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SWEP Staff

Christine McMorrow

Christine McMorrow, Executive Director,

Christine received her Bachelor of Science in Crop Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 1994. From 2002-2005, she served as the Program Manager for SWEP. Christine currently serves as the Executive Director for SWEP, managing staff and board programs. She received her California and Nevada teaching credential in 2003.  In 2004, Christine was the recipient of the prestigious Ambassadorial Scholarship from Rotary International.  She spent the year studying Education at the University of Otago in Dunedin New Zealand, receiving a post-graduate diploma for her academic efforts.

Professionally, Christine is pursuing ways to educate youth for a sustainable future, including developing school based environmental programs, community partner education and teacher workshops.  Christine’s personal interests revolve around family life and enjoying Lake Tahoe’s numerous outdoor recreation opportunities.

Melissa 'Missy' Mohler, Project Director, missy@4swep.org

Melissa 'Missy' Mohler

Missy comes to SWEP with over 15 years of education experience in the Tahoe Truckee region.  She has taught and administrated programs  within the Charter system and the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District.

Missy grew up on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe where her love and interest for the environment was fostered. After studying abroad and at UC Berkeley, Missy returned to settle in Tahoe. Shortly there after she began a school program in which she taught environmental education and science classes. One of her goals with this program was to empower children to discover their ability to become stewards of the Lake Tahoe region and beyond.

Missy says that her  “goal is always to empower students towards realizing their potential for making a difference in protecting and supporting Lake Tahoe’s clarity and natural beauty”. 

 

2008 Americorps Member, Eric McKee

Eric getting dirty

Eric McKee recently moved to the Lake Tahoe area from southern Connecticut. Eric graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural/Recreation Resource Management from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY. He has worked extensively with youth and education programs throughout Connecticut and completed a semester long course in outdoor education with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) of Lander, WY. More recently Eric served as an instructor with the Orange County Outdoor Science School and as a whitewater river guide in Denali, AK. He has achieved certifications in Swiftwater Rescue, Wilderness First Responder, Recreational Avalanche, Certified Interpretive Guide, and Leave No Trace.

SWEP Board of Directors

Toni Rockwell, Chair

Chair Toni Rockwell is a kindergarten teacher at Tahoe Lake School in Tahoe City. Toni is a founding board member of SWEP.

Sue Rae Irelan, Treasurer

Treasurer Sue Rae Irelan is a part-time environmental planner, part-time Project Manager for the North Shore Recreation Committee, and a full-time Mom. Sue Rae is another founding member of SWEP.

Heidi Bushway-Verkler, Secretary

Secretary Heidi Bushway-Verkler is the mother of two - Koson 4 1/2, Keadle 1 1/2. She married her husband Jerry in 2000. Currently, Heidi has been the Technology teacher at Truckee Elementary since 2005. Prior to that she had been in the classroom as a teacher for 13 years. Heidi holds a BS degree in Elementary Ed. from University of Vermont. She has been board member of SWEP since 2001, and has worked on many projects with students

Heather Segale, Board Member

Heather Segale is the founding education and outreach coordinator for the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Tahoe

Environmental Research Center (TERC).

Heather manages the education and interpretive programs, educational exhibits, volunteer docent program and coordinates

events, public relations and outreach for this University Center at Lake Tahoe. She is responsible for managing one administrative staff person, three AmeriCorps members, and up to 40 volunteer docents. She also writes grants to support the education programs and exhibits. 

Heather received her Masters of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). She has been working in the field of environmental education and outreach since 2001. Together with her husband John of 11 years and her yellow Labrador retriever Cozy Heather is an 11-year resident of Tahoma, California. Heather has been on the SWEP board for over 6 years.

Dan Allison, Board member

Dan Allison is the Executive Director of Nevada Natural Resource Education Council, the statewide environmental education organization for Nevada, and was a founder of the organization in 1986. Dan worked as the regional coordinator for the Lake Tahoe Basin and Truckee River Watershed for Adopt-A-Watershed, and then as the South Tahoe Community Coordinator for SWEP. He holds a M.S. in Environmental Education.

Dan has worked in residential outdoor education ("6th grade science camp") for a good part of his career, and is a substitute teacher in both Nevada and California. He is a Project Learning Tree, Project WET, Project WILD/Aquatic and River of Words facilitator, and the coordinator of the Lamoille Institute for Educators summer program. He has assisted SWEP with many workshops including Community Leaders in the Classroom. Dan is also active at the national level in the North American Association for Environmental Education, as a professional development provider and leader.

In his "free time" Dan hikes, backpacks, dances, reads, watches movies and hangs out with friends. Dan is a new SWEP board member.

Monika Bock, Board member

Monika Bock is a teacher at Glenshire Elementary School in Truckee. Monika has been a SWEP board member for 2 years.

John Pang, Board member

John Pang has been living at Lake Tahoe since 1979. He is the Meeks Bay Fire Department Chief and is a new SWEP board member.   John has an interest in protecting  our watershed. 

Diane Malven-Pang

Diane Malven-Pang is a registered nurse and has been a SWEP board member for one year!

  

Tamara Anderson

Tamara Anderson has lived in the Tahoe area for the past 5o years. She is currently in her 25th year of teaching for the Tahoe Truckee USD. Her teaching credentials include, Life Science, Earth Science, and a multiple subject certificate. She spend many years as a trainer for UC Berkeley's Full Option Science System (FOSS), Adopt-A-Watershed, Women In Trees program and Trout in the Classroom. Tamara has served on the board of directors for the High Sierra Herb Garden and was one of the founding members of SWEP, serving on our very first board! She continues to lead the way in science education by creating and implementing new environmental projects for the school district.

• 530-525-9457 • PO Box 1602 Tahoe City CA 96145 • Revised 11/11/2008