Two new staff members joined Merry Lea in July 2016. Katie Stoltzfus began working as an environmental educator and the new public program coordinator on July 1. Marcos Stoltzfus arrived July 18 and is the director of environmental outreach. This includes overseeing both the PreK to 12 environmental education program and public programs. His role includes working with MAEE students in their practicum experience. Despite the name in common, the two are not related.
Katie Stoltzfus is a 2016 graduate of Merry Lea’s Master’s in Environmental Education program. She also has a B.A. in Conservation Leadership from Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Katie’s passion for environmental education grew during her time serving as an AmeriCorps member for the U.S. Forest Service in Elkins, West Virginia in 2015.
Marcos brings more than 10 years of experience in informal and environmental education settings. He graduated from Goshen College with majors in Biology and Environmental Studies, and has worked at nature centers and museums in Colorado, New York, and Minnesota. He completed a Masters in Nonprofit Management, where his thesis focused on nonprofits engaging in urban farming practices.
Jennifer Schrock, who coordinated Merry Lea’s public programs for the past 12 years, continues at Merry Lea in other roles related to communications and Mennonite Creation Care Network. Joel Pontius, who previously headed the Pre-K to 12 team, is now director of the Sustainability Leadership Semester.
