AFF/BTW Staff
Jeanne Troy, Program Director
Jeanne is delighted to join the Bridging the Watershed team at the Alice Ferguson Foundation. Since moving to northern Virginia several years ago, she has been enjoying the region's national parks
Jeanne's environmental education career began at Riverbend Environmental Education Center, a small organization along the Schuylkill River, just upstream of Philadelphia. After a field trip there in first grade and a stint as a volunteer in high school, she stayed on as an educator, then director of camp programs. Her belief in authentic hands-on environmental education was inspired by seeing children connect with her own special place. Jeanne also worked with the Habitat Stewards program at the National Wildlife Federation, training volunteers nationwide to help others create natural spaces in their built environments, and for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of Environmental Education. Jeanne received a B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Studies from Bryn Mawr College and a Masters of Environmental Education from the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University. In her spare time, she enjoys running, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and hiking.
Rhonda Scott, Program Assistant
Originally from Georgia, Rhonda moved to Accokeek in 2004 after spending 7 years in the Air Force as a meteorologist. With a desire to leave the fast-paced world of commuting and honking horns behind, she decided not to continue her meteorological endeavors and opted for a life of fitness and flexibility. Rhonda joined the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Bridging the Watershed program, eager to learn more about the environmental education programs. Rhonda has a Bachelor’s degree in Oceanography from the United States Naval Academy and a Master’s degree in Meteorology from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Additionally, Rhonda is a certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor. In her spare time, she enjoys jogging, riding her bike, and spending time with her husband and children. Rhonda’s new life motto: Don’t sweat the small stuff, and never forget it’s all small stuff.
Laura Gillespie, Editor and Web Designer
A native of Accokeek, Laura grew up playing at and around Hard Bargain Farm. Though having strong ties to her home and an inclination for things environmental, Laura received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 1993, and went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Medieval Studies from the University of York, Yorkshire, England in 1994.
After five years teaching English from middle school up to the university level, Laura agreed to help out with the budding Bridging the Watershed project that has since blossomed into a regional high school science program. Once the full-time program assistant, Laura now helps out on a part-time basis editing curriculum and maintaining the BTW web site. She is currently a doctoral student at the University of Baltimore in Communications Design and a mom of two.
Rebecca Scott, Educator
Rebecca is a Charles County (Maryland) native who visited Hard Bargain Farm for the first time in pre-school, 1984 to be exact. It seems the early introduction to a natural environment and the importance of maintaining our habitat really left a lasting impression. Rebecca received her Bachelor of Science degree in May 2003 from Salisbury University where she studied Environmental Health. At SU, she conducted biochemical research on tuberculosis inhibitors as well as microbiological research on bacteria source tracking in Maryland’s waterways. Internships landed her in southern Maryland’s marshes combating mosquito populations and then living on the Mississippi River working with a river cleanup crew. Rebecca’s long term goal has been to become an environmental educator, so she is very happy to be involved in such an excellent program as Bridging the Watershed.
Anna Wadhams, Educator
Born and raised in Ann Arbor Michigan, Anna graduated from the University of Michigan in 2005 with a B.A. in History and Spanish. Her journey to the banks of the Potomac began as an intern with the George Washington Memorial Parkway. During her experience with the National Park Service she was introduced to the Alice Ferguson Foundation through training for the Bridging the Watershed Program. Anna later moved to the D.C. area in 2006 with hopes of continuing her career in environmental education. After working with AFF as a part-time naturalist and coordinating the 19th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup she is happy to being working with BTW full time!
