Our Team
Todd Witcher
Executive Director
Education: University of Tennessee-Knoxville, B.S. in Biology & M.S. in Education, Lincoln Memorial University, Master of Business
Bio: Todd is a 9th generation Tennessean born and raised in the small town of Red Boiling Springs in Middle Tennessee. He enjoys hiking, gardening with native plants, wildlife watching, and traveling. He became Executive Director of DLiA in 2007 and has worked in the nonprofit, conservation field for almost 40 years.
todd@dlia.org
(865) 430-4757
LinkedIn profile
iNaturalist observations
Will Kuhn
Director of Science & Research
Education: University of Texas-Austin, B.S. Biology, Virginia Tech, M.S. Entomology, & Rutgers University-Newark, PhD Evolutionary Biology
Bio: Will was born and raised in East Texas, but has lived around the Appalachians for 15+ years. He’s an entomologist by training. He’s an aspiring naturalist and loves learning about the diverse flora and fauna of the East Tennessee region. He’s obsessed with cataloging life on iNaturalist, including in his Knoxville neighborhood. Will directs DLiA’s scientific research and helps coordinate research with the NPS, scientists, and community scientists.
will@dlia.org
LinkedIn profile
iNaturalist observations
Jaimie Matzko
Director of Communications and Outreach
Education: Hocking College, Natural and Cultural Interpretation
University of TN, B.S. Environmental Studies
Bio: Jaimie Matzko has lived in the Smokies since 2003, and formerly worked as a naturalist/educator for GSMIT, A Walk in the Woods and REI Adventures. She is a lifelong learner and “doer” and you can usually find her on the trails, in her garden or working on home renovations. Jaimie joined DLiA in 2022 and coordinates the education, outreach and volunteer programming and social media/marketing development.
jaimie@dlia.org
Julie Elfin
Biodiversity Program Specialist
Education: University of Vermont, B.S. Environmental Studies
Bio: Biodiversity Program Specialist is Julie’s third job title at DLiA. She served as a Biodiversity Educator through AmeriCorps in 2019-2020 and as a Research Technician in 2021. Since then, she has worked as a COVID-19 contact tracer, interpretive park ranger, and coordinated community events and educational programming for a local nonprofit. Julie grew up near Washington, D.C. and earned her B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont before finding her home in East Tennessee. When she’s not exploring national parks (for work or for fun), Julie enjoys baking bread, sings in a choir, and recently began training for a half-marathon.
julie@dlia.org
Board of Directors
Sam Rosolina
Board Chair, Governance Committee, Science Committee
Dr. Sam Rosolina is Vice President of Applied Innovation at Microbial Insights where he leads research and development related to environmental remediation. As an east Tennessee native, Sam is honored to be involved in the world-changing work of Discover Life in America. He joined the DLiA Board of Directors in 2019.
Vesna Plakanis
Board Vice Chair, Governance Committee Chair
Vesna, along with her husband Erik are the owners of the hiking company, A Walk in the Woods. This education based eco tour business incorporates their mission of raising environmental awareness through direct, positive experiences in nature, into everything they do. Vesna has been a supporter of DLIA since its inception 25 years ago and has been a proud member of the executive board since 2019.
Teresa Mathews
Board Secretary, Science Committee
Dr. Terry Mathews is a Senior Scientist in the Environmental Sciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where she leads a group focused on biodiversity and ecosystem health. Originally from New York City, she is now happy to call East Tennessee home. She is committed to advancing our understanding of how biodiversity changes in response to environmental variables, and is excited to support DLiA in this mission.
Julie Elliott
Board Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair, Science Committee
Julie Elliott retired from Scripps Networks Interactive and SVP, Compensation and Benefits. She is a Lepidopterist Specialist who participates each year in Earth Watch expeditions to study caterpillars in Costa Rica and Arizona. Julie joined the DLIA board in 2019.
