Stephanie Tolar

I am a science educator and cross-cultural communicator who is passionate about connecting people to nature and culture. I have a Master’s Degree in Biology from Duke University, where I specialized in science education and ecology. I have a BS in Environmental Sciences, a BA in Italian Language, and a Minor in Marine Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I also earned the Certificate in College Teaching from the Duke University Graduate School.

I previously served as the Education Specialist for the NCF-Envirothon, an international hands-on natural resources and environmental education program grounded in experiential outdoor learning. I acted as a project manager, curriculum developer, collaborator, writer, and editor for the educational materials for our annual international scholastic competition for high school students, including study resources, student trainings, and assessments testing both theoretical knowledge and field skills in five different environmental science disciplines: Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Soils and Land Use, Wildlife, and a Current Environmental Issue that changes each year. I managed deliverables for multiple competitions at a time with overlapping deadlines with different groups of collaborators. I worked on long-term educational projects for the international program to support and supplement the annual competition. I also managed the NCF-Envirothon Diversity Enhancement and Underserved Audience Grant Program, offered in conjunction with the USDA Forest Service. I worked with grantees to help them design impactful projects and to solve challenges that come up during the administration of their projects.

I have held other positions in environmental education, including as the Off-Site and Adult Education Program Coordinator for the Piedmont Wildlife Center in Durham, NC, and as a Nature Instructor for the City of Raleigh Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources. I taught adult nature education classes, as well as nature programming for children. I have experience teaching both in the classroom and in the field.

My teaching philosophy is “whole-student-centered,” and I incorporate a variety of pedagogical methods and active learning approaches. I implement hands-on, field-based learning whenever I can. I draw from many different schools of environmental pedagogy, including traditional environmental education, natural resource interpretation, place-based learning, and nature connectedness. These methods put students face-to-face with local ecology, in ways that peak their curiosity and stir their emotions. My goal is for my students to delight in nature – to enjoy its intrinsic beauty and to harbor a deep appreciation for the environment.

I’ve studied in South America and Europe, as well as across the United States. My studies abroad helped me to appreciate our global community, as well as to value the unique customs and traditions of diverse cultures. Though ecology and human culture may seem distinct, they are inextricably linked. You cannot truly talk about one in isolation from the other; for in our modern world, they are interwoven and changes to one greatly influence the other. My goals are to help students increase their intercultural competence and to encourage cross-cultural communication.