Board
Michael Knapp (he/him)
Co-Creator and Board Chair, Business Owner
A native Oregonian, Michael owns a boutique real estate financing business, located in the heart of downtown Portland. As a member of the global network Entrepreneur’s Organization, he also serves on the aforementioned board as the Strategic Partnership Chair. His work within residential and commercial lending resulted in his invitation to join the regional 80/20 Club of Mortgage Professionals. A former fish biologist with a B.S. in fisheries biology from Oregon State University, Michael enjoys volunteering his time educating children within the Salmon Watch program. Since 2005, he has served on the Board of Bridge Meadows in Portland. When he is not working, Michael enjoys fly-fishing, ultimate Frisbee and sampling Portland’s epicurean delights.
Laurie McDowell (she/her)
Board Vice Chair, Former Educator – 30 years
I have been involved with Salmon Watch since I began teaching middle-school science in 1993. I am and have been delighted with the curriculum, support, and volunteer educators that helped inform my classroom, both inside and outside. I was fortunate to be able to take my students on field trips to the Cascades and Coast Range over the years, opening up a whole new experience in the outdoors that they might not otherwise have gotten.
Since I retired four years ago, I have joined the ranks of the volunteer educators. I am thrilled that I have the opportunity to share my love of macroinvertebrates and stream-side habitat with students. I enjoy sharing with students just how important a healthy watershed is for them, our community, and the Pacific Northwest.
Salmon Watch is an incredible and valuable program that keeps us all connected to our vital natural resources of which we are privileged to be a part. It’s up to us to keep it going for future generations.
Joel Sebastian (he/him)
Board Treasurer, School Principal
Joel Sebastian is the Post Secondary Pathways Coordinator for the Willamette Education Service District. He earned his doctorate in Educational Methodology, Leadership, and Pedagogy from the University of Oregon in 2020. His research interests focused on using interim assessment information to impact student achievement. Joel has held several school leadership positions in the Portland Metro area, including building principal for 18 years and assistant principal for four years. His education career began nearly 30 years ago as a special education teacher in southeast Los Angeles. Joel has received several statewide awards, including the Administrator of the Year (2011, OMSEA) and Peace Educator of the Year (2019, WPI).
Joel’s current work is leading the Willamette Promise Post-Secondary Pathways program. In this role, he coordinates Oregon’s most extensive dual credit program with two university partners, enrolling thousands of high school students and transcribing over 26,000 college credits last year alone. He also leads the Willamette Career Connected Learning team, which brings the world of work and industry into the classroom through Industry Chats, internships, job expos, and other activities.
Serving the World Salmon Council since 2017, Joel is often on local rivers and streams fly fishing with his youngest son, Isaac. Joel and his spouse of nearly 30 years, Amy, enjoy travel, gardening, and visiting their oldest son, Ben, and his family in Europe. Joel and Amy share their home with two fantastic rescue dogs, Minnie and Iris.
Liz Jensvold (she/her)
Board Member, Retired Educator
Liz grew up in central New York and then went to Oregon State University. She became a science teacher and taught high school and middle school science in upstate New York and for Portland Public Schools for over 30 years. She raised her family in Beaverton and retired 6 years ago.
Liz first became involved in Salmon Watch in the late 1980’s when asked for her suggestions regarding “What is it that teachers and schools would need to be able to get kids out in the environment to see live salmon in their natural habitat?” She thought we would need funding for field trip buses, professionals and career people to help lead the students in the field, And also equipment that the scientists use such as nets, dissolved oxygen kits and boots for wading in the water.
While teaching middle school Liz was fortunate to take several Salmon Watch field trips to the Sandy and Clackamas Rivers with her students who were able to have their “boots in the water” to observe live salmon. Liz has now become a board member and a volunteer to share this wonderful program with students.
Walt Hollands (he/him)
Board Member, Educator
Walt has been a science teacher for 30 years. After a few years at Oregon City High School he moved to Portland’s Grant High School, where he has been ever since. He currently teaches AP Environmental Science, having helped create and teach a Northwest Ecology course for several years. As an educator, his true passion lies in helping his students to discover the intricate workings or their Pacific Northwest ecosystems. Walt has been using the Salmon Watch curriculum since 1994 and has taken students on more than 100 field trips in his career. He earned a bachelors in Biology from the University of Colorado and a masters in teaching from Lewis and Clark College. Before teaching, he worked for a water quality consulting firm in Colorado. As a whitewater kayaker, Walt enjoys encountering wild salmon in Oregon’s rivers.
