Our Highline Voices Environmental Science Center
Joanna Stodden - Executive Director, Environmental Science Center She was born and raised in the rivers, forests, and mountains of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Coast Salish peoples. After graduating with a BS in field biology from Evergreen State College, she worked for several environmental consulting firms conducting stream surveys for amphibians and salmon habitats all over Southeast Alaska. She eventually became lonely among the grizzly bears and mosquitoes and felt a strong desire to share the remarkable biodiversity of our earth with others. She has taught environmental education on beaches, forests, wetlands, aboard tall ships, in school gardens, and on a beach with the third-greatest tidal exchange in the world! She began teaching Beach Heroes Programs for the Environmental Science Center in 2009 and served as ESC’s Program Manager from 2015-2019. Joanna is delighted to advocate for outdoor programming in South King County and feels honored to be able to partner with dedicated and talented teachers, parents, students, and community members who understand the value of stepping outside of the four walls of the classroom. You will most likely find Joanna squawking and dancing with the herons or following an ant back to her colony alongside her busy and inquisitive toddler. Joanna@EnvironmentalScienceCenter.org (she/her) Orian Grant - Teen Gardens & Restoration Coordinator Orian has long felt a connection to communities and the environment coming from rural Xenia, Ohio. While studying sustainability and environmental science at Pacific Lutheran University, they assumed a position as Sustainability Coordinator in 2011. This experience emphasized the intrinsic connection between our food systems, water and our global oceans. Since then, Orian has committed 15 years of working in environmental and marine science through STEM and outdoor education and 12 years of permaculture and landscaping design. Applying these skills in 2020, Orian co-founded a BIPOC urban farming organization titled Black Star Farmer, with their experience providing insight into the programming and mission development. Orian@EnvironmentalScienceCenter.org (they/them)
Joanna Stodden - Executive Director, Environmental Science Center She was born and raised in the rivers, forests, and mountains of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Coast Salish peoples. After graduating with a BS in field biology from Evergreen State College, she worked for several environmental consulting firms conducting stream surveys for amphibians and salmon habitats all over Southeast Alaska. She eventually became lonely among the grizzly bears and mosquitoes and felt a strong desire to share the remarkable biodiversity of our earth with others. She has taught environmental education on beaches, forests, wetlands, aboard tall ships, in school gardens, and on a beach with the third-greatest tidal exchange in the world! She began teaching Beach Heroes Programs for the Environmental Science Center in 2009 and served as ESC’s Program Manager from 2015-2019. Joanna is delighted to advocate for outdoor programming in South King County and feels honored to be able to partner with dedicated and talented teachers, parents, students, and community members who understand the value of stepping outside of the four walls of the classroom. You will most likely find Joanna squawking and dancing with the herons or following an ant back to her colony alongside her busy and inquisitive toddler. Joanna@EnvironmentalScienceCenter.org (she/her) Orian Grant - Teen Gardens & Restoration Coordinator Orian has long felt a connection to communities and the environment coming from rural Xenia, Ohio. While studying sustainability and environmental science at Pacific Lutheran University, they assumed a position as Sustainability Coordinator in 2011. This experience emphasized the intrinsic connection between our food systems, water and our global oceans. Since then, Orian has committed 15 years of working in environmental and marine science through STEM and outdoor education and 12 years of permaculture and landscaping design. Applying these skills in 2020, Orian co-founded a BIPOC urban farming organization titled Black Star Farmer, with their experience providing insight into the programming and mission development. Orian@EnvironmentalScienceCenter.org (they/them)