Pee Jay Alexander
Fundraising Committee Co-Chair
Pee Jay is a loving husband, father of two, technology evangelist, Jacksonville Jaguars Football Club fan, professional musician, amateur farmer, outdoorsman and continual education advocate. He owns and manages Purple Mouse Smart House, serving as an experienced guide for property owners of all types and helping navigate the world of IoT(Internet of Things), the connected home and home technology support.
Miriam Davis
Governance Committee
Dr. Miriam Steiner Davis is Co-Director of the Children’s Diversity & Justice Library, Assistant Director of Religious Education for the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. After a career at the intersection of environmental, social and information science, she is happy to support DLiA’s biodiversity conservation efforts both for their essential contributions, as well as for their role in taking her back to her roots in science.
Steve Kemp
Fundraising, Finance Committees
Steve is a freelance writer specializing in conservation history and national park issues and opportunities. He worked for 30 years as publications director for Great Smoky Mountains Association and served as a park ranger in Yellowstone and Denali.
Becca Harman
Becca Harman is an Associate Director at Regen Network, where she supports the growth of the Regen Registry, a pioneering community-driven ecosystem service registry. With a Master’s in Soil Science and published research on conservation and smallholder agriculture, Becca brings hands-on experience in ecosystem functionality. Her work includes designing ecological sanitation systems in northern Haiti, managing a regenerative farm in Texas, and consulting on forest conservation in East Tennessee. Based in Knoxville, she enjoys cultivating urban habitat spaces and supporting bioregional ecological initiatives.
Lee Mellor
Fundraising Committee
Lee and her late husband chose to live in Sevier County because of its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and she says she is honored to be a board member of an organization which is discovering new life in its environs. Most of her time is now spent managing and preserving the historic Buckhorn Inn in Pittman Center. In a previous life she worked as a chief administrator in higher education in American and Australian universities and for five years volunteered with her husband in helping companies in the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe and Africa through the US State Department’s AID program. Lee is never happier than when outside hiking and gardening with her dog Zeke.
Bill Sykes
Education and Outreach Committee Chair and Fundraising Committee member
Bill is a retired journalist, who spent over 21 years with CBS News, and another 9 as a Programming Executive with Scripps Networks. He appreciates & enjoys the majesty & miracles of the natural world. And he hopes to support & enhance the important efforts of DLiA.
Glenn Taylor
Member
Glenn is a retired NPS forest biologist who continues to get outside to learn about and protect the incredible diversity of the southern Appalachians. He has a weakness for all things bicycle related, and enjoys trail maintenance, cooking, baking and public radio.
Michael J. Tesar
Fundraising Committee
Mike is the Director of Programs at Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. where he leads efforts to meet contractual obligations to the company’s customers and to develop new business. He had a 25+ year career in the U.S. Navy and was the Commanding Officer of USS CHEYENNE for three years. He drawn to the vital work of Discover Life in America and the passion of its leaders and supporters and has been a board member since 2018.
Nigel Fields
Member
Nigel is the Director of EPA’s Office of Community Revitalization. His previous work includes serving as Regional Science Program Director in EPA’s Office of Research and Development, as a ranger for the National Park Service in New Orleans, Washington DC, and the Great Smoky Mountains, and as superintendent of Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Island Coral Reef National Monument. Over the years, he has championed children’s environmental health research, tribal environmental science, and initiatives related to citizen science, to health and wellness, and to deepening cultural connections.
Jess Welch
Dr. Jessica Nicole Welch is a member of the Biosciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where she serves as Project Manager for the Plant–Microbe Interface Science Focus Area. She is also an experienced data scientist and is enthusiastic about applying her expertise in support of DLiA’s mission. Dr. Welch earned her PhD in conservation biology from the University of Tennessee’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Debbie Troutman
Fundraising Committee
Debbie is a Trail Guide for A Walk in the Woods and former Park Ranger. She enjoys using iNaturalist to record the biodiversity in the park (username: akfishmom). Deb has been with board since 2022.