2026 NAGT Elections
published May 30, 2026 4:52pmLearn more about the 2026 NAGT officer candidates below. Use the links below to jump down to particular Divisions. Since 2024, voting takes place on a single ballot - you will see candidates for any Section and/or Division you are a member of.
Jump to: National Candidates | Teacher Education Division (TED) Candidates | Geoscience Education Research (GER) Candidates | Geo2YC Candidates | Section Candidates
National Officer Candidates
Second Vice President: Cody Kirkpatrick
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
- 2024-2027 Executive Committee Member (Councilor At-Large)
- 2025-2026 Executive Committee – Finance Subcommittee Member
- 2023 EER Contributed Program Co-Chair
- 2021 & 2022 EER Co-Convener
- 2019 & 2020 EER Planning Committee
At EER through the years I've also presented multiple teaching activities, and have led multiple one-day workshops. I also served as a Teach the Earth reviewer back in the Review Camp days.
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
I've long told people that NAGT is my professional home. I wanted to be involved more with EER for that reason, to give back to the place that has helped evolve both me and my classroom in the last 10 years. Anyone who has attended an EER or a traveling workshop or a webinar knows how high-quality our programming is, across all parts of the geoscience spectrum. I want to see us continue and evolve that programming, being responsive to "external factors" that put pressure on our science classrooms and to any financial constraints we face moving forward.
My service on the Executive Committee, and its newly-constructed finance subcommittee, has helped me see how NAGT operates at a much larger scale -- the amount of both money and volunteers it takes to keep NAGT running. As we all continue to be squeezed for time, I want us to try and find ways to engage, and/or re-engage, so that our membership stays strong and involved in our mission.
Councilor-at-large: Heather Lehto
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
My first experience with NAGT was during graduate school, when I submitted modules for the Spreadsheets Across the Curriculum program. Shortly after I landed my first job post-graduation I participated in the new faculty workshop in 2013. I learned a tremendous amount from that workshop and have continued to learn through a plethora of NAGT workshops, conferences, and NAGT sponsored/produced resources on the web. My career has been shaped for the better by my interactions with NAGT and NAGT sponsored materials. I can say with confidence, that I would not be the educator I am today without the support and resources provided by NAGT.
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
Now that I am mid-career, my priorities are shifting from building my courses and research program to helping provide support and resources for the next generation of Earth science educators. My 20 years of experience teaching in higher education and using NAGT materials and professional development has given me skills that I wish to share with those who were once in my shoes. In addition, there is a lot going on behind the scenes and I would like to better understand how NAGT is run and build my own leadership skills outside of my own institution.
Councilor-at-large: Stephanie Sabatini
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
I have been a member of NAGT since 2019, when I attended my first Earth Educators' Rendezvous and immediately connected with the organization's supportive, collaborative, and knowledgeable community. Since then, I have tried to attend every Rendezvous and remain actively engaged in the geoscience education research community fostered through NAGT. I regularly recommend NAGT membership and instructional resources to colleagues and have participated in professional development workshops, including Preparing for an Academic Career. As someone whose work focuses on teaching, curriculum development, and geoscience education research, I value NAGT's commitment to supporting educators across career stages and institutional settings. NAGT has been an important source of professional growth, mentorship, and community throughout my career, and I am grateful to be part of an organization so dedicated to advancing geoscience education.
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
My experiences with NAGT and in geoscience education have reinforced the importance of building supportive, collaborative communities that help educators grow and succeed. Through my work in teaching, curriculum development, and geoscience education research, I have seen how valuable it is for educators to have access to practical resources, mentorship, and spaces where ideas and challenges can be shared openly. NAGT has played an important role in my own professional development, particularly as an early-career educator and researcher, and I would like to contribute to maintaining and strengthening that sense of community for others.
Teacher Education Division (TED) Officer Candidates
No new candidates are on the ballot this year, but vacancies will open up in the future. Please contact the division leaders (opens in a new window) if you are interested in future leadership opportunities.
Geoscience Education Research (GER) Officer Candidates
President: B. Zo Kreager
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
I have been a member of NAGT since working on my Masters Degree in 2015. During my PhD, I held the first ever position of Graduate Student Liaison for the GER Division. I have participated in three Earth Education Rendezvous, Co-hosted GSA sessions for NAGT, and participated in many NAGT workshops. In 2020/2021 I participated in the NAGT Unlearning Racism in the Geoscience Pod, in which we reviewed the divisions policies and goals to evaluate barriers and develop goals for improving diverse representation and how to best support our diverse members.
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
I have been actively engage in NAGT and geoscience education research for many years and from many view points. I have been fortunate to see how this organization supports graduate students, large state schools, small state schools and 2YC institutions. This range of experiences helps me provide an insight that can see how each decision we make may impact all stakeholders. My goals for NAGT are to better expand our breadth and reach more communities than before. I am currently at a 2YC college and provide a great opportunity to continue to grow the GER participation of 2YC colleges, faculty, and students on the research side. These paired with my previous work with the division and focus on equity across the division make me a great candidate for leadership for the GER Division.
