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.

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

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.

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.

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, NC.

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.  She earned a Masters 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. Anita was raised in Alamance County and lives in Snow Camp.