Meet the CELF Team
Tara Stafford Ocansey: Executive Director
Tara joined CELF in January 2022 after a decade with the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, where she facilitated teams across the globe to identify, advocate for, and implement strategic approaches for creating a more sustainable future through increased access to lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Prior to joining the Earth Institute, Tara worked as a community organizer in California with CALPIRG and Arts for LA, working with students, educators, and community leaders to advocate for clean energy policy solutions and K-12 arts education curriculum. Tara holds a Master of Arts degree in Comparative and International Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Victoria Garufi LoIacono: Director of Education
As Director of Education, Vicky is responsible for guiding CELF’s educator team in the planning and implementing all professional development programs. Prior to joining CELF, Vicky spent 12 years at the Sarah Lawrence College Center for the Urban River at Beczak (CURB) in Yonkers. There she designed, implemented and oversaw all K-12 environmental education programs focused on the Hudson River. She provided outreach to connect school districts, community groups and Hudson River organizations to develop partnerships with CURB.
Vicky is most passionate about teaching and learning through connecting children and teachers to the environment. She has collaborated on several educational initiatives which include: the development of the Three Rivers of Yonkers curriculum designed for 4th and 5th graders in the classroom, creation of a climate change resiliency program for high school students focused on coastal implications, and support of a research grant on student assessment titled the Importance of Field trips and Cultural Awareness in Education.
Vicky holds a BS in Psychobiology from Long Island University’s Southampton College and a Master of Science in Education (Art of Teaching program) from Sarah Lawrence College. She serves on the board of the Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS), Westchester/Bronx section, on the advisory board for the Regional Environmental Educators Forum, and on the STEAM advisory board for the Teacher Center of Central Westchester. She also enjoys being a mentor to graduate students in the field of science and education.
Rowena Capuno: Manager of Education Innovation, New York
Rowena is an educator dedicated to embedding empathy, self-knowledge, creativity, healing, and growth in all learning spaces. She is passionate about interdisciplinary and culturally-relevant pedagogy, project-based and place-based learning, and providing opportunities for learners of all ages to connect with self, each other, and their communities, including the natural environment.
Rowena spent over 13 years in secondary schools as a teacher and administrator. She taught English for 8 years in New York City public schools, collaborating with community members and organizations. Rowena then joined Colorado KIPP Charter Schools supporting English Language Learners, developing and teaching curricula for AP English and AP Capstone courses with a social justice lens. Over her teaching tenure, she served as English Department Lead and 12th Grade Chair to enact change through student identity work, community building, and student agency. Most recently, she transitioned into administration as an Assistant Principal at a charter school in the Bronx, where she co-created a Humanities curriculum rooted in transferable critical thinking skills, student inquiry, and interdisciplinary study.
Rowena holds a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College and a Master of Science in Teaching from Fordham University. She is a Moonshot edVentures Fellow and serves on the board of Dancers Unlimited.
Stephanie Gray: Program Director, Texas
As the Texas Program Director at CELF Stephanie Gray dedicates herself to fostering sustainable urban systems through education and community engagement.
Before joining CELF, Stephanie served as an Horticulture Extension Agent with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Her work in Harris County involved successfully managing hundreds of volunteers, expanding outreach to over 100,000 yearly in person and virtual contacts, and coordinating impactful community programs with local businesses, libraries, and university specialists. She also played a key role in implementing federal grant-funded projects related to environmental education as a CO-PI for multiple grants targeting children and families at risk, incarcerated youth, and green industry professionals. Previously, Stephanie was a Horticulturist at one of Texas’s largest vertical farms, where she was recognized for maintaining plant health and water quality standards with a high degree of accuracy. She has additional experience in agriculture from her time working on a mid size organic vegetable farm in Keeseville, New York, and managing a farmers market stand at GrowNYC markets.
Diversified career experience is one of her strengths, and she likes to highlight her previous work on political canvassing and environmental action coalitions. By establishing partnerships with a range of community stakeholders, Stephanie has amplified environmental education and community resilience. Originally from Rochester, New York, she received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh.
