Dr. Mele Wheaton serves as Associate Director of Program Strategy for Stanford's Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER), bringing extensive expertise in environmental education and conservation research. Her academic foundation includes a BA in Biology and Environmental Studies and a PhD in Education with emphasis in Science and Math from UC Santa Cruz. Before her academic career, she worked as a field biologist and taught environmental education across Alaska, Arizona, and California. Her research portfolio spans environmental behavior change, nature-based tourism impact studies in the Galapagos and California, and initiatives promoting equity in conservation education. At Stanford, she teaches several graduate-level courses including "E-IPER Current Topics Seminar," "Graduate Practicum in Environment and Resources," and "Introduction to Interdisciplinary Environmental Research and Practice." Dr. Wheaton has earned notable recognition including the Chancellor's Dissertation Year Fellowship and the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation Fellowship. Her recent work includes developing innovative environmental education programs and co-creating a design thinking-based course for environmental educators through Stanford's Social Ecology Lab

Dr. Nicole Ardoin, a transformative figure in environmental education, serves as Associate Professor at Stanford's Doerr School of Sustainability, Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment, and Director of the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER). Her remarkable journey from Grand Canyon park ranger to acclaimed academic exemplifies her deep commitment to environmental stewardship and education. As director of the Social Ecology Lab, she leads groundbreaking research on environmental behavior and community-based conservation, employing innovative mixed-method approaches including ethnography, network analysis, and participatory observation. Her work uniquely bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications, focusing on how place-based connections and social-ecological interactions influence environmental decision-making. Dr. Ardoin's academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Social Ecology from Yale University, complementing her extensive field experience. Her influence extends beyond academia through significant roles as associate editor of Environmental Education Research, trustee of the California Academy of Sciences, and advisor to numerous environmental organizations. Her research methodology integrates diverse approaches to understand and promote environmental behavior change, while her leadership in E-IPER has established new paradigms for interdisciplinary environmental education. Through community-based participatory research and innovative teaching methods, she continues to shape the future of environmental education and sustainability practices, making complex environmental challenges more accessible and actionable for diverse audiences.