AYEA has been supported by an amazing range of adults, youth, and graduates over the past ten years! See what they have done for our program, and connect with them for future job, training, or project opportunities. Click here for information on AYEA’s Current Staff!
Brian Lyke
2011-2012 AYEA Communications Coordinator
Brian Lyke is a born-again AYEA member. He heard about the program in high school, at Anchorage’s Polaris K-12, but was too busy with theater rehearsal and computer games to get involved. Brian studied Acting at UAF. Brian met AYEA in March 2010, as an Adult Mentor for the Conservation and Civics Summit.
As Communication Coordinator, Brian kept AYEA’s website/Facebook relevant and engaging. That included boring computer composition and awesome film-making collaborations with teens. He also served as our in-house graphic designer. Brian joined the staff for one year as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer.
Kevin Saechao
2011 Summer Fundraising Intern
Kevin is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Environment and Society and minoring in Justice at the University of Alaska Anchorage. His passion is to achieve environmental justice in Alaska. He aspires to help re-shape Alaska’s environmental policy. Kevin would like to become a corporate hippie, (def: an environmental lawyer who showers and take baths) advocating for Alaskans who cannot speak for themselves. When Kevin isn’t trying to survive, he enjoys his Surly CrossCheck, the sun, Call of Duty, watching Hayao Miyazaki films, coriander, futbol, cooking and studying the word of God.
Meghan Cavanaugh
2011 Summer Outreach Intern
Meghan Cavanaugh is from Anchorage, AK where she attended East Anchorage High School. Currently she studies environmental sciences and political science at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and will be graduating in June 2012. She has a particular interest in the developing community through engagement with environmental issues. As much as Meghan loves Chicago, she is excited to spend a summer back home with AYEA, the organization that first sparked her interest in environmental policy and issues! She enjoys swimming, running, hiking and movies.
Shannon Kuhn
AYEA Program Coordinator (2009-2011)
Shannon is an ’05 AYEA grad, with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Certificate from the University of Montana. Fall of 2009 she came back to AYEA because of the tremendous impact the program had on her as a teenager.
In 2007, Shannon helped coordinate the first environmental education and leadership workshops for the Youth Employment in Parks program. As Program Coordinator, Shannon supported AYEA’s ten chapters, organized annual trainings, and coordinated our statewide and green jobs campaign.
Shannon is passionate about connecting youth empowerment with environmental equity and food justice. She is a Morris K. Udall Scholar, and has previously worked for Food & Water Watch, the Real Food Challenge, and Alaska Community Action on Toxics. During college she studied human rights in Guatemala, wilderness leadership in New Zealand, food policy in Washington, DC. and alternatives to globalization in Chiapas, Mexico.
RJ Halloran
(Anchorage) Social Media Master (Fall 2010)
RJ Halloran is a sophomore at Service High School in Anchorage. A new face to the environmental movement, RJ is excited to help with AYEA! RJ’s favorite activities include playing soccer and basketball. His favorite food is Pad Thai, and his favorite TV show is The Office. When he gets out of college, RJ hopes to work with computers.
Nara McCray
(Anchorage) Media & Technology Intern (Summer 2010) 
Nara McCray is a life-long Alaskan and an Anchorage AYEA Graduate. Having lived in the same house her entire life she decided to experience something new and attend college in Alabama. In 2009-2010 she was a freshman at Alabama Agriculture and Mechanics University, a Historically Black University. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and a minor in biology. The interest she has in conservation in Alaska stems from her love for the outdoors, also because she values Alaska’s environment and the cultures sustained by it. Her involvement with Alaska Youth for Environmental Action in her final high school years, led to her become an active advocate for Alaska’s environment.
Anna Barnwell
(Anchorage) Program Evaluator, 2010; Communications Assistant 2009; Summer Training Coordinator, 2007 & 2008
Anna Barnwell was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. Anna is a 2004 graduate of National Wildlife Federation’s Alaska Youth for Environmental Action program and has been an off-and-on staff member since 2007. Most recently Anna conducted a comprehensive Program Evaluation of AYEA! Anna graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Maine with a degree in Environmental Studies (Policy) and International Studies. When she is not in Alaska for the summer, she resides in Trondheim, Norway where she is working on a Masters in Globalization: Politics & Culture at NTNU. Anna has an affinity for northern climates and loves to ski! Although snow may be one reason for Anna’s passion for mitigating climate change, Anna is also very concerned about environmental and social justice issues on an international and local scale.
Wiley Cason
(Anchorage) Fundraising Coordinator (2009-2010)
Wiley was the Fundraising Coordinator for AYEA in the summer of 2010. He is currently a student at UAA. In 2006 he worked as a Public Relations intern for AYEA, and as a Junior in high school chaired the Anchorage Chapter. Accepts donations both personally and on behalf of AYEA.
