Meet The Team.

FOUNDER & CHAIR

Michael Dupree earned his MS in Life Sciences in Botany from Louisiana Tech University in 1986 and an Advanced Degree in Agriculture Education from the North Carolina State University in 1995. He has over a decade of experience as a professional educator in secondary and post-secondary institutions. Since 1992, Michael has contracted with state organizations, state government entities, and national organizations to develop and administer Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) curricula. In 2009, he developed career training opportunities for youth in the STEM fields by creating the Bionomic Educational Training Center (BETC) concept, which was piloted in 2010 in Durham, NC. This program engages students in the design and implementation of Stormwater Control Measures (SCM) and, using grants and county funding, employs them and their teachers to install these sustainable projects on public and private property throughout the county. He has authored and served as the principal investigator of multiple educational research grants, most recently culminating in the summer of 2022 with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) division of National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA). With this grant, the Piedmont Conservation Council, Inc. expanded the BETC program to involve ten counties throughout the Piedmont region of North Carolina.

A licensed and bonded North Carolina Landscape Contractor & North Carolina Irrigation Contractor, Mr. Dupree has provided landscape and irrigation installation services to many thousands of North Carolina customers since 1989. From 2010 until 2021, he worked for Durham County as its Agribusiness & Environmental Services Manager, designing and overseeing the construction of SCMs for landowners. During his government experience, he obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to enable more than 200 landowners with installing more than 260 SCMs.

VICE CHAIR

Stanley is an emeritus professor of Pathology at Duke, past president of the College of American Pathologists, and past commissioner of Cancer Research for the State of New Jersey. He is the senior editor of the textbook, Robboy’s Pathology of the Female Reproductive Tract. Stanley has been exceedingly active in helping support programs of diversity to provide meaningful opportunities for trainees. Stanley was a visiting pathologist at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Moshi, Tanzania.

TREASURER & GRANTS COMMITTEE CHAIR

Mike received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before moving to Melbourne, Australia, for four years of post-doctoral and industrial work, including a short stint working a vintage at an Australian winery. Upon returning to the States, Mike worked in the pharmaceutical industry in drug development for 20+ years, concentrating on the treatment of pediatric cancer. In 2019, Mike left drug development to work independently as a pharmaceutical consultant and real-estate rehabilitation/developer.

Throughout his life, Mike has been concerned about environmental and sustainability issues and determined to do what he can to preserve the health of the planet for future generations and set a good example for those around him. For decades, he has been composting, backyard gardening, recycling (reuse where possible), and donating to conservation-focused charities. After installing a rainwater harvesting cistern through the Community Conservation Assistance Program of the NC Soil and Water Conservation District, Mike immediately saw the benefits of such programs. When he was asked to be on the board of the Urban Sustainability Services (USS), he jumped at the opportunity to expand environmental solutions to the broader community.

MEMBER AT-LARGE /OUTREACH

Sabine Schmalbeck joined the Board of Urban Sustainability Solutions, Inc. in August 2022. Her appreciation for the potential for nonprofit organizations to provide STEM learning opportunities began with her apprenticeship at the Shodor Education Foundation, where she learned valuable computer programming and computational science skills in addition to the importance of access to free educational resources. Sabine fostered her interest in sustainability as a member of Furman University’s Environmental Science Engaged Living cohort. She learned about sustainable practices through the program and created educational posters for the Furman Farm. Sabine’s dedication to education and public service continues in her work as a librarian. She values providing access and resources to all and aims to collaborate and strengthen relationships with the Triangle community. Urban Sustainability Solutions is the amalgamation of Sabine’s work and interests over the past decade. She is excited to assist the organization in achieving its goals. Sabine has a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and German Studies from Furman University and a Master of Science in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

OUTREACH COORDINATOR
outreach.urbanss.org@gmail.com

James Dupree is a writer and editor with a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has published work with Defenestration, Clover+Bee, and Bewildering Stories, and is a contributing writer for the Chapel Hill, Chatham, and Durham magazines under Triangle Media Partners. And for over a decade, James has worked for Feather Village Farm, marketing and selling fresh fruit and herbs at local farmers' markets. As Urban Sustainability Solutions' Outreach Coordinator, James hopes to use his experience to further establish important relationships with local community members and foster a healthy urban ecosystem.

