our Staff

Heather Hulton VanTassel, PhD
​Executive Director

Heather Hulton VanTassel is an environmental conservationist passionate about nature-based solutions that lead to the sustainability of our planet and equality for all. Heather’s passion began in a small rural community in Western Pennsylvania and flourished as a first-generation college student at Carlow University majoring in Biology. Heather went on to earn her doctorate degree in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at The University in California, Riverside (UCR). Heather has held positions at UCR’s Center for Conservation Biology as a Research Specialist, Audubon South Carolina as a Program Manager of Sustainable Solutions, The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina as the State Conservation Coordinator, and at The Carnegie Museum of Natural History as the Assistant Director of Science and Research. Heather has had formal training and certification as a Master Naturalist in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Project Management Professional, Wetland Delineator, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace practitioner.  Heather has a strong passion for both the environment and equity and believes that working towards sustainability also requires an equal effort towards social environmental justice. In her free time, Heather enjoys hiking, spending time with her friends, family and pets, and (of course) recreating on our Three Rivers! 

Captain Evan Clark
Waterkeeper

Captain Evan has spent more than 20 years focused on learning from, living with, working upon and playing around rivers. He's traveled the length of the Mississippi river and many of its tributaries, the Allegheny, Ohio, Monongahela, Missouri, Tennessee, Cumberland, Atchafalaya and other waters on boats he built himself. He settled in Pittsburgh in 2005 and has worked with various river based nonprofits, including Allegheny Cleanways on the Tireless project where he's led thousands of volunteers cleaning more than 180 miles of riverbanks in Allegheny County. Together they've collected more than a million pounds of mostly plastic based garbage, tires, and human made debris.
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You can also find Captain Evan along our rivers as a part time captain on the hybrid electric vessel Explorer, Rivers of Steel's riparian biology educational and tour boat. He also lives on and swims in the Allegheny from his houseboat. In his limited spare time, Evan enjoys building and fixing boats with friends and traveling on distant waters. 

Jess Friss
WATER advocate

Jessica Friss is a native Pittsburgher who enjoys exploring the many parks and trails surrounding her. She comes to 3RWK after serving two terms in AmeriCorps in the Public Allies Pittsburgh program at Coro Pittsburgh where she learned and practiced equity focused leadership skills for social impact, capacity-building non-profit work, and asset-based community development. During her program terms she was placed at the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics at Chatham University as their Outreach Coordinator. Jess graduated with honors from Robert Morris University in 2019 with a B.S. in Environmental Science. Her honor thesis explored "The Relationship of Racial and Socioeconomic Composition and Environmental Quality in Two Pittsburgh Neighborhoods". Jess is committed to lifelong learning and earned an EcoDistricts Accredited Professional certificate in 2020.

You will also find Jess working with our partner, Protect PT, as a program manager. 

Natalie davidson
community coordinator​

Natalie Davidson was born in Jamaica, spending half her life there and the United States. She is passionate about climate migration, building sustainable communities and environmental equity. She has experience working with nonprofits focused on supporting low income communities, voting rights, energy assistance and helping colleges and universities transition to clean energy. She graduated from Allegheny College with a Bachelors of Science in Political Science and Environmental Science and Sustainability. Her senior comprehensive project, “Climate Change Displacement and International Policy”, focused on how the current framework for refugees could be adapted and used to protect people displaced by climate change around the world. You can also find Natlie working in her shared role with Watersheds of South Pittsburgh.

​Kenichi shay
Waterkeeper assistant

Kenichi is a student at the University of Pittsburgh who studies Environmental Science and Sustainability. His environmental interests are urban hydrological  systems and how they affect local communities. Kenichi found his passion through  exploring creeks and rivers as a child and exploring urban systems in classes. Outside of his academics, Kenichi is involved in Epsilon Eta Delta, an Honors environmental fraternity focused on working with communities to better our  environment. In his free time, Kenichi enjoys gardening and cycling around Pittsburgh.

Emily Gabriel Cumpston
legal intern

Emily Cumpston is a rising second-year student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, working to complete their J.D. with a concentration in environmental and energy law. They graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2020 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Philosophy and Environmental Studies. Drawn to the intersection of those two fields, they developed their interests in environmental justice and in the relationships between humans and the natural world. As an undergraduate, they volunteered as a restoration intern with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and they organized with their classmates to help students connect to the University of Pittsburgh’s mental health and wellness resources. As a law student, they are active in a variety of student organizations related to public interest work and environmental law, including the Incarcerated Persons Legal Support Project, the Pitt Legal Income Sharing Foundation, and the Energy and Environmental Law Society. Outside of law school, they can most often be found exploring the trails in the Pittsburgh parks, or relaxing at home with good friends, good food, or a good book.

