Tara Drennan (she/her) joined the Trust in 2011 and currently leads the Chesapeake Conservation Corps and K-12 Environmental Education programs and initiatives. Tara’s portfolio focuses on building capacity to advance environmental literacy in schools and empowering youth to take action and become change-makers for a healthy environment whether it is at their school, in their community, or joining the green workforce. Tara works with school districts and organizations across Maryland and the region to implement projects that embed environmental education into school curriculum, promote outdoor and experiential learning, and support career and leadership development in youth.

Tara graduated from Ursinus College with a B.A. in Political and Environmental Science, M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University and a certified Maryland Master Gardener. She also is a Senior Fellow in the Environmental Leadership Program for the Chesapeake Region.

Greg joined the Chesapeake Bay Trust in November 2021 where he manages the Urban Trees Program. He has worked for over a decade in the non-profit, community engagement, and social change space. Prior to joining the Trust, he worked for John Hopkins University and Medicine as a Senior Community Programs Manager where he led initiatives to build stronger communities by addressing social justice issues, food insecurity, and environmental restoration in underserved neighborhoods. Greg holds a BA in Clinical Psychology from Point Park University in Pittsburgh.

Jeffrey Popp joined the Trust in March 2016 and leads the Green Streets Green Jobs Green Towns, Anne Arundel County Forestry and Mini Greening, and Montgomery County Stormwater grant programs. Before coming to the Trust, Jeff was the Manager of Conservation Projects with the Wildlife Habitat Council where he coordinated, designed, and managed on-the-ground corporate habitat restoration projects in both rural and urban settings. Working with landowners and other community partners, Jeff helped navigate and overcome the challenges of creating successful restoration projects that benefits wildlife, water quality, and surrounding communities.

Jeff has over 15 years of experience in habitat design and community outreach, and specializes in native plants, reptiles and amphibians, and habitat restoration. Jeff has worked for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and as Co-Director for the Terrapin Institute. He has served on Governor appointed task forces relating to reptile, amphibian, pollinators and fisheries conservation and remains active in natural resource and conservation education issues on national and local levels. Jeff hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Towson University.

Emily Stransky joined the Trust in January 2015 and now leads the Trust’s Watershed Assistance, Mini K-12 Environmental Education, and Charles County Forestry grant programs.

Emily graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Environmental Science and Policy, concentrating in Wildlife Ecology and Management. After graduating, she entered the Environmental Education field, participating in the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program where she was stationed at Eden Mill Nature Center in Harford County. Prior to starting at the Trust, she worked at Irvine Nature Center, coordinating corporate and school service projects and leading field trips and camp-outs.

Nguyen joined the Trust in February 2018. She now manages the Prince George’s County Rain Check Rebate Program and co-manages the Outreach and Restoration grant program.

Prior to joining the Trust, she worked for the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB), where she served as a 2014-2015 Chesapeake Conservation Corps member (a Trust program), and then was hired by her host organization as the Education Projects Coordinator. There, she managed ICPRB’s Score Four stormwater education program, led lessons for Prince George’s County Public High Schools, and supported other ICPRB programs and goals.

Nguyen holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy with a Minor in Sustainability Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. She recently graduated from Virginia Tech’s Executive Master of Natural Resources program where she earned a Master of Natural Resources and Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainability.

Joe (he/him/his) joined the Trust in January 2019 as a Program Assistant. In his current role, he is the Chair of the Trust’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Committee, as well as leads the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice work for the Trust. He manages the District of Columbia Community Stormwater Solutions Grant Program and District of Columbia Urban Agriculture Small Grants Program, the Prince George’s County Litter Reduction Pilot Program, and co-leads the Outreach and Restoration Grant Program (outreach and behavior change projects, as well as managing the partnerships with Baltimore City, Harford County, and Queen Anne’s County).

Prior to joining the Trust, Joe received a B.S. from The University of Maryland, College Park in Geographical Sciences with a concentration in Environment Systems and Natural Resource Management. He previously interned with the Anne Arundel County Department of Health in their Environmental Health Department.

Outside of the Trust, Joe is the Chair on the Board of Annapolis Pride, a Coach for the Bridge Project, and is involved with many organizations focused on adoption. Joe previously served as the Mid-Atlantic Region Community Cultivator with Out for Sustainability and was a member of the 2020 cohort of the Young Professionals of Color program through the Choose Clean Water Coalition. He is inspired by the intersectionality of his identities as a queer, latinx and indigenous, adoptee, in the environmental community. He is passionate about how to move forward increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the effort fighting climate change, increasing sustainability, and Protecting the Chesapeake.

Kathy joined the Trust in January 2020. She supports the grants team with database management and financial review. She also creates media such as blog posts and newsletters to highlight grant projects and promote grant programs.

Prior to joining the Trust as a full-time member, Kathy served as the intern for the Prince George’s Rain Check Rebate Program at the Trust. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Kathy looks forward to continuing to support the work and relationships maintained by the Trust in her role.

Whitney joined the Trust in April 2021. She supports the grants team with project management, grant reviews, and database management.

Prior to joining the Trust, Whitney received her B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy concentrating in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology and a minor in Geographic Information Sciences (GIS) from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her internship experiences have included collecting bat echolocation calls around central Maryland and serving as a Doris Duke Conservation Scholar at the University of Michigan.

Whitney is passionate about the conservation of our vulnerable biodiversity and habitats amid global environmental change. She is excited to support the work of the Trust to promote a sustainable future between our natural resources and local communities.