Spring is a Time for New Beginnings
April 29, 2021Spring is a time for new beginnings, and this season at Bow Seat, we bid farewell to our longtime colleague Alyssa Irizarry and welcome Eric Carstens as our new Program Manager.
Alyssa has been an integral member of our crew for five years, first as Program Manager and finally as Senior Vice President. During her tenure, Alyssa helped guide and enhance many Bow Seat initiatives, bringing extraordinary creativity and passion for our mission.
President & Founder Linda’s strategic call to grow our Ocean Awareness Contest was highly successful due in large part to Alyssa’s work. Behind the scenes, she curated educational content, coordinated outreach, and managed the online submission platform. Alyssa’s organization of and engagement in events, exhibitions, and conferences to inspire participation in the Contest as well as to showcase our students’ work was tireless and brought Bow Seat’s mission to stakeholders worldwide. In addition, Alyssa helped developed and nurture relationships with strategic partners to position Bow Seat as a leader and resource in the fields of environmental conservation, creative advocacy, and youth leadership. Alyssa applied these efforts and successes to help Bow Seat develop innovative new programming, including Voteless Not Voiceless and the Healthy Whale, Healthy Ocean Challenge.
Most importantly, Alyssa served as a mentor and champion of youth. She led workshops in schools, managed Bow Seat’s interns, found opportunities to engage our alumni as Contest judges and webinar speakers, and helped to launch our global Future Blue Youth Council.
We wish Alyssa the best of luck as she moves on to her next adventure, applying her skills and passion to helping youth in her local Vermont community. Bow Seat—and environmental young leaders around the world—will always have an ally in Alyssa!
This spring we are thrilled to welcome Eric Carstens to our team as Bow Seat’s new Program Manager!
Drawing on his love of museums and of the natural world, and his interest in science communications, Eric has developed climate change programs at the Science Museum of Virginia, rebuilt coral reefs with the Coral Restoration Foundation, taught environmental science lessons with Change is Simple, and helped organize a virtual science festival at the Harvard Museum of Natural History.
As both a biology major and science communicator, and with an in-depth understanding of arts education and engagement, Eric will bring new perspectives and valuable skills to the role. Eric is completing his Master’s degree in Museum Education at Tufts University and will start full-time at Bow Seat at the end of May.
Featured Artwork: “Ushinawareta Umi (Lost Ocean)” by Ashley Geraets, 2019 Ocean Awareness Contest