Sara leads the administration and organizational growth and development for the Wildlife Leadership Academy. Sara was appointed as Executive Director of the non-profit in January of 2023. She also leads curriculum development, implementation, and assessment for all aquatic field schools. Sara is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with her B.S. (Schreyer Honors College, 2014), Master’s degree (2016) and Ph.D. (2023) in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. She has studied many aspects of aquatic ecosystems including the diets of benthic fishes, microhabitat preferences of fishes, aquatic macroinvertebrate communities, environmental DNA (eDNA) of aquatic macroinvertebrates, and physical variation of Brook Trout across Pennsylvania. Sara has taught several undergraduate courses including topics in general biology, animal identification, natural resources policy, and field Ichthyology.
Katie leads recruitment and marketing for the Academy field schools and post field school student and alumni mentorship and engagement including coordination of college visit days, students’ attendance at professional meetings, and field trips. Katie is a Penn State graduate, receiving her M.S. in Agricultural Extension Education, and her B.S. in Forest Biology, with a minor in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management. While at Penn State, Katie participated in a number of entomological research projects, including virus as a control for Gypsy Moth, monitoring Asian Longhorn Beetle populations, and exploring and rearing biological control agents of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.
Lexi provides field school and office administrative support as well as conducting staff training and risk management. Lexi is a graduate from the University of Mount Union (Alliance, OH), receiving a B.A. in Marketing with a minor in Sports Business. While in college, Lexi was highly involved on campus throughout her four years becoming the Executive Director of Up Til’ Dawn, an organization that raises money and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, this is where Lexi found her passion of working with non-profit organizations. Lexi moved from the city life of Akron, OH to Centre County, PA where she found Wildlife Leadership Academy and knew this would be the best opportunity to grow both her career and passion for others.
Katie manages the distribution of the NextGen blog as well as other social media engagement, website content, and publication design materials. Katie is a Wildlife Leadership Academy alum, graduating from the PA Gobblers field school in 2017. She graduated from Juniata College with a degree in Integrated Media Arts with a secondary emphasis in Marketing. While in college, Katie focused on her capstone research project where she dove into historical branding techniques – specifically letterpress printing and typography. The goal of her research was to learn the ways of the past in order to inspire the work of the future.
Dr. Gary Alt, Terrestrial Curriculum Coordinator
Gary leads terrestrial field school curriculum development, implementation, and assessment. Gary received an associate degree in Wildlife Technology from the DuBois Campus of the Pennsylvania State University in 1972, a B.S. in Wildlife Science from Utah State University in 1974, a M.S. in Wildlife Management from the Pennsylvania State University in 1977, and a Ph.D. in Forest Resources Science from West Virginia University in 1989. Gary worked as a wildlife research biologist for the Pennsylvania Game Commission for over 27 years: 22 running their statewide black bear and 5 running their statewide deer research and management programs.
Board of Directors
Joseph Reibman, Esq. (President)
Partner in Reibman and Reibman, Esquires. President and Founder of Glendon Properties, Inc. Honorably discharged as First Lieutenant with duty assignment as Assistant to the Staff Judge Advocate and United States Army Intelligence Commend. Awarded Army Commendation Medal. Former National Board of Director for the Alliance for Children and Families.
R. Charles Stehly (Vice President)
Director of Business Development for Corporate Environments of Bethlehem. Prior to accepting his current position with Corporate Environments in 1996, Mr. Stehly was President/CEO of Stehly Woodcrafts from 1978-1996 and President/CEO of SIGNCORP from 1992-1996.
Ann DePaulis, Esq. (Secretary)
Former business law associate with Duane, Morris & Heckscher and Thomas, Thomas & Hafer. Founder and former partner in the law firm of Salzmann & DePaulis. Former Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Board of Directors for Appalachian Audubon Society.
John Kline (Treasurer)
President of Kline Associates, Ltd., which represents clients’ interests at the state level in Harrisburg. John’s passion for the outdoors has led to a strong presence in Harrisburg advocating for outdoor pursuits such as hunting, fishing trapping and the support of wildlife habitat.
Tracie Witter
PPL Electric Utilities Regional Affairs Director, represents 9 PA counties advocating for PPL with elected officials, media and non-profits who benefit from the PPL Foundation. Prior to PPL, Tracie worked in Healthcare communications for 20 years. A lifelong skier, hiker, camper and canoer, Tracie and her family are very active and appreciate the outdoors.
Ralph Martone
Retired physics teacher, with advanced degrees in biology, physics, marketing and economics. Currently serves on board of directors for the Wildlife For Everyone Foundation, Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, National Wild Turkey Federation and Pennsylvania Club. Previously served on the Board of Commissioners for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Active in conservation at the local, state and national levels.
Peter Duncan (Honorary Director)
Deputy Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources, New York Department of Conservation (Retired). Former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources. Former Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
In Memoriam
In 2023, we lost Honorary Director, James Brett. James was the co-founder of the PA Institute for Conservation Education. Former Governor’s Adviser on Conservation and Sportsmen’s Issues. Former Curator of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary (26 years). Founded and directed an international intern program and the Jim Brett Global Conservation Fund. Lectured internationally on ecology, field natural history, global conservation perspectives and biodiversity.
