Josh Revels

Josh is a graduate of Fairmont State University in Fairmont, West Virginia and currently has a M. Ed with teaching certifications in Chemistry, Earth/Space Science, Physics, and General Science. His main goal at the Katherine Johnson NASA IV&V ERC is to train educators to implement activities relating to content involved with NASA missions. Prior to being a NASA Education Outreach Specialist, Josh taught high school chemistry and geoscience at Elkins High School. Occasionally, he instructs chemistry and geoscience as an adjunct professor at Fairmont State University. Josh's love for the universe drives him to share his knowledge of geology, meteorology, and astronomy with WV teachers as an instructor for the Earth and Space Science Passport Program, GLOBE, NASA JPL's Solar System Ambassadors Program, and with the West Virginia Science Teacher Association. Currently, he proudly serves as President of the West Virginia Science Teacher Association and serves the WVCCPD as a key advisor. He also enjoys participating as a volunteer for the WV- National Science Bowl, member of the Central Appalachian Astronomy Club, member of the WV Rocketry Association, and serving as a head judge during Robotics Competitions with the WV Robotics Alliance. In 2014, Josh was recognized as the Elkins High School Teacher of the Year and was recognized by NASA in 2013 for leading the Solar Observatory Station at the Boy Scouts of America's National Jamboree.

Sandra Fallon

Sandra Fallon is a media consultant, training specialist, and community activist engaged in public education, outreach, and advocacy for environmental and climate solutions. She is a West Virginia Climate Action co-founder,  a WV Environmental Council board member, and recently served as Citizens’ Climate Lobby WV state co-chair. Her media work includes producing news and feature stories for WV Public Television; operating a small video production business; producing and directing  documentaries; and providing media advisory services to non-profit organizations and community groups. Fallon has over 20 years adult education experience creating environmental and equity training for local, state, national, and international audiences. From 1998-2016 she was Education & Training Manager for West Virginia University's National Environmental Services Center, a federally funded program offering water-related information and training to rural water systems and communities throughout the U.S.  Fallon has a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from The Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in technology education from WVU.

Kathryn Williamson

Kathryn Williamson served as the Principal Investigator of WVCCPD from 2019-2023 and continues to serve in an advisory capacity. She taught astronomy for the West Virginia University Department of Physics & Astronomy from 2016-2022, where she also managed the WVU Planetarium. She is the founder of the WV Science Public Outreach Team (SPOT), co-founder of WV Climate Action, a member of Astronomers for Planet Earth, and host of the WVU Climate Conversations podcast. She is now an independent Earth and Space Science Education and Outreach Consultant: www.kwilliamsonconsulting.com. In her free time, she enjoys painting and paddle boarding.

Dr. Debra Hemler

Deb Hemler is the Chair of Natural Sciences at Fairmont State University and has been a professor at Fairmont State since 2000 and a graduate faculty member since 2004. She obtained her Ed.D. in geoscience education and her M.S. in wildlife management from West Virginia University. Her B.S. in biology, with a minor in environmental science, is from Northland College in Ashland, Wis. She taught earth science, chemistry and biology for seven years in the public schools in Preston County, W.Va. She was a Visiting Assistant Professor at WVU for three years prior to coming to Fairmont State. She currently serves as the coordinator for the science education programs at FSU, the facilitator for NASA's Educator Resource Center, the Director of the Earth & Space Science Passport Program, and the Executive Director for the West Virginia Science Teachers Association. She spends her leisure time taking geology forays (both domestic and international), riding her horses, and spending time with her husband Roger on their farm, Terra Petra, raising Scottish highland cattle and silver fox rabbits in Preston County. 

Rick Sharpe

Rick Sharpe is stepping up to fill the new leadership role for the WVCCPD project to ensure its sustainability through the transition in leadership as the previous PI Kathryn Williamson steps down. Sharpe has been a teacher at Huntington High School since 2006. He has led numerous climate lesson plans and served as a NASA GLOBE Master Trainer for the past seven years. He was also a GLOBE Hydrology trainer for Marshall University and West Virginia State University as part of the NSF three-year grant for the Appalachian Watershed Initiative. He worked on the WV Department of Education committee selecting a certification exam for the new Earth and Space Science (ESS) Teacher Certification. He is the Science Advisor for the Nearby Nature Teacher Training program through Marshall University’s June Harless Center and Carnegie-Mellon University’s Create Labs. He escorted a student team representing NASA and GLOBE to the White House Science Fair in 2011, and served as a Praxis Earth and Space Science Certification Exam panelist in 2019. 

Tamara Westfall

Tamara Westfall is a former high school science teacher with years of experience in creating lessons in virtual learning environment. She received a bachelor's from Marshall and a master's from Fairmont State University. Currently, Tamara works at the WV Department of Education as a program specialist for WVEIS. In addition to her experience in education, she has published multiple research papers on CBD, sunscreen, and stem cells. At home, she has focused on decreasing her environmental impact by driving an electric vehicle, installing solar panels, reducing single use plastics, and developing home automation solutions to increase efficiency and decrease energy usage. She is also an all around nerd! She loves gaming, reading, fandoms, cosplay, anime, math, science, and coding.