executive master of natural resources (xmnr) — class of 2021

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Executive Master of Natural Resources (XMNR) — Class of 2021

ELLEN SZYMANSKI

ELLEN SZYMANSKI is a resourceful and highly analytical executive and lawyer with global and domestic experience in policy development, advocacy, stakeholder relations, coalition building, and program management. With a proven track record of both government and trade association roles, she spent the first half of her career addressing challenges faced by inventors and artists in the laws and regulations of countries around the world. Now she is pivoting the focus of her career to sustainability-related issues. As a dedicated and insightful leader, she looks forward to playing an active role in bringing about positive change.

TIMOTHY (TIM) PANDAJIS

TIMOTHY (TIM) PANDAJIS is a broadcast meteorologist in Norfolk, Virginia, at the ABC News affiliate, WVEC 13News Now. He holds the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal awarded by the American Meteorological Society and several Associated Press awards for his broadcasts. As a meteorologist, Tim has covered numerous record-breaking hurricanes and winter storms. Most memorable was Hurricane Arthur, where he was in the eye at landfall on the Outer Banks, and Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Seeing the impacts of a changing climate firsthand has driven Tim to want to gain a better understanding of what we can do to become more responsible world citizens.

ANDREA PEREZ JARAMILLO

ANDREA PEREZ JARAMILLO holds a Bachelor’s degree in Process Engineering and an M.B.A. from EAFIT University. Her academic and professional experience has been devoted to the water and sanitation sector, focusing on productivity, technology, and innovation programs, as well as project evaluation. She worked in the water and sanitation sector in Chile and Colombia for over five years, focusing on operational efficiency and process improvement in water distribution utilities. She also worked at the United Nations, supporting the evaluation of ECLAC’s programs. Currently, Andrea is the Head of the Water Distribution Section in Henrico County – Department of Public Utilities. During this time, she has had the opportunity of supervising a multidisciplinary team; coordinating COVID-19 response with different institutions to achieve public health, safety, environmental, and operational objectives; and ensuring regulatory, safety, and environmental compliance. She is especially interested in contributing to drinking water and sustainable sanitation solutions to make a difference in improving the living conditions of people in underserved communities.

BARB BELSITO BARB BELSITO is a product designer with 10+ years of experience building products with diverse teams throughout Silicon Valley. She received her M.S. in Human–Computer Interaction, B.A. in International Studies, and B.A. in Japanese from Indiana University. She currently works at Lyft, where she leads projects focused on electric vehicle integration, fleet management, and operations enablement. She is excited to focus her attention on learning the skills necessary to acquire a deeper understanding of the most pressing issues related to sustainable development. Moving forward, she hopes to apply a human-centered, interdisciplinary approach to translate insights into equitable, effective, and sustainable solutions.

CHAD OBERDOERSTER

CHAD OBERDOERSTER has spent the past 23 years as an environmentally-focused educator teaching grades 2–6 and as an instructional coach. He holds a B.S. degree in education from Western Michigan University and a M.S. degree in curriculum and instruction from Portland State University. He has been a tireless advocate for sustainable practices in the city of Dubuque, Iowa over the past decade, serving on the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission, advocating for such practices as greenhouse gas reduction, curbside composting, and plastic bag reduction initiatives. He hopes to leverage his teaching skills and knowledge of sustainable and resilient practices into advocacy for, and implementation of, sustainable best practices at both local and global scales.

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ANGIE ZALINSKY ANGIE ZALINSKY served two decades in the U.S. Army, where she gained a deep understanding for management and leadership in many environments. She sees herself as a life learner and enjoys taking opportunities to expand her knowledge in many entities. She is a licensed Emergency Medical Technician and a wildlife rehabilitator. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science with concentration in Biology, and has just finished her certificate and licensing for personal training. With the love for knowledge and learning, her passion has always belonged to nature and science. As she transitions into a second career somewhere in the world, she wants to focus on leaving Earth in a better position for her children and her family to come thereafter. Her hobbies include hiking (she is planning a hike-through of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine), camping, photography, and more.

LORI LOMBARDO LORI LOMBARDO graduated from Lafayette College in 2016 with a degree in Environmental Studies. Since then she has worked in undergraduate and graduate admissions, engaging with prospective students from all over the country and the world. Currently, she serves as the Assistant Director of Admissions, Events, and Recruitment at the Yale School of the Environment. This is a role that has combined her passion for the environment and her love of higher education. Outside of the professional world, Lori loves to spend time with her rescue pup and friends and family, and is always day-dreaming about where she will explore next!

