The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is proud to welcome the 2025 Class of the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) and celebrate the outstanding success of 2024 ELP graduates. This program, designed to cultivate the next generation of conservation professionals, has already shown tremendous success and impact within the conservation community.
2025 Class of the SWCS Emerging Leaders Program
SWCS is thrilled to announce the 2025 cohort of the Emerging Leaders Program!
The 2025 class will begin their journey this month, and we look forward to witnessing their contributions to the conservation field. Throughout the year, participants engage in quarterly interactive learning modules to gain professional skills like communication, time management, event planning, public speaking, and creating community. They will network with and receive guidance from peers and leaders across disciplines to develop their leadership style, build confidence in their roles, and advance conservation in their communities.
2025 Class of Emerging Leaders
Sky Adams, MI
Paige Allen, Canada
Beverly Alvarez-Torres, ND
Lindsey Anderson, MO
Katherine Angelopoulos, NJ
Samuel Bamidele, TX
Sougata Bardhan, MO
Ashley Barry, IL
Laura Bates, NC
Zach Bates, MI
Garrett (Jacycee) Beaulieu, VT
Joshua Becker, SD
Charles (Chase) Berry, GA
Chelsie Bobbitt, NC
Emma Bodnarick, IN
Mallory Bowman, KY
Amanda Bunn, PA
Kevin Burke, HI
Brendan Campbell, KY
Erica Carnes, IA
Jazmond Carter, GA
Katelynne Chamberlin, MI
Jemila Chellappa, ID
Zahoor Mujdded Choudary, Pakistan
Riley Christensen, IA
Alexandra Clark, KS
Emma Colburn, OR
Elizabeth Coll, OR
Michelle Conner, GA
Carolina Córdova, NE
Danielle Cottrell, KY
Keegan Cougill, IN
Floreal Crubaugh, WI
Arlene Culpepper, LA
Kasey Cummings, NJ
Juwonlo Dahunsi, Canada
Jamie Davenport, IN
Catherine de la Peña, CA
Willow Dean, MN
Diego Della Lunga, AR
Nicholas Detter, KS
Carolina Diaz Garcia, IL
Callie Dickman, KY
Sam Dixon, MA
Sarah Dixon, GA
Drew Donahue, OR
Lindsey Donaldson, IN
Mary Dossett, KY
Gerson Drescher, AR
Cassandra Druhl, IA
Stefani Duarte, FL
Vincent Dzulani Banda, Malawi
Jahnari Edwards, GA
Peters Egbedi, LA
Murad Ellafi, MN
Christopher Epps, GA
Brockton Feltman, MI
Bronc Finch, AR
Allisen Freihage, IA
Hanna Garriott, IN
Marlee Giacometti, IL
Spencer Giddings, IA
Kandrea Green, MI
Tammy Griffin, OK
Melissa Grim, CA
Ashley Grubb, NC
Trevor Grubb, AR
Papa Gueye, NC
Palmer Haffner, OR
Kelly Hall, MO
Susannah Harris, OK
Jacque Harvey, KS
Myranda Hentges, KY
Dorothy (Alyssa) Henthorn, IN
Kelly Herfendal, MN
Sarah Higgins, MO
Autumn Hill, AL
Erica Hinz, IL
Penelope Holland, MA
Arin Hornung, NC
Allison Howell, AR
Shaun Hull, OK
Ian Hunter, OR
Babar Hussain, China
Neetha Iyer, CA
Jateya Jackson, OK
Michael James, IA
Samantha (Carly) James, NC
Umar Javed, SD
Arjun Kafle, TX
Johnathan Kelly, HI
Rose Keyathe, D.C.
Ajar Ahmed Khan, Pakistan
Lall Khan, Pakistan
Olivia Killey, MI
Whitney King, D.C.
Amanda Kirby, NC
Rowan Kuechenmeister, IA
Julie Lakatos, ID
Noah Lane, KY
Ashley Laveriano, MA
Rachel (Raquel) Lechuga, IL
Amanda Linville, OR
Esther Lofton, CA
Davonne Long, IL
Jacob Luken, IN
Sarah McCann, CA
Katie McGrath Novak, CO
Damianna (Dee) McKenzie, LA
Taylor Kaʻili (TK) McKenzie, HI
David McNeer, OR
Cy'Heim (Cy) McRae, SC
Shannon Moeller, IA
Teresa Nehls, GA
Alex Nelson, NM
Abby O'Bryant, HI
Felix Ogunmokun, CA
Christianah Oladoye, IA
Ekrem Ozlu, NC
Emma Poellet, MI
Michael (Terra) Polite, LA
Mason Quiram, KY
Sarah Ramirez, HI
Sheyla Ravelo Perez, FL
Briana Reagan, IL
Zane Redman, GA
Sarah Reilly, IN
Isabel Rojas, OR
Elise Rose, WY
Kathryn (Cyd) Schulte, NM
Elizabeth Schwab, IA
Isabella Segarra, CA
Sima Seumalo, OR
Jack Severson, CA
Thomas Shea, NC
Heather Silvanik, KY
Makayla Simmer, OR
Shannon Speir, AR
Zackery Spiekerman, MI
Ricardo St Aime, SC
Tyler Stotland, D.C.
