The Southeast Young Leaders Council (YLC) is open to early career professionals 18-35 in the southeast region with a passion for advocacy and National Park preservation.
The YLC is an opportunity for professional development and relationship building across the southeast under the mentorship and advisement of NPCA staff, NextGen Advisory Council, and Regional Council. Members of the council are encouraged to explore and deepen their interests in the many facets of civic engagement related to the national park units to build skills relevant to their current or future career goals.
Southeast Young Leaders Council 2024-2025
Joana Lagunes Arauz
Colombia, SC
Joana is an environmental justice advocate and outdoor enthusiast majoring in Environmental Engineering with a minor in Business Administration at the illustrious Benedict College.
Rachel Barrick
Atlanta, GA
Originally from South Florida and a proud University of Florida grad, Rachel moved to Atlanta for law school and has loved living there ever since. She is currently an associate at a law firm in Atlanta.
Michelle (Meech) Carter
Durham, NC
Originally from a rural town near San Diego, Meech (she/her) moved to Durham, North Carolina three years ago to pursue her passion of environmental advocacy.
Caitlin Gallo
Atlanta, GA
Caitlin Gallo is a project manager based in Atlanta, GA. She is currently working in the tech space on application development projects and is completing her MBA from Georgia Tech in December of 2024.
Vani Gnanam
Atlanta, GA
Vani Gnanam lives in Atlanta, Georgia. She has her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and her law degree from The Ohio State University.
Yulia Gu
Atlanta, GA
Natively from New Jersey, Yulia is a junior at Emory University pursuing a double major in Environmental Science and Anthropology.
Melinda Gullett
Crestwood, KY
Melinda is a nature enthusiast and Geospatial Analyst from Crestwood, Kentucky.
Erin Hackenmueller
Tuscaloosa, AL
Erin Hackenmueller is a storyteller, an outdoor recreation enthusiast, a history fanatic, and a community leader.
Lydia Heisel
Clemson, SC
Lydia Heisel is from Austin, Texas, and has recently graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, majoring in history and environmental studies, and minoring in museum studies.
Cara Monaco
Louisville, KY
Cara Monaco lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her beagle Taco. Cara is passionate about the outdoors, especially advocating accessibility to the outdoors for all through education, opportunity and conservation.
Alan Pomeroy
Raleigh, NC
Alan is the Program Director for the North Carolina Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission, a state nonprofit with a mission to provide outdoor learning opportunities for youth.
Julianne Reas
Southeast Young Leaders Council
Julianne Reas is a social scientist, climate and environmental justice advocate, and national park lover. She received her Master of Science in Natural Resources from North Carolina State University, where she also studied communication.
Ashley Toney
Huntsville, AL
Ashley Toney is a junior biology major at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University from Atlanta, GA. She originally chose biology as her major because she wanted to be a pediatric surgeon.
Kai Tran
Durham, NC
Kai Tran (he/him) is a graduate student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment pursuing a Master of Environment Management with concentrations in Community Engagement & Environmental Justice and Terrestrial & Freshwater Environments. Before moving to Durham, NC, Kai earned a B.S. in Environmental Management & Protection from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Anna Whitmire
Waynesville, NC
A Midwestern girl at heart, Anna found her home in Western North Carolina almost a decade ago; trading the vast cornfields for the rolling peaks of the Blue Ridge mountains. As an experienced nonprofit professional, Anna is passionate about connecting with her community and educating on the importance of allyship, conservation, and historical preservation.
Brian Wuertz
Asheville, NC
Brian is an environmental educator and advocate in Western North Carolina. He manages the Outreach Education program for the Friends of the WNC Nature Center, sparking connections between people and wildlife.
