TREE Foundation’s mission is to support tree research, education, and exploration. TREE was founded in 2000 to encourage donors who care about environmental sustainability to fund the design and construction of a canopy walkway in Florida subtropical forests. In the years since, TREE has inspired treetop exploration and research around the world, positively impacting forest conservation and children’s engagement with nature
Margaret “Meg” Lowman Ph.D.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Margaret “Meg” Lowman Ph.D., known affectionately throughout the world as “Canopy Meg,” is a global pioneer in forest canopy ecology. She is one of the world’s foremost “arbornauts” — someone who explores and studies the vast forest canopies that make up what Meg has termed the Earth’s “eighth continent.” A tireless educator, strong advocate for girls, women, and minorities in science, Meg has published numerous books, is a sustainability advisor, contributes to boards, and speaks widely and frequently to diverse groups, schools, and international symposiums and conferences.
Vanessa Wassenar
PRESIDENT
Vanessa Wassenar, CEO of Creating Resilient Schools, aims to create resilient schools and non-profits that are responsive to today’s competitive marketplace. She brings more than thirty-five years of educational executive and administrative experience and trusteeship in colleges, universities, independent schools, and various non-profit enterprises. Her extensive expertise includes financial analysis, modeling and planning, administrative triage, strategic and campus master planning, re/accreditation and self-study, and governance.
Soon after graduating from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, Vanessa worked at the University of California-San Diego for nearly 20 years in various capacities. As Director of Research Administration for two divisions at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, she managed contracts and logistics for coastal research oceanographers worldwide. As founding Director of the Office of Sports Facilities and Programs, she was responsible for about $90MM of facilities construction and the “out of classroom” programming for 14,000 students in five colleges.
Educational institutions she has served as a consultant include Brooklyn Friends School, Oliver Scholars, Bentley School, The Archer School for Girls, St. Johnsbury Academy, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Penn State University – Abington, Shattuck-St. Mary’s School, and many others around the U.S.
From 2001 through 2003, Vanessa was also the Director of Resource Management and Strategic Planning at Emma Willard School. Prior to that role, she was Chief of Staff to the President of Bennington College.
Board

Robert Beck
BOARD MEMBER
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Michael Brown
LEGAL COUNSEL / EX OFFICIO
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Michael Dexter
BOARD MEMBER
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Carmela French
SECRETARY
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Elizabeth Moore
BOARD MEMBER
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Michael R. Pender, Jr.
CAVANAUGH & COMPANY TREASURER
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Laura Peters
BOARD MEMBER
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DC Randle
BOARD MEMBER
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Alemayehu Wassie
BOARD MEMBER
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Geraldine "Bean" Carroll
BOARD MEMBER
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Alan Winston
ADVOCACY COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR
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Amy C. Berquist
BOARD MEMBER
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Science Advisory Board

Meg Lowman
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
TREE FOUNDATION

Sylvia Earle
PRESIDENT
MISSION BLUE

Patricia Chapple Wright
CONSERVATIONIST

Peter Raven
PRESIDENT EMERITUS
MO BOTANICAL GARDEN

Pat Raven
ADVOCATE
WOMEN IN SCIENCE

Alemayehu Wassie Eshete
CEO ORDA

Wade Davis
AMAZON EXPLORER, WRITER, PROFESSOR
