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 the organization’s marketing and communications efforts to tell the story of WLA and showcase its impact on Conservation Ambassadors, communities, and conservation. Through a mix of digital, print, and multimedia storytelling, she helps bring WLA’s programs, people, and mission to life. 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.
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.
Kala Davis (Treasurer) Wildlife biologist and environmental regulatory compliance consultant with an advanced degree in Environmental Science, alumni of 2008 Bucktails camp and an instructor since 2017. Kala has worked and studied within the environmental field for over 17 years, and continues to do so as an Environmental Project Manager.
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.
Eric Beaver Manager of Projects & SIR for PPL Electric Utilities Corporation overseeing environmental projects and compliance. Former environmental scientist for Rettew associates and conservation technician for Lycoming and Potter County Conservation Districts.
Ammarava Mika-El Environmental Studies and Sustainability student at Drexel University and Wildlife Leadership Academy alumni (2018). Former River Program intern and Alliance for Watershed Education Fellow at Bartram’s Garden. Served as an Eastwick United Ambassador for environmental justice. Completed a co-op as an EHS intern with Dunmore International Corp and plans a career in environmental regulation and sustainable city planning.
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 Mace, Multimedia Marketing Specialist
kmace@wildlifeleadershipacademy.org
570-651-5427
Katie leads the organization’s marketing and communications efforts to tell the story of WLA and showcase its impact on Conservation Ambassadors, communities, and conservation. Through a mix of digital, print, and multimedia storytelling, she helps bring WLA’s programs, people, and mission to life. 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.
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.
Kala Davis (Treasurer)
Wildlife biologist and environmental regulatory compliance consultant with an advanced degree in Environmental Science, alumni of 2008 Bucktails camp and an instructor since 2017. Kala has worked and studied within the environmental field for over 17 years, and continues to do so as an Environmental Project Manager.
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.
Eric Beaver
Manager of Projects & SIR for PPL Electric Utilities Corporation overseeing environmental projects and compliance. Former environmental scientist for Rettew associates and conservation technician for Lycoming and Potter County Conservation Districts.
Ammarava Mika-El
Environmental Studies and Sustainability student at Drexel University and Wildlife Leadership Academy alumni (2018). Former River Program intern and Alliance for Watershed Education Fellow at Bartram’s Garden. Served as an Eastwick United Ambassador for environmental justice. Completed a co-op as an EHS intern with Dunmore International Corp and plans a career in environmental regulation and sustainable city planning.
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.