Our Mission
The Wicomico Environmental Trust champions a healthy environment for all.
Meet Our Board
Charlie Stegman, President
Dr. Charles Stegman is a Family Medicine Specialist in Princess Anne, MD, and has more than four decades of experience in the medical field. He graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1977. He is affiliated with medical facilities Edward McCready Memorial Hospital and TidalHealth Peninsula Regional Medical Center. Charlie is an avid Creekwatcher and serves on WET's Advocacy and Public Policy Committee, as well as cochairing WET's Annual Dinner Committee.
Kathie Wright, Treasurer
Dr. Kathleen Wright is a longtime resident of Wicomico County. She studied accountancy at Salisbury University, subsequently obtaining both Certified Public Accounting and Certified Management Accounting licensure from the State of Maryland, and pursued a PhD in Accounting and Information Systems at The George Washington University. She joined the faculty of the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University in 2000, teaching and researching across the accounting and information systems disciplines.
Carol Dunahoo, Secretary
Carol grew up in Salisbury and recently retired to Whitehaven after a legal career in Washington and New York. She served in several federal government positions, working on regulatory, legislative, and litigation matters and with other countries and international organizations, and also advised clients in private practice on policy and dispute resolution.
Madeleine Adams
Madeleine became an environmental advocate as a child in California, writing letters to federal officials in support of the Sierra Club-led effort to stop the proposed damming of Marble and Bridge canyons on the Colorado River. Later, she worked on staff at the national headquarters of The Nature Conservancy and the National Wildlife Federation. She has served on WET’s board 2008-2015 and 2019-present.
Carolyn Brooks
Carolyn, Professor Emerita at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), holds a BS and MS in biology from Tuskegee University, and a PhD in Microbiology from Ohio State University. During her career at UMES, she held numerous research, administrative, and leadership positions, culminating in her role as Research Director of 1890 Land-Grant Programs and Dean of the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. She has received numerous awards, including being recognized as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, and featured in “Distinguished African American Scientists of the 20th Century.”
Dan Savoy
Dan is a retired educator. He is an active Wicomico River Creekwatcher and the recipient of the 2017 John Grout Award for Environmental Stewardship. He volunteers regularly with organizations connected with K-12 students and programs that assist vulnerable adults living in our community.
Aurelio Giannitti
Aurelio is the cofounder and codirector of the Youth Environmental Action Summit, and the manager of development, partnerships, and outreach for Wicomico Public Libraries. He was born and raised in New Mexico, graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, and now resides in Salisbury with his wife, Elise, and his furry son, a Bouvier des Flandres named Oxford.
Jean Siers
Jean recently moved to Wicomico County from North Carolina, and is the Delmarva Regional Director for Society of St. Andrew, a national food rescue/distribution nonprofit. Jean grew up on a farm in northern Minnesota and has a degree in political science from the University of Minnesota.
Jennifer Nyland
Dr. Nyland is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and Director of the Henson Honors Program in Science and Mathematics at Salisbury University. She is passionate about teaching, utilizing active learning techniques to encourage student engagement. Dr. Nyland directs laboratory analyses of Wicomico River Creekwatchers samples, overseeing the student volunteers and preparing the annual watershed report since 2021. Her dedication to environmental protection inspired an honors course on environmental sustainability and biodiversity. Her research focuses on the impacts of environmental exposures on mechanisms of immune modulation and risks for disease.
Linda Parry
Linda joins WET with a strong background in local government, having held positions previously with the City of Decatur, Georgia, the New Orleans Transit Authority, the Town of Manchester, Connecticut, and most recently with Wicomico Public Library. Her positions and experience gained at the library help WET to further its strategic goals in identifying partners and funding resources.
Meet Our Staff
Susan Parker, Creekwatchers Coordinator
Susan grew up in the Salisbury area and graduated from Wicomico High School in 1973. She attended DTCC and holds an AS degree and a BS in Elementary Education. She led a prestigious 28-year career in journalism at The Daily Times in Salisbury. Susan joined WET's Board of Directors in 2019 and was later hired as the Wicomico River Creekwatchers Coordinator. She currently lives in Salisbury with her family and three cats, and enjoys crocheting, reading, music, and spending time outdoors.
Erin Stubbs, Program Manager
Erin, a Maryland Eastern Shore native with a rich blend of expertise in environmental studies, business, and communications from Salisbury University. Her background includes leadership roles such as SGA sustainability senator and president of the Environmental Student Association, alongside hands-on experience from a study abroad in Costa Rica and internships focused on environmental conservation at ShoreRivers and the Rediscovery Centre in Dublin, Ireland. Beyond her professional pursuits, Erin is passionate about the outdoors, travel, sustainable living, and embracing her new role as a mom.
Malika Brown, ShoreCorps Member
Malika Brown is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where she earned her degree in Environmental Science with a focus on marine science. With experience in marine microbiology and ecotoxicology labs, as well as a strong background in research applications from her associate degree in biotechnology, Malika is passionate about environmental education and research. She plans to pursue a PhD in biological oceanography to further her work on the effects of human activities on aquatic life. A former NOAA EPP & MSI Undergraduate Fellow, she is dedicated to preserving marine ecosystems and enjoys snorkeling, fishing, and traveling, with a goal of visiting all 50 states by 2030.
WET board members plant bald cypress trees in Salisbury
Our History
WET was founded in 1989 by a small group concerned about the county’s environmental policies (or lack thereof). During WET's first five years, its principal efforts were directed at public education about environmental issues.
In 2005, the Board of Directors secured IRS nonprofit status and focused on the rapidly increasing county sprawl development.
In 2011, water quality and the health of the Wicomico River and its watershed were added to WET’s mission. WET worked with government and other NGOs to develop a watershed management plan for the Wicomico River. In 2016, WET stepped into the lead position of volunteer coordination, outreach, communication, and funding for the Wicomico Creekwatchers program.
In recent years, WET’s advocacy has included active engagement with issues related to waste management, clean energy, clean water, wastewater treatment, public health risks, and environmental equity.