President
Jan Farmer
Surf City, NC
Topsail OFE Coordinator · Advocacy Team · Grants Task Force · Events Planner
Coastal Carolina Riverwatch | Board of Directors
Leadership grounded in coastal communities and clean-water stewardship.
Volunteer board leaders bring professional expertise, local knowledge, long-term service, and practical perspective to Coastal Carolina Riverwatch’s work protecting the quality of water and quality of life in coastal North Carolina.
A Working Board
Governance, guidance, and experience connected to the work.
The Board of Directors provides governance, financial oversight, strategic guidance, and organizational continuity while helping CCRW connect research, community knowledge, policy, partnerships, and practical action.
Board members bring experience in environmental science, hydrogeology, fisheries and aquaculture, coastal planning, wastewater, finance, human resources, nonprofit leadership, technology, renewable energy, grants, advocacy, and community service.
Board Leadership
Officers
CCRW’s officers provide ongoing leadership for governance, financial stewardship, organizational records, accountability, planning, and continuity.
Vice President
Tancred Miller
Morehead City, NC
CAMA Policy & Planning Manager, NC Division of Coastal Management · Event Planner
Treasurer
Susan Land
Morehead City, NC
Retired Deputy Director · North Carolina Justice Center
Secretary
Joel Dunn
Emerald Isle, NC
Retired University Administrator / Computer Scientist · IT and Renewable Energy Advisor
Leadership Perspectives
Experience behind the titles.
Jan Farmer
Jan is a native North Carolinian, growing up on the shore of Lake Norman, and has lived in the Topsail Island area for more than a decade. A graduate of UNC-Wilmington, she has been interested in environmental policy and planning, with a special interest in waste management and clean water, especially along the coast.
Jan has been a member of Coastal Carolina Riverwatch and has served on the board of directors since 2020. In addition to CCRW, she volunteers with several other organizations along the coast to work collaboratively to protect our coastal environment, advocate for clean water and healthy habitats, and encourage others to become involved.
Jan believes in stewardship of our environment, not ownership of it. In her spare time, she enjoys paddling all the things, gardening, beekeeping, spending time with her husband, family and pets, and traveling.
“The human race is challenged more than ever before to demonstrate our mastery, not over nature, but over ourselves.” — Rachel Carson
Joel Dunn
I was born and raised in eastern NC, spending much time on the family farm in Pitt County. I left Pitt County to go to school in Chapel Hill, and stayed in the Triangle for my working career. I live in Emerald Isle after retiring from the UNC system where I worked managing large technology teams and teaching Systems Analysis at UNC-CH.
In addition to being board secretary and technology advisor for Coastal Carolina Riverwatch, I’m chair of the Sierra Club Croatan Group and an outings leader for the Sierra Club. I’ve been an outdoorsman and conservationist since tagging along with my dad hunting, fishing, scouting, and just walking in the woods. I was a scout and scout leader. I’ve hiked and backpacked in diverse areas such as the Appalachian Trail, the Grand Canyon, and the Alps.
I was a white water paddler, a rock climber, and a fly fisherman. I volunteer with the Coastal Carolina Riverwatch and other organizations because I want the planet my grandkids and others inherit to afford them the opportunity to experience the outdoors as I have. I’m passionate and knowledgeable about renewable energy and EVs. From my career I bring skills in virtual collaboration, management of distributed projects, and a deep understanding of technology.
Board of Directors
Members at Large
Members at Large bring subject-matter expertise, community knowledge, and long-standing service to CCRW’s governance and clean-water work.
Ryan Bethea
New Bern, NC
Oysters Carolina Owner · Shellfish and Aquaculture Advisor
Rachel Carter
Sneads Ferry, NC
Financial Planner · 401K Insurance Expert · Professional Photographer
Dr. Lee Ferguson
Durham, NC
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University · Research Advisor · PFAS Advisor
Sterling Gillikin
Newport, NC
CCRW Volunteer
Dr. Rick Kearney
Otway / Raleigh, NC
Retired Professor, NC State · Human Resources Advisor · Board Lead for Water Quality for Fisheries Program
Katie Tomberlin
Newport, NC
Advocacy Team
Suzanne Wheatcraft
Pine Knoll Shores, NC
Retired Hydrogeologist · Former Board President · Grant Task Force · Advocacy Team
Board Members in the Field
Board members in CCRW’s work.
These photographs come from CCRW’s own website and are included only where the board member’s identity is confirmed.
Ryan Bethea
Oysters Carolina · Shellfish & Aquaculture Advisor
Dr. Lee Ferguson
Duke University · Research & PFAS Advisor
Suzanne Wheatcraft
Executive Committee at Large · Retired Hydrogeologist
Board Advisors
Additional experience supporting the mission.
Tom Mattison
Jacksonville, NC · Riverkeeper Emeritus · Wastewater Advisor
Board Experience in Current Work
Expertise that supports CCRW’s direction.
The board’s mix of technical, financial, policy, nonprofit, and community experience supports CCRW’s current research, watershed planning, fisheries, advocacy, and organizational work.
Science & Research
Water quality, PFAS, hydrogeology, fisheries, shellfish, aquaculture, and wastewater expertise.
Governance & Resilience
Finance, nonprofit leadership, human resources, grants, technology, and project-management experience.
Policy & Community
Coastal planning, advocacy, events, volunteer service, and local knowledge.
Support the Mission
Help carry clean-water work from research to results.
Flexible support helps CCRW sustain field monitoring, independent research, community engagement, watershed planning, partnerships, and nonpartisan policy work throughout the White Oak River Basin.