard ecology programs and the Ecology summer camp. Before coming to the Cary Institute, Jen worked for five years at Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, developing and implementing educational programs on watershed ecology. Her interests include gardening, hiking and exploring the Hudson Valley with her family.

Undergraduate Programs
Patricia Zolnik. B.S. in Biology/Environmental Science, Columbia University.

REU Program Coordinator since November 2006. In the past she was very active in community youth programs. She developed and coordinated the Dutchess County Preschool Vision Screening Program and was the Coordinator for the Arlington Symphony Orchestra for 6 years. Pat has been involved as a 4-H leader of a dairy goat club for the past 16 years. Through 4-H she encourages and supports youth development and leadership. Interests include kayaking, making fantastic goat cheese, reading, and playing with her dogs (and don't forget the goats).