Karin Espinosa: Education & Evaluation Specialist, Texas
Karin is a lifelong learner and educator driven by a deep love of nature and a belief in the transformative power of education. She serves as CELF’s Education and Evaluation Specialist, working at the intersection of education, community, and sustainability – helping teachers and students across Greater Houston connect classroom learning to real-world environmental challenges. Whether guiding a group of students through a field investigation, collaborating with teachers to bring place-based education to life, or gathering insights to ensure CELF’s work is connected, collaborative, and responsive to the needs of local schools and communities. She believes that authentic experiential learning has the power to spark curiosity and inspire change.
Before joining CELF, Karin spent 16 years in K-12 schools as an elementary teacher in Houston Independent School District and an instructional leader with YES Prep’s Teaching Excellence. She collaborated with several Houston districts to train and develop novice teachers through high-impact coaching and practice-based professional learning. During this time, she served as the elementary content lead and field supervisor for alternative certification candidates. She has designed and facilitated professional learning for K-12 teachers in areas such as culture, instructional planning and delivery, leadership, diversity, and equity. Karin is passionate about making learning accessible to all, modeling Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and multilingual support for teachers and their students. She enjoys helping educators and students see themselves as problem-solvers, self-advocates, and stewards of their communities.
Karin holds a Bachelor of Arts from University of Arizona in Creative Writing and completed her teaching certificate through the University of St. Thomas. As a creative connector, she believes sustainability education isn’t just about protecting the planet – it’s also about nurturing curiosity, empathy, and hope to empower the next generation.
Pallavi Mehta: Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Financial Officer, Pallavi is responsible for all the financial operations of the organization including financial reporting, budgeting, compliance and risk management. Prior to joining CELF, Pallavi has spent over ten years working at investment banking firms with a focus on asset management and equity research. Most recently, she was an Equity Analyst at Citigroup covering small-mid capitalization companies within the consumer sector. She also taught finance to Chartered Financial Analyst candidates in New York City. Pallavi is a long-time community volunteer including seven years as a member of the Junior League of Central Westchester where she served as the Finance Chair.
Pallavi’s educational background includes an MBA in Finance from the NYU Stern School of Business, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Rutgers University.
Enrique Lastra: Marketing and Development Manager
Enrique joined CELF as the Marketing and Development Manager with a background in marketing communications, retail marketing, instructional design, and start-up consultancy. Drawn to the organization’s approach to environmental advocacy, he brings a drive for promoting a more sustainable future through education.
Having previously worked at Apple, Enrique led youth programs and events, including community events for the Apple Distinguished Educators program. Key achievements at Apple include spearheading the Apple youth program and designing innovative workshops for the company’s creative professional software suite. He brings expertise in program development and event coordination to CELF.
As the Marketing Communications Manager at NYC-based startup Juno, Enrique handled all communications for the company, including campaigns for the release of their app refresh, and developed Juno’s distinctive voice—reaching over 1 million users. His ability to craft compelling messages through digital storytelling and engage diverse audiences will significantly contribute to CELF’s communication efforts. With diverse interests and dedication to personal growth, he hopes to inspire positive change. Enrique holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Synthesis and Composition from the Berklee School of Music in Boston.
Surendra Surujdeo-Maharaj I Ph.D.: Career Tech Education Specialist
Surendra is a visionary leader in plant sciences, sustainability, climate education, and food security. With over a decade of award-winning service as an educator and advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), Surendra’s impact spans the globe and empowers the next generation of change-makers.
Holding a Ph.D. in Plant Sciences from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, he is renowned for his ability to transform education into a platform for action. His career has been marked by a relentless dedication to fostering climate consciousness, food security, and environmental stewardship among students and educators worldwide.
