ARLINGTON, Va. – The Student Conservation Association (SCA) today announced the appointments of four new board members who will help support the nonprofit’s work of changing lives through service to nature.
“As we embark on a new chapter, we are thrilled to welcome to the board these knowledgeable and accomplished professionals who bring immense expertise and insight to the SCA,” said SCA Board Chair Gail Carmody. “We are excited to work together to make a positive impact as we continue the legacy of our conservation work.”
The SCA is led by a diverse group of Board Members, including leaders in both the public and private sectors who care deeply about the responsible use and protection of the natural environment and building the next generation of conservation leaders. The new board members will begin their terms on April 1, 2024, and can serve a maximum of two terms.
“As we welcome our new board members, we also welcome new opportunities to innovate and grow,” said SCA President and CEO Lidia Soto-Harmon. “We are honored to have such remarkable new board members whose valuable insights and contributions will be instrumental in driving our organization forward.”
The four new members are:
Karen Wawrzaszek, Regional Director & Senior Vice President, Northern Trust Wealth Management. Karen is a well-respected thought leader in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investments with extensive experience in financial strategic work. Karen is passionate about community service and serves as an Executive Committee Member and Investment Chair of the Meyer Foundation, Chairman of the Board for Teach for America D.C., and Finance Chair for Global Impact. She is a Global Advisory Council Member of Beyond the Billion, an organization dedicated to improving venture capital funding for women. She is also a committee member for 50/50 Women on Boards. Karen was named a Washingtonian Top Financial Adviser in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022 and is a graduate and featured member of Leadership Greater Washington’s Signature Program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Wichita State University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor.
Elisabeth Bradley, Chief Executive Officer, Forum One. Elisabeth brings over 15 years of experience in digital communications, the nonprofit sector, and fundraising to craft and implement successful strategic communications projects, campaigns, and organizational strategies. Elisabeth also has specialized expertise in crafting communications strategies for issue advocacy sectors. Prior to joining Forum One, Elisabeth worked directly within the mission-driven sector in key roles at both the Nature Conservancy and the League of Conservation Voters. She also worked at the United Nations in Paris and the Environmental Defense Fund in her early career. Elisabeth holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Columbia University—where she founded the Columbia Chapter of Engineers Without Borders—as well as a Master’s Degree in Global Policy Studies, International Energy, Environment, and Technology Policy from the LBJ School of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.
Nick Costides, President of Information Technology at UPS (retired). Rising through the ranks over a tenured career that spanned continents and lines of business to become UPS President of Information Technology, Nick is globally recognized for leading the development of multiple technology innovations that have disrupted and transformed the supply chain logistics and transportation industry. Since retiring from UPS, Nick serves as a Board Director and Strategic Advisor to Public and Private companies, and as an Advisor to Private Equity and Venture Capital firms. Nick currently serves on the Board of Directors of First Student, the largest student transportation company in North America and Robust.AI, an early-stage robotics and AI platform company. With a passion for serving the community, Nick currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for Points of Light and as President of the Board of Directors for The Conrad Foundation. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Nick received a Bachelor of Science from the City University of New York and currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
John Glaser, PhD, Executive-in-Residence, Harvard Medical School Executive Education. Dr. Glaser is a former senior vice president of population health at Cerner Corporation and former chief executive officer of Siemens Health Services. Prior to Siemens, John was chief information officer at Partners HealthCare. He serves on the boards of Carlton Willard Village, the Scottsdale Institute, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Lumeon, Wellsheet and Relatient. Dr. Glaser has received numerous industry awards, including the John P. Glaser Innovation Award (established by the School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Sciences Center), the William B. Stead Thought Leadership Award (American Medical Informatics Association) and the Lifetime Achievement Award (CHIME). He received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and has written over 200 articles and four books on the strategic application of IT in health care. He is on the faculty of the UTHealth School of Biomedical Informatics and the Harvard School of Public Health. He was previously on the faculty of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Glaser is a proud SCA alum who served in 1971 at North Cascades National Park in Washington.
About the Student Conservation Association
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces across the country. The SCA is devoted to building equitable access to nature, providing green job opportunities for young people and teaching members how to become environmental stewards. Founded in 1957, the SCA is committed to building the next generation of conservation leaders dedicated to the lifelong protection of the environment and the communities we serve.
