Executive Summary
Strategic environmental education leader with 10+ years of progressive experience building and scaling innovative initiatives that advance STEM learning, conservation, and community engagement. Proven track record securing competitive grants from National Science Foundation (NSF) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and managing multi-million-dollar projects. Expert in stakeholder engagement, having cultivated more than 25 strategic partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, and schools. Demonstrated success developing high-impact programs serving over 250 participants with measurable outcomes in knowledge gain, behavior change, and local environmental action.
Leadership Competencies
Strategic Planning & Program Development • Organizational Leadership & Team Management • Grant Development & Resource Mobilization • Budget Administration & Financial Oversight • Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Building • Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Leadership • Program Evaluation & Impact Assessment • Community Engagement & Public Relations
Technical Skills
Geospatial Technology (ArcGIS Online, StoryMaps) • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms) • Learning Management Systems (Blackboard, PowerSchool) • Web Development (WordPress, Wix) • Survey Design (Qualtrics) • Content Creation (Canva, Adobe) • Automation (Zapier) • Collaboration & Communication (SharePoint, Teams, Zoom, Webex, Slack)
Professional Experience
Advancement Services Stewardship Coordinator
The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ | November 2025 - present
- Support donor stewardship efforts through timely acknowledgment letters, scholarship coordination, and data management in alignment with institutional goals
- Manage scholarship recipient outreach, database updates, and fund transfer documentation to ensure accuracy and compliance
- Draft, edit, and process correspondence, reports, and templates that enhance communication and operational efficiency
- Digitize and archive donor agreements and financial statements while maintaining strict confidentiality and data integrity
- Collaborate with Advancement staff to strengthen donor relations systems and promote a culture of transparency and engagement
Visiting Assistant Extension Educator: Natural Resources & the Environment
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT | August 2019 - August 2025
- Led development, delivery, and evaluation of environmental and conservation education programs engaging 250+ teens and families across Connecticut (2019-2024)
- Secured $236K in competitive external funding (EPA, Community Foundation) and contributed to $1.4M in team-secured grants
- Managed program budgets, personnel, contracts, purchasing, and expense tracking for multi-year projects
- Authored strategic communications including reports, social media content, newsletters, and press releases reaching 1,000+ community members annually
- Mentored graduate students and early-career professionals in program design, implementation, and evaluation
- Built 25+ community partnerships with municipalities, schools, community organizations, and government agencies to implement collaborative conservation projects
Academic Coordinator, Online Programs
Penn State University, University Park, PA | July 2018 - July 2019
- Managed operations for two fully online graduate certificate programs with 100+ enrollments annually
- Coordinated faculty, advisors, and support staff to ensure academic quality and student success
- Led strategic marketing campaigns for online program recruitment
- Oversaw budget management, student records, and compliance with university policies
Assistant Instructor & Graduate Research Assistant
Penn State University, University Park, PA | August 2013 - July 2018
- Designed and delivered undergraduate course (Ecology and Management of Fishes) for 20+ students, including curriculum development, lectures, labs, and assessments
- Conducted independent ecological research on behavior and evolution, resulting in 4 first-author peer-reviewed publications
- Mentored 10+ undergraduate research assistants in field and laboratory techniques
- Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship supporting 3 years of doctoral research ($138K)
Biology Teacher
Philadelphia Public Schools, Philadelphia, PA | September 2011 - June 2013
- Taught Biology and Environmental Science to 100+ high school students in an urban Title I school
- Developed inquiry-based curriculum aligned with state science standards
- Led professional development workshops for 25+ fellow teachers on outdoor education techniques
- Partnered with local environmental organizations to provide students with hands-on conservation experiences
