Sound to Sea Staff

After graduating with a BS in Elementary Education from the University of WI Milwaukee, Mindy joined the Peace Corps. For two years she lived on an island roughly the size of Bogue Banks, except that she was in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, rather than a few miles from the coast. As a Peace Corps Volunteer to the island nation of Kiribati, Mindy spent her time teaching at the Junior High School. One afternoon while swinging in her hammock in her stick house Mindy came across an announcement for the Sound to Sea Environmental Education Program; she somehow knew this would be her next adventure. She didn't know at the time that it would also become her home. Mindy has worked at Trinity Center since 2002, first as an instructor and then as the Sound to Sea Program Coordinator. As an instructor, Mindy enjoyed the unique atmosphere of teaching hands-on in an outdoor setting. As program coordinator, she found herself drawn to curriculum design and program development. She now enjoys doing both in her position as Trinity Center Program Director. In her free time you can find Mindy driving children to their sport practices and cheering them on from the sidelines. After adopting three wonderful kids several years ago, Mindy continues to welcome foster children into her life.

Meghan grew up in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. She chose to travel south for college to the University of Maryland. After graduating with a degree in zoology, Meghan went on a study abroad near Mt. Kilimanjaro in Kenya, studying wildlife management and ecology. She discovered her love of learning in nature amongst the elephants, wildebeest, and hyenas. She came to Sound to Sea in 2005 and taught as an instructor for 2 years. Meghan then moved to Washington State to be closer to family. There she worked as a naturalist at a wildlife park, teaching people about native northwestern animals like moose, wolves, and banana slugs. The sun, sand, and waves lured Meghan back to North Carolina and Sound to Sea in 2011, where she is now Program Coordinator. Meghan loves sharing her love of the natural world, especially mollusks, with anyone who would like to know. In her free time, you can find her collecting shells, playing outside, or sleeping.

Abby grew up in Union, New Jersey, and knew she loved the ocean from a very young age. She followed her heart to Boston, Massachusetts and in 2023 Abby graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in Marine Science and a passion for Science Communications. Striving to someday host her own science TV show, she created Abby4Oceans to share and create marine science stories with the world. She loves to talk about sharks and hopes to inspire a new generation of shark- lovers. Aside from her interests in environmental education and ocean conservation, Abby loves watching NFL football, relaxing at the beach, and spending time with her friends and family.

Rebecca (Becca) was born and raised in Missouri as the youngest of 5 rowdy kids. She got her undergraduate degree from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri where she studied Agriculture and environmental studies. An internship with the Missouri Department of Conservation fueled her interest in aquatic conservation and fish biology. Following graduation in 2023 she traveled to Alaska to study Salmon populations along the Koyukuk river. Although living the rugged outdoor lifestyle was fun, teaching and education is where her heart lies. Becca is currently pursuing her outdoor environmental education career as an instructor with Sound to Sea while completing her graduate degree in environmental education at Slipper Rock University, Pennsylvania.

Callie grew up in Orange, VA surrounded by the Shenandoah mountains which started her interest in the environment and conservation at a young age. She received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Environmental Policy at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. Throughout her life she has always had a strong passion to connect with nature and upon graduating in May 2024, she knew she wanted to help others create meaningful connections with their environment. She found Sound to Sea and loved their mission in helping students understand their connection to the Earth. In May, Callie started her journey with Sound to Sea and has loved every minute of it! In her free time she loves to play ultimate frisbee, going on hikes, and listening to music.

Coen grew up in St. Augustine, Florida near the ocean and salt marsh. For college, Coen moved north to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where they got their Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity. During their time at college, they took an interest in research of all kinds of life, but especially snakes, fish, and fungus. After graduating, Coen spent a year and a half working as an educator at the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program (CELP) in California, where they found a passion for education through adventure in the kelp forest. Coen is excited to explore the barrier island with all kinds of people, and share their love of nature. In their free time, Coen enjoys many different kinds of music, books, and video games, as well as walking the beach and quality time with friends and family.

Ella Glass is a recent graduate from Eckerd College where she received her BA in Environmental Studies and Anthropology. While at Eckerd, she explored the swamps of the Everglades and the beaches of the Gulf Coast, performed geospatial research on wildfires, and enjoyed spending time on her campus farm. Ella is passionate about all living things and how we, as humans, can improve our relationship with them. Having spent summers vacationing in North Carolina and wanting to further her experience in environmental education, Sound to Sea is the next stop on Ella’s path. In her free time, she enjoys printmaking, crocheting, and going to the beach.

Erin grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee, where the mountains sparked her deep passion for nature and conservation. Driven by this early fascination, she pursued a degree in Geology and Environmental Science at East Tennessee State University, graduating in 2024. Erin's love for the natural world was further fueled by her research on water quality and conservation in Ecuador during her college years. Her interest in science communication blossomed in the summer of 2022 when she worked as an interpretive ranger for Tennessee State Parks, igniting a desire to share her knowledge with others. This experience led her to apply for a position with Sound to Sea after graduation. Outside of her professional life, Erin is an avid explorer of nature. Whether she’s swimming, reading, writing, or hiking, she finds joy in connecting with the outdoors and discovering new experiences.

Kaitlyn’s love of nature began in her childhood while playing with her friends in the woods of the Hudson Valley in New York. She attended Lafayette College and earned degrees in Biology and Government/Law where she explored the intersections between biology, the environment, and society. Her passion for helping the environment and communities led her to lead initiatives at Lafayette through the sustainability committee for Student Government, service and community engagement organizations, resource management internships, and study abroad. Working as a summer camp counselor/swim instructor and later the assistant director, she fostered her love of children and education which later took her to Spain to teach English. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys listening to music, cooking, and water sports.

Maddy grew up on a small farm outside Odell, Nebraska, where her love for being outdoors and caring for animals began. She graduated from the University of Nebraska Kearney with her bachelors in Wildlife Biology and began her career at an environmental sustainability office, focusing on renewable energy and native landscaping projects. More recently she completed her scuba diving certification and a marine science course in the Bahamas, which further inspired her to pursue a career in environmental education to combine her passion for marine ecosystems and educating the next generation. In her free time she enjoys kayaking, thrifting, painting and being with her two cats or her favorite hawk

Wyatt grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York swimming in the brackish water of the Hudson River. His love of nature stemmed from family hikes, environmental after-school programs, and observing conservation in action. He decided to further pursue an education in the field by getting his BA in Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. An avid birder, he will be happy to talk about local species or share his pictures with anyone who asks. Aside from his love for the outdoors, Wyatt enjoys basketball, soccer, and listening to music as loud as it gets.