Tara Drennan joined the Trust in 2011 and leads the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program and K-12 Environmental Education programs and initiatives that focus on building capacity for the advancement of environmental literacy in schools and improving the green career pathway for youth in Maryland and the region. Tara works with teachers, school systems and organizations to implement projects and programs that infuse K-12 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.

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, pollininators 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.

Bre’Anna Brooks joined the Trust in April 2016 and now manages the Community Engagement Mini Grant Program and the Prince George’s County Rain Check Rebate Program. She assists with the Outreach and Restoration Grant Program and the Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program. She is the co-lead for the Trust’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee which serves several functions to meet the goal of ensuring that our grant making is reaching as many diverse audiences as possible.

Bre’Anna earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies with an emphasis on Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Prior to joining the Chesapeake Bay Trust, she served in an AmeriCorps youth program that entailed land conservation efforts such as habitat restoration, fire mitigation and invasive species removal. Bre’Anna was driven to the local area due to an interest in making an impact on the Chesapeake Bay watershed and those who call this region home. She is currently pursuing a Maryland Master Naturalist certification to broaden her knowledge and engagement in natural resources.

Nguyen joined the Trust in February 2018. She now manages the Prince George’s Rain Check Rebate Program. She supports grant program staff with grant review, grant management, and grant tracking. She also develops newsletters, blog posts, and other materials to promote grant programs and grant projects.

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 in Natural Resources and Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainability.

Joe (He/Him) joined the Trust in January 2019. He supports the grants team with grant reviews, grant/database management, and currently leads the Trust’s Anne Arundel County Community Tree Planting Grant Program as well as the Chesapeake Conservation Corps (CCC) Mini Grant Program and the CCC All Hands-On Deck Program.

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.

Joe also serves as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Co-Chair for Out for Sustainability and is inspired by the intersectionality of his identities as a queer person of color 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 continue supporting the work and relationships maintained by the Trust in her new role.