As Director of Equity and Community Engagement, Curtis leads the National Aquarium’s community engagement efforts…predicated on working collaboratively with community residents and stakeholders to develop relevant and relatable environmental programs and projects that meet the needs of the community, and ultimately facilitating and implementing these efforts, directly where people are, within their communities. In this role, Curtis also serves as a leader throughout the organization, developing strategies to ensure that diversity, equity, inclusion and justice principles are intentionally integrated within our external facing conservation programming. Through his involvement Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Diversity Committee, the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program’s Diversity Workgroup as well as Choose Clean Water Coalition’s Equity Workgroup, Curtis works both nationally and regionally, collaborating with several environmental organizations, to discuss goals, recommendations and best practices related to the continued integration of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in our field, from community engagement to environmental education and everything in between. Curtis is also the 2018 Robert Finton Outdoor Educator of the Year Award Recipient, by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) and currently serves on the MAEOE Advisory Council. Curtis has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and Policy, Wildlife Ecology and Management concentration, from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master of Science degree in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Delaware. Curtis has over 10 years of experiences in environmental education and community engagement, through naturalist positions with the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) and Delaware Nature Society respectively.