Wicomico-nature-WET

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. 

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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.” 

Mike Folkoff

Mike is Professor Emeritus of Geography & Geosciences at Salisbury University, with teaching and research interests in soil genesis and hydrology, anthropomorphic effects on the biosphere, and environment modeling. His administration experience includes Chair of the Department of Geography & Geosciences, Associate Dean and Acting Dean of the Henson School of Science at Salisbury University. He continues an active research agenda, focusing on the land use change on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.

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. 

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Judith Hearthway

Judith continues practice as an income tax preparer although she has retired from her main profession as a Nurse Practitioner.  Her years of valuable experience with tax preparation offer great insight and assistance to WET's nonprofit status. She loves planting trees and her six grandchildren, who are the reason she plants.

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.

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. 


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. 

Dylan Laconich

Dylan, the Sustainability Specialist for the city of Salisbury, brings his expertise and passion for urban and regional planning to the Wicomico Environmental Trust (WET). Graduating from Salisbury University in Urban and Regional Planning. Dylan enjoys kayak fishing and writing, revealing a deep appreciation for the natural world. A fun fact about him is his admiration for orcas, stemming from his upbringing in San Francisco. 

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.

David Rudow, ShoreCorps Member

David Rudow, a devoted environmentalist and Marine Geosciences student poised to enter his senior year, combines his academic pursuits with a fervent commitment to the Chesapeake Bay's welfare. As a designer at an engineering firm for three years and an enduring intern with the Department of Natural Resources' aquatic education resources team, David's career is underscored by his passion for the environment and community engagement. Notably, he has received acclaim for his proactive role in organizing a Black Lives Matter protest in Annapolis in 2020 and boasts an impressive personal achievement of catching a 50-inch redfish from a kayak in the bay. As a ShoreCorps member and creekwatchers coordinator, David spearheads efforts to streamline creekwatchers operations and enhance volunteer engagement, evidenced by his successful organization of the creekwatchers season and innovative contributions like the creation of an interactive map for creekwatchers. Driven by a desire to directly impact local waterways positively, David's initiatives, including leading a fishing tournament focused on invasive species, reflect his holistic approach to environmental stewardship. Off duty, he is an avid kayak fisherman, a trait that embodies his love for the outdoors and dedication to exploring and preserving aquatic ecosystems. 

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

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Our Partners