Director of Community Engagement

Center for Aquatic Sciences at Adventure Aquarium 

Cheronda Frazier is the current Director of Community Engagement at the Center for Aquatic Sciences at Adventure Aquarium. She is responsible for the administrative oversight of the Center's youth development and community programs and special initiative projects. For more than twenty seven years, Cheronda has worked to build effective science and youth development programs for youth. She works to identify their needs and develops, implements, and evaluates programs that help youth become successful and contributing adults to society. She also works as an Emergency and Critical Care Veterinary Nurse at a 24 hour animal hospital.

Her background includes scientific research in marine biology, ichthyology, fishery science, wildlife biology, animal behavior, and ecology. During her tenure with the Center she has been involved in animal behavior training; served as an adjunct instructor for teacher professional development courses and taught aquatic veterinary science classes for local colleges; taught hands-on workshops for youth and families; and developed and implemented public programs and exhibits. She has presented at many regional, national and international conferences on marine and environmental science, youth development, and diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion (DEAI) in science centers and museums. Through SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) and ASTC (Association of Science and Technology Centers) Cheronda has been awarded conference fellowship awards for her work in DEAI in the workplace. Cheronda is currently the Mid-Atlantic YouthALIVE! Regional Network Chair and sits on ASTC’s Equity and Diversity Committee and Leadership and Professional Development Committee. Both organizations are committed to science, diversity, equity, accessibility, inclusion and professional development of youth and adult staff in science centers and museums.

Manager of Community Engagement 

Center for Aquatic Sciences at Adventure Aquarium 

Joey Rodriguez is the Manager of Community Engagement for The Community and Urban Science Enrichment (CAUSE) Youth Development Program at The Center for Aquatic Sciences at Adventure Aquarium.  At The Center, Joey leads the personal and professional life skills and leadership initiatives with middle and high school students in Camden City. He values Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access and dedicates time facilitating, both internally and externally, on these topics. As a native resident of Camden, he takes pride in mentoring youth in his community and strives to equip them with skills necessary for success. In addition, Joey enjoys fostering community connections with other organizations and residents in Camden. He works with his team to engage the community, bringing science to life through “hands-on, minds-on” practices, use of live animals, games & activities, as well as, other informal science strategies. Joey has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Rowan University and, as an alumni of the CAUSE Program, has more than 15 years of experience with marine and environmental sciences.

Education Coordinator

Delaware Nature Society

Willa Rowan is the Education Coordinator at DuPont Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of Delaware Nature Society. She was a 5th grade teacher at the environmentally-themed Wissahickon Charter School and led high schoolers in boat-building and river ecology afterschool programming in Northeast Philadelphia. Currently, she manages DEEC’s afterschool programs with community centers in Wilmington. The programs fulfill the community centers’ requests to explore outdoor spaces in the city, hands-on STEAM activities, and environmental career paths. She is a proud resident of West Philadelphia.

Watershed Stewardship Team Leader

Delaware Nature Society

Kristen Travers, Watershed Stewardship Team Leader for the Delaware Nature Society, brings over 25 years of experience communicating watershed science to diverse audiences.  She has worked extensively with watershed and conservation organizations to provide mentoring and technical training and has developed nationally available watershed-based curriculum materials for educators.

Center for Aquatic Sciences flagship program, CAUSE (Community and Urban Science Enrichment) is a comprehensive year-round youth development program designed to provide meaningful experiences in science and education, to promote science literacy and to provide educational and employment opportunities to middle and high school youth that live in Camden, NJ. The participants become immersed in aquatic science education, environmental sciences, personal and professional life skills and experiential learning that leads to paid work as educators for younger kids and families in and around their community. Activities include scientific and educational field excursions, outreach, in-house and overnight programs, summer science camps and college visits.

See here for more information on the CAUSE Program.