The Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) is thrilled to announce an exciting new chapter in our organization’s journey. After 17 years of extraordinary leadership, we extend our deepest gratitude to our longtime Executive Director, Katie, whose vision, dedication, and tireless advocacy have transformed environmental education across Colorado. 

During her tenure, Katie helped grow CAEE into a powerful statewide network, elevating the importance of environmental and outdoor learning in schools, communities, and across industries. Her leadership expanded access to meaningful environmental education experiences for learners of all ages, built lasting partnerships, and strengthened awareness of how critical environmental literacy is to Colorado’s future. We are profoundly grateful for the foundation she has built and the countless lives she has impacted. 

As we celebrate Katie’s remarkable legacy, we are equally excited to welcome Lauren Gibson as CAEE’s new Executive Director, starting on June 8th. 

Lauren brings deep expertise, passion, and a forward-thinking vision for environmental education. Her journey began early, inspired by her involvement with Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program, where she led local environmental efforts in her hometown and contributed to national youth leadership initiatives. That early spark grew into a lifelong commitment, reflected in her academic achievements, including a bachelor’s degree in Earth systems and a master’s degree in environmental communication from Stanford University, followed by a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University focused on environmental education and youth impact. 

Professionally, Lauren has built an impressive career advancing environmental education at the national level. During her time with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), she held multiple leadership roles, including serving on NOAA’s leadership team. She led Congressional affairs for NOAA Education, launched innovative education initiatives such as a national youth summit and educational podcast, and contributed to strategic planning and evaluation efforts that shaped the agency’s education work. 

In 2023, Lauren was appointed NOAA’s first-ever Policy Advisor on Youth Engagement – a testament to her belief in the power of young people to drive change. In that role, she championed youth voice in federal decision-making, co-created the eeBLUE Young Changemakers Fellowship, and elevated youth perspectives on national and global stages, including at COP28 and COP29. Her work reflects a deep commitment to empowering the next generation of environmental leaders. 

Since moving to Colorado in 2025, Lauren has continued to invest in community impact through her work with Colorado State University Extension, where she supported volunteer development across Colorado 4-H programs, strengthening networks of educators and changemakers throughout the state. 

Now, as she steps into leadership at CAEE, Lauren brings both a strong national perspective and a deep commitment to Colorado’s communities. She is poised to build on CAEE’s legacy while guiding the organization into an exciting future, one where environmental education continues to expand, innovate, and inspire action across our state. 

We also want to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who helped guide this important process. Thank you to our hiring committee — Kathryn Venzor, Rachel Balduzzi, Susan Bonfield, Heather Hubbard, and Natalie Flowers — as well as our staff team — Lisa Eadens, Sarah Grove, and Erin Dreps — and our community panel — Deb Matlock, Chris Cohen, and Anita Evans — for bringing your voices, perspectives, and expertise to help us make this important decision. 

Please join us in celebrating Katie’s incredible contributions and in warmly welcoming Lauren Gibson to the CAEE community. We look forward to the energy, ideas, and leadership she will bring as we continue working together to ensure that every Colorado learner has access to impactful environmental education. 

Thank you, CAEE Community, for working with us to keep the future of environmental learning in Colorado bright! 

About the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education: Environmental and outdoor education experiences are like charging stations that power up learning and enhance skills that will help Coloradans care for our world and sustain it for future generations. For over 30 years, the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education has been supporting the network of over 850 educators in classrooms, nonprofits, nature centers, government agencies, higher education, businesses, and more who build these experiences with opportunities for professional development, generating and sharing new ideas, and community support.  Together, we are wiring up an extensive circuitry of rich contexts and collaborators in environmental and outdoor learning that support ALL schools, families, and communities across Colorado. To learn more about the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education visit www.caee.org.