Aviva Hirsch
(Anchorage) Youth Intern (2010)
Aviva interned with AYEA for a semesterto help with Civic Action Education projects. Aviva began getting involved in AYEA when she was in 8th grade and attended the annual Civics & Conservation Summit. She was a keynote speaker at AYEA’s 2008 Summer Fundraiser and emceed at the Fundraiser the following year. Aviva was active in the Homer chapter of AYEA before moving to Anchorage this year. Outside is where Aviva feels at home weather she is skiing, hiking, writing or drawing. She enjoys AYEA lots!
Maeve Taylor
(Anchorage) Program Manager (2008-2009)
Maeve lived her first 13 years of life in Sitka, then moved to Eagle River and attended Chugiak High School. After high school she went to college on the East Coast, where she received her Master’s Degree at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse New York and her Bachelor’s of Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. After 10 years of driving on East Coast roads, Maeve decided to move back home to Alaska. .Before joining AYEA in September 2008, Maeve worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service as Alaska’s Regional Volunteer, Grants, and Partnership Coordinator. Maeve enjoys Alaska by hiking, skiing, swimming in freezing water, sailing, playing the trumpet, learning the fiddle, volunteering with Alaska Women’s Environmental Network, and writing children’s books.
Sam Hoeffler
(Ohio) Green Jobs Intern (2009)
Sam Hoeffler was AYEA’s Green Jobs Intern during the summer of 2009. She worked to plann and coordinate the weekly Community Action workshops for the Youth Employment in Parks (YEP) crews and co-led them with YEP Senior Crew Members. Sam also put together the Career & Mentorship Week for the YEP program with job shadows, a career fair, and skill-building sessions. Sam hails from Ohio graduated from Kenyon College in 2009. After working for AYEA, Sam moved to France to teach English to high school students. She will be attending Copenhagen for the UN International Climate Change Conference! Sam’s internship was funded by Alaska Conservation Foundation.
Polly Carr
(Anchorage) Program Manager (1998-2008)
Polly was awed to be in the room when six young women founded AYEA in 1998. For the past ten years, she has worked alongside amazing teens from rural and urban communities, facilitating trainings, developing curriculum, tackling tough issues, and having a great time! When she’s not at work, she can be found roller skating with the Rage City Rollergirls, hanging out with her dog Charlie, or writing a few lines of poetry. She has served on numerous boards and commissions in Alaska dedicated to civic engagement, women’s issues, youth voice, and rural-urban relationship building. She is passionate about youth empowerment and helping individuals discover their ability to create change. AYEA has taught her many lessons about communication, collaboration, humility, ‘leadership,’ and the beauty of bringing diverse people together for a common cause. She is excited to see what’s in store for AYEA next!
Pollycarr.ak(at)gmail.com
Kale Brewer
(Anchorage) Technology & Media Staff (2006-2008)
Working with AYEA as a teen inspired Kale to give back. She is now studying Multimedia and Community Development & Communication so that she can use her experience with technology to help non profit organizations change the world more effectively. She helped create AYEA’s first web site and revamped a sweet new one that you are looking at! Kale never forgets that “AYEA IS FOR LIFE!”
me(at)kalebrewer.com
Sarabima Ifopo
(Anchorage) Membership & Outreach Assistant (2008)
Sarabima graduated from Bartlett High School and is now attending University of Alaska Anchorage. She is a proud young Samoan woman, the oldest of eight children. She comes from a big family and has a lot of responsibilities caring for her siblings. She is currently attending UAA as a pre-nursing student and is planning to pursue a career in the nursing field. Sarabima is the first person in her family to graduate from high school and attend college. Her major interests are to help youth succeed in life and be able to have a better future. She originally got involved with AYEA in high school because she learned so many skills in how to help her peers.
scifopo(at)gmail.com
Megan Waggoner
(Palmer) Elections & Fund Raising Intern (Summer 2007-2008)
Megan joined AYEA as a seventh grader, got hooked, and then established the first Mount Edgecumbe High School AYEA chapter in Sitka as a sophomore. She has been a Peer Leader for every type of AYEA training and also serves on the AYEA Statewide Advisory Group (SWAG). Now in her senior year of high school, Megan is passionate about politics, youth voice, and making things happen. She helped coordinate the 10th Anniversary AYEA Summer Fund Raiser, and hopes to help AYEA get involved with this year’s elections, working in partnership with social justice, civic engagement, and youth groups.
meggywaggy(at)gmail.com
Cheryl “Charlee” Lockwood
(St. Michael) Legislative Organizer (Winter 2008)
Charlee helped lead major outreach to village youth during AYEA’s global warming campaign in 2006. In the fall of 2007 she testified before Congress about global warming impacts on Alaska Native villages. During the 2008 legislative session, Charlee worked with AYEA teens and adult mentors to develop resources for AYEA’s Rethink Plastics campaign and coordinate workshops for the annual Civics & Conservation Summit. She was the first person to pilot this position with funding support from Alaska Conservation Foundation!
