Staff
Emily Sutton Executive Director and Haw Riverkeeper
emily@hawriver.org
Emily Sutton is the new Executive Director of HRA, as well as being the Haw Riverkeeper. She joined the staff of Haw River Assembly in 2016, managing citizen science projects to watchdog against sediment pollution and monitor the tributaries and main stem of the Haw River. She has been Haw Riverkeeper since 2018, leading the fight for HRA against pollution in the Haw River on many fronts, including emerging contaminants, Jordan Lake nutrients, and sediment pollution. She is a current member of the NC Sedimentation Control Commission. Emily grew up paddling rivers in the Midwest, and moved to North Carolina to received her B.A at Appalachian State University in Sustainable Development, where she studied Agroecology, Watershed Ecology, and Outdoor Education. Emily lives in Durham, NC.
Elaine Chiosso, Senior Advisor elaine@hawriver.org 
Elaine Chiosso was Executive Director of the Haw River Assembly from 1997 until August 31, 2024. She also served as the first Haw Riverkeeper from 2008 -2017. She studied at UC-Berkeley and UNC-CH and has a B.S in Science Education. She has lived near the Haw River in Chatham County, since 1974 and currently serves as Chair of the Chatham County Environmental Review Committee. She is a former member of the NC Sedimentation Control Commission and the NC Water Infrastructure Council. Elaine is assisting staff and the organization during this leadership transition, until the end of 2024.
Hannah Welborn-Lewis Event & Program Manager events@hawriver.org 
Hannah Welborn-Lewis joined the Haw River Assembly in 2023 and is responsible for coordinating various events including the Haw River Learning Celebration in the Fall, the annual Clean-Up-A-Thon, and the Haw River Festival. Prior to working for the Haw River Assembly, Hannah spent time at the City of Greensboro Water Resources Department as a Public Education and Social Media Specialist. Hannah received her undergraduate degree from Western Carolina University and a graduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Communication Studies.
Carolyn Paden Administrative Director carolyn@hawriver.org
Carolyn is fundamental to the functioning of the Haw River Assembly. She has over 30 years of experience in non-profit management and small business bookkeeping, and happily keeps our office and finances running smoothly behind the scenes. Carolyn earned an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Master of Public Health focusing on community health education from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She lives in Silk Hope
Madison Haley, Plastics Program and Climate Fellow 
madisonclaiire@gmail.com
Madison has a bachelor’s degree in engineering and is currently a graduate student at UNC Chapel Hill studying Environmental Science and Engineering. Before starting graduate school, Madison worked for a few years as a water resource engineer and a science policy contractor at the USEPA. She’s passionate about climate resiliency, public health, and environmental justice and uses her technical background to advocate for the Haw River and the community it serves!
Kaitlyn Elliott Water Quality Program Manager, kaitlyn@hawriver.org
Kaitlyn Elliott is our incoming Water Quality Program Manager. She received her B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia and her master’s in water resource management from Duke University. Kaitlyn previously worked for the US Geologic Survey on a wide range of projects researching topics such as the impact of climate change on rainfall patterns and trends in salinity within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Kaitlyn loves data and is excited to be collecting, analyzing and visualizing it to benefit her community. In her free time Kaitlyn enjoys gardening, cooking, and running.
Anita Lorraine Moore, Communications Manager anita@hawriver.org
Anita publishes the HRA E-newsletter, press releases, website, graphic design, social media, storytelling, writing, messaging and other communications-related projects at the Haw River Assembly. She’s an artist, musician, writer and maker at heart. At HRA, she gets to create engaging and interactive outreach materials using storytelling, highlighting the wonderful work of the Haw River Assembly’s efforts to protect and restore the Haw River. Anita was raised in Alamance County and lives in Snow Camp. She earned a Master of Social Justice in Intercultural Communications, focusing on Policy Advocacy and Community Organizing at the School for International Training (SIT) in Brattleboro, Vermont. At Appalachian State (Boone, NC) in 2008, she earned a BS in Anthropology and a BA in Religious Studies.
Jessica Black, Environmental Educator jessica@hawriver.org
Jessica joined the HRA staff in the summer of 2024 and is increasing our capability for school programs and outreach to the public. She is working with Hannah to re-launch our Stream Investigation Program for middle and high school students as well as being a key part of our Learning Celebration for 4th graders. Jessica has a background as an elementary school teacher and as an environmental educator. She lives in Gibsonville.
Cynthia Crossen Print Newsletter Editor
Former River Watch project coordinator, Cynthia has been a long-time volunteer with HRA, former Board member and our wonderful print newsletter editor.
2025 Board Members
- Jeannie Ambrose, Chatham County
- Chris Carter, Alamance County
- Crystal Cavalier, Alamance County
- Elaine Chiosso, Chatham County
- Lynn Featherstone, Durham County
- Dianne Ford, Alamance County Secretary
- Katherine Fulbright, Durham County Co-Secretary
- Nicole Gaines, Guilford County,
- Sharon Garbutt, Chatham County
- Chris Green, Chatham County
- David Jester, Chatham County
- Rufus King, Chatham County, Vice President
- Dr. Janet MacFall, Alamance County
- Francisco Plaza, Orange County
- John Runkle, Orange County, Treasurer
- John Wagner, Chatham County
- Ayo Wilson, Durham County, President
- Mac Jordan, Emeritus Member, Saxapahaw
- Omega Wilson, Environmental Justice Advisor, Mebane