OUR TEAM

Marjorie Mayfield Jackson is the founding Executive Director. She left a dozen-year career as a newspaper writer to co-found the Elizabeth River Project around a kitchen table and has led the organization since its incorporation in 1993. “I did not want to accept a community that would abandon its home river as dead,” recalls Jackson of the founding. “Today I am tremendously proud of how far we’ve come as a community to bring the Elizabeth River to life.” Jackson holds a masters from Loyola University, trained extensively with the US Environmental Protection Agency in environmental risk management and in her previous career was nominated for a Pulitzer by the Virginian-Pilot. She lives on the Lafayette branch of the Elizabeth with her husband, Bob.

Pamela Boatwright is the River Star Businesses Program Manager and Deputy Director Administration with Elizabeth River Project. She has a BS in business administration with concentration in marketing and minor in international business from Old Dominion University. Pam has been with The Elizabeth River Project since 1994 and has been managing the River Star Businesses program since 2001. Pam works with industrial and organizational partners to carry out pollution prevention and/or habitat projects. Pam also provides administrative support to the organization. When she is not working, Pam is an avid boater and loves being out on the water.

Joe Rieger has worked for the non-profit, Elizabeth River Project, for 20 years and is the Deputy Director of Restoration. Joe has managed numerous wetland, oyster, and sediment restorations projects in the Elizabeth and Lafayette Rivers. Joe was the project manager for the remediation of Money Point which was the first nationally recognized community-led cleanup of contaminated sediments. He was also the project manager for oyster restoration in the Lafayette River, which became the first river in Virginia to meet Chesapeake Bay Program restoration goals in 2018. His position involves working directly with federal and state governments, waterfront industries, universities and the community members of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Joe received his Bachelor’s of Science from Ohio University in 1998, and received a master’s degree in Aquatic Ecology from Old Dominion University in 2002. Joe and his wife KC live in Norfolk on the Lafayette River. They have two sons, Walter and Lucas who both enjoy baseball and fishing on the river.

Robin’s career path reflects the marriage of art and science, finding solutions to roadblocks and implementing one-of-a-kind projects. She has a thirty-year history in community education, is an Old Dominion University graduate and joined The Elizabeth River Project in 2000. Her new favorite spot on the river is A Kid’s Paradise Playground she designed for Paradise Creek Nature Park.

Former Virginian Pilot reporter and Executive Director with the March of Dimes, Susan now champions the restoration of the Elizabeth River and urban waterways.

Casey graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2009 and is a certified Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional.  As a Norfolk native, Casey grew up fishing and actively participates in the VIMS Game Fish Tagging Program. She is excited to work with the Elizabeth River Project and the greater Hampton Roads community to restore our home river.  

Barbara has been with the Elizabeth River Project since 2015 in multiple roles, beginning as a summer intern and becoming the River Star Homes Program Manager in 2016. In 2023 she moved into the Environmental Project Manager position, to lead large-scale restoration efforts on the river. She received her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health from Old Dominion University, is a certified Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional, and graduate of the Virginia Natural Resource Leadership Institute, class of 2023. Barbara serves on the steering committee for several local initiatives including the Norfolk Stormwater Taskforce and Living Shoreline Collaborative. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council . On the weekends you can find her anywhere on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay or Outer Banks.

Luísa Black is an artist, educator, and ecologist who has called the shores of the Elizabeth River home for over 10 years. She is a first generation Brazilian-American, and she draws great inspiration from the rich coastal ecology of both Virginia and Rio de Janeiro, where her family still lives. She believes that the work of change-making is only sustainable if it sparks joy, so she is moved to seek opportunities for collective play, creativity, and celebration in the critical work of healing the river.

After completing a 26 year Navy career, Larry completed his bachelor’s degree in Park and Recreation Management from Old Dominion University in 2018.  A certified Executive Chef and a Tidewater Master Naturalist, Larry combines his passion for outdoor recreation with his expertise in Culinary Arts to provide a unique insight into the connection we have to food and nature. When he is not working, Larry can be found paddling his kayak on Pretty Lake, taking pictures and picking up trash.

