Resource Oct 3, 2025

Northeast Young Leaders Council

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National Parks Conservation Association’s northeast team is thrilled to announce the establishment of a Northeast Young Leaders Council to assist us in our program and advocacy work.

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Hanging out at Stonewall National Monument

  camera icon © Cal Goodin

Open to individuals aged 18-34, this group seeks to provide an opportunity to more deeply engage with park issues and foster greater participation in NPCA’s park protection strategies.

NYAC volunteer photo

Volunteering in support of our national parks comes in many forms.

 camera icon © Eric Miller

Members of the Northeast Young Leaders Council will be able to participate in advocacy trainings and guided park tours from NPCA staff, gain familiarity with some of the most pressing issues our parks are facing and learn how to help. Council members will hear from speakers in the field and contribute to the protection of these wonderful parks that we love. Members of the Council will also assist NPCA staff in improving programs, serve as an ambassador for NPCA to local communities, gather input and serve as a liaison to local partner organizations, and more.

2025–2026 Cohort

Katie McCreedy Northeast Young Leaders Council Katie is an epidemiologist and doctoral student in population health sciences at Northeastern University. She is an avid advocate for harm reduction and health policy through her research and advocacy work over the past 8 years. She lived in a minivan after completing her MPH for 5 months. She traveled to 34 national parks across the U.S. and 12 in Canada. She is an avid hiker, skier, surfer, and disc golfer.
Allison Sughrue Northeast Young Leaders Council Allison Sughrue is a sophomore at the University of New Hampshire, majoring in Wildlife and Conservation Biology with minors in Environmental Justice and Zoology. Having grown up surrounded by the White Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, she has developed a deep appreciation for the natural world. Allison hopes to blend her passion for nature with her love of helping others to drive positive change in her community. Her favorite activities are hiking, paddleboarding, reading, and playing with her dog.
Zak Kaletsch Northeast Young Leaders Council Zak is the Senior Associate of Advocacy and Outreach at the NYC Bird Alliance, where he works with communities across New York City, city officials, and partner organizations to grow awareness and inspire action for bird conservation. After spending five years outside the City working in a range of roles across sustainability, outdoor recreation, and conservation, he earned his Master’s in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University in December 2024. When he’s not working, he enjoys skiing, fishing, hiking, and most things outdoors. His favorite National Park is Acadia National Park.
Toluwalase Akinwunmi Northeast Young Leaders Council Tolu is a conservation professional currently working for NYS Parks doing stewardship and compliance work. She recently completed a fellowship at the Open Space Institute Land Trust where she has sharpened skills in trail planning, community engagement, qualitative research, and spatial analysis. In the future, she aspires to combine her passion for environmental conservation with legal studies, in order to safeguard access to parks and outdoor recreation for all populations.
Emily Marturano Northeast Young Leaders Council Emily Marturano is a museum scholar, and a proud New Jersey native. She holds an MA in Museum Studies from New York University as well as a BA in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh. Currently, Emily works as a Curatorial Assistant in Princeton. Her research interests include archaeology, the impact of cultural identity on the museum experience, and non-traditional heritage spaces. In her free time, Emily enjoys hiking local trails, baking, and horror movies.
Marie-Carmen Ramirez-Zamora Northeast Young Leaders Council Marie-Carmen Ramirez-Zamora is a Junior at Roger Williams University pursuing a Bachelors of the Arts in Secondary Education and History and a minor in Public Humanities and the Arts. Originally from Prince George’s County Maryland, Marie-Carmen has long connected with the public history sights across the northeast and the D.C. Metro area from state parks, museums, and memorials. She aspires to work in public facing roles to connect with communities through history and civics.
Shaye DiPasquale Northeast Young Leaders Council Shaye DiPasquale is a communications and social impact professional with over six years of experience at mission-driven organizations. Working in sustainability, she’s passionate about advancing the circular economy and tackling the global waste crisis. With expertise in public relations, social media, and digital storytelling, Shaye brings a strategic, people-centered approach to advocacy. Outside of work, she enjoys collecting National Parks Passport stamps and aims to visit all 50 states.
Maggie McConnell Northeast Young Leaders Council My name is Maggie, I live in Brooklyn, New York. I have an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Environmental Studies and currently work for the New York City Housing Authority. I’m passionate about the outdoors and hold a deep love for the national parks. I am also an artist and love working towards creative solutions that are people-centered and sustainable. I’m really excited to be a part of this council!
Scott Janes Northeast Young Leaders Council Scott Janes is a J.D. candidate at Boston University School of Law, interested in studying how environmental, climate, and sustainability legal issues interact with other fields. He has always enjoyed the outdoors and spent the summer after receiving his bachelor’s degree working as a Recreation Fee Technician at Acadia National Park. In his free time, he enjoys camping, biking, cooking, writes for a sketch comedy group at BU, and loves helping friends plan Acadia trips.
Lindsey Maschler Northeast Young Leaders Council Lindsey Maschler is a Junior at the University of Vermont double majoring in Sustainability, Ecology, & Policy and Parks, Recreation, & Tourism. She is the founder and president of the UVM Run on Climate Club and is a Policy Intern at the Casella Center for Circular Economy & Sustainability. Lindsey is passionate about protecting natural spaces, fostering inclusive recreation, and climate advocacy. In her free time, she likes exploring New England, reading, hiking, and being outside.
Summer Hodgdon Northeast Young Leaders Council I grew up in Dennysville, ME and have lived in Maine my entire life. Growing up being immersed outdoors made my connection with biology and conservation very strong. I hiked the Appalachian Trail after graduating college with a Marine Biology degree. I now work as the Natural Area Steward for Roosevelt Campobello International Park and enjoy learning ways to make the park as ecologically productive as possible.
Becca Stanley Northeast Young Leaders Council Becca Stanley has served as Friends of Acadia’s Recreation Technician Manager for ten seasons, leading visitor use research in Acadia National Park, including managing field counters and administering surveys. She holds a B.S. in Natural Resources from Northland College and an M.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Maine. Her past experience includes work as a wilderness ranger in the Boundary Waters and research in Grand Canyon National Park. She enjoys hiking, playing chess, and time with her husband and two children.
Audrey Noguera Northeast Young Leaders Council Audrey Noguera is a student at Brown University studying Environmental Science. Originally from Maplewood, NJ, she authored a children’s book called Tiny Travelers Find Your Forest, inspired by long walks in her neighborhood. The book aims to inspire young readers of all backgrounds to explore and protect the nature around them. Her favorite national park is Zion, whose vast canyons remind her why she chose to dedicate her voice to protecting these shared landscapes.
Danny DiMarino Northeast Young Leaders Council Danny DiMarino is an educator and nonprofit professional working to steward and improve New York City’s public spaces. He currently works as the Development Lead at Street Lab, a Brooklyn-based placemaking organization, and has previous experience working in public programming, volunteer management, and visitor engagement at various outdoor learning centers, zoos, and parks. Danny received his MA in Biology from Miami University and a BS in Environmental Science & BA in Theatre from The Ohio State University.
Grace Croken Northeast Young Leaders Council Grace Croken is an information professional pursuing her MS in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute, and holds a BS in Biological Anthropology from Arizona State University. With a focus on information freedom, Grace believes that the national parks must comprehensively reflect their complex histories. Inspired by the intersection of landscape and human history, she hopes to expand access to the stories that shape our shared heritage. She is a New Jersey native, and her favorite park is Joshua Tree National Park in California.

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