Missmoose7(at)excite.com
Ryan Zinn
(Anchorage) Outreach & Education Coordinator (2007-2008)
Ryan worked for AYEA for one year, helping launch our Youth Employment in Parks program and creating infrastructure for AYEA to reach more diverse audiences. Ryan helped translate an several AYEA outreach materials into Spanish (AYEA en Espanol) and introduced diversity and environmental justice frameworks into AYEA trainings. Prior to AYEA, Ryan worked for Global Exchange in San Fransisco and also works with the Organic Consumers Association. Following his time at AYEA he served as the Executive Director of Friends of Alaska CASA, and continues to volunteer with AYEA!
ryanzinn(at)gmail.com
Tim Treuer
(Anchorage) Global Warming Intern (Summer 2007)
Tim helped spearhead AYEA’s global warming campaign in the spring of 2006, and then joined the staff to develop global warming resources for AYEA’s web site in 2007. He conducted follow-up outreach with participants in AYEA’s Letter to our Leaders campaign and also AYEA’s 3-2-1 Efficiency project. Tim is currently finishing a bachelor’s degree in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and embarking on a master’s in Earth and Planetary Science at Harvard. His research focus has ranged from climate science and policy to tropical botany, entomology and herpetology and has included work in Borneo, Madagascar, Jamaica and Iceland. Outside of wonky academics and politics, Tim enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, learnin’ high schoolers the SATs and finding fulfillment in the Great Outdoors.
treuer(at)fas.harvard.edu
Penny Bauder
(Palmer) Education & Outreach Coordinator (2006)
Penny Bauder worked for AYEA in 2006 as the Education and Outreach Coordinator. She helped to increase and diversify AYEA through outreach and membership development and supported AYEA’s global warming campaign. Prior to AYEA, Penny was a backcountry wilderness ranger in four different states, a horticulturalist on an organic farm, and an Invasive Plant Specialist for the National Park Service. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Western Michigan University and a Master of Science in Environmental Science from Alaska Pacific University. Penny now works at Alaska State Parks as an Interpretive Planner.
Kaeli Casati
(Anchorage) Summer Project Assistant (2006)
Kaeli interned with AYEA and coordinated the 2006 Summer Get Together at the Spring Creek Farm (Alaska Pacific University) focused on renewable resources and reducing emissions. She then worked for CampFire Alaska Council, leading outdoor education camps for rural youth. Last fall Kaeli joined other AYEA graduates demanding national action on global warming during the Power Shift conference. Currently Kaeli attends the University of Montana in Missoula.
Saraj Gottstein
(Anchorage) Fund Raising Intern (2006)
Saraj helped AYEA raise a substantial amount of funding for youth internships and other projects, while developing a donor packet and promotional materials on AYEA during her internship. She also put her cooking skills to the test during AYEA’s 2006 Summer Get Together focusing on Renewable Energy and Reducing Emissions.
wildalaskasaraj(at)gmail.com
Alia Parker
(Anchorage) Fund Raising Intern (2006)
Alia is a graduate of West High School and worked with AYEA during her school break to raise donor funds. She attended Western Washington University in Bellingham and worked for the Alaska Building Science Network in the summer of 2008.
Carrie Plant
Mentoring Project Coordinator (Summer 2004)
Carrie worked for both AYEA and the Alaska Women’s Environmental Network the summer of 2004, researching grant and corporate foundation prospects for our programs and developing a series of recommendations for potential mentorship programs for AYEA in the future. She assisted with the Summer Get Together in 2004 on Toxics & Healthy Communities and today works for Congregation Beth Shalom in Anchorage as an environmental and community educator. She recently mentored AYEA teens from the Youth Employment in Parks program.
carrie(at)stealthisemail.com
Amanda Cubas
(James) Summer Project Assistant (2004)
Amanda is from Alaska and received an internship with AYEA through the Alaska Conservation Foundation. She coordinated the 2004 Summer Get Together focused on Toxics and Healthy Communities, helping contact donors and participants while also learning more about her home state’s environmental issues. She says, “AYEA is definitely the standard by which all of my other jobs have been measured against, because it was the best job ever.” That same summer she married her husband, Jeremy, and started her senior year in college. She graduated with a degree in English and a certificate to teach secondary school. She taught for one year before having her son Elijah in March 2007 and is now saving her time for her children and volunteer work. Amanda met a lot of great people while working for AYEA and the experience has made living in Alaska a lot more meaningful to her.
amandarj01(at)hotmail.com
Erik Johanson
Erik works in the Office of the Provost at The New School in New York. This position is in International and Academic Partnerships.
Mekaela Mahoney
Summer Project Assistant (2001)
Mekaela was one of the originating AYEA founders, and became our first youth intern! She interned through a grant from the Alaska Conservation Foundation and coordinated the first statewide Summer Get Together in Cordova, Alaska focusing on the Copper River Delta and related ecosystem health. Mekaela developed a lot of the curriculum we use today in AYEA trainings, including a role play activity to help teens navigate controversial environmental issues. Mekaela lives with her husband Scott in San Diego, California where she practices law working on a number of social and environmental justice cases.
mekaela(at)hotmail.com
