People

Thomas Steele-Maley

Thomas Steele-Maley is the co-founder, coordinator and lead instructor for NLENA programs. Thomas has led experiential and education programming, developed leadership initiatives, and delivered staff development for national service learning organizations, schools and organizations since 1998. Since 2006 he has devoted his career to teaching and learning with secondary school aged young people in school settings. His teaching, learning and design based research have focused on planning with students in technology rich, socially relevant learning spaces. He has extensive experience with ePortfolio assessment, blended learning environments, and mobile learning. His curriculum development is shaped for student collaboration, communication and problem solving for an interdependent world in the twenty-first century. A graduate of University of Puget Sound and University of Maine, Thomas is currently working towards a Ph.D. focused on Networked Learning and Democratic Education.

Lisa Steele-Maley

Lisa Steele-Maley is the co-founder of NLENA and a lead instructor in NLENA Summer Intensives with a focus on service learning and group initiatives. Lisa is also the administrator for all NLENA programming. She has worked with young people in experiential education settings for over 20 years and has run experiential programs from Seattle to Maine. Her diverse experience spans urban, rural and remote wilderness areas in North America. Lisa loves to work with young people and believes that life changing possibilities emerge when studies in sustainability are coupled with service learning. Lisa holds a BA in English and Environmental Studies from Lawrence University.

Field Work Specialists

Field Work Specialists co-lead many NLENA programs. Equipped with a wealth of experience and education, they help create and facilitate the extraordinary experiences in our programs. Our field educators have teaching experience in social sciences, ecology, eLearning, service learning and/or experiential programs, and a contagious enthusiasm for exploring networked learning, systems thinking, and Service with young people.