Educator
Dr. Wayne Morra, professor of economics in the Arcadia University School of Global Business teaches Natural Resource Economics. Dr. Morra, Professor Emeritus, has served the University community since 1982 and has taught each Master of Business Administration cohort since the program’s inception.
In 2017, Dr. Morra and his students created short-term, mid-term, and long-term restoration plans for a tributary of the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Creek which runs through their campus. This work was supported by the Honors Program’s Big Idea Competition. TTF staff and volunteers were invited by Dr. Morra to discuss and demonstrate our work, project opportunities, and water quality testing in his classroom and at the creek.
Student efforts focused on cleaning up trash along the creek while also planting native trees and shrubs and protecting these from deer and other animals with plastic tubing and mesh netting. Dr. Morra is making a significant impact on the creek and is eager to move forward with bigger goals. His commitment to education, ecological stewardship, and water quality makes him a watershed hero — he is growing a new generation of environmental leaders, literate in the need for healthy waterway design and function. We look forward to working with him and his students, as well as Arcadia University, to improve our shared watershed and build environmental leaders.
Susan Mburu is a chemistry teacher at the Philadelphia High School for Girls. She eagerly took on the responsibilities as chaperone of a Women on the Water (WOW) program at the Poconos Environmental Education Center (PEEC). She recruited 15 girls to participate, planned pre-trip meetings, and served as a wonderful leader while on the river. Although it rained a lot, she found ways for the girls to test the water in ponds at PEEC, which eventually drain into the Delaware River. She joined right in with all the hikes and paddles and encouraged the girls at every step.
Susan hosted a TTF storm drain marking lesson and demonstration for her students, so that they can enhance and share the lessons that were learned during WOW here in Philadelphia. Susan is a conscientious, caring, dedicated and devoted teacher/scientist. She truly is a watershed hero — we need more teachers just like her.
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating these watershed heroes at our annual Watershed Milestones Award Ceremony & Reception on Wednesday, May 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at our home at the Globe Dye Works in Frankford.
