People

Anne Harper joined Delaware Nature Society in 2017 as the Director of Sites, and in January, 2018 was appointed Executive Director. She has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and management in organizations dedicated to environmental education and youth development. Anne is a gifted facilitator and innovator, having created and implemented programs on both a regional and international scale – from an environmental pre-school program at a nature center in New Canaan CT to a community development education program at Heifer International. Anne holds a Master of Environmental Studies from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and a BA in Biology/Field Ecology from Oberlin College.

Joanne McGeoch joined Delaware Nature Society in January 2015, and in 2018, was appointed to Deputy Director. For the last 15 years, she has provided leadership in Development at non-profits in the greater Philadelphia region, the last 10 of which have been environmentally focused. With an emphasis on fundraising and capacity building, her expanded role at Delaware Nature Society will support strategic growth and impact. Joanne holds a BA in Fine Arts from Arizona State University, and in her free time, enjoys hand-building clay pots and bowls inspired by textures and colors found in nature. A mother of two, she resides with her husband in Wilmington.

Helen Fischel is the Director of Education & Organizational Development for Delaware Nature Society and has been with the organization since 1980. At Delaware Nature Society, Helen oversees the education programming & fundraising plus the safety of over a 100,000 guests a year across four locations and six preserves. Each year, she coordinates the National Professional Leadership Institute, which is co-sponsored by the Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA). Helen has been selected for seven National peer consults by The Association of Nature Center Administrators and the Museum Assessment Program. Helen also serves on two community advisory boards: Delaware Environmental Institute and Delaware’s EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program, and in 2015, she coauthored the State of Delaware’s Environmental Literacy plan. Recently Helen has taken the lead for the Delaware Nature Society’s efforts in child protection, working in partnership with the Beau Biden Foundation to earn a Beau Biden Shield of Protection, one of only four organizations to do so.

Born and raised in Sussex County Delaware, Brenna grew up with an appreciation of the outdoors and Delaware’s environment. Since her start with Delaware Nature Society in 2008 as the Environmental Advocate, Brenna has served on various state committees such as the Clean Water and Flood Abatement Task Force and Delaware’s Nutrient Management Commission. As the Environmental Advocate and now Advocacy Manager, Brenna is responsible for all of Delaware Nature Society’s grassroots advocacy and government affairs work. She is the liaison between the organization and elected and appointed officials, and promotes the organization both in Dover and D.C. On behalf of Delaware Nature Society, Brenna has actively worked on securing full funding for the Open Space and Farmland Preservation programs as well as legislation including the Statewide Recycling law and the Interstate Wildlife Violator’s Compact.

Ginger has worked for the Delaware Nature Society since 1992. First as a Teacher/Naturalist, then in 1995 she moved to the Natural Resource Conservation department, and held a variety of positions becoming the Associate Director of the department in 2010. During a realignment of the organization in 2015, she became a Director of Conservation where she oversees all aspects of the department including Land Management, Land Preservation, and Watershed Stewardship. She has presented at EPA regional and national conferences on a variety of topics including water quality and volunteer monitoring. She has a Master of Science degree in Genetics from the University of Delaware, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Marine Biology from the University of Long Island.