Meet the Water & Energy Education Team
 | Sarah Wickersham, Education Manager Sarah became inspired by nature at a young age, growing up in Sonoma County, surrounded by redwood trees, the coast, and of course, the beautiful Russian River. Beginning her career in early childhood education, she noticed the importance of nature in child development. She earned a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in Geography from San Francisco State University. Paired with her own passion and love for her local environment, she returned home on a mission to connect more people with the environment and educate others on the major environmental issues impacting our community. She earned a Teaching Credential from Sonoma State University and is grateful that Sonoma Water offers her the opportunity to make a difference in her community. | ||
 | David Berman, Senior Program Specialist 5th grade Field Program, Steelhead in the Classroom, and Adopt a Creek coordinator David loves salmon, water, storytelling, and exploring watersheds. He has worked at Sonoma Water since 2015. David has worked as an environmental educator for over 40 years. He has a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Camp Administration. He has been a wilderness and rock-climbing guide. He has been a UC Naturalist certification program instructor since 2014. David is involved with the North Bay Bear Collaborative collecting bear scat and educating the community on living with bears. David in his free time enjoys photography, kayaking, exploring nature with the iNaturalist app, and birding. | ||
 | Trisha Meisler, Senior Program Specialist Middle School Programs, Teacher Workshop, and A Call-to-Action grant coordinator Trisha has worked as an educator at Sonoma Water since 2014. She has delighted in sharing with students and teachers the story of where their water comes from and more recently where their electricity comes from and the many connections to our environment. Before working at Sonoma Water, she worked as a field biologist specializing in plants and plant ecology in habitats from Colorado, Alaska, Hawaii, and California. Since moving to Santa Rosa in 2000, Trisha has raised her family and grown to call California home. Trisha holds a B.S. in natural resources management from Colorado State University and an M.S. in plant ecology from Sonoma State University. When not working you can find Trisha adjusting to a recently empty nest by keeping her dog out of trouble and enjoying the great outdoors with friends and family. | ||
 | Brianne Brawley, Program Specialist High School Programs, Steelhead School Tours, and Video Contest coordinator Brianne is a passionate environmental educator. Born & raised in Sonoma County, Brianne holds an AS in Natural Science from Santa Rosa Junior College, a BA in Environmental Studies from San Francisco State, single-subject teaching credentials in Biological Science and Geoscience, and a MA in Educational Leadership from Sonoma State. Brianne worked in natural resource management, focused on salmonid monitoring, before earning her teaching credentials and becoming a high school science teacher. She has taught Biology, Earth Science, and Environmental Science courses for the past decade and joined Sonoma Water’s education team in 2025. She loves to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. When not teaching, Brianne enjoys being on and near water- kayaking, paddleboarding, and traveling. | ||
 | Janeen Delsid, Program Specialist TK/K Program, 3rd grade Program, and School Supplies coordinator Janeen has been part of Sonoma Water since 2016, the same year she graduated from Sonoma State University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Planning, with an emphasis in conservation and restoration, and a minor in biology. She also earned an A.S. in Natural Science from Santa Rosa Junior College. A Sonoma County native with a lifelong love for the environment, Janeen feels truly at home in her role at Sonoma Water. She especially enjoys connecting local youth with nature and helping them discover their own sense of curiosity and responsibility as environmental stewards. Her work reflects her passion for inspiring appreciation and care for the natural world. When she’s not at work, Janeen enjoys spending time with family and friends, training and playing with her dog Milo, exploring the outdoors, gardening, and taking on new DIY projects. | ||
 | Eva Brown, Program Educator Eva values the opportunity to foster connections between the community and natural world through education and hands-on experiences. Eva received her B.S. in Biology from Sonoma State University in 2023. She is currently in school, working towards receiving an M.S. in Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction and is on track to complete her program this fall. One of her favorite parts about being an environmental educator is being able to work outdoors with students to create unforgettable experiences, memories, and lessons. Eva's goal as an educator is to provide a positive and inclusive space where students can be their authentic selves and feel supported in trying new things as they explore the outdoors together. She has a profound appreciation for environmental education and enjoys the opportunity to share her knowledge with the youth in our community. In Eva’s free time you can find her working on a craft, taking a dance class, and spending time outside. | ||
