Science Across NC is Moving Forward in 2023!

Our inaugural year of 2022 saw four successful events inspired and encouraged hundreds of North Carolinians to head outdoors in search of plants, animals and mushrooms that call our state home. 

We’re going to be doing great things this year! As a step toward creating a more sustainable entity we are proud to announce the 2023 Science Across NC Leadership Team!

Jonathan Marchal, Lead Chair

Jonathan serves as the Director of Education at The North Carolina Arboretum, an affiliate institution of the UNC System. He has previously served on the board of the Environmental Educators of North Carolina including a presidential term. Jonathan is an avid birder, though he wishes his life list on eBird was higher. He is also a dedicated user of iNaturalist and has led the Western NC region in the City Nature Challenge for the past three years. He holds an AAS in Recreation and Wildlife Management, a BA in Ecology and a Masters of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. Jonathan has been recognized for his service to environmental education by the NC Wildlife Federation, NC Science Teachers Association, Environmental Educators of North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Naturalist Network. 

Christine Goforth, Vice Chair

Chris has acted as the Head of Citizen Science at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences since 2012, a role that engages the public in scientific research through projects open to public participation. Her role combines public programming, research, social media, and exhibit oversight. She collaborates with a wide range of citizen science practitioners and researchers, including environmental educators across NC. Chris is trained as an aquatic entomologist and is passionate about educating people about insects, a role for which she has won multiple awards. She holds a BA in biology and an MS in entomology, and she is an NC Certified Environmental Educator. She lives in Raleigh and is often found exploring her artistic side through pottery, embroidery, metalsmithing, and many other media.

Lauren Greene, Secretary

Lauren joined the North Carolina Botanical Garden staff in March 2020 as the Youth Environmental Education Specialist. She has taught environmental education and science in both informal and formal education settings for over 20 years. Along with teaching, her experience includes writing curriculum and leading professional development for teachers. Lauren has a Master of Education in science education, is a NC Certified Environmental Educator, and is a Georgia Master Naturalist. She lives in Durham where you can frequently find her, her husband, and her dog working and playing in their yard or enjoying the trails in their neighborhood.

Paige Engelbrektsson, Communications Chair

Paige Engelbrektsson is the Lead Education Specialist for the Highlands Biological Foundation, a nonprofit focused on scientific research and education in the southern Appalachians. She coordinates public programming and daily operations for the Highlands Nature Center at the Highlands Biological Station. Paige holds a BS in Biology and a MS in Environmental Education. When not wandering through the woods, she can be found attempting various fiber arts, playing the guitar badly, and trying out new recipes.

Jennifer Crawford, Education Co-Chair

Jennifer  is a 19 year teaching veteran who is currently serving as a STEM Coach at Oakboro Choice STEM School in Stanly County. Jennifer holds a Masters in Teaching, BS in Natural Resource Management, is a NBCT, a National Geographic Certified Educator and was named Science Teacher of the Year for NCSTA, District 6 in 2019. Jennifer has taken her passion for the outdoors, and previous career as a NC State Park Ranger and infuses the importance for citizen science into the curriculum. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Jennifer enjoys horseback riding, hiking, reading, and building with Legos.  

Cindy Lincoln, Education Co-Chair

Cindy joined the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in January 2013 as Manager of the Naturalist Center, an interactive, hands-on collection of over 20,000 natural history specimens available for visitors to explore and enjoy. She collaborates with education staff to develop classes and programming for school groups and the public and is also curator of an herbarium containing about 2,000 pressed plant specimens. An NC Certified Environmental Educator, Cindy previously worked as an educator at the Walnut Creek Wetland Center and Annie Wilkerson Nature Preserve in Raleigh, NC. She has a Ph.D. in Plant Genetics from Indiana University and, in a previous career, was a research scientist and instructor at several universities including Duke where she created and managed an undergraduate biology teaching laboratory. Originally from Oak Ridge, TN, Cindy enjoys hiking, using iNaturalist, gardening, making terrariums, and listening to bluegrass.