The SCA’s Alum Council engages in various activities to help build community and engagement among SCA alums. Each year, current council members select new recruits from SCA alums nationwide for a two-year term. With a diversity of SCA service backgrounds from former high school crew members, to special initiative interns, to year-long conservation corps programs, Alum Council members represent the wide range of SCA’s programs and locations. Each member is equipped to represent and connect with the SCA’s 100,000 alums.
Alum Council Goals:
• Support SCA service projects and alumni-focused events, including social, professional development and continued learning opportunities
• Contribute to the SCA’s digital content in the form of blog posts, social media sharing and editorial writing
• Build support for and strengthen the SCA’s reputation as the nation’s preeminent youth conservation organization among partner organizations, agencies, and the general public
• Serve as a source of counsel for SCA staff and board members as requested
To apply for the Alum Council or nominate someone you think could be a good fit, please complete this form. Recruitment of new members begins in November of each year.
Questions? Please contact alumni@thesca.org.
CHAIR: Deidra Goodwin
Current Location: Asheville, North Carolina
SCA Program(s) Served: Grand Teton National Park Service Academy (2016), Environmental Education Intern New River Gorge National River (2016 NPSA position), Historical Interpretation Intern Minuteman National Historical Park (2016), Grand Teton National Park Service Academy Peer Mentor (2017)
Current Position: Military Outdoors Campaign Strategist at Sierra Club & Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education Adjunct Instructor – Outdoor Experiences at Brevard College
Education Background: B.A. in Integrated Studies (Florida Gulf Coast University); M.S. in Experiential & Outdoor Education (Western Carolina University)
VICE CHAIR: Michiko Squires
Current Location: Chico, California
SCA Program(s) Served: Interpretation and Outreach Intern, Biscayne National Park (2006), Environmental Education Intern, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (2011)
Current Position: Data Manager, U.S. Geological Survey
Education Background: B.S. in Biology, B.S. in Computer Science (University of Miami); M.S. in Forest Resources and Conservation with a concentration in Geomatics (University of Florida)
Celeste Arista Glover
Current Location: Dallas, Texas
SCA Program(s) Served: Summer Work Crew at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park (2000); Summer Work Crew at Yellowstone National Park (2002); Intern at NOAA National Marine Fisheries Santa Rosa, CA (2008)
Current Position: Senior Community Philanthropy Officer at Communities Foundation of Texas
Education Background: B.A. in Biology (University of Texas at Austin) and M.A. in Community Development and Planning (Clark University, Worcester)
Keli Bedics
Current Location: Tucson, Arizona
SCA Program(s) Served: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (1985) & International Exchange – Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany (1986)
Current Position: Independent Consultant, Fitness Instructor, Retired Military
Education Background: Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (University of California at Los Angeles); M.B.A. in Management (Universidade Federal Fluminense); M.A. in Latin American Studies (Tulane University); B.S. in Electrical Engineering (University of Notre Dame)
Jim Brophy
Current Location: Princeton, New Jersey
SCA Program(s) Served: High School Crew, Grand Teton National Park (1990)
Current Position: Head Trader, River Park Funds
Education Background: B.S. in Environmental Policy (University of Michigan);
M.B.A. in Finance & International Business (NYU Stern School of Business)
Joshua Brown
Current Location: Nashville, Tennessee
SCA Program(s) Served: Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex (2008)
Current Position: Senior Energy Analyst, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Education Background: B.A. in Economics, B.A. in Geography (University of Tennessee), M.S. in Environmental Planning & Management (Johns Hopkins University)
Peter Burch
Current Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
SCA Program(s) Served: Summer Work Crew at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (2000)
Current Position: Vice President of Distribution, Embroker Insurance Services LLC
Education Background: B.B.A. in Risk Management and Insurance (Temple University)
Igor DaCruz
Current Location: San Diego, California