Vice-President: Hannah Scherer
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
I was introduced to NAGT as a graduate student over twenty years ago! I am a longstanding member of NAGT and the NAGT GER Division, attending annual GER Division business meetings regularly for several years. I have been engaged with the Earth Educators' Rendezvous since it's inception, serving as a planning committee member, co-chair, workshop and mini-workshop facilitator, and contributed program presenter. I have attended the NAGT GER Division session, entitled Making Sense of Methodological and Theoretical Frameworks in Geoscience Education Research, at GSA several times, presenting my own work in 2024. As director of the National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW), I promoted NAGT across that network.
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
As an interdisciplinary GER scholar, I value the role of NAGT in supporting educators and educational researchers alike in our endeavors to enhance and support teaching about the Earth. My recent leadership roles were with NC-FEW, including serving as Director from 2021-2026. In this role, I supported a collaborative leadership team, working through challenges and creating new opportunities for our community to thrive. This experience informs how I would approach leadership in the NAGT GER Division, as a member of a team that is ultimately in service of our members and their goals. Additionally, NC-FEW intentionally fostered collaborations among educational researchers and educators in a wide array of educational settings. As a GER Division leader, I want to foster new and support existing collaborations across NAGT and with other organizations to expand our reach and continue to support GER across formal and non-formal educational settings from K-12 through post-secondary levels.
Past President: Larry Collins
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
In the past, I have engaged with NAGT by being a member of the GER Division for several years. As a member of this Division, I previously served on the GER leadership as Media Director where my primary responsibility was preparing and sending out Division newsletters. Furthermore, I have also conducted a webinar for graduate students onrunning effective workshops with other co-presenters. Lastly, I have also presented my work at the EER in the capacity of teaching demonstrations, workshops, and research presentations. My research has also been presented in the NAGT-GER session at GSA several times over the past few years in "Making Sense of Methodologies and Theoretical Frameworks in Geoscience Education Research."
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
Seeing the Geoscience Education Research community continue to grow and thrive is the reason behind my interest in wanting to continue service with national-level organizations such as NAGT. In addition to those stated above, my past experiences have also included several roles with the Geological Society of America including the Education Committee (Graduate Student Representative and 4-Year Colleges Representative) and the Geoscience Education Division (Graduate Student Representative, Division Chair, and Past Chair). Given the number of service opportunities that I have engaged in with the geoscience education community, I think that I have a wealth of experiences to draw upon in this position and expertise to further serve our Division and NAGT broadly.
Secretary: Stacy Yager
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
I joined NAGT and the GER Division in 2024. I will be co-leading a workshop at EER 2026 in July and co-convening a session at GSA Connects 2026 in October, which will be sponsored by NAGT and GER Division.
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
My engagement in NAGT provides me with opportunities to engage with others around geoscience education and education research, while building pathways for future collaborations. When I first joined, I was welcomed by NAGT and GER Division members into a truly wonderful, welcoming, and thoughtful community of educators and education researchers. As a leader, I am dedicated to continuing to build the supportive and compassionate community and welcome all those that have a passion for geoscience education and education research. I have committed myself to embodying this community of geoscience educators by uplifting those around me the same way I was uplifted when I became a member.
Geo2YC Officer Candidates
Vice-President: Diondra DeMolle
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
I have been engaged with the Two-Year College Division (Geo2YC) of NAGT. As a member of the 2020 Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education in Two-Year Colleges (SAGE 2YC) Faculty Change Agent Cohort, a 2021 Leadership Extension, 2025 Innovations in Two-Year Colleges Summit.
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
Being an active member and engaging with peers in a professional community has helped me to
The teamwork, learning, and sharing has been invaluable to goals and leadership positions in higher education and in my community.
Geo2YC Division Newsletter Editor: Veronica McCann
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
Adjunct Faculty Award Committee, and I regularly participate in 2YC Fireside Chats that foster discussion and connection among two-year college faculty. These engagements have helped me build a strong professional network, develop my teaching practice, and stay connected to current conversations in geoscience education. I will be presenting at the Earth Educators' Rendezvous in 2026 with a colleague and look forward to furthering my connections with geoscience faculty and learning from them to improve my teaching and to better engage with my students. I value NAGT as a supportive and intellectually engaging community that continues to shape my growth as an instructor.
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
Through discussions in NAGT workshops and 2YC division fireside chats, I have developed professional connections that shape both my teaching and my goals as a leader within NAGT. These experiences have helped me develop and implement ideas that transform my classroom and support meaningful engagement with students. They also guide and strengthen my work with part-time geology and geography faculty, where I share NAGT-based resources and approaches to assist in course development and teaching effectiveness. As a leader in NAGT, I hope to extend this collaborative and supportive approach by continuing to share resources and workshops with adjunct and two-year college faculty with the goal to continue fostering connections that strengthen teaching, mentoring, and community outreach. The ideas and tools I've gained through NAGT also have helped to guide my work beyond my institution through my efforts to develop community outreach opportunities that support geoscience education.
Archivist: Peter Berquist
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
No response received to date.
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
No response received to date.