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Biology
The Pennsylvania State University | 2018
Dissertation: Behavioral and evolutionary ecology of invasive fire ant interactions with native fence lizards
Master of Arts (MA), Biology
The Pennsylvania State University | 2016
Bachelor of Science (BS), Biology
McGill University | 2011
Specialization in Ecology and Evolution
Certifications
- Secondary Education Teaching Certificate - Pennsylvania (2011-2013)
Grants, Awards & Recognition
Grant Funding Secured
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Education Grant - Lead ($133K, 2023)
- Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut Environmental Education Grants - Lead ($60K, 2023; $30K, 2022)
- University of Connecticut (UConn) College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) Teaching Enhancement Grant - Team Member ($13K, 2023)
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovative Technology Experiences for Students & Teachers (ITEST) Grant - Team Member ($1.35M, 2022)
Recognition & Awards
- Facilitators' Choice Recognition, STEM for All Video Showcase - Lead (2021)
- Excellence in Land Conservation Award, Connecticut Land Conservation Council (2020)
- David & Nancy Bull Extension Innovation Award - UConn CAHNR Team ($5K, 2019)
Board & Committee Leadership
Connecticut Outdoor & Environmental Education Association (COEEA)
Board Member (2021-present) & Treasurer (current)
Provide strategic governance, financial oversight, and organizational leadership for statewide professional association
UConn College of Agriculture Health & Natural Resources Communications Committee
Department Representative (2023-2025)
Advise on communications strategy and public engagement initiatives
UConn Institute of the Environment BEDI Committee
Committee Member (2023-2024)
Advanced belonging, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives across the institute
Publications & Presentations
25 peer-reviewed publications (8 as first author) and 15+ national conference presentations with recent focus on environmental education program design, evaluation, and community engagement. Relevant research has informed best practices in informal science education and intergenerational learning.
Full publication list: Google Scholar
Selected Recent Publications
- Rodriguez, Campbell, Cisneros, and Freidenfelds. 2024. Daily Do Lesson Plan: How can we work with our families or other community members to address socio-environmental issues within our community? National Science Teaching Association.
- Freidenfelds, Deitloff, and Langkilde. 2023. Lessons from Lizards: Adaptation to Introduced Ants. Lessons in Conservation.
- Cisneros, Campbell, Freidenfelds, Lindemann, Elliot-Famularo, Chadwick, Dickson, and Park. 2023. Eco-digital storytelling: Engaging historically excluded populations in environmental action through mentoring, geospatial technology, and digital media storytelling. Frontiers in Education.
- Simmons, Campbell, Moss, Volin, Arnold, Cisneros, Chadwick, Dickson, and Freidenfelds. 2022. 'Part of our DNA': intergenerational family learning in informal science. International Journal of Science Education, Part B Communication and Public Engagement.
- Freidenfelds, Cisneros, Cabaniss, Colby, Meadows-McDonnell, Arnold, Campbell, Chadwick, Dickson, Moss, Simmons, Singh, and Volin. 2022. Pivoting during a pandemic: Transforming in-person environmental STEM field programs into immersive, experiential distance learning. Connected Science Learning.
- Cisneros, Simmons, Campbell, Freidenfelds, Arnold, Chadwick, Dickson, Moss, Rodriguez, and Volin. 2021. Program design principles to support teen-adult community conservation efforts. Frontiers in Education.
- Freidenfelds, Cisneros, Rodriguez, Byung-Yeol, Campbell, Arnold, Chadwick, Dickson, Moss, Volin, and Willig. 2020. Investigating human impacts on local water resources & exploring solutions. The American Biology Teacher.
Selected Recent Presentations
- North American Association for Environmental Education Conference. Pittsburgh, PA. 2024. Eco-Digital Storytellers: Environmental action through geospatial & media arts technology
- Connecticut Outdoor & Environmental Education Association Workshop. Virtual. 2023. Environmental Education Messaging
- Connecticut Land Conservation Conference. Wesleyan, CT. 2023. Culturally-relevant youth mentorship for inclusive environmental action
- Connecticut Outdoor & Environmental Education Association Conference. Windsor, CT. 2022. Measuring the impact of an informal science education program
- National Science Foundation STEM for All Video Showcase. Virtual. 2021. Socially-Distanced Community Conservation Partnerships
Contact
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