WAVE Foundation Staff
Tricia Watts
Executive Director
859-815-1404
Tricia Watts is thrilled to serve as Executive Director for WAVE Foundation. Tricia brings a wealth of nonprofit knowledge as well years of experience in the for-profit sector. She is passionate about WAVE’s mission and excited to help others get involved. Tricia earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Eastern Kentucky University. Tricia is a member of Leadership Northern Kentucky’s 2013 Best Class Ever. She is a Board member and volunteer with the Emergency Shelter of NKY. Tricia, her husband Jim, and furbaby Charlie reside in Northern KY. In their free time, they like to hike, bike, paddle, travel (especially to the ocean!), and see live music.
Katie Campbell
Conservation Education Manager
859-815-1442
Originally from West Virginia, Katie Campbell moved to Cincinnati to attend Xavier University, where she earned her Masters in Education. She worked at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden for a number of years as the Zoo On the Move Program Manager, and became a National Geographic Certified Educator. In this role, Mrs. Campbell was able to design curriculum and teach in hundreds of Greater Cincinnati classrooms, including as an adjunct professor for Miami University’s Advanced Inquiry Program. In 2020, she transitioned to teaching in a formal education setting, teaching for two years at St. Veronica Elementary. She is excited to work with WAVE and in Environmental Education. When not working, Katie enjoys spending time with her husband, Daniel, and daughter, Hazel, hiking, creeking, and spoiling their basset hound, Rosebud.
Kristen Woods
Community Engagement Manager
859-815-1424
Kristen Woods has spent the past ten years working for local nonprofit institutions, starting her career at the Cincinnati Museum Center and most recently, the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. She is a University of Cincinnati graduate with a background in Art Education, and has spent most of her career in museum education, program management, and volunteer administration. Recently, Kristen joined the Cincinnati Association of Volunteer Administrators board as one of their Continuing Education Chairs and is also a proud lifetime member (and volunteer) of the Girl Scouts. Kristen is eager to work the volunteers to engage the community through the Newport Aquarium’s wildlife and educate about the importance of conservation!
Julie Uffman
Development Coordinator
859-815-1418
Julie Uffman is the Development Coordinator for WAVE Foundation. She began working at Newport Aquarium in the Guest Services department just prior to opening day in 1999. In fact, Julie sold the very first ticket to Newport Aquarium to the mayor! During her time in Guest Services, Julie served as the Guest Services Manager and was responsible for hiring and training staff working in Admissions and Exhibits. In 2005, Julie cut back to part-time so she could be at home with her children and began working for the WAVE Foundation. When she first started at WAVE, Julie was the Education Curator and was vital in the start-up of the Finstitute Classroom Programs as well as summer camp. Julie currently serves as the Development Coordinator and has a variety of jobs, including event planning, donor relations, website updates and maintaining WAVE’s finances. In her spare time, Julie enjoys spending time with her husband Mike and two daughters, Kaitlyn and Lauren, and is highly involved in activities at church and school. Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in Science from Ohio University and a Master’s Degree in Education from Xavier University.
Harley Archer
Conservation Education Coordinator
859-815-1422
Harley Archer grew up in the Cincinnati area, and graduated from Miami University of Ohio with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with a concentration in Oceanography. Harley spent August 2020-August 2021 in sunny Naples, Florida working in wildlife rehab and marine science education. She has spent lots of time working in conservation education. Her first experience in conservation education was actually with WAVE as an intern in 2019! In her free time, Harley loves spending time with her husband, Martin, and their dog, Levi, and their families and friends. Her favorite things to do are play games on the Nintendo Switch with her husband, play with her dog, and travel. Harley loves working with WAVE Foundation because of the excitement of the kids when they see and learn about the cool animals, and spreading awareness for some of the best animals on the planet!