JUNIE DJAMEN JUNIE DJAMEN is an entrepreneur and wife, and most importantly, a super MoM (Mom of Multiples—this is where she gets her multitasking skills from.) A native of Cameroon, Junie has gained considerable international exposure thanks to her studies abroad. She is a linguaphile, owing her global citizenship to her commitment to interculturalism. Junie is obsessed with the idea of seeing her offspring live a decent life no matter their geographical location, thus her interest in global sustainability. She holds an International Business M.B.A. from Anaheim University, and is hoping to leverage her educational background in the field of international development.

ANDREW BRENNER

ANDREW BRENNER has spent nearly two decades working in financial services in the U.S. and Asia, most recently at Refinitiv in New York. A graduate of the University at Albany with a B.A. in English and Theatre, he has had a lifelong passion for conservation, and seeks to transition the second half of his career towards roles focused on sustainable development. An avid traveler, he has visited over 70 countries across five continents and scuba dived in three of the five ocean basins, and he aspires to develop successful strategies for overcoming sustainability challenges.

JAIME CAHALAN JAIME CAHALAN has over ten years of experience in the consumer-packaged goods space with a strong background in natural foods, hemp, and cannabis. She graduated from Berkeley College with a B.S. in Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing. Jaime has spent many years leading teams and organizations through start-up to acquisition, and is looking forward to enhancing those skills with a focus on sustainability and conservation. In her free time, Jaime enjoys quality time with her two children as well as spending as much time outdoors as possible.

ANGELICA NAVARETTE

ANGELICA NAVARETTE graduated from Northern Arizona University with a B.S. in Environmental Science with emphasis in Biology. She has always had a passion for wildlife conservation and sustainability. For the past four years, she has worked as a high school environmental science teacher, which allowed her the opportunity to promote the importance of preserving the natural resources for future generations. Her goal in pursuing the XMNR degree is to gain the skills necessary to implement innovative sustainability practices and continue to promote conservation. In her free time, she enjoys nature walks, hiking, and scuba diving.

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ELIZABETH (LIBBEY ) KELSO

ELIZABETH (LIBBEY) KELSO received her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Virginia Tech in 1992. She began her career in landscape design across the South, involved in historic preservation and coastal development. She acquired a retail design business in SC. After six successful years, she started a family and moved back to VA. She currently works for the Charlottesville Parks Department, which plans to transform outdated practices toward the use of natural resources for environmental management, where she aspires to be the team leader. She is proud that she and her two children will all be college students in 2021.

SARAH KEY SARAH KEY worked as an academic advisor for the School of Arts and Sciences at Dalton State College where she also completed her B.S. in Biology degree in 2020. She created the Girls in STEM summer camp to empower young girls and increase their interests in the sciences in 2016, and co-created the B.S. Environmental & Sustainability Studies program in 2017. She is passionate about human rights, empowering women in STEM, and fighting poverty. She enjoys spending time with her puggle, Darla, reading, podcasts, and the outdoors.

TYLER WHITFORD TYLER WHITFORD is a Customer Experience Lead at “ROOM,” a startup that endeavors to redefine the open office landscape with modular furniture solutions. Before joining ROOM, Tyler was a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in Northern Ghana as an Agriculture Extension agent. Tyler studied Chinese Language and Culture at Washington State University and Harbin Institute of Technology. These international experiences have given Tyler a macro perspective and appreciation for the global challenges we face. Tyler believes the best solutions to these complex issues come from multicultural and diverse teams of empathetic change-makers—he aspires to lead such teams in his professional career.

JOHN DROSSART JOHN DROSSART is a proud Veteran of the United States Marine Corps. In 2018 he graduated from the University of Montana with a B.S. in Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management. He is currently working as a Natural Resources Specialist–Ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in West Virginia. His previous experience in natural resources includes time with the U.S. Forest Service as a Wilderness Ranger for the Scapegoat Wilderness in NW Montana, a Park Ranger at Anan Bear and Wildlife Observatory in SE Alaska, and a trail crew member with the National Park Service in Yellowstone National Park.

CONNOR RADTKE CONNOR RADTKE is a Park Ranger working as a Natural Resource Specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He manages the dams and reservoirs within a 2,252 sq. mi. floodplain known as the Walhonding River Basin. With skills learned from his B.S. in Environmental Resources Management from Virginia Tech, he institutes research-proven tactics and best-management practices to improve the watershed and surrounding natural resources. In his tenure, he has aided in the development of a 25-year master plan and began the development of a comprehensive interpretative habitat restoration learning site. Connor previously served as a military police officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

PATRICK SCHULER PATRICK SCHULER has over two decades of leadership and problem-solving experience focused on engaging with partners across the globe. Patrick currently works at the U.S. Department of State, and is a retired U.S. Army officer who has lived and worked in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. His formal education includes a Master of Arts in International Relations from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Virginia Military Institute. Patrick is interested in the national security impacts of global climate change.


