2026 Invited Speakers

Chief Donna Abbott

Chief, Nause-Waiwash Band of Indians, Inc.

Water is Life: A Nause-Waiwash Perspective on the Chesapeake Bay-Past and Present

Join Chief Donna Wolf Mother Abbott of the Nause-Waiwash Band of Indians for an inspiring talk. The tribe, whose history is deeply tied to the Nanticoke and Choptank Rivers and the majestic Chesapeake Bay, has a core mission to preserve its culture and traditions through education. Chief Abbott, the tribe’s first woman chief, continues this legacy by sharing their history with students. She will discuss the vital connection between the tribe's heritage, the local environment, and their commitment to education, inspiring educators to integrate indigenous perspectives into lessons on water and the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

A native of Dorchester County, MD, Donna Abbott grew up in the small community of Robbins, near the Little Blackwater River. She pursued a career as a Radiologic Technologist, which she has been for over 30 years. Her most recent place of employment is Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD.

As a member of the Nause-Waiwash, Donna has served as Treasurer and Secretary of the organization. In 2014, the tribe suffered a tragic loss. Her predecessor suddenly crossed the veil. Being a matrilineal society, the women of the Nause-Waiwash voted Donna to lead the organization and continue the mission of preserving the history, culture and traditions of the tribe. As Chief, Donna has served on the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs for 6 years. She was included in the Women of Dorchester mural in Cambridge, MD. In March of 2025, Donna was inducted in the Maryland Commission for Women’s Hall of Fame. While under her leadership, Donna has worked with multiple agencies to have local native history brought to the public school system’s curriculum. The tribe continues to have the most successful Native American festivals in tribal history and there has been much progress made in renovating the tribe’s two churches. Both churches are included on the Maryland Historic Trust Inventory. The church being used as the tribal longhouse has also been included on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks, recently has been approved for status on the National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways Visitor’s Experience,  and will be used as a resource center upon completion. The Maryland Department of Transportation erected an historic road marker in Dorchester County acknowledging Indian Lands, the last known village of the Choptank Indian Reservation.

Chief Donna’s goals for the Nause-Waiwash are to continue with preserving the tribe’s culture, history and traditions, getting more young people interested in their heritage and to protect Mother Earth.

Jorge Bogantes Montero

Natural Resources Program Manager, Anacostia Watershed Society

11 Years of Mussel Power in the Anacostia River

Freshwater mussels are vital to the health of freshwater aquatic ecosystems. As powerhouse filter feeders, an adult freshwater mussels can cleanse between 10-20 gallons of water daily, enhancing water clarity for submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) growth thus helping a plethora of other aquatic organisms. Mussels also act as crucial bioindicators, yet 70% of North American species are imperiled due to pollution and habitat loss. Learn how the Anacostia Watershed Society is using these fascinating filter feeders to help clean and restore the Anacostia River, a tidal freshwater river in the nation's capital. Discover the Mussel Power Program, which actively engages K-12 students in mussel restoration by having them raise juvenile mussels in their classrooms and conduct real-world data analysis. This restoration and education effort is a first of its kind in the Anacostia River and one of the first ones in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This project is helping improve water quality and aquatic ecosystem health in the Anacostia River and has shown to inspire many people.

Jorge Bogantes Montero is the Natural Resources Program Manager who leads the Anacostia Watershed Society’s (AWS) critical restoration efforts in the Anacostia River watershed. His work focuses on a comprehensive approach to ecological health, including reforestation with native tree and wetland plant species. Jorge also manages efforts to control and remove invasive plant species. Jorge started AWS's locally pioneering freshwater mussel restoration program as well as other efforts involving wildlife conservation. Besides restoration Jorge has been involved in other efforts related to AWS's mission such as environmental education, outdoor recreation, advocacy and community outreach. Before joining AWS, Jorge worked on biodiversity conservation in his native Costa Rica. He holds a B.S. in Natural Resources Management and Protection from the Universidad Estatal a Distancia in San José, Costa Rica. A passionate outdoorsman, Jorge can often be found on the river, documenting biodiversity using the iNaturalist application, and regularly shares his stunning nature photography through the organization's social media outlets.

