Team
Alice Jansen
Education Events Coordinator
Alice Jansen is our the Education Events Coordinator. She helps plan and organize the Annual Summit and create and coordinate professional development offerings including webinars, virtual tours, and other resources to support TCiNN partners. Alice brings over 20 years of experience in environmental education and conservation to this position. She has worked in various roles with governmental and environmental organizations including the...
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Marisa Oliva
Health and Nature Liaison - Rio Grande Valley
Marisa Oliva-Rodriguez is a native Texan, transplanted from San Antonio to the floodplains of Rio Grande Valley. Managing the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center from 2004 until recently, Oliva-Rodriguez has spent her career helping children and families connect to nature through innovative programming and with the creation of beautiful outdoor spaces. A graduate of Texas A&M University and Pennsylvania State University,...
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Alicia Fontenot
Health and Nature Liaison - Gulf Coast
Meet Alicia (\Uh-Lee-See-Uh\) Fontenot (\Fon-te-no\)! She is the Health and Nature Liaison for the Gulf Coast Region. As a native Houstonian, she takes pride in her city’s cultural diversity and growing awareness to be more environmentally conscious.
With a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Texas Southern University, she has always had a yearning for discovering sustainable solutions by understanding the link between human...
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Jenny Larios
Health and Nature Liaison
Jenny Larios is a recent graduate from Ithaca College where she received her B.A. in Environmental Studies and Politics. As an undergraduate student, Jenny became a member of Advocates for Youth where she worked on several projects that helped engage and create youth activists across the country. Jenny is a native Texas and currently resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
moreThe TCiNN Non-profit board is made up of volunteers passionate about children spending time in nature. They meet monthly to guide the organization. If you are interested in joining our board please contact Sarah Coles scoles@texaschildreninnature.org.
Dr. Amanda Mohammed-Strait
At Large
Dr. Amanda Mohammed met with Sarah on February 15th to share why she joined the Texas Children in Nature Network Board.
Amanda, please introduce yourself and let us know a little about you:
My name is Amanda Mohammed, I am a physcian in the Dallas area, and I grew up in Garland, Texas. I went to undergrad Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX and graduated in 2015 from Ross University School of Medicine and completed my...
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Dr. April Torres Conkey
Board Chair
In October 2020 April Torres Conkey joined the Texas Children in Nature Network Board. April as been part of the Coastal Bend Children in Nature regional collaborative for several years, currently serving as their communications chair. Sarah sat down with April on October 29th to find out more about her and why she feels so passionately about Children in Nature.
April, why don't you introduce yourself and let us know a little about...
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Darcy Bontempo
Treasurer
Darcy Bontempo shares why she joined the Texas Children in Nature Network Board.
Darcy, please introduce yourself and let us know a little about you:
I am Darcy Bontempo, recently retired Marketing Director at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Prior to working at TPWD for the past 23 years, I worked at several ad agencies, including as account supervisor at McCann Erickson in New York City and at GSD&M in Austin, Texas. I...
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Demekia Biscoe
Secretary
Dr. Demekia Biscoe met with Sarah on February 22nd to share why she joined the Texas Children in Nature Network Board.
Demekia, please introduce yourself and let us know a little about you:
I am Demekia Biscoe, I was originally born and raised in East Texas, where my love of nature was inspired. I call myself a quintessential country girl. We grew our own fruit and vegetables and being outside was always a part of my day and it...
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Hayden Brooks
Past Chair
Hayden Brooks has recently joined the Texas Children in Nature Board. On August 18th Sarah sat down with Hayden to find out more about him and why he feels so passionately about Children in Nature.
Hayden, why don't you introduce yourself and let us know a little about you:
I have been involved in the Children in Nature Network since the publishing of Last Child in the Woods in 2005. I was so moved by the book I contacted Richard...
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Juan Martinez
At-Large
On August 24th Juan Martinez discussed why he joined the Texas Children in Nature Network Board.
Juan, please introduce yourself and let us know a little about you:
My name is Juan Daniel Martinez Pineda, I was born in Mexico City, MX, raised in Los Angeles, California the Land of the Chumash and the Tongva People. I am a descendant of the Zapotec people of Oaxaca, MX, specifically the region of Isthmus of Tehuantepec,...
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Larry Hysmith
At-Large
Larry Hysmith met with Sarah on March 10th to share why he joined the Texas Children in Nature Network Board.
Larry, please introduce yourself and let us know a little about you:
My name is Larry Hysmith, I work for Texas AgriLife Extension Service in the 4-H & Youth Development Program. I lead the 4-H Natural Resources Program which provides support across Texas to all local 4-H clubs and groups within the 254 counties of...
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Mandy Kruase
At-Large
Mandy met with Alice on March 23rd to share why she joined the Texas Children in Nature Network Board.
Mandy, please introduce yourself and let us know a little about you:
My name is Mandy Krause, and I am an outdoor enthusiast, nature lover, rancher, educator, and mom to three young boys. My love for the outdoors and wildlife began while growing up on my family’s farm in McAllen, Texas. I always knew I wanted to spend my life...
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Marsha Towns
At-Large
Marsha met with Alice on March 2nd to share why she joined the Texas Children in Nature Network Board.
Marsha, please introduce yourself and let us know a little about you:
My name is Marsha Towns. I am the Director for the Gulf Region for the Student Conservation Association (SCA). I'm also a citizen of the city of Houston and I have been living here for the last 10 years. I...
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Ryan Spencer
Vice Chair
Ryan Spencer has recently joined the Texas Children in Nature Board. On September 2nd Sarah sat down with Ryan to find out more about him and why he feels so passionately about Children in Nature.
Ryan, why don't you introduce yourself and let us know a little about you:
I am someone who can't get enough time in the outdoors, I have loved it since being a little kid - spending as much as as possible outdoors. I grew up in Fort...
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