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CAROLINE LEWIS CAROLINE LEWIS, a Virginia native, received her B.A. in Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication from James Madison University. Now an Oregon resident, Caroline works for 3Degrees, a certified B Corp that offers sustainability solutions to utilities and businesses, as a sales representative and marketing specialist. In these roles, Caroline develops integrated marketing strategies and implements renewable energy programs by selling RECs through various utilities. In her lifetime, Caroline hopes to make the biggest environmental sustainability impact she possibly can, and believes her graduate studies at Virginia Tech will help her do just that. In her free time, Caroline enjoys growing organic vegetables in her garden and mountain biking on beautiful trails.

JESSICA LINGREN JESSICA LINGREN has been working in government contracting for the past three years. Prior to that, she worked in various government agencies at the state and federal level. She served in the United States Army from 2004 to 2009. She graduated from Troy University with a B.S. in Criminal Science. She has had a passion for environmental studies and sustainability from an early age and hopes to start a new career once completing her degree. In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her son, who also loves nature and has inspired her to continue her studies in sustainability and preserving the environment.

ALHASAN (AL) ALOBAIDI

ALHASAN (AL) ALOBAIDI has over five years of professional experience in the real-estate project management field. He graduated from The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand with a B.S. in Environmental Science. Currently, he works as an Asset Manager in his own company, as well as a part-time field supervisor for Geo-Tech, a Virginia-based company specializing in quality assurance, construction site materials testing, and observation services. He also volunteers for the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, assisting them in re-writing parts of the zoning ordinance for Loudoun County. He has travelled to over twenty countries, learning people’s ways of life, and has lived in five different countries. His hobbies include fishing and diving. Al is passionate about the environment we live in and the sustainability we need to preserve its beauty for future generations.

BRIAN COLE BRIAN COLE was born and raised in Northern Virginia with one brother and two sisters. In that time he went through educational chapters as a homeschool, private, and public student. Post-high school Brian began a six-year enlistment in the United States Air Force. He was able to finish an undergraduate degree in health science through Kaplan Online before leaving the military in 2017. Since then, Brian has grown in business, security, and pre-hospital medicine, with a deep conviction to be in tune with the existential threat of the climate crisis that is quickly permeating all facets of life.

REILLY PARK REILLY PARK is a recent graduate from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Politics. They currently serve as a College Adviser with the Virginia College Advising Corps, where they help underrepresented, low-income high school seniors transition to life after high school. Reilly has been driven to pursue a career in environmental sustainability since college, where they engaged in coursework and organizations centered around social justice, environmental sustainability, and animal rights. Reilly is eager to grow from this program and transition to a career in global sustainability.

ALYSSA KUHN ALYSSA KUHN is a recent graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she majored in Interdisciplinary Studies and minored in Environmental Studies. Alyssa is currently interning at the Orange County (Florida) Environmental Protection Division, where she works alongside non-profit organizations to promote adherence to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals at the community as well as the county level. Alyssa also runs a committee in the neighboring county of Brevard, Florida, to create a sustainable garden for use in the Meals on Wheels food delivery program.


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MAKAYLA HAERTEL

MAKAYLA HAERTEL graduated with a B.S. in Conservation Biology and a minor in Marine Science from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. After working on various wildlife conservation projects, she saw firsthand the effects of climate change on the natural resources and people in different communities. Currently working for the Fairfax County Park Authority, she develops conservation and sustainability-focused programs to educate the public on the importance of being environmental stewards. She aims to further her understanding and leadership in sustainability on a global scale to help modern industries make more sustainable choices for products and services.

KIARA DAVIS KIARA DAVIS is a recent graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and a Certificate in Sustainable Innovation. Originally from Northern Virginia, Kiara currently works as a receptionist at a children’s therapy center. She strives for a future career in a field that allows positive change to happen, as she has a passion for sustainable innovation and renewable energy. She is excited to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to facilitate a positive impact and begin her career. In her free time, Kiara enjoys spending time in nature, hanging out with her family, and taking naps with her dog.

