Meg Gravil
Dr. Meg Gravil teaches Interdisciplinary Early Childhood (IECE) courses and conducts research in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Louisville. Meg joined U of L faculty in 2019 after completing her PhD in IECE at the University of Kentucky, where she received the Nietzel Distinguished Faculty Award for her dissertation. She has more than 15 years’ experience in early childhood research and evaluation. She served as the Research Manager for the state-wide KIDS Now Evaluation and as Assistant Director of the UK Evaluation Center, housed in the Department of Education Policy and Evaluation. She was also a Graduate Assistant on an IES Goal 5 grant, creating and piloting alternative assessments for students with disabilities in math. Her current research includes collaborative work with staff at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest as the organization designs and constructs their new outdoor playcosystem. As a Kentucky Certified Professional Environmental Educator, Meg is excited to share her enthusiasm for nature-based learning with young children and future teacher educators. Her research interests include using environmental education as part of an integrated curriculum, science education in early childhood classrooms, and nature-based learning.
Maddy Heredia
Maddy, the recipient of KAEE's 2020 Rising Star Award for Excellence in Environmental Education, is the first full-time environmental educator in the 40-year history of Kentucky Nature Preserves. In her first year, she initiated new partnerships with natural areas throughout the state for field trips, oversaw new citizen science projects, expanded social media presence, developed interpretive signage, and developed KNP's Kentucky Nature Summit, the largest multi-agency EE event in the agencies history. She is currently Information and Education (I&E) committee chair for the Kentucky Prescribed Fire Council (KPFC).
Dan Pascucci
Dan Pascucci is the Family and Youth Program Manager at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont, Kentucky, where he energetically leads school groups and families through experiences that connect them with nature. He is a passionate, award-winning educator who has been involved in EE from New England to Alaska to California to Kentucky. Dan believes that environmental education is an essential element to connect people with themselves and to help people recognize their connections with each other and the planet. Dan enjoys composing and performing educational songs on his mandolin and might teach you a couple of songs if you ask. He is dedicated to making people laugh and think.
Henrietta Sheffel Henrietta was a KAEE Board member from 2012-2019 and served as KAEE treasurer from 2013-2019. She also served as the Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society treasurer from June 2018-June 2020. Other associations she has been part of in membership or leadership roles include serving as president of the Quicksand Area Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (October 2013-October 2019); acting president Quicksand Area Ky. Extension Homemakers Association (October 2019-present); secretary of Breathitt Co. KY-ASAP (2011-present); secretary/treasurer for Breathitt UNITE Coalition, Inc. (2011-present); treasurer for Breathitt Co. Extension Homemakers Association (May 2018 - present); secretary/clerk/substitute Sunday School teacher/Kids Klub co-teacher Emmanuel Fellowship of Breathitt County (2002 - present); registrar for NSDAR Hazard chapter (May 2013- present); Regent for NSDAR Hazard chapter (May 2019-present); president of Breathitt County Extension Council (May 2020-present); and treasurer of the Red River Academic League (2000- present).
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