About Us
Phil lived in China and New York before moving to Vermont in 1958. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1963 and earned a Ph.D. in 1971 from the University of California. He has served on the faculty of UVM for over 30 years, specializing in plant development and the cellular architecture of plants. In 2006 the Botanical Society of America awarded Phil its Centennial Award recognizing excellence in plant science research.
Crea graduated from Skidmore College in 1975 and earned a Master’s Degree in Teaching in Geology from the University of Vermont in 1977. Crea pursued post-graduate studies and research at the Marine Science Institute in Connecticut, the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, and the Geophysics Department at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. She received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Middlebury College in 1998. In 2014 Crea received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Vermont.
She is a member of the Board of Advisors at the Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont and serves on the Water Resources & Lake Studies Center board. Crea also serves as an officer and trustee of several environmental advocacy boards in Vermont.
Louise graduated from Middlebury College in 2007 with a degree in Environmental Science. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Environmental Thought and Culture at the Rubenstein School of the University of Vermont. She is dedicated to a life spent both enjoying and preserving active opportunities outside. She is currently working for Backcountry Magazine as an assistant editor. She resides in Waterbury, Vermont with her husband Dana Allen and is a member of the Vermont Mountain Biking Association and Vermont Parks Forever board of directors. Adventure is in her blood and through her work she looks to support healthy, active, outdoor lifestyles and environments that make adventure possible.
Will graduated from the University of Vermont in 2010 where he focused on community development, ecological design, and food systems. He has worked as a field technician at the University’s maple research station, the Proctor Maple Research Facility in Underhill Vermont. He also worked with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps from 2012 to 2014 at their Richmond VT farm where he helped manage crop production and programs for disadvantaged youth. At VYCC he also developed management skills, helping to plan and host large events for the community, and gaining skills in direct marketing, developing wholesale accounts and fundraising. He also facilitated numerous structured dialogues centered on issues of landscape change and civic engagement. During the 2015 season Will worked on Red Fire Farm in Granby, Massachusetts as an Assistant Manager where he gained skills in large-scale vegetable production. Currently Will is working on Book and Plow Farm associated with Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts where he will manage all post-harvest handling, and work directly with students and volunteers on a daily basis.
Paul graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Math and Physics, continuing at NYU’s Courant School to a Master’s Degree in Financial Mathematics. Currently Paul lives in New York City while pursuing a Ph.D. in applied Math at New York University. He is a dedicated environmentalist and believes that science is one of the most important tools for addressing the world’s problems. Paul has deep roots in the world of skiing and loves to travel. He spent a semester at the University of Havana in Cuba, and is conversationally fluent in Spanish.
Raeman (Crea’s father) enjoyed a distinguished career as a metallurgist before retiring in 1995. He received a M.S. in Metallurgy from Grove City College in 1949 and an M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from Ohio State University in 1956. Raeman worked in mechanical and physical metallurgy at Battelle Memorial Institute (1950-59) and General Dynamics Corp. (1959-62), where he worked on the development of ultrasonic inspection of submarines. He joined the I.B.M. Components Division in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1962 and later became Manager of Semiconductor Technology Development in Burlington, Vermont. Rae received special recognition in 1967 for his research in semiconductor device metallurgy, and has received numerous invention awards and patents for his work on semiconductor device metallurgy.
Nancy graduated from Colby-Sawyer College in 1975 and moved to Vermont in 1978. In 2005 she was ordained a minister after attending seminary in Pittsburgh, PA. She has worked as the Foundation’s administrator for over 30 years.