M.S., GEN2050 Founder, National Geographic Explorer

Linda Pulley Freeman is a National Geographic Explorer committed to inspiring under-resourced urban youth to embrace science through hands-on, outdoor STEM education. She began her career as an environmental engineer with the U.S. Department of Energy in 1986 after completing her M.S. in environmental engineering at Stanford University and a B.S. in chemical engineering at the University of Michigan. Since 1999, Linda has been the Executive Director of the Peacemaker Family Center (PFC) at Trinity Church in Miami Gardens, Florida. In 2016, Linda created the GEN2050 program, an innovative STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Culture, and Mathematics) youth development program for students in 4th-12th grade. This year-round program engages students in intensive learning environments designed to inspire and prepare them for entrepreneurship, self-leadership, environmental stewardship, and STEM. In May 2019, she became a National Geographic Explorer, focusing on an informal science education project entitled “Bats, Bees, and Butterflies,” located in Redland, Florida. Linda is also a doctoral student pursuing an Ed.D. at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida. 

Gus Castellanos is a retired physician who graduated from the University of Miami Miller School Of Medicine, MD, in 1980. He practiced Neurology and Sleep Medicine in Jupiter, Fl, for 26 years. Dr Gus has been practicing mindfulness since 1998 and teaching and researching mindfulness-based programs since 2009. He is certified to teach mindfulness by the University of Massachusetts Center For Mindfulness and has trained with the University of Utah and University of Miami.

Dr Gus is an adjunct instructor at Nova Southeastern, where he develops, teaches, and researches mindfulness-based programs. He facilitates mindfulness programs for various organizations, including MindfulLeader.org, Mindful Kids Miami, Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, Florida Dept of Health, Palm Beach Wellness Institute, and GEN2050. He serves on Palm Healthcare Foundation's “Train the Brain” campaign and the External Advisory Board of the NIH-funded Research Center in Minority Institutions at Florida International University. Committed to making mindfulness accessible, he has developed programs for underserved populations, prison inmates and K-12 educators.

M.A., Mountain to Sea Education, National Geographic Explorer

Ms. Anne Haywood, founder and director of Mountain to Sea Education, serves as GEN2050 co-director for curriculum development, incorporating iNaturalist and other citizen science platforms to engage students directly in authentic science. Ms. Haywood worked with National Geographic and the National Parks across the U.S. from 2006-2016 to incorporate hands-on biodiversity education into public outreach and student engagement. She has developed lessons and tools to prepare K-12 students and teachers for participation in BioBlitz events on school grounds and in local, state, and national parks. Since 2014, she has taught masters-level courses in science communication at UM and has developed National Geographic’s online Learning Through Citizen Science educator course and lesson collections to help students develop an Explorer Mindset.

MEd., Environmental Awareness Academy

Frederick Hubbard received his BS in Environmental Horticulture and MS in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Florida. He began his career as an Environmental Supervisor with the Florida Department of Agriculture before transitioning to the school system. Fred spent 10 years dedicating his time and knowledge to his students, teaching fifth-grade math and science and serving as the Science Department Chairman. He served as Horticulturist and Executive Director at Patch of Heaven Sanctuary in Redland, Florida, for 15 years. Currently, he is a managing member of Hubbard Nativescapes LLC and the Executive Director of the Environmental Awareness Academy. Fred resides in South Florida with his family.

Fit Sisters of Miami

With a passion for promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, Jeanette is a dedicated fitness professional and co-founder of Fit Sisters, Inc. in Miami. With 28 years of professional dance experience, Jeanette actively engages in community fitness and health events, serving as both an instructor and mentor. Jeanette teaches dance fitness to K-5, middle school, and high school students, fostering their mobility, agility, and creativity through fun challenges and activities. Committed to holistic wellness, Jeanette is pursuing additional certifications in Mindfulness and Health & Wellness Coaching to further support the mission of nurturing a healthy mind, body, and spirit. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Human Resource Management from FIU, Jeanette combines educational expertise with a dynamic approach to fitness, creating a positive impact in the community through innovative choreography, educational resources, and strategic partnerships.