EDUCATION SPECIALIST
education.urbanss.org@gmail.com

Suzy Schmalbeck is a former elementary school teacher with a background in special education and a love of sustainable practices. During her six years in the classroom, Suzy taught all subjects with a focus on hands-on project-based learning. She enjoys working with others and has led multiple teacher workshops for the Greenville County School District in South Carolina. Suzy is excited about the opportunity to serve with Urban Sustainability Solutions as Education Specialist. She looks forward to working with teachers and students on a variety of sustainable projects that benefit and serve local communities.

GRANT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
grants.urbanss.org@gmail.com

Melissa Rooney is a children's author, freelance writer and editor; second-generation immigrant; Woman in Science (Ph.D. Chemistry); Australian-U.S. citizen; and decades-long Soil and Water Conservation Advocate. She provides hands-on science and literary workshops for schools, libraries, museums and other organizations, both privately and through the Creative Arts in the Public and Private Schools program in Durham, NC, as well as scientific and literary editing and grant writing for businesses, universities, nonprofits, and individuals. Melissa serves USS through public outreach and assisting with grant and other funding applications. Connect with her at www.MelissaRooneyWriting.com.

PROJECT MANAGER
projects.urbanss.org@gmail.com

Cherri received her Masters Degree from Duke University in Aquatic and Wetlands Ecology and has worked as an environmental biologist with state and local government in North Carolina for 35 years. During her career, Cherri has held a variety of positions including: managing stream and wetland restoration projects for the Wetlands Restoration Program (currently the Division of Mitigation Services); evaluating and processing applications for permits for work in streams, riparian buffers, and wetlands for the Division of Water Resources; and obtaining environmental permits for construction projects for the Division of Parks and Recreation. While with the Department of Transportation, she wrote “Invasive Exotic Plants of North Carolina,” a manual used by land managers throughout the state for their work controlling these plants. Cherri looks forward to using these varied skills as Project Manager for Urban Sustainability Solutions.

Abigail received her B.S in Information Science with a concentration in GIS from UNC-Greensboro. Between 2021 and 2022 she served as a founder and officer for the Information Science Student Association, as well as the Project Manager for several courses. For the past four years, she has worked alongside Michael and James Dupree at Feather Village Farm, to provide the community with fresh produce and plants.

Ever since she was a child, she’s been fascinated by nature conservation and sustainability. She is excited to combine her passions for nature, technology, and community building as an advisor for the Outreach team.

Linda Schmalbeck is a founding member of Urban Sustainability Solutions (USS) and serves as a volunteer on the Education Committee. Linda was a science instructor at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) for almost two decades, ultimately adding the role of NCSSM’s first Sustainability Officer to her instructional responsibilities. Before her work at NCSSM, Linda’s experience ranged from working as a research environmental scientist at RTI International to serving as the Manager of Education Programs at Sigma Xi, the scientific research honor society. She has also had experience in the nonprofit world through her work at the Shodor Education Foundation. At NCSSM Linda worked with USS founder and CEO, Mike Dupree, to secure grants that merged campus and community stormwater improvement installation projects with more traditional forms of student instruction. Mike adapted their experience with this style of hybrid curriculum into a unit that forms part of the Energy and Sustainability course Linda developed for the state of North Carolina through the Race to the Top grant program. Linda earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Carmen Hightower brings to Urban Sustainability Solutions a lifelong passion for environmental conservation, inspired by early realizations of the impacts of deforestation and biodiversity loss. Her dedication led her to pursue and achieve a Master's degree in Sustainable Environmental Law from the University of Eastern Finland, a testament to her creative approach to overcoming financial barriers and her commitment to environmental advocacy.

Throughout her career as a paralegal in the Real Estate industry in North Carolina, Carmen has honed crucial skills in research, documentation, and client communication. Her path may have ventured initially beyond her primary interest, yet her focus on sustainability and environmental law never wavered. Carmen’s journey showcases a unique blend of legal insight, sustainability commitment, and adaptable skills, acquired in diverse professional settings.

Carmen is driven by a core belief in problem-solving, a deep-seated passion for sustainability, and a dedication to continuous learning and adaptation. Her multifaceted background equips her with a distinctive perspective that she is eager to apply to the initiatives of Urban Sustainability Solutions.

Kevin Boyer retired in 2022 as Water Quality Manager for Raleigh Stormwater where for 10 years he oversaw surface water monitoring, compliance with stormwater regulations, and design and installation of stormwater control measures (SCMs) and stream restorations. Earlier career work included administering grant projects for NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund and teaching high school environmental science, physics, and math. Kevin is from Alexandria, VA, has a BS in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech, and has lived in Raleigh for 36 years.