Summer began as a Seasonal Deckhand Educator in fall 2017. She graduated from Old Dominion University in May 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and an emphasis on Marine Biology. 

Mckenzie graduated from Appalachian State University in 2018 where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration – Management, and minored in Sustainable Development. She enjoys gardening and hiking with her partner and husky in her free time.

Mary is a field ecologist with a background in conservation work. She completed her Master’s in Wildlife Science from Auburn University. At Auburn, she studied resource selection of the southeastern pocket gopher and explored new ways to locate them.  Prior to her time in Alabama, she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in the fields of Biology and Ecology from SUNY Plattsburgh, managed invasive plants with Florida State Parks AmeriCorps, and conducted prescribed fire-based research in North Carolina. Mary is excited to start her career with the Elizabeth River Project’s River Star Homes by helping homeowners to restore backyard habitat and implement river friendly practices on their property.

Yolima is a highly experienced horticulturist and landscape curator who has been one of our partners for many years.  She has over 25 years of experience working as a horticulturist and curator including garden design, living shorelines, wetlands restoration, and conservation of habitat with emphasis in the use of native plants. Yolima received her bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Bogota, Colombia and her Associate in Public Garden from the School of Gardening in Zaragoza, Spain. Since moving from Spain to Norfolk in 1993, Yolima has been fortunate to work at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, the Virginia Zoological Park, the Hermitage Museum and Gardens, and now at the Elizabeth River Project. “I am honored by the opportunity to lead a ‘horticulture-programing’ at such an amazing site and to further ERP and Paradise Creek Nature Park goals to connect the community especially the youth to nature, plants and conservation values of an urban park.”

 Jaye is a lifelong Virginia resident who graduated from Old Dominion University with a master’s degree in business administration in 2022. With a background in and passion for working with others, she loves all human-centered aspects of the workforce and helping people achieve their goals. Jaye is excited to further serve the community by being involved in ERP’s mission.

Kayla graduated from Old Dominion University in 2018 with a B.S in Biology and an Interdisciplinary Minor in Conservation Leadership. She began working for the Elizabeth River Project in Fall 2018 as an educator on the Learning Barge. Now as the Volunteer Coordinator, she’s excited to engage with our community and help those looking to get their hands dirty with one of our volunteer programs!

Sarah has a M.S. in Biology with a concentration in Ecology from Old Dominion University. She worked as an environmental consultant for 10 years before staying home to raise two daughters. She has thoroughly enjoyed volunteering with their schools as the Green Team/Outdoor Classroom leader, and now that they are older and back in school, she is very excited to share her passion for our local environment with many other school children in the region. Feel free to contact her about environmental action projects for schools or field trips at Paradise Creek Nature Park!

Samantha received her Master’s in Environmental Policy and Management in 2019 and her Bachelor’s in Fish and Wildlife Management in 2013 from American Military University. Prior to working for ERP, she spent 5 ½ years in the Navy where she fell in love with the ocean, leading to pursuing a career in environmental management. Samantha has traveled the world witnessing many different ecosystems and how each have distinctive attributes. She has volunteered for invasive species removal and native planting with the Ko’olou Mountains Watershed Partnership, helping preserve the Hawaiian native forest. While working with the ERP she hopes to promote a sustainable way of life through educating the public and restoring the Elizabeth River.

Passionate for the environment from a young age, Jessica is thrilled to have found her niche at the Elizabeth River Project. She has called Hampton Roads home for twenty years and is honored to put her efforts into assisting ERP’s mission. Jessica is also a playwright, director, and actor, and studied theatre at TCC and Virginia Western with a focus in performance. She’s appeared in productions around the state and manages a local theatre company geared towards young audiences. She lives with her partner in Willoughby, where she can often be seen chasing birds with her camera and picking up litter on the beaches.

Shannon graduated from James Madison University in 2022 with a B.S. in Geographic Science and a minor in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Climate Affairs. She started with the Elizabeth River Project as a Seasonal Educator on the Learning Barge in the Fall of 2022. She is now excited to continue educating our river stewards on the Learning Barge as a a Senior Environmental Educator!