Section Officer Candidates
Jump to: Eastern | Far Western | Northeastern | North Central | Pacific Northwest | Rocky Mountain | Southeastern | South Central
Eastern Section
All officers in this section are fulfilling their existing terms. No new candidates are on the ballot this year, but vacancies will open up in the future. Please contact your section leaders (opens in a new window) if you are interested in future leadership opportunities.
Far Western Section
All officers in this section are fulfilling their existing terms. No new candidates are on the ballot this year, but vacancies will open up in the future. Please contact your section leaders (opens in a new window) if you are interested in future leadership opportunities.
Northeastern Section
All officers in this section are fulfilling their existing terms. No new candidates are on the ballot this year, but vacancies will open up in the future. Please contact your section leaders (opens in a new window) if you are interested in future leadership opportunities.
North Central Section
All officers in this section are fulfilling their existing terms. No new candidates are on the ballot this year, but vacancies will open up in the future. Please contact your section leaders (opens in a new window) if you are interested in future leadership opportunities.
Pacific Northwest Section
Vice-President: Gui Aksit
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
My journey with the NAGT began as a recipient of the NAGT/USGS Summer Cooperative Fellowship. This transformative internship at the Cascades Volcano Observatory crystallized my passion for undergraduate education. Throughout my career, as a graduate student, high school field camp instructor, and now as a professor, the NAGT has been pivotal in elevating my pedagogy, developing engaging activities and courses, and fostering my growth as a teacher-scholar. Serving the Pacific Northwest section would allow me to give back to the community that has profoundly shaped my career, while working to build stronger, more inclusive connections across our regional geoscience community.
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
My journey through the geosciences spans the entire educational spectrum, from community colleges to R1 research universities. Having taught high school summer field camps, conducted middle school outreach, TA'd field and lab courses at large state institutions, and now serving as a professor at a primarily undergraduate institution, I bring a broad view of geoscience education to the PNW section leadership. If elected, my goals are to: (1) Spark Early Engagement by cultivating a lifelong passion for the geosciences through expanding K-12 outreach and supporting pre-college educators, (2) Bridge Educational Divides by connecting teachers and professors across all levels to foster a deeply collaborative, supportive, and resourceful regional network, and (3) Champion Inclusive Pedagogy to enhance higher education outcomes by promoting inclusive teaching practices and elevating diverse voices within our discipline.
Rocky Mountain Section
All officers in this section are fulfilling their existing terms. No new candidates are on the ballot this year, but vacancies will open up in the future. Please contact your section leaders (opens in a new window) if you are interested in future leadership opportunities.
Southeastern Section
Vice-President: Natalie Bursztyn
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
I have been a consistent contributor to Teach the Earth and a regular participant and contributor to the Earth Educators Rendezvous. My research over the past 10 years has primarily been in geoscience education and that is where it will continue for the duration of my career.
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
My career in post-secondary education has either entirely or majority been focused on geoscience in general education. This is a part of the college experience that I feel strongly about, as every person relies upon the Earth for every part of their lives, yet most are unaware of. Between a basic understanding of geosciences, particularly water and mineral resources, and an understanding of how the practice of science works, I believe there is no course more valuable in an educational experience. Ten or so years ago I served on the GSA GED management board and for the Cordilleran section. Now that I find myself out East, this is an opportunity to continue engaging with the geoscience education community and NAGT at a deeper level.
South Central Section
President: Sabrina Ewald
How have you been engaged with NAGT already?
Since 2016, I have been a member of NAGT as a K-12 educator. I have served as president of the South Central Section for the past three years. As president, I actively collaborate with the NAGT Council and other leaders to develop and strengthen the South Central Section.
I am also one of the founding members of the K-12 Ad Hoc Committee. Additionally, I have participated in Earth Educators' Rendezvous as both a presenter and attendee, and I contribute to Teach the Earth. The committee's mission is to increase K-12 participation in NAGT and promote Teach the Earth. The committee regularly sends newsletters to NAGT membership highlighting resources in Teach the Earth as well as providing a bookmark for the Earth Science Week kit.
How does your engagement in NAGT and other professional experience/expertise inform your goals as a leader in NAGT?
As president of the South Central section, my aim is to boost membership and enhance member engagement. To achieve this, I will collaborate with executive leadership and state representatives to organize events at both state and section levels, fostering interaction among members and building a strong community of geoscience educators. This community will help increase membership and boost attendance and participation at EER and GSA conferences. Another priority is to expand K-12 membership and increase nominations for the Outstanding Earth Science Teaching award. I plan to leverage the expertise of section members to grow our membership and find effective ways to connect with K-12 educators. My mission is to support geoscience educators in enhancing their knowledge and providing quality resources for their classrooms.
Engaging in various NAGT activities and groups has been instrumental in my growth as both a member and a leader. Through these experiences, I have gained valuable insights into the core objectives of NAGT. With 23 years of experience as a K-12 geoscience educator, I possess the expertise to understand the challenges faced by fellow educators. My leadership roles on campus and within the districts have further honed my abilities. Currently, as the program manager for education outreach and training at The University of Texas at Austin, I oversee and develop numerous educator outreach events and programs. These experiences have been pivotal in cultivating the skills necessary for effective leadership, which I will apply as president of the South Central section.