SCA Program(s) Served: High School Crew, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests (2005)
Current Position: Managing Director, Life Sciences at Trinity Capital
Education Background: B.S. in Finance (University of Massachusetts Boston)
Karissa DeCarlo
Current Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
SCA Program(s) Served: High School Conservation Crew: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (1997), High School Conservation Crew: Ouachita National Forest (1999), Conservation Intern/AmeriCorps (2001): Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Current Position: Partnerships & Philanthropy Specialist at the National Park Service
Education Background: B.S in Environmental and Sustainable Resources (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) & M.S. in Recreation, Parks and Tourism (West Virginia University)
Jake Faber
Current Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SCA Program(s) Served: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (2010), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (2011), Olympic National Forest (2012), Morristown National Historical Park (2013), Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (2015), Monongahela National Forest (2017), North Cascades National Park and B.C. Parks (2017, 2018)
Current Position: Growth & Partnerships, Upstream Tech
Education Background: B.A in Environmental Studies and Conservation Biology (Middlebury College)
Rachel Garber
Current Location: Belmont, Massachusetts
SCA Program(s) Served: Rocky Mountain National Park; 1986, North Cascades National Park; 1987, Grand Canyon National Park; 1986, Glacier National Park; 1987
Current Position: Director, Creative Learning Company
Education Background: B.A. in Anthropology (Hampshire College), M.Ed. (Harvard Graduate School of Education)
Olivia Hall
Current Location: Centerville, Ohio
SCA Program(s) Served: EPA Fire Corps Texas (2020), The Nature Conservancy Burn Crew Member (2020), SCA Alumni Fellow (2024)
Education Background: B.A. in Philosophy and Geology (The College of Wooster)
Sanaa Payge
Current City/State: Alexandria, Virginia
SCA Programs Served: George Washington Memorial Parkway & Wolf Trap (2018), District Parks and Recreation Roving Crew (2021), SCA City Strategist Alum Fellow (2022)
Current Position: Impact Analyst & Ray Conservation Fellow, Wildlife Conservation Network
Education Background: B.A. in Public & Urban Affairs, Smart & Sustainable Cities with a minor in Africana Studies (Virginia Tech)
Holly Welcome Radice
Current Location: Watervliet, New York
SCA Program(s) Served: Everglades National Park (1995); New Hampshire Parks SCA/Americorps (1995-1996)Current Current Position: Americas Regional Representative, CALP Network
Education Background: B.A. in Individualized Studies (NYU Gallatin), M.S. in Natural Resources (UW Stevens Point)
Hannah Sherman
Current Location: San Francisco, California
SCA Program(s) Served: Merck Forest and Farmland Center Crew (2009), Kenai Fjords National Park (2021)
Current Position: Sustainability Manager, Rothy’s
Education Background: B.S. in Earth & Environmental Science (University of Michigan)
Anna Tripp
Current Location: Jacksonville, Florida
SCA Program(s) Served: Fishery Technician, Sitka Ranger District- Tongass National Forest (2021); Social Media Intern, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (2023)
Current Position: Visual Information Specialist, National Park Service; Environmental Monitor, Ecological Associates, Inc.
Education Background: B.S. in Marine Science with a concentration in Marine Biology (Jacksonville University), Minor in Photography
Sophia Weinmann
Current City/State: Sacramento, California
SCA Program(s) Served: High School Crew Member, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (2006); Trail Crew Member, Salmon-Challis National Forest (2008); Alternative Spring Break Crew Member, Grand Canyon National Park (2009); High School Crew Leader, Denali National Park & Preserve (2010); High School Crew Leader, Redwood National Park (2010)
Current Position: Environmental Scientist (Foothill Yellow-legged Frogs), California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Education Background: M.Sc. in Resource Conservation with a focus on International Conservation and Development (University of Montana); B.A. in Environmental Studies and B.A. in Biology (Oberlin College)
Kyle Yarusso
Current Location: Washington, D.C.
SCA Program(s) Served: Centennial Volunteer Ambassador intern (2015-2016)
Current Position: Volunteer and Youth Programs Coordinator at the National Park Service (Rock Creek Park)
Education Background: B.S. in Applied Ecology and Environmental Science, minor in Communications