Elyse has been working in early childhood education for 20 years, holding a B.A. in Early Childhood Development and Dance, as well as an M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Alabama. After earning her master’s degree, she served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Italy. The Reggio Emilia approach has inspired her work and shaped her career since her undergraduate studies. She has had the privilege of working in Reggio-inspired schools across the nation and currently serves as a co-chair of the DC Reggio Emilia Alliance, a study group for the Washington, D.C., metro area. Outside the classroom, she enjoys traveling, studying Italian, cross-stitching, reading, spending time with friends and family (including her cat, Cappuccino), and cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.

Marissa, a Pennsylvania native, moved to Washington, D.C. in 2005 after earning her B.A. from Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA. She served as an AmeriCorps volunteer at a D.C. legal and social services organization for one year before attending Howard University School of Law, earning her J.D. in 2009. After law school, Marissa spent over a decade working for a legal services organization, litigating child welfare and custody cases in the D.C. Superior Court while training and mentoring pro bono attorneys. She currently serves as an Administrative Law Judge. A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Marissa took up birding during the pandemic and can often be found with her binoculars or bike in Kenilworth Park. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering at her children’s schools, playing soccer, gardening and landscaping, and spending time with her family.

Soumya is an attorney with over 20 years of public service experience. Currently a partner at Willkie, she previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) for more than a decade, holding leadership roles in the International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section, where she oversaw complex investigations and prosecutions. Throughout her career, she was lead trial counsel on numerous high-profile RICO cases and began her career as an Assistant D.A. in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Soumya also served as Senior Investigative Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and for the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), the Senate’s top oversight committee, where she led high-profile bipartisan investigations for Chairman Gary Peters (MI-D). She has taught Persuasion and Advocacy at Seton Hall University and guest lectured at NYU School of Law, Brooklyn Law, and the City University of New York. In 2015, Soumya received the U.S. Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance by a Litigation Group and the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation’s Federal Prosecutor of the Year award, and in 2018, she received the Society of Asian Federal Officers Prosecutor of the Year award. Soumya is a three-time recipient of the True American Hero Award from the Federal Drug Agents’ Foundation.

A native of New Jersey, Todd moved to Washington, D.C. after college and has made his home here—with brief stints in Philadelphia and Boston—for over 30 years. He and his wife, Jennifer, raised their two sons in Mt. Pleasant, with Rock Creek Park right outside their back door. Living with immediate access to nature in the heart of an urban environment has had a profound impact on their entire family. After beginning his career in policy and public relations, Todd made the move to education in 2010. Since 2012, he has served as the Adventure Coordinator at Capital City Public Charter School, spending most of his time outdoors working with students from pre-kindergarten through high school. In addition to outdoor activities like hiking and climbing, Todd enjoys road cycling and trail running. He earned his Wilderness EMT certification in 2016 and continues to volunteer as an EMT while also teaching first aid and CPR to both adults and young people.

Tim is an outdoor enthusiast, environmental advocate, and former outdoor industry business owner. From 2016 to 2022, he served as treasurer on the board of the Friends of Kingman and Heritage Islands. From 2017 to 2023, he operated Capitol Hill Outfitters, an outdoor equipment rental and trip-planning business. Currently, during business hours, he works in health care policy, focusing on issues related to prescription drugs. Outside business hours, he coaches youth soccer and enjoys running and cycling along the Anacostia River Trail. In his dreams, he is backpacking through national parks with his family, but he will gladly settle for a short day hike and his feet in a creek.

Tanya is a career educator with over 25 years of experience in the public sector. She began her teaching career with the District of Columbia Public Schools as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher before transitioning to the public charter school system as a Spanish language teacher. She played a pivotal role in establishing the second-largest public charter school in Washington, D.C. Through her exemplary teaching and dedication to children, families, and the broader school community, Tanya earned the principalship of the early childhood building, serving as the Academy Leader for eight years. During this time, she was introduced to the Reggio Emilia Approach and became a passionate leader and advocate for innovative, child-centered early education, with a particular focus on outdoor/environmental education and sustainability. She spearheaded the creation of her charter school's first Outdoor Classroom, bringing the project to fruition. Tanya went on to lead the Reggio-Inspired Center at Friendship Armstrong for three years before expanding her expertise in early childhood best practices, including an in-depth exploration of the Montessori method. She currently serves as an Early Childhood Education Coordinator for the Lourie Center Head Start program in Prince George’s County, Maryland. A mother of five, Tanya is a villager, a collaborator, and a truth-seeker. Her motto: Always learning, always growing.

Ryan, a business owner with over 20 years of experience, is passionate about blending fun, passion, and purpose into his work and team. He has built his company on creativity and a positive workplace culture, believing success is about inspiring people and making a meaningful impact. Outside of work, Ryan is a family man who lives for adventure. Whether exploring the outdoors, traveling with his wife and two sons, or coaching his kids in sports, he brings the same enthusiasm and competitive spirit to his personal life as he does to his professional endeavors. Committed to his community, he finds joy in giving back and making a difference. Honored to join this exceptional board, Ryan is excited to collaborate with visionary leaders to help Acorn become the premier outdoor learning center in the D.C. metro area and beyond. Here’s to building something extraordinary—together!

Urmila is the President and Managing Director of the Motion Picture Association, Asia Pacific, where she leads the region’s public policy and business operations. With a diverse foreign policy, economic affairs, and international business background, she is critical in advancing the MPA’s global mission. Before joining the MPA in 2017, she served in the Obama Administration as a Senior Advisor and member of Secretary John Kerry’s Policy Planning Staff, overseeing economic and business affairs and working to enhance U.S. trade, investment, and development priorities. Previously, Urmila was a senior consultant at the Albright Stonebridge Group, advising U.S. and multinational companies on navigating political and regulatory environments in South Asia and the Middle East. Urmila has lived and worked across the UK, the Middle East, and South and Southeast Asia. After spending the past decade in Washington, D.C., she and her family relocated to Tokyo in July 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree from McGill University and a master’s from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Beyond her professional work, Urmila is deeply committed to education and outdoor learning. Her children were among the pilot students at Acorn Outdoor Learning, an experience that reinforced her belief that nature is everywhere—even in urban environments—and that fostering a connection to the natural world is essential for a child’s development.