Staff
Michele Richards-Williams, CEO/Executive Director and Co-Founder (michele AT piceweb.org; 570-441-3364)
Michele Richards-Williams holds a B.S. Degree in environmental biology from Juniata College, PA. For the past sixteen years, she has directed her career towards education as it relates to natural resource conservation. That career path has taken her into private, nonprofit and governmental arenas. She is currently directing the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education, a new educational non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, that she co-founded. Prior to this, she coordinated the education program of the American Wilderness Leadership School in Wyoming. A majority of her career has been spent directing field-based experiential programs in Pennsylvania. Michele has been deeply involved in the development and implementation of state, national and international environmental education programs.
Serving as a facilitator, she has lead programs for students of all ages dealing with the wide spectrum of natural science and conservation topics and issues. She served on the Board of the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art for six (6) years in the role of Education Chairperson for much of her tenure. In 1999, she was appointed by Governor Tom Ridge to serve as an advisor to his Youth Sportsmen's Advisory Council. Most recently, she was asked to serve on Governor Rendell’s Outdoor Leadership Task Force Committee. Bird banding, nature photography, outdoor sports, international eco-tourist guide are other activities that she enjoys.
Gail Farmer, Director of Programs (gfarmer AT piceweb.org; 570-764-7628)
Gail Farmer received her M.S. in ecology from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She has been involved in wildlife research for ten years and has applied her research experience to developing innovative and exciting field ecology and natural history programs for people of all ages. While directing the Starr Ranch Bird Observatory for Audubon California, Gail managed the Sanctuary’s bird research activities and developed hands-on, inquiry-based educational programs for public. In 2004, Gail joined the staff of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, where she worked as a research biologist and an educator. She coordinated and administrated Hawk Mountain’s Conservation Science International Internship Program, where she trained young biologists from all over the world in avian research techniques and science education. She also co-developed and instructed professional development workshops for teachers in applications of wildlife tracking data to science education.
Gail has served on both scientific and education working-group committees for California Partners in Flight, the scientific technical committee of the Sonoran Joint Venture, served as managing editor of migration reports for Pennsylvania Birds, and has published several scientific and education manuscripts. She is a member of the Natural History Network, the Orion Society, the Ecological Society of America, the Society for Conservation Biology and currently serves on the national Board of Directors for the Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs.
Michele Kittell, Wildife Leadership Academy Director (mkittell AT piceweb.org; 570-245-8518)
Michele Kittell received her M.S. in Zoology from Clemson University and her B.S. in Biology from Pennsylvania State University. Her diverse research background ranges from studying the ecological effect of an invasive plant species to fish behavior and genetics. She has participated in coral reef surveying in the Bahamas, fish health and husbandry research, and dolphin cognition projects. Michele enjoys teaching in formal and informal settings. Her experience includes teaching environmental science courses at community colleges, leading workshops for the general public on the indigenous flora and fauna of Oconee State Park in South Carolina, and introducing marine ecology to guests of Disney's The Seas. Michele has published several scientific manuscripts and has presented her work nationally and internationally. She is an avid conservation biologist and enjoys working on community projects as well as hiking, birding, and photographing nature.
Jennifer Everhart, Program Coordinator, PA Master Naturalist (jeverhart AT piceweb.org)
Jennifer Everhart received her B.A. in Spanish and Environmental Science from Franklin & Marshall College, PA. Her senior honors thesis focused on the effects of factors associated with climate change, specifically temperature and UV-radiation, on the vertical distribution of zooplankton in alpine lakes in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. In addition, Jennifer has explored a wide variety of other ecological research, including stream studies at Stroud Water Research Center, fish ecology in the Poconos, the effects of climate change on algal physiology, and the effect of environmental variation on the life history of cavity-nesting birds. Since high school she has been involved in the preservation efforts of her local land trust, The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County.
Jennifer is an avid believer in the need to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the general public. In addition to participating in field research, she enjoys nature photography, outdoor activities (especially hiking, canoeing, and other sports), and learning plant and bird species.
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