a non-profit organization providing programs and services for the advancement of environmental literacy in the US and Mexico
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Staff Overview
Neil Markowitz, Executive Director
Neil has been actively involved as a professional environmental educator for over 25 years. With an undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, and a Masters of Science from the University of Michigan, he has successfully taught graduate level coursework, and managed educational projects for a wide range of agencies and organizations. For two years in the mid-1980’s he lived in Australia while on the faculty at Deakin University in the College of Education. In 1991 he co-founded the Environmental Education Exchange, dedicated to promoting the development of environmental education in the U.S. and Mexico. As the Executive Director for this organization, Neil is responsible for program administration (fund raising, finance, project management, curriculum materials design, and strategic planning initiatives), and keeps an active involvement in program development and implementation. Neil has been closely involved in the administration of grant and contractually based educational programs and planning efforts ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budgetary constraints.
Trica Oshant Hawkins, Education Director
Trica has over 25 years experience developing and presenting environmental education programs and brings her expertise in the environmental sciences as well as her extensive experience in K-12 classroom education to the Exchange. After receiving a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Renewable Natural Resources from the University of Arizona, Trica guided natural history and diving expeditions in Mexico. She left the Southwest for three years to serve as Education Specialist for Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania. Returning to her desert home, she worked as a field biologist before envisioning and co-founding the Environmental Education Exchange in 1991. As Education Director for the Exchange, Trica oversees all program and materials development, teacher training workshops, and strategic planning efforts for Exchange clients. She develops classroom presentations, educational curricula, field trip programs, audiovisual programs, and strategic plans.
Jose "Pepe" Marcos-Iga, International Programs Manager
Pepe has over 15 years of experience in the fields of environmental education and communication. He is originally from Monterrey, Mexico, where he finished his undergraduate and Masters Studies in communication and media arts. He moved to Tucson to work on a Masters of Science and a PhD in Natural Resources with a focus on Environmental Education at the University of Arizona. Pepe joined the Exchange in 2002 as Border Programs Coordinator, where he has managed a wide range of networking and capacity building efforts for environmental educators along the US-Mexico border region, which include regional conferences, training workshops, binational community meetings, list serves, a database of EE resources and a bilingual electronic newsletter that reaches over 1000 educators both sides of the border. He is currently the lead staff person for E3's involvment in EECapacity, a capacity building project funded by EPA in partnership with Cornell University and NAAEE. Pepe is the current President Elect of the Board of Directors of NAAEE.
Debbie Gevirtzman, Outreach Programs Coordinator
Debbie was an active Middle School teacher in Tucson for over 15 years before joining the Exchange staff in 2001. Debbie has an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Geology and also received a Master?s Degree from the University of California, Davis also in Geology. She also holds a Secondary Teaching Certification from the University of Arizona. Debbie is responsible for the coordination of a team of seven part-time classroom presenters who conduct over 850 elementary education outreach programs on water conservation and recycling each school year. In addition, Debbie manages the distribution of curricula on water conservation, stormwater, and recycling to middle school teachers across Tucson. She also assists in the design and development of classroom presentations, educational curricula, and training workshops.
Phil Miller, Energy Programs Manager
Phil has over ten years experience working with youth in a variety of capacities, including teaching and mentoring high school students. Phil is from Oakland, California and relocated to Tucson in 2010. He holds an undergraduate degree in history from the University of California, San Diego and a master’s degree in education from the University of California, Berkeley. Phil joined E3 in 2010 as an outreach presenter and discovered a passion for learning, teaching, and promoting energy efficiency and conservation. As the Energy Programs Manager for both Tucson Electric Power and Salt River Project outreach programs Phil is responsible for scheduling over 450 Energy Education presentations in both the Tucson and Phoenix areas for middle school aged students. Phil also assists on the design and development of classroom and web-based curriculum on energy education.
Jeremy Markowitz, Multimedia Producer
As a recent graduate of Kent State University, earning his Bachelors Degree in Electronic Media Production, Jeremy brings a wide range of video production and technical expertise to his work at the Exchange. During his time in college he acted as the General Manager of his college's high awarded television station, TV2; managing over 150 people, facilitating in 14 live HD broadcasts weekly and managing client projects and relations. Jeremy has been working with the Exchange for over four years, assisting in graphic design, A/V presentations and providing technical consultations. In the summer of 2010, Jeremy expanded his work with the Exchange, designing and building a multi-screen, high-definition visual journey and accompanying ambient audio loop for the new Juan Bautista De Anza visitors center, for the National Park Service, in Martinez, California. Currently, Jeremy is continuing work for the Juan Bautista De Anza Trail in the form of a 30-minute HD documentary to be sold at over 500 NPS visitors centers nationwide.
jeremymarkowitz@eeexchange.org
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