 | Audrey Fry, Program Educator Audrey loves sparking curiosity and encouraging students to trust themselves by facilitating activities that lead students to their own scientific discoveries. She especially likes tackling the challenging topic of climate change in a way that helps students feel supported and empowered. Audrey is a credentialed teacher with 10+ years of education experience in classrooms, museums, and the outdoors. She loves learning and recently earned her UC California Naturalist and UC Climate Steward certifications. Outside of work, Audrey finds balance playing with her dog, spending time in nature, and reading. She grew up in Sonoma County and is grateful to support her community through this work. | ||
 | Ryan Hohne, Program Educator Ryan is a graduate from Sonoma State University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a focus on water rights and urban streams. He has been working with Sonoma Water to help provide public support to the Lake Sonoma Visitor Center since 2023. He has worked with the United States Army Corps of Engineers volunteer group to provide Lake Sonoma Steelhead School tours to thousands of students eager to learn about the steelhead trout life cycle and their migration. Ryan enjoys teaching along the Russian River as an educator with the 5th grade field trip program where he can see his favorite neighbor, the river otter. As an Otter Spotter with the River Otter Ecology Project, Ryan has been dedicated since middle school to promoting education for the magnificent mustelids and helping to support education about their resurgence in the Russian River watershed. | ||
 | Mayla Romano, Program Educator Mayla is someone who loves to interact with our community as we build connections to the Russian River’s natural environment. They are a graduate from Sonoma State University with a B.A. in Liberal Studies and a minor in Art History. With their knowledge they are able to provide tools to students and adults to guide any scientific exploration no matter where they are at. As long as you have a curiosity, you can be a scientist too! Through storytelling and providing information about our water system, they aim to further connections with one another while creating a new one to their community and the environment. Mayla when not at work enjoys crafting and drawing, baking, playing games, and walking the local creek trails. | ||
 | Monique Walker, Program Educator Monique is a passionate nature lover and dedicated advocate for land stewardship. She always loved being in nature as a child, and as an adult, she enjoys passing on that joy. She earned an A.S. in Biology and later earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a focus of Environmental Education while also earning a Clear Multiple Subject teaching credential. With a deep-rooted appreciation for the environment, she strives to inspire others through her role as a teacher and a learner. She believes in the vital connection between people and the natural world, and she works to promote sustainable practices and conservation efforts. Her teaching emphasizes the importance of protecting and preserving our planet, fostering a sense of responsibility and wonder in the next generation. When she is not teaching, you can find her by the ocean or hiking at a local park with family and friends. She also enjoys writing, making jewelry and spending quality time with loved ones. | ||
 | Brittany Rosales, Education Intern Brittany is currently working towards a Natural Resources Certificate through the SRJC. She is a compassionate individual who is always just as excited to learn as she is to educate. Growing up in Marin County she became a nature lover early on, hiking and looking for newts in creeks of Novato. As an intern at Sonoma Water, she wishes to share the love and respect of the outdoors to students in Sonoma County. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her pets, hiking, reading, birding, and cooking. | ||
 | Carlos Tellez, Education Intern Carlos is one of the newest additions to the team here at Sonoma Water, starting in August 2025. A Sonoma County native, Carlos graduated from Santa Rosa Junior College with an A.A. in Anthropology in 2024. He then transferred over to San Francisco State University and then Sonoma State Sonoma State University pursuing a B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Geography and Environmental Planning. He hopes to pursue an M.A. in Cultural Resource Management sometime in the future after graduating next fall. In his short time working at Sonoma Water, Carlos has grown to realize his enjoyment of teaching by the Russian River alongside others. In his free time, Carlos enjoys going to the beach, hanging out with friends and playing with his cat Kiko. |