Alumni Faculty and Student Staff

WaterCorps

*ECU Water Corps program completed all projects as of September 2025.

 

Faculty Alumni*

Dr. Michelle Henderson

I was the Director of the Water Corps program. My PhD is in environmental engineering, and my research focuses on STEM education with a focus on engineering education, community engagement, and sustainability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Bobby Bowser

I was the Lab and Field Manager at the Water Resources Center until October 2025. My PhD is in Integrative Biology, and my research interests include surface water monitoring, water quality, aquatic invertebrates, community ecology, community engagement, and ecotoxicology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Staff Alumni*

Lucia Wall

My name is Lucia Wall. I am currently a junior double majoring in Environmental Studies and Biology. I joined Water Corps in September 2023 and currently serve as a lab technician working under the Coastlines and People (CoPe) project analyzing nutrients and the overall health of the Tar-Pamlico Watershed. After graduation, I plan to gain a doctorate in mycology and have a career in mycoremediation or forestry.

 

 

 

Trey Blackwell

My name is Trey Blackwell. I am graduating in May of 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. I have been working with ECU Water Corps for three years as a field technician and have worked on many projects. I have an interest in entomology and ecology. I want to pursue a master’s degree in one of these subjects and become an ecologist. 

 

 

 

Nikki Kasireddy

My name is Nikki Kasireddy. I am Junior double majoring in Mathematics and Finance with a minor in Economics. I enjoy recreational sports such as running, tennis, and swimming. I spend lots of time outside and love going to the beach. My other main hobbies are watching basketball and soccer. In the future, I aspire to be a data scientist or work in AI within the business sector. 

 

 

 

 

Brian Ester

My name is Brian Ester. I am a sophomore majoring in Biology and Neuroscience. I have spent one semester with the Water Corps so far after joining in January 2025. I have spent my time working in both the lab and the field on various projects. I’m still in the process of figuring out what I want to do in the future; however, I believe Water Corps has helped point me in the right direction. In my free time I enjoy reading and playing video games.

 

 

 

Braden McPhillips

My name is Braden McPhillips. I am a current sophomore double majoring in Management and Finance with a minor in Economics. I joined WaterCorps in August 2022 and currently serve as the Project Manager for The Pettigrew, CoPe, and Environmental Droners projects, as well as the Community Water Network. After graduation, I plan to obtain my master’s in business administration and have a career as an Investment Banker or Managing Director for a large financial corporation.

 

Oceana Apollo

My name is Oceana Apollo. I am currently a senior majoring in Geology. I joined WaterCorps in May 2023 and currently serve as the project owner for the Saltwater Intrusion project. After receiving my B.S. in Geology, I plan on attending graduate school to specialize in Volcanology. I hope to be a research volcanologist for the USGS. WaterCorps has offered me invaluable research experience and opportunities in leadership, helping me to build an impressive resume.

 

 

Owen Bergquist

My name is Owen Bergquist, and I am a Senior with a major in environmental studies and a minor in environmental health. I joined WaterCorps in October 2021 and have been working with the CoPe and Litter Locator project, as well as recently starting on a new VR project as a project manager. After graduating, I hope to land a job related to conservation and the environment either in the private or public sector.

 

 

Nicholas Kruchten

My name is Nicholas Kruchten, I am a senior majoring in Biology. I joined  WaterCorps in 2022 and I am the project manager for the Sylvan Heights Bird Park Project, I am responsible for the closing out of the project. After graduation, I plan to have a career in environmental restoration and prevention of disasters in the waterways in the US. I am currently working towards getting a bachelor’s degree.

 

 

Camryn Landreth

My name is Camryn Landreth, and I am a senior majoring in Environmental Health. I joined WaterCorps in January of 2023 and am the project manager for the Stormwater and CAFO projects. I also serve as an environmental health ambassador for the Department of Health Education and Promotion. After graduation, I plan to enter the environmental health field to gain more work experience before going to graduate school to obtain a master’s degree.

 

 

Brice Long

My name is Brice Long. I am a Junior Environmental Engineering major. I joined Water Corp in May of 2023. Since I started working, I have worked on several projects. The projects I have mainly worked on are Environmental Data and Sensing Network (EDSN), Stormwater project, and Cope. I have even been able to be the Project Manager of EDSN. I have had a really amazing experience working with Water Corp so far. I have gained lots of Professional and Technical skills that can help me after I graduate. After Graduating I hope to use the skills that I have learned with Water Corp to work at an Environmental Engineering consulting agency. 

 

Taniya Johnson

Hi, my name is Taniya Johnson. I am currently a senior here at East Carolina University. I joined WaterCorps as an intern in October 2023. I am majoring in Biology with a minor in Marine and Coastal Studies. After graduation, I hope to pursue higher education in the marine biology field.

 

 

 

Skyler Morris

My name is Skyler Morris. I am a senior majoring in Biology with a concentration in Molecular and Cell Biology and a minor in Public Health. I joined the Water Corps in August 2023 and am helping with many different projects. After graduation, I plan on finding a job in the pharmaceutical industry focusing on finding one in a lab setting.

 

 

 

Thomas Shelton

My name is Thomas Shelton, I am currently a junior majoring in Geography with minors in Coastal and Marine Studies and Geology. I started working with Community Water Corps as a part of the CoPe Project – Nags Head branch in January 2023. Now back on the main campus, I’m currently an intern for WaterCorps and assisting with the Saltwater Intrusion Project. After graduation, I would like to work as a coastal hydrologist analyzing current estuarine processes and their effects on coastal communities.

 

Lily Baker

Hello everyone! My name is Lily Baker, I’m an Environmental Studies major with a minor in Anthropology. I’m a senior here at ECU this year, planning to graduate in May. I’m also the Secretary for the Geology club on campus Planet ECU, ask me about it! My goal after graduation is to do environmental outreach with some fieldwork on the side. I love being outdoors and spending time with my friends and family. I also love meeting new people and going to new places. I’m excited to see what this semester has in store for me!