Lizzie Ayers
Conservation Educator
Lizzie grew up in West Virginia and is currently pursuing a degree in Marine Biology and Sustainable Aquaculture from Unity College Online. In the summer of 2022, she served as an intern with the WAVE Foundation Education Team before becoming a full-time AmeriCorps Environmental Educator later that year. Since then, Lizzie has been promoted to the full-time Conservation Outreach Educator for WAVE Foundation. Lizzie loves her position as Conservation Outreach Educator, as it provides her with the opportunity to share her knowledge and passion for the incredible animal ambassadors at WAVE with communities both near and far. In her free time, she likes to be outdoors hiking, kayaking, and exploring with her fiancé, Luke, and two dogs, Leila and Leo. Lizzie loves adventure, and she hopes to continue exploring new places and expanding her knowledge of the environment.
Lori Myers
Administrative Coordinator
859-815-1441
Lori Myers is the Administrative Coordinator for WAVE Foundation. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Thomas More College. Supporting and giving back to the community, church and various schools has always been a priority for her. Over the years, she has volunteered countless hours as a committee member for her church festival and supported her children’s schools through fundraising, event planning and volunteering. She has worked in administrative roles in various fields including human resources, education and healthcare. Lori, her husband Carl, and their three sons reside in Union, KY. She often encourages them to volunteer alongside her. They enjoy traveling, especially to nearby lakes for boating and family time.
Daphne Schaff
Conservation Educator
Daphne Schaaf is a part-time conservation educator for WAVE Foundation. She graduated from Thomas More university with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology on a marine biology track with a minor in environmental science and concentration in ecology. She was an animal husbandry intern at the Thomas More Biology Field Station where she grew her love for animal care. She then became a summer intern and volunteer at WAVE before coming on as a staff member. In her free time, she enjoys reading, walks in nature, and cuddles with her dog, Gus. Daphne loves her job at WAVE for the people’s amazement at seeing animals they may never get to see otherwise and learning how important they are to the environment.
Ryan Larrick
Conservation Educator
Ryan Larrick has been a part time Educator with WAVE since 2018, and has enjoyed every second of it! He also works for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, working on an invasive species project tasked with eradicating Asian longhorn beetles from the Clermont county – Ohio quarantine. He holds a Bachelor’s of science degree from Muskingum University. Currently, he is working towards his Master’s degree through Project Dragonfly at Miami University, where he hopes to move forward to a fulfilling full time career in conservation education. In his free time, he enjoys walking his dog, Flash, through the many parks scattered across the Cincinnati area, and relaxing with a nice board or video game with his friends. His favorite part about WAVE is having the ability to spread joy and knowledge about the animal ambassadors he has the privilege to work with.
Elainey Reno
Conservation Educator
Elainey Reno grew up in Union, KY and is currently in her last semester at Thomas More University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Education with an Environmental Science minor. Elainey plans become an Environmental Educator. She served as a Camp Counselor with WAVE Foundation in 2022, and realized her passion for environmental education. In her free time, she love hiking with her dogs, reading, and spending time with friends and family. She am also a member of the Thomas More University dance team. I am excited to be part of the WAVE Foundation Team and help educate and engage others on animal conservation.
Jordan Zulli
AmeriCorps EELCorps Environmental Educator
Jordan Zulli is serving with AmeriCorps as a full-time Environmental Educator with Wave Foundation. Jordan was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from Thomas More University in May of 2022. At Thomas More, Jordan pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a focus in Marine Biology. Jordan was an intern with Wave Foundation in summer of 2021, staying on as a volunteer throughout the year. In the summer of 2022, she was hired on as a part-time Outreach Educator with WAVE, before beginning her position as a full-time AmeriCorps member. Her passion for ocean conservation stems from spending summers in Ocean City, Maryland as a child. In her free time, Jordan enjoys reading, hiking, swimming, and anything outdoors. Her passions include surfing and SCUBA diving. Her favorite part about working with WAVE is seeing the looks on kids’ faces when they see a shark for the first time in their life.