Phelan Stover, NE
Roxie Stricker, CO
Taylor Stubblefield, CA
Haleigh Summers, IA
Etienne Sutton, MI
Christine Svidal, KY
Maxwell Swiatowy, MI
Bailey Tangen, MN
Grace Tiwari, SC
Oleksandra Tryboi, VA
Mary Vandenbosch, NY
Camille Verendia, IN
Julie Vredenburgh, OH
Emmanuel Wallace, NC
Jacari Washington, OH
Brooke Webb, IA
Alexandria Wilcher, MS
Abbie Williams, IA
Trevor Winston, IN
Chanise Wise, IL
Minna Wong, D.C.
Halimah Wynn, NC
Chris Yohannan, CA
Celebrating the 2024 Graduates
The 2024 ELP graduates have set a remarkable standard for future conservation professionals. Among the graduates, 95 earned their Certified Conservation Event Planner credentials, hosting a total of 94 events across 30 states, regions, and territories. These events collectively drew over 7,000 attendees and involved partnerships with 244 organizations, significantly amplifying the reach and impact of conservation efforts.
Throughout the year-long program, participants honed essential skills in event planning, networking, leadership, communications, and more. These efforts have not only strengthened the participants' professional capabilities but have also contributed to the growth and vitality of the SWCS community. Alumni of the 2024 class are already making significant contributions to SWCS, with two graduates set to serve as Ex-Officio SWCS Board Members and others joining committees or getting involved with chapter leadership.
"The inaugural class of the Emerging Leaders Program has truly exceeded our expectations," said SWCS CEO Clare Lindahl. "Their dedication and contributions have already begun to leave a lasting impact on the conservation field. We are incredibly proud of what they have accomplished and are excited to see how they will continue to influence the future of conservation."
Participants also provided valuable feedback for program enhancements, including more frequent, shorter webinars, additional sessions on time management and communications, and earlier networking opportunities. These insights will help shape and improve the experience for future participants.
Many of this year's graduates are eager to stay involved in the program, offering mentorship and networking opportunities to the incoming class. Participants from the 2024 class have already recommended 38 applicants for the 2025 cohort, further cementing their legacy as leaders in conservation.
2024 Graduates of the Emerging Leaders Program
Garrett Akins, AR
Idowu Atoloye, UT
Lacy Barnette, SC
Kimberly Barton, KY
Lyndsie Beasley, IN
Katelyn Beckemeyer, OH
Ann Bishop, FL
James Boatright, VA
Evan Brehm, IA
Alyssa Bright, NJ
Makayla Brister, VA
Jaclyn Buck, TX
Olivia Caillouet, VA
Sophia Campbell, IA
Ryan Carlow, Canada
Charlie Cole, IL
Tairi Colon, NJ
Christopher Danner, MN
Bailey Darnell, AR
Caryn Dawson, MI
J'Nay Domineck, NC
Winifred Dorer, NC
Ivan (Alex) Dozier, IL
Ryan Edgecomb, KS
Brieanna Ewoldt, IA
Hannah Feagan, KY
Laura Ferguson, IA
Rosemary Galdamez, IA
Ricki Gilbert, AR
Kristie Glass, AR
Rafael Gonzalez, WI
Cailynne Graham, CA
Ruth Groce, TN
Gabby Hackley, IA
Caroline Harper, MD
Emma Harper, IA
Mitch Harting, IA
Mynesha Holliday, AZ
Autumn Homer, FL
Rob Hoskins, OK
Hannah Hudson-Stacey, TN
Brandon Iddings, IA
John Jondle, NY
Shahbaz Khan, CO
Rachel King, DE
Nichole Kirk, WI
Amy Koehler, ND
Jordan Koos, IA
Zachary Lenzi, NJ
Kaitlin Little, NC
Annie Liu, HI
Morgan Mairs, KY
Shanna Mathis, TN
Kennedy Mayfield-Smith, GA
John McNally, IL
Patty McNinch, MI
Rachael Millage, IA
Nall Moonilall, CA
Turner Moore, NE
Brandi Murphy, CA
Sadie Neuman, MN
Monica Nolan, KY
Hannah Nordby, ND
Hayley Perkins, OH
Aubree Pond, IN
Benjamin Porepp, IA
Michelle Pressel, OH
Aaron Prestholt, IA
Kelsey Ramos, VA
Joanie Redd, OH
Mila Resetar, MI
Vivian Richmond, KY
Kassidy Roof, SC
Erin Rosebrock, SC
Madison Royer, FL
Cora Rueda, NH
LeAnn Rutledge, GA
Sage Saffran, D.C.
Eric Schmechel, IA
Krista Schmidt, SC
Anna (Nikki) Schoonover, IA
Isis Scott, KS
Laurel Sellers, IA
Ty Siepert, OR
Michaela Slagle-Saylor, TN
Jordan Slayden, OR
Debra Stevens, SC
Abigayle Sweet, IA
Warren Swenson, ND
Katie Swiontek, ND
Miranda Tabor, KY
Elizabeth (Perry) Thomas, KY
Erin Thomas, MA
Alexandra Thomason, SC
Andrea Topper, WI
Helen VanBeck, IL
Ashley (Nick) Walker, SC
Mark Walton, NC
Kiersten Weber, SC
Celeste Wescott Maus, NC
Alena Whitaker, IA
Kristine Whybark, KY
Alycia Willenbring, IA
Shayla Williams, MI
Christina Winters, TX
Jordan Young, IN
Samantha Ziph, NE
For More Information:
For more information on the SWCS Emerging Leaders Program, visit www.swcs.org/growconservation. Contact renee.bouldin@swcs.org with any questions or to learn how to support leaders in your region.