B.A., GEN2050 Program Manager, Educator

Savannah Travers is a seasoned professional with a robust background in STEAM education and project management.  Committed to empowering youth, she focuses on preparing students to thrive in a rapidly evolving world through education and leadership development. With a passion for innovation and strategic thinking, she has successfully developed and implemented interdisciplinary curricula that integrate science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, fostering an environment of critical thinking and creativity among students. 

She has a proven track record of managing complex projects, coordinating with diverse teams, and executing strategic plans that align with both organizational goals and community needs.

PhD., Florida Butterfly Botanicals

Dr. Lisa Johns has a doctoral degree from the University of Miami in Climate Policy. Her research focused on how formal qualities and peripheral cues embedded in short form digital storytelling impact environmental perceptions across various interpretive audiences. She is particularly interested in how heuristic cues and different modes of engagement can be leveraged to elevate scientific credibility and support for environmental policy surrounding climate change.

Currently, Dr. Johns collaborates with GEN2050 across Miami-Dade County, teaching students about environmental sustainability and urban gardening. She has also created the Environmental Awareness Academy's Forest Keepers program being initiated at the DuMond Conservancy through a generous grant from The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County.

Wild & Free Miami

Dilcia Munoz is a vibrant and creative individual who harnesses her passion for dance and nature to positively influence the well-being of others. With over 23 years of entertainment experience, she adds an artistic and musical flair to her work resonates with people of all ages.

The past decade of her life has been dedicated to working in her community with children and youth as a Dance-Fitness instructor. Dilcia is the Co-Founder of Fit Sisters Miami, Inc. (with her actual sister) which has been the Fitness Instructors for Gen2050 since its inception. Fit Sisters blends dance, sports and athletics to make exercising fun and raise awareness about self-care. Dilcia became a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy in 2024. As a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide, Dilcia encourages others to strengthen their relationship with nature while educating them about the importance of their interdependence with nature.

LaLuchi Projects

The multi-talented Luisa (Luchi) Estevez is an activist, journalist, filmmaker, performance artist, fashion designer, Kundalini Yoga teacher, meditation teacher, and founder of La Luchi Projects.  Luisa Estevez and her staff provide holistic programs to guide children and youth toward a natural, healthier way of living.

MEd., LNB Groves

Jody Ellenby is a passionate sustainability educator, curriculum developer, and second-generation farmer whose work weaves together education, community, and regenerative agriculture. She holds an Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate  School of Education and has served in various educational leadership roles, focusing on equity, dual language, and project-based learning. As the author of the Oxford International Primary Curriculum for Sustainability, Jody combines her expertise in curriculum  design with her commitment to sustainability, helping educators and students cultivate joy, empathy, and a deep connection to the natural world. Inspired by the curiosity and boundless potential of young learners, Jody believes that schools, communities, and  farms are key catalysts for a healthy, sustainable future. She loves learning from nature’s smallest creatures, finding in their tiny wisdom lessons that resonate across all ages.

MSCIS

David Freeman is a seasoned computer professional with over three decades of experience in the industry, specializing in research, web development, multimedia development, and information systems management. His career began as an intern at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, where he contributed to assembling computer systems for processing experimental collision events. He then advanced to NEC Corporation as an application support engineer, supporting the pioneering laptop computers. At Argonne National Laboratory, David worked on the Advanced Photon Source project as a software developer and IT support engineer for seven years. Transitioning to Miami, he served as a Project Engineer at Florida International University during the Internet boom, later joining start-ups as Vice President of IT and software engineering. At The Children’s Trust, he was an Information Systems Specialist before returning to research at the Miami VA Hospital. David holds a B.S. in Electronics Engineering Technology and an M.S. in Computer Information Systems, currently leading IT and Data Management Services for GEN2050.

Marketing Director

A gifted artist and musician, Andrés Quevedo serves as the Marketing Director for the STEAM Center of Excellence and GEN2050. Andrés believes creativity has the power to bring ideas to life in ways that surprise and inspire.

M.Arch

Cameron Cooper is an architectural designer with a passion for the convergence of architecture, technology, and art. His interests have led him into further exploration into virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Originally from Miami, Florida, Cameron received a Master of Architecture (MArch) from Florida International University. Mr. Cooper was a project designer at Vines Architecture in Raleigh, North Carolina and an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Currently, Mr. Cooper is the Principal at Cameron Cooper Studios.