Karen S. McDonald

STEM Program Coordinator, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Otterly-Amazing River Otters

River otters are an important part of the food web of the Chesapeake Bay, and across the United States. Learn about their biology, and how scientists from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center are tracking and studying them. The presentation includes some fun trail camera videos that give us a window into the otter’s world and information about how you can watch for river otters in your communities.

For over twenty years, Karen McDonald has worked at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in the Department of Education. She now holds the title of STEM Program Coordinator, specializing in collaborating with scientists to translate complex research into hands-on, meaningful, learning experiences for K–12 students and the public. Another focus of her work is providing teacher professional development and curriculum development.

Prior to joining SERC, Karen spent more than a year with the Smithsonian Science Education Center, creating curriculum and serving as the science expert and liaison for an educational video series. Earlier in her career, Karen developed science curriculum for grades 5–12 with the Discovery Channel. She also worked for the Delaware State Park system as a Nature Center Manager and Park Naturalist at Cape Henlopen, Killens Pond, and Trap Pond State Parks.

Karen holds an MS in Biology from the University of Central Arkansas and a BS in Environmental Science and Philosophy from Ferrum College in Virginia.  In her free time, she paints and draws, and she’s a member of the Muddy Creek Artists’ Guild.

Imani Black

Founder & CEO, Minorities In Aquaculture (M.I.A)

Anchored in Heritage: Black History and the Future of Chesapeake Aquaculture

Imani Black shares her journey from Maryland’s Eastern Shore to becoming a nationally recognized leader in aquaculture. She explores the overlooked legacy of Black watermen and aquaculture pioneers in the Chesapeake Bay while reflecting on her decade of experience as an oyster farmer. Imani discusses founding Minorities In Aquaculture (MIA), a global nonprofit empowering women of color through education, mentorship, and workforce development in aquaculture and fisheries, along with her master’s research at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory. This talk highlights how cultural heritage, conservation, and workforce access can shape a sustainable future for the Bay.

Imani Black is an African American oyster farmer, marine conservationist, and nonprofit leader who spent seven years building a trailblazing career in the Chesapeake Bay aquaculture industry. After recognizing both the cultural legacy and the lack of representation of Black and brown women in marine careers, she founded Minorities In Aquaculture (MIA) in 2020. Over five years, MIA grew into an international network that provided women of color with mentorship, education, training, and workforce development opportunities to help them thrive in aquaculture and fisheries careers worldwide. 

Imani earned national recognition for advancing diversity and inclusion in the seafood sector, and she continued working hands-on as a shellfish aquaculturist while completing her master’s degree in Ecological Anthropology through the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences program at the Horn Point Laboratory in 2024. Her work bridged science, culture, and community to build a more sustainable and equitable future for aquaculture. 

Stegner Lecture: Linda Harris and David B. Cole

Director of Events and Programs and Retired Educator, Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center

I GOT SHOES: A Musical Presentation of the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman

Music is a moral law. It gives a soul to the Universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything.  It is the essence of order and leads to all that is good and just and beautiful. It liberated human beings, captured in Africa, brought to the U.S. on slave ships and forced into the horrific institution of slavery.

“I Got Shoes” presented by Linda Harris and David B. Cole is a musical narration of the journeys of Harriet Tubman, born Arminta Ross in 1822, and those who walked, often without shoes, to Freedom.

Linda Harris is the Director of Events and Programs at the Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center. She runs artistic programs at the museum and brings to life the story of Harriet Tubman through music, storytelling and walking tours.

David B. Cole is a retired educator and music teacher from the Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts, Wash, D.C. He is a banjer and guitarist who performs his creative arrangements of “signal and code songs” of the enslaved people with Linda Harris. 

They are joined by popular bassist, Emory Diggs, Washington, D.C. and Bill (Babalu) Caudle, African drummer and dancer.