Our Team
Dr. Sara Mueller, Executive Director
smueller@wildlifeleadershipacademy.org
570-245-8518
Sara leads the administration and organizational growth and development for the Wildlife Leadership Academy. Sara was appointed as Executive Director of the non-profit in January of 2023. She also leads curriculum development, implementation, and assessment for all aquatic field schools. Sara is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with her B.S. (Schreyer Honors College, 2014), Master’s degree (2016) and Ph.D. (2023) in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. She has studied many aspects of aquatic ecosystems including the diets of benthic fishes, microhabitat preferences of fishes, aquatic macroinvertebrate communities, environmental DNA (eDNA) of aquatic macroinvertebrates, and physical variation of Brook Trout across Pennsylvania. Sara has taught several undergraduate courses including topics in general biology, animal identification, natural resources policy, and field Ichthyology.
Katie Cassidy, Director of Outreach and Alumni Engagement
kcassidy@wildlifeleadershipacademy.org
570-939-5109
Katie leads recruitment and marketing for the Academy field schools and post field school student and alumni mentorship and engagement including coordination of college visit days, students’ attendance at professional meetings, and field trips. Katie is a Penn State graduate, receiving her M.S. in Agricultural Extension Education, and her B.S. in Forest Biology, with a minor in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management. While at Penn State, Katie participated in a number of entomological research projects, including virus as a control for Gypsy Moth, monitoring Asian Longhorn Beetle populations, and exploring and rearing biological control agents of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.
Lexi Chisholm, Field School and Office Administrator
lchisholm@wildlifeleadershipacademy.org
570-317-7294
Lexi provides field school and office administrative support as well as conducting staff training and risk management. Lexi is a graduate from the University of Mount Union (Alliance, OH), receiving a B.A. in Marketing with a minor in Sports Business. While in college, Lexi was highly involved on campus throughout her four years becoming the Executive Director of Up Til’ Dawn, an organization that raises money and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, this is where Lexi found her passion of working with non-profit organizations. Lexi moved from the city life of Akron, OH to Centre County, PA where she found Wildlife Leadership Academy and knew this would be the best opportunity to grow both her career and passion for others.
Katie Mace, Multimedia Marketing Specialist
kmace@wildlifeleadershipacademy.org
570-651-5427
Katie manages the distribution of the NextGen blog as well as other social media engagement, website content, and publication design materials. Katie is a Wildlife Leadership Academy alum, graduating from the PA Gobblers field school in 2017. She graduated from Juniata College with a degree in Integrated Media Arts with a secondary emphasis in Marketing. While in college, Katie focused on her capstone research project where she dove into historical branding techniques – specifically letterpress printing and typography. The goal of her research was to learn the ways of the past in order to inspire the work of the future.
Dr. Gary Alt, Terrestrial Curriculum Coordinator
Gary leads terrestrial field school curriculum development, implementation, and assessment. Gary received an associate degree in Wildlife Technology from the DuBois Campus of the Pennsylvania State University in 1972, a B.S. in Wildlife Science from Utah State University in 1974, a M.S. in Wildlife Management from the Pennsylvania State University in 1977, and a Ph.D. in Forest Resources Science from West Virginia University in 1989. Gary worked as a wildlife research biologist for the Pennsylvania Game Commission for over 27 years: 22 running their statewide black bear and 5 running their statewide deer research and management programs.
Board of Directors
Joseph Reibman, Esq. (President)
Partner in Reibman and Reibman, Esquires. President and Founder of Glendon Properties, Inc. Honorably discharged as First Lieutenant with duty assignment as Assistant to the Staff Judge Advocate and United States Army Intelligence Commend. Awarded Army Commendation Medal. Former National Board of Director for the Alliance for Children and Families.
R. Charles Stehly (Vice President)
Director of Business Development for Corporate Environments of Bethlehem. Prior to accepting his current position with Corporate Environments in 1996, Mr. Stehly was President/CEO of Stehly Woodcrafts from 1978-1996 and President/CEO of SIGNCORP from 1992-1996.
Ann DePaulis, Esq. (Secretary)
Former business law associate with Duane, Morris & Heckscher and Thomas, Thomas & Hafer. Founder and former partner in the law firm of Salzmann & DePaulis. Former Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Board of Directors for Appalachian Audubon Society.
John Kline (Treasurer)
President of Kline Associates, Ltd., which represents clients’ interests at the state level in Harrisburg. John’s passion for the outdoors has led to a strong presence in Harrisburg advocating for outdoor pursuits such as hunting, fishing trapping and the support of wildlife habitat.
Tracie Witter
PPL Electric Utilities Regional Affairs Director, represents 9 PA counties advocating for PPL with elected officials, media and non-profits who benefit from the PPL Foundation. Prior to PPL, Tracie worked in Healthcare communications for 20 years. A lifelong skier, hiker, camper and canoer, Tracie and her family are very active and appreciate the outdoors.
Ralph Martone
Retired physics teacher, with advanced degrees in biology, physics, marketing and economics. Currently serves on board of directors for the Wildlife For Everyone Foundation, Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, National Wild Turkey Federation and Pennsylvania Club. Previously served on the Board of Commissioners for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Active in conservation at the local, state and national levels.
Peter Duncan (Honorary Director)
Deputy Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources, New York Department of Conservation (Retired). Former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources. Former Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
In Memoriam
In 2023, we lost Honorary Director, James Brett. James was the co-founder of the PA Institute for Conservation Education. Former Governor’s Adviser on Conservation and Sportsmen’s Issues. Former Curator of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary (26 years). Founded and directed an international intern program and the Jim Brett Global Conservation Fund. Lectured internationally on ecology, field natural history, global conservation perspectives and biodiversity.