Contact Us

The National Capital Region Network I&M program is housed at the regional Office of Natural Resources and Science (also known as CUE, or the Center for Urban Ecology) along with other regional natural resource personnel. Our mailing address is:

NCR Office of Natural Resources and Science
4598 MacArthur Blvd. NW
Washington, DC 20007

NCRN Staff Contacts

Name

Title

Phone

Email

Fernanda Arevalo Ecology Assistant email
Lindsay Ashley Biological Science Technician 202-339-8325 email
Andrejs Brolis Biologist 202-339-8305 email
Jacob Cohen Ecology Assistant email
Vacant Regional Program Manager
Megan Nortrup Information Sharing Specialist 202-339-8314 email
John Paul Schmit Ecologist 202-339-8321 email
Vacant Data Scientist
Charlie Wainright Data Manager 540-656-6808 email

NCRN Staff Biographies

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Ecology Assistant Fernanda Arevalo

Fernanda Arevalo

Fernanda is an Ecology Assistant for the NCRN I&M program through the NPS Scientists in Parks program. She is responsible for developing data products that enhance data visualization, data capture and analysis tools. She also assists with fieldwork for forest vegetation and water quality monitoring. Fernanda has previously worked as an environmental technician for the Utah National Guard and recently completed her master's in Natural Resources. Outside of work, Fernanda enjoys playing pickleball and repurposing single-use plastic into jewelry.

Education: BS – Environmental Science, Union College; MS – Environment and Natural Resources, University of Iceland
headshot of smiling woman in park service ranger hat
Biological Technician Lindsay Ashley

Lindsay Ashley

Lindsay (she/her) is the Biological Science Technician for the NCRN I&M program. She leads field operations for water and forest vegetation monitoring at parks across the region. She is responsible for scheduling field work, training and overseeing seasonal staff, and organizing and maintaining field gear in order to collect data from over 400 forest plots and 37 streams throughout the NCA. Before joining I&M, Lindsay worked two seasons in the Natural Resource Management division at Antietam National Battlefield.

Education: BS – Organismal Biology, Christopher Newport University

Andrejs Brolis headshot
Biologist Andrejs Brolis

Andrejs Brolis

Andrejs is the Biologist for the NCRN I&M program. He is the protocol lead for forest vegetation and water monitoring protocols and works with NCRN staff to develop cooperative and interagency agreements with institutions to carry out inventory, monitoring, and other research activities essential to the network.

Education: BS – Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University; Graduate Certificate – Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Penn State

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Ecology Assistant Jacob Cohen

Jacob Cohen

Jacob is an Ecology Assistant for the NCRN I&M program through the NPS Scientists in Parks program. He assists with fieldwork for forest vegetation and stream water quality monitoring and is responsible for developing products to enhance data analysis, reporting, and visualization. Before joining I&M, Jacob previously worked as the biology laboratory technician for the Chugach Regional Resources Commission, a tribal natural resources commission and marine institute based in Seward, AK. In his free time, Jacob enjoys going on hikes and spending time with his friends.

Education: BSFS - Science, Technology, and International Affairs, Georgetown University
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Information Sharing Specialist Megan Nortrup

Megan Nortrup

Megan (she/her) is an Information Sharing Specialist with the NCRN and the broader natural and cultural resources team within the capital region. For NCRN, she is primarily responsible for sharing information about I&M data and monitoring through NPS publications, fact sheets, reports, presentations, and the I&M website. She also acts as a communications liaison to the regional parks. Before joining I&M, Megan wrote and edited materials for the Association of American Geographers and worked as a gardener at the U.S. National Arboretum. Her interests include botany, biogeography, and agricultural ecology.

Education: BS - Geography, University of Illinois; BFA - Music, University of Illinois; Masters Certificate in Contexts of Environmental Policy, George Washington University in progress.

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Quantitative Ecologist John Paul Schmit

John Paul Schmit

John Paul is the NCRN Quantitative Ecologist. He assists with the development of the sampling design for the monitoring plan. He also analyzes monitoring data to detect long term trends in the network parks. His research interests have focused on biodiversity, biogeography, and competition of fungi.

Education: BA - Biology, Grinnell College; MS and PhD. - Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago

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Data Manager Charlie Wainright

Charlie Wainright

Charlie (Charles) is the Data Manager for the NCRN I&M program. Charlie develops and maintains databases and field-based data collection solutions for all NCRN I&M monitoring protocols, implements quality control procedures, prepares data visualizations and summaries, and delivers data to internal and external stakeholders. Charlie is trained in aquatic ecology and developed his ecological skillset through field, lab, and data work in North Carolina, upstate New York, Idaho, Montana, and Illinois. His graduate research focused on how invasive lake trout have affected native bull trout and changed the structure of northwestern Montana lake food webs through time. In his free time, Charlie plays electric guitar and rides his bike.

Education: BS - Biology, Appalachian State University; MBA - International Business, Appalachian State University; M.S. - Systems Ecology, University of Montana

Last updated: November 27, 2024