Jo’Sean Joseph
Board Member
Growing up Jj would’ve never thought he was so deeply interested in nature and the science behind it. His older brother was the first person to invite him into the outdoor spaces where he hit the ground running. Looking up to his brother he did everything that he could, following in his footsteps. Jj has been teaching and inviting others to have a good time outdoors since he was 13 years old. Now his mission is to be what his older brother was for him to other people. Nature is one of the things on earth that brings people together so why not give others the understanding and opportunity to see the beauty. During his free time, he loves doing social media content creation, gaming, and trying anything that he hasn’t tried yet. There is so much to Jj that people don’t know about. He highly recommends walking up and talking to him. If you are too shy then he probably already walked up to you first and sparked a great conversation. His Inspiration is “I know one day I won’t be here to encourage people to come outdoors. So I take the time now to represent nature and get kids to do what I do, but better.”
Sadie Normoyle (she/her)
Board Member, Strategic Funding Coordinator
Sadie grew up in Washington exploring and playing along the puget sound. She has a B.A. in Environmental Policy and American Indian studies from Western Washington University. After college she joined the Washington Conservation Corps, an americorps program, at the Department of Ecology. She then earned her law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School, focusing on environmental and Federal Indian law. While in law school Sadie was a co-founder of an environmental justice student group, and vice president of the Native American Law Students Association. Following law school, Sadie worked for a Judge in Alaska for a year before returning to Portland and working as an environmental attorney. Sadie is passionate about working to build relationships with Tribes and community groups to help address environmental justice and climate change issues. In her free time she can be found thrifting or exploring the PNW with her fiance and their mini aussie.
Justin Dauphinais (he/him)
Board Member, Consultant
Justin Dauphinais a proud father of three daughters and one son and a member of the Turtle Mountain
Band of Chippewa Tribe. Justin has a strong sense of his Anishinaabe/Ojibwe/Chippewa culture and
traditions that have been passed on to him by his father and many other elders. Mr. Dauphinais has
been involved with and participated in various non-profit organizations and environmental groups
throughout his life. Justin Dauphinais has a B.A. in Geology from Minot State University in North Dakota
and is a Senior Consultant at ERM with over 18 years of experience as an environmental geologist and
safety professional. Camping, hiking, fishing, running, snowboarding, and mountain biking are a few of
Justin’s favorite outdoor activities. Justin got “hooked” at Salmon Watch the first time he volunteered
and saw the glow on students faces being in nature for the first time.
Seth Needler (he/him)
Board Member, Biology and Environmental Science Educator
Bio Coming Soon
Dylan Jones (he/him)
Board Member, Educator
Dylan was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and attended Grant High School, where he was a leading voice for racial equity. Dylan attended a Salmon Watch field trip his Freshman Year and remembers it vividly. He then moved to New York City to attend New York University. While studying Social & Cultural Analysis and History, Dylan started to recognize that humanity’s tendency to oppress other humans stemmed from humanity’s domination over nature; and after reading books like An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, he realized how much we can learn from American Indigenous wisdom. Dylan now works as a 2nd Grade teacher at HOLLA School–a public charter school in East Portland that was created to transform the academic narratives of Black, Brown and Indigenous youth. He is extremely excited to be an advocate for salmon, a perennially iconic fish for those living in the Pacific Northwest, and to combine his passions for equity, education, and ecology.
Evan Melner (he/him)
Board Member, Student
From a young age, Evan has always had a profound fascination with water, nature, and the world around him. As he grew, his youthful adventures of interacting with the local garter snake population naturally evolved into pursuits like chasing wild trout, deepening his curiosity for wildlife and aquatic ecosystems. He began to recognize nature’s intricate patterns, marveling at the diversity of his local rivers, streams, and the surrounding world.
Evan is now pursuing degrees in Environmental Science and Biology at Oregon State University, where he deepens his knowledge of ecosystem functions, species biology, and wildlife conservation. He aims to leverage his education to protect, study, and raise awareness about the vital role of aquatic species in the Pacific Northwest and the habitats they depend on. Spending time on the water has profoundly enriched his life, inspiring him to support aquatic ecosystems so that others can enjoy similar opportunities.