Dorchester County Health Department

Hannah Mayhew, Public Health Emergency Planner & Communicable Disease Staff Nurse
Theresa Perry, Climate and Health Coordinator
La’Toya Jackson, Community Resilience & Sustainability Officer

Rising Tide, Resilient Future: Strengthening Climate Adaptation through Community-Based Partnerships and Local Public Health Interventions Across the Lifespan in Dorchester County, Maryland

Facing rising tides and extreme weather, the Dorchester County Health Department is leading a localized approach to climate adaptation and community resilience. This plenary explores our strategic community-based partnerships utilized to implement public health interventions aimed at serving vulnerable populations within Dorchester County, Maryland. We will detail our "boots-on-the-ground" model: transforming community-based organizations into emergency preparedness educational hubs, partnering with faith-based organizations to establish formal resilience plans, and empowering both youth and adult climate champions to bridge the gap between local government and residents. Learn how we are strengthening public health and community agency to ensure no one is left behind as the climate changes around us.

Hannah Mayhew bridges clinical care and community resilience at Dorchester County Health Department, where she has served for over six years. Holding degrees in Nursing (SU '23) and Public Health (UMD '19), plus certificates in Climate Change & Health from Yale and Community Disaster Preparedness from Texas A&M, she leads the Emergency Preparedness Team, Climate and Health Initiative, and Community Engagement Team. Hannah has responded to COVID-19, H5N1, and extreme weather events, while also providing direct clinical care in communicable disease and family planning programs. Committed to health equity, she ensures every resident—from Hoopers Island crab workers to Hurlock seniors—receives the support they need before, during, and after emergencies.

Theresa Perry works at the intersection of public health, climate resilience, and environmental justice at the Dorchester County Health Department. As Program Director of the Climate Ready Youth Committee, she leads youth-driven initiatives addressing climate impacts on health, extreme heat, air quality, and emergency preparedness. Through workshops, community partnerships, and hands-on projects including tree plantings and youth summits, Theresa translates complex climate and health information into accessible, actionable knowledge for families, schools, and community organizations. Deeply committed to equity, she prioritizes including underserved and vulnerable populations in climate conversations, believing in the power of education, collaboration, and youth leadership to build healthier, more resilient communities.

La'Toya Jackson serves as the Climate and Health Initiative Community Resilience Officer at the Dorchester County Health Department, working directly with community-based organizations to establish local resilience hubs that streamline educational resources, preparedness training, and emergency aid for vulnerable populations. Her public service background has honed her ability to guide clients through complex social processes with patience and professionalism. A skilled seamstress and designer, La'Toya brings a creative sensibility that enhances her innovative, detail-oriented approach to project management. Her work reflects a passion for community resilience, sustainability, and outreach—blending practical expertise, client care experience, and design artistry to deliver meaningful, quality-driven impact.

Caroline J. Wiernicki

PhD Candidate, University of Delaware, School of Marine Science and Policy

Developing a Method to Collect Oceanographic Data with Tagged Sharks for Improved Hurricane Predictions in the Mid-Atlantic

The Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) is a heavily populated region with unique oceanographic conditions that greatly influence hurricane conditions. Improved storm intensity predictions require more subsurface water temperature data than are currently provided by traditional collection methods. The development of new animal-borne tags, which collect and deliver real-time oceanographic data on sharks, creates a valuable opportunity to improve hurricane predictions. This project: 1) identifies which shark species are best suited for carrying these tags; 2) deploys these tags for the first time on sharks in the MAB; and 3) refines tag attachment and programming methods for use around the world.

Caroline Wiernicki is a PhD candidate at the University of Delaware, working with Drs. Aaron Carlisle and Matthew Oliver. Her project involves testing and deploying a new type of tag on pelagic sharks in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, with the ultimate goal of shark-collected temperature profiles contributing to hurricane intensity prediction modeling.Her background is a blend of shark ecology, animal movement, and applied ocean observing and robotics. She received her Master of Science degree from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science in 2020, and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English from Duke University in 2016. She is pursuing a career in marine research that connects highly migratory species’ movement with interdisciplinary drivers and applications for dynamic ocean management.