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Board of Directors
April 2021

Tim Fitchett
President

Tim Fitchett is a staff attorney and resident director at Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, a non-profit environmental law firm based out of Pittsburgh, PA and Akron, OH. Tim is also on the Board for Calliope House, an organization devoted to promoting folk music in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. Tim joined Three Rivers Waterkeeper in December of 2020 and is excited to help our rivers flourish. ​

Sarah Quesen, PhD, MPH
Vice-President

Sarah Quesen, PhD, MPH, is the Deputy Director for Assessment Research and Innovation at WestEd and a visiting lecturer in statistics at the University of Pittsburgh. Sarah is an avid open water swimmer, and she provides information on safety and river conditions throughout the summer season for local swimmers. Sarah is Vice President of the Western Pennsylvania Bicycle Club, the longest-running cycling club in the region. Sarah joined the Three Rivers Waterkeeper in April 2019, and currently serves as Vice President.   ​

Rachel cook
tReasurer

​Rachel joined the Global Waterkeeper Alliance team in 2007 as Operations Assistant and has held various titles over the years. Rachel has always had a passion for the outdoors and conservation and has experience with natural resource management, wildlife photography, ecotourism, and various facets of sustainability. Before starting at Waterkeeper Alliance, Rachel learned about the organization while volunteering with and working for Hackensack Riverkeeper at their canoe and kayak livery in Secaucus, NJ. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont, an M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University, and is a LEED Green Associate. Rachel lives in the Hudson Valley, and while not in the office she can most likely be found skiing, backpacking, hiking, at a crossfit class, or cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rebecca Kiernan
SECRETARY

Rebecca Kiernan is a Principal Resilience Planner with the City of Pittsburgh, focusing on building social, ecological, economic, and physical resilience to city-wide shocks and stresses. Her work includes developing and implementing initiatives such as the ONEPGH Preliminary Resilience Assessment, Resilience Strategy and Investment Prospectus; the Pittsburgh Equity Indicators Reports; and aligning the City’s work with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She also supports the City’s Climate Action Plan with a focus on transportation electrification, zero waste, and urban ecosystems initiatives. Rebecca was previously Sustainability Coordinator for the Township of Moon, worked in coastal livelihoods restoration in Indonesia, and has 7 years of experience in education and facilitation. She holds a BA in English and Education from SUNY Geneseo, and an MS in Public Policy and Management with a focus on Environmental Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. She serves on the City’s Shade Tree Commission and ALCOSAN’s Municipal Advisory Committee. Rebecca enjoys long road trips, growing stuff, and kitchen projects.

EMILY CONSTANTINE MERCURIO,
​PHD, PG
BOARD MEMBER

Emily Constantine Mercurio is  a big thinker and a lifelong learner. She is an experienced geoscientist and an expert in mapping, field geology, GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial technology. As co-founder and CEO of CivicMapper, Emily draws upon more than 20 years of experience as a leader in map-based technology projects. Her current work is focused on creating spatially-enabled applications that empower decision making on the front lines of climate change, infrastructure, and social equity. Emily is a licensed professional geologist in the state of Pennsylvania. In addition to service on the Three Rivers Waterkeeper board, she also sits on the board of the Pennsylvania State University Graduates of Earth and Mineral Science. She enjoys gardening, visiting hot springs, making art, and spending time on the water with family and friends.

Sean Brady
BOARD MEMBER

Sean is the Executive Director of Hollow Oak Land Trust, a conservation organization that protects and connects greenspace in the Pittsburgh International Airport Corridor. With a BA in Biology from Allegheny College and an MA in Professional Writing from Carnegie Mellon University, Sean helped build Venture Outdoors as a regional leader in outdoor recreation from its inception in 2001 to 2010. He also served as Development Director for Riverlife, supporting sustainable riverfront development in downtown Pittsburgh. Currently, Sean manages the six conservation areas owned by Hollow Oak Land Trust and works with municipalities and private landowners to develop greenways in the airport corridor.

Josh Powell
bOARD mEMBER

Joshua Powell is an engineer at Broadcom, Inc., a designer, and supplier of semiconductors and infrastructure software products. Joshua has spent the past 15 years working closely with non-profit organizations focused on environmental conservation and restoration by building award-winning software. Joshua joined Three Rivers Waterkeeper in December 2020. In his free time, he enjoys gardening and spending time outdoors with his family.

Kimberly Refosco
BOARD MEMBER

Kimberly Refosco is an educator and leader in both the classroom and the outdoors.  After studying Political Science and Spanish at the University of Pittsburgh, Kim earned her M.S. in Education from Franciscan University.  She currently teaches Spanish and English as a Second Language.  In addition to teaching, Kim is a consultant in diversity, equity, and inclusion, leading organizations to implement change and strive for justice.  In spare time, you can find Kim fishing, reading, and spending time with her two teenagers.  

Kate Zidar
bOARD mEMBER

Kate Zidar is a PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh and a native Pittsburgher. At Pitt, she is a member of the Elliott Lab, where she participates in research that examines the impact of human activities on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Previously, she worked as an Environmental Planner with a professional focus on green infrastructure, resilience and communications.  Kate earned a M.S. at the Pratt Institute in City and Regional Planning where she also taught for seven years.  She was a founding member of the Stormwater Infrastructure Matters (S.W.I.M.) Coalition, a policy think tank that figured centrally in establishing Green Infrastructure as a mainstream practice in New York City. She also began the North Brooklyn Compost Project, one of the many community garden-based efforts that ultimately “made the road by walking”, preceding city-wide collection of organic waste in NYC.  Today, Kate’s research explores the underlying biogeochemical processes of Green Infrastructure.

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