ROBERT (BOBBY ) HUNDEMER

ROBERT (BOBBY) HUNDEMER is a native of Northern Virginia and has spent the past 10 years working in multiple logistics fields, both as a U.S. Army officer and a supply chain professional for The Home Depot. He currently supports the Department of Defense as a business transformation and transportation analyst. His interests in sustainability started after his wife introduced him to several food documentaries that discussed the effects of our current industrial food system. His spare time is often filled on the golf course or fishing from his kayak. He holds a Bachelor of Science from George Mason University in Information Technology.

SYLVIANNE VELASQUEZ

SYLVIANNE VELASQUEZ earned a B.S. in Poultry Science from Texas A&M University. Throughout her professional career, she has gained a robust portfolio through experiences at the San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium in Texas, NASA Johnson Space Center INSPIRE, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Brazos Valley Food Bank, and a tropical ecology study abroad research trip in Costa Rica. She witnessed environmentally friendly trends as more American households chose reclaimed wood and recycled vinyl flooring options, while theme parks got rid of single-use plastic straws. She hopes to explore current land development and agricultural practices to develop a system to minimize the environmental impact on global flora and fauna.

REESE VAN HOUTEN

REESE VAN HOUTEN graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Oakland University in Michigan. While attending Oakland University, Reese wrote many environmental policy analyses and conducted her own research on paradiplomacy in the United States. Additionally, she founded an environmental service organization and was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, a national honors society for political science students. In tandem with her education, Reese gained experience with campaign field organizations and has worked with the Community Action Program. With her background in international relations, Reese continues to strive to support international sustainable development.

GRACE RIHL GRACE RIHL is a Geotechnical Engineering Coordinator at an engineering and materials testing firm in Northern Virginia. During her time in this position, she has managed engineering projects, performed geotechnical soil investigations, and written geotechnical reports. Grace received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. While at UMW, she was the lead scientist on a research project studying sedimentation rate and trace metal input in Lake Occoquan and Lake Manassas, two drinking water reservoirs in Northern Virginia. This research took her to multiple professional conferences where she had the opportunity to present her findings. Grace looks forward to redirecting her career to focus on environmental conservation and stewardship, and contributing to building a greener future.


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THOMAS PAPASTAVROU

THOMAS PAPASTAVROU is a recent graduate of James Madison University with a B.S. in Healthcare Administration, where he was president of the Fly Fishing Club. During his time in the club, he worked with conservation organizations and local businesses in the Shenandoah Valley on numerous projects benefiting local groups and waterways. Thomas aspires to build a career focusing on conservation and creating a more sustainable future for generations to come. He looks to use the knowledge, experience, and network that he gains through the XMNR program to achieve this goal.

HEATHER TALTON HEATHER TALTON graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2014 with a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Management, and went on to complete a Certificate of Nonprofit Leadership and Management in 2018. She currently works in resource development for Club Nova Community, Inc., a nonprofit located in Carrboro, NC that serves adults living with serious and persistent mental illness. Heather is passionate about sustainability and strives for a career that will enable her to make a difference in providing access to local, sustainable food sources and clean water for low-income households in North Carolina.

JENNIFER HUX JENNIFER HUX is a 2020 graduate of George Mason University with a Global Affairs Degree, where she concentrated her studies in environmental science. The past three years she has also been an Assistant Manager for Pandora Jewelry, a brand she is proud to represent. Having been exposed to Pandora’s commitment and dedication to addressing climate change, while having seen the company implement programs to reduce their environmental impact firsthand, Jennifer determined that resource management can seamlessly blend her two passions into a meaningful career .

VICTORIA (TORI) MCLEOD

VICTORIA (TORI) MCLEOD is a driven professional, board member, and change maker. After graduating from James Madison University (go Dukes!), Victoria spent seven years working with public and private-sector partners in the areas of clean water and gender equity. As the former Director of Women’s Empowerment for a D.C.-based NGO, she collaborated with local government and community leaders across Africa, the Middle East, and Eurasia to advance gender equity through corporate water access initiatives. She currently works for Eagle Hill Consulting. Victoria looks forward to both broadening her knowledge of the field and sharpening her global sustainability toolkit

AMMAR KHAN AMMAR KHAN is an entrepreneur and digital media analyst based in Chicago, Illinois. His background in digital media, music production, and cinematography has allowed him to collaborate with incredible talents in the film industry while also working closely with educators to further learning through media. His goal is to follow his curiosity in sustainability and environmental law, as well as to be a vital part of the green movement of the coming century. Working closely with like-minded individuals in the XMNR program will be an essential part of making this dream a reality.

executive master of natural resources (xmnr) — class of 2021

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