His career reflects a blend of educational excellence, sustainability training, and thought leadership. He has over 10 years of recognition for outstanding teaching, known for his innovative curriculum design and ability to inspire students across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. As a global sustainability trainer, he has led training programs in sustainability and cultivated a global network of climate change and food security advocates. He serves as a subject matter expert (SME) and evaluator for the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute, offering guidance on student research related to food sustainability and climate change. Additionally, he was invited to review the Plant Sciences Program of Study for the Texas Education Agency, providing testimony to the Texas State Board of Education on critical course revisions. He also serves as a super mentor for future agriculture educators at Penn State University and Colorado State University through the GOALS program, shaping the next generation of agricultural leaders.
A passionate advocate for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), he has led efforts to incorporate sustainability and climate education into public school systems and beyond. He spearheaded a program with Houston ISD that empowers high school students to address food security and climate change through experiential learning. Students have launched campus-wide initiatives that include a Food Waste to Composting Project. He also guided students in the development of “Where Did All the Snow Go?”, a children’s book by Mihir Relan that addresses food waste’s connection to climate change. This project has been endorsed by prominent figures, including World Food Prize Laureates, the USDA, and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
Surendra continues to push the boundaries of innovation and action. He is collaborating with Prof. Dickson Despommier of Columbia University to develop a new Program of Study on Controlled Environment Agriculture for the state of Texas, positioning students to become leaders in sustainable agriculture. He also facilitates hands-on, project-based learning experiences where students address issues like climate change and food waste on their campuses and in their communities.
His work is driven by a strong belief that education must prepare students to solve the most pressing challenges of our time. His core areas of focus include addressing global food security through innovative educational models and student engagement, creating pathways for students to act on climate change by linking human behavior, such as food waste, to environmental impact, and providing students with the knowledge, tools, and experiential learning opportunities to understand and combat environmental challenges.
Surendra is committed to ensuring the next generation of leaders has the knowledge, skills, and passion to confront challenges related to food security, climate change, and environmental sustainability. His work bridges education, advocacy, and action, creating sustainability-minded leaders ready to make lasting changes in their communities and beyond.
Lynne Cherry: Young Voices Ambassador
Lynne Cherry is the author and illustrator of 30 award-winning children’s books including the best-sellers The Great Kapok Tree and A River Ran Wild. Lynne is also the founder of Young Voices on Climate Change and the producer/director of thirteen inspiring Young Voices for the Planet films. Her films champion youth solutions to the climate crisis, dispelling fear and encouraging action.
The Young Voices for the Planet films have been featured on thousands of educational, environmental and academic programs an websites including National Geographic, the United Nations Foundation and PBS.
In her presentations, Lynne emphasizes the importance of sharing hopeful messages. In a New York Times blog she wrote about “motivated avoidance” which describes how people, when confronted with a troubling and seemingly intractable problem, avoid hearing about it again.
Lynne received her BA from Tyler School of Art and a Masters in History at Yale University. She has had artist-in-residencies at Princeton University, the Smithsonian Institution, and Cornell University, science-writing fellowships from the Marine Biological Lab, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and, most recently, at the Children’s Eternal Rain Forest in Monteverde, Costa Rica. She is Winner of a Metcalf Fellowship and the Brandwein Prize.
Katie Isaak Ginsberg: Founder and Executive Director Emeritus
Ms. Ginsberg launched CELF in 2003 after she saw the need to educate young people about the links between human health, poverty, consumption, conflict and the environment.
With twenty years of experience in program design and management, marketing and business development, Ginsberg works with leading experts from around the world to bring best practices in sustainability education to K-12 educators and schools. Under Ms. Ginsberg’s directorship, CELF’s client base grew from a start-up organization to over 4,000 schools nationwide. Today CELF programs have reached more than 15,000 teachers and over 1.5 million students.
Ms. Ginsberg presents at a broad range of seminars, conferences and courses on sustainability and on re-orienting education through place-based and project-based education. She was a featured presenter at the 2013 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. She served as Chair of the County Executive’s Westchester Climate Change Task Force for the education sector, which developed a blueprint to integrate sustainability across the campuses, curriculum and communities of Westchester, NY schools. Ginsberg has a BA in Psychology from Northwestern University.