Evan believes nature offers a space for grounding and rejuvenation, recognizing the vital role of healthy rivers as places of healing and freedom for humanity. Evan envisions a future where nature is safeguarded and celebrated as a sanctuary for discovery, play, and healing. In his free time, Evan enjoys fly fishing, along the Deschutes River and surfing on the Oregon coast, snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Staff
Matt Little (he/him)
Executive Consultant
Matt is an outdoor enthusiast who has spent his career focused on conservation. After studying biology at Dartmouth and public policy at the Maxwell School of Public Affairs, Matt went to DC to help improve our nation’s conservation policies. After serving in EPA’s Wetlands Division and advising Members of Congress, including the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, Matt moved to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to salmon and wild places.
For the last 20 years, Matt has helped lead many nonprofit conservation organizations in the region, including the National Wildlife Federation, the Oregon Natural Desert Association, and the Cascade Forest Conservancy, where he served as Executive Director. In addition to helping provide executive services for World Salmon Council, Matt is the Policy Director for Ducks Unlimited. Matt has served on many advisory and collaborative groups in Oregon and Washington, and he is the Conservation Chair of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Washington Chapter. Whenever possible, Matt is outside exploring our great public lands and waters with his wife and two little girls.
Kelley Brent (she/her)
Administrative Consultant
Kelley has a deep passion for public service. She has been an HR and Administrative Professional for a non-profit serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault since 2008. Before entering the work force Kelley spent most her days volunteering in the Bend, Oregon community while raising her three boys. During that time, Kelley also earned her degree at Central Oregon Community College, then studied Education through Eastern Oregon University. Her favorite places to be outside of work are hanging out with her family, traveling to tropical places, and taking in the sunshine while floating on the lake in her pontoon.
Makayla Simmer (she/her)
Program Manager
From an early age, Makayla has been fascinated with ecosystems of mountains and oceans. She started off her life by surfing, snorkeling, and exploring the natural wonders of Maui. Because of those experiences, she is dedicated to educating people about the outdoors and protecting it. Makayla’s curiosity has led her to travel around the world to see all different kinds of ecosystems and animals. She has protected turtles on the beaches of Maui, studied species of the East African Savanna, and shoveled elephant poop in Cambodia.
Makayla is a passionate outdoor guide, educator, and adventurer. She has worked with youth to engage them with the land and teach skills to build confidence in the outdoors. She has assisted with running an outdoor organization for Lewis and Clark College and training new leaders.
Makayla moved to Portland, Oregon to attend Lewis and Clark College, where she got her BA in Biology and Environmental Studies. Living in the Pacific Northwest, Makayla has fallen in love with the mountains, rivers, flora, and fauna here. As a keystone species, Salmon have fascinated her as they connect marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
In her free time, Makayla will be biking, hiking, spending time on rivers and lakes, cooking, and making art.
Emily Jones (she/her)
Program Coordinator
Emily is a formal High School biology teacher turned environmental educator. Her work centers on educator mentorship rooted in the never-ending desire to grow outdoor learning opportunities in formal education. With a master’s in Environmental Education from the University of Minnesota Duluth, she developed a place-focused wetland curriculum for her students in the brackish estuary town of Fairfield California, where she was teaching.
She believes in amplifying the unique skills of educators and wrote this curriculum through the lens of transferability intending to provide educators in her district access to quality EE resources as well as support in developing their community and Land-focused curriculum beyond.
Beyond her profound appreciation for wetland rushes, waterfowl, and professional development surrounding them, Emily’s true passion lies in fostering connections between students and the natural landscapes of their communities. She is dedicated to creating programming for youth that cultivates critical thinking about their present surroundings and the historical context of their environment. Working hand in hand with formal educators and their students, Emily mentors experiential learning practices and champions outdoor opportunities within the school day.
Her work is propelled by her belief that youth deserve thoughtful, collaborative, and reflective learning experiences with the Peoples, Beings, and unique ecologies around them. Having lived many young adult years of eco-anxiety, she holds close to the energizing strength of being in and working to support accessible and equitable educational opportunities in the community.
“Rather than burdening educators and youth with the responsibility of preserving our changing natural environments, my focus is on creating learning opportunities where young people can discover solace amidst these shifts. Within this exploration lies the profound opportunity for young minds to not only curiously wonder about the complexity of the world around them, but also to delve into the complex depths of their own identities.” – Emily Jones