Hailey graduated from George Mason University in 2020 with a B.A in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a concentration in Conservation and Sustainability and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. She has always loved working with animals and kids, so she is very excited to be part of ERP’s environmental education team. In her free time, you can find her exploring the outdoors with her partner, spending time with her dog, and reading anything she can.

Tricia has a B.S. in Biology from George Mason University with a concentration in Marine and Freshwater Ecology. In 2010, she participated in one of the first course offerings from the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, garnering her a minor in Applied Conservation Studies. As a native of Northern Virginia, Tricia spent nearly a decade working as a seasonal Environmental Interpreter teaching stream ecology with the Potomac Environmental Research & Education Center. She is a military spouse and has had the opportunity to live in multiple locales, including overseas! Now that she’s back in Virginia, Tricia is excited to be part of shaping the Elizabeth River and Chesapeake Bay Watershed stewards of tomorrow!

Victoria Dunch is a certified environmental educator who is passionate about environmental issues and working with her community to make the world a better place. She grew up in Amherst, MA running cross country through the woods before moving to San Diego with her husband. Victoria worked with science teachers and students on the Community Engagement team, part of the Conservation Science team at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance for eight years before moving to Virginia Beach in 2023. She holds a degree in Environmental Science & Policy from Smith College and an MA in Biology through Miami University’s Project Dragonfly. In her free time, she likes to hike, travel, and try new restaurants.

Jamie grew up in Northern Virginia, and she began to call Virginia Beach home in 2022. Like many transplants, she fell in love with the area’s beautiful waterways and coastline. Growing up, Jamie spent her free time in the woods behind her childhood home, visiting family along the coast of Maine, and spending summers frolicking through Japan’s natural areas. Passionate about the importance of community relations and community action, Jamie has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Advocacy for Social Justice and Sustainability. She has over 9 years of engagement and education experience with the Fairfax County Park Authority and Virginia Beach Friends School, where she taught First Grade and is currently their Co-Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. When not working, you will most likely find Jamie at a local farmers market, thrift shop, sitting on the beach or reading a good book.

Currently working towards a Geography degree at Old Dominion University (ODU), Joshua joined ERP as a Seasonal River Star Home Assistant in June 2023. Having lived in Elizabeth River watershed their whole life, Joshua is committed to environmental stewardship on both a personal and professional level. Their deep understanding of the watershed influences their work, reflecting a genuine desire to see positive change in their community. Joshua hopes to encourage local residents to get involved in environmental issues and take part in restoring their shared environment.

A Norfolk native, Phoebe developed her love of the Elizabeth splashing barefoot in puddles (a practice that would now make her current stormwater-aware self cringe). She joined ERP as an intern in 2018 and worked in a variety of roles while completing her Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Virginia Wesleyan University. She left the organization in 2021 to pursue her Master of Public Policy from Duke University, where she focused on community- and data-informed policy innovation and became a truly insufferable Duke Basketball fan. She is thrilled to be back on the team now managing the River Star Homes program. She loves spicy food, escape rooms, and French. At the time of writing, she has a 553-day streak on Duolingo, but it’s probably way higher now. Enchanté!

Ashton Holliday-Goulart originally hails from West Virginia but has been living in Virginia on and off for about eight and a half years. Her ecological background is extremely diverse as she has studied mountainous and coastal regions in Virginia. Ashton received her bachelor’s in Horticulture from Ferrum College and received her Master’s in Natural Resources and Conservation from Virginia Tech. She has multiple years of experience working for the non-profit industry; starting her career as a Horticulturist for Norfolk Botanical Garden, to her most recent work with Atlanta Botanical Garden as a Conservation Botanist, and now as our Development Coordinator. Needless to say, she’s a lover of all things botanical, so feel free to ask her anything about plants! She is passionate about restoration and conservation and hopes to be able to contribute her expertise and knowledge to our team and community! Contact Ashton for speaking engagements and ERP participation at community events.