The Southeast Young Leaders Council (YLC) is open to early career professionals 18-30 in the southeast region with a passion for advocacy and National Park preservation.
The YLC is an opportunity for professional development and relationship building across the southeast under the mentorship and advisement of NPCA staff, NextGen Advisory Council, and Regional Council. Members of the council are encouraged to explore and deepen their interests in the many facets of civic engagement related to the national park units to build skills relevant to their current or future career goals.
Joana Lagunes Arauz
Colombia, SC
Joana Lagunes Arauz, an Environmental Engineering student at Benedict College, excels in analytical thinking and problem-solving with a strong foundation in math and physics.
Felicia Berube
Knoxville, TN
Felicia is a hiking, rock-climbing, and all-things-outdoors enthusiast who recently settled in Knoxville, Tennessee after growing up exploring the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Michelle (Meech) Carter
Durham, NC
Originally from a rural town near San Diego, Meech (she/her) moved to Durham, North Carolina three years ago to pursue her passion of environmental advocacy.
Olivia Fair
Fayetteville, AR
Olivia Fair recently graduated from the University of Arkansas where she studied political science, communications, and gender studies.
Yulia Gu
Atlanta, GA
Natively from New Jersey, Yulia is a junior at Emory University pursuing a double major in Environmental Science and Anthropology.
Melinda Gullett
Crestwood, KY
Melinda is a nature enthusiast and Geospatial Analyst from Crestwood, Kentucky.
Erin Hackenmueller
Tuscaloosa, AL
Erin Hackenmueller is a storyteller, an outdoor recreation enthusiast, a history fanatic, and a community leader.
Alan Pomeroy
Raleigh, NC
Alan is the Program Director for the North Carolina Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission, a state nonprofit with a mission to provide outdoor learning opportunities for youth.
Anukool Vasudevan
Duluth, GA
Anukool is currently a Senior Manager of Customer Relationship Management for a large retail organization. He is responsible for the marketing contact strategy across multiple communication channels.