Staff

Laura Jasinski, Executive Director

Laura (she/her) believes that public parks are the heartbeat of civic life— where community, environment, innovation, recreation, and culture collide. She has spent 15 years working in the development and activation of urban open space and community engagement. She has also served as the Associate Director of the Boston Waterfront Initiative for The Trustees of Reservations, an effort to build world-class, resilient open space on the Boston Harbor, and as the Director of Programs and Planning for the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy where she managed capital improvements, public art installations, and hundreds of public programs.

Laura holds a BA in Architectural Studies and an MA in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University, where her graduate work focused on universal design and best practices in creating inclusive public spaces. A former co-captain of the Tufts women’s basketball team and long-time athlete, she has trained for several half marathons and the 2016 Boston marathon along the Charles River. She also enjoys more leisurely walks and canoe paddles along the river with her husband, daughter, and loveable lab.

Email: ljasinski@thecharles.org     Phone: (617) 300-8175

Vanessa Nason, Operations Director

Vanessa (she/her) enjoys being part of an organization working to improve the Charles River, which she has spent countless hours walking, running, and relaxing beside. Since joining the Conservancy, she can include cycling in that list! After starting on the operations and development side, Vanessa has appreciated adding project management and applying her passion for swimming to the Charles. She didn’t need much convincing on the idea of urban river swimming, but her first jump in during City Splash 2016 made her a convert, and she looks forward to the time when swimming has a home in the Charles again. Vanessa has a graduate degree from Georgetown University. Her prior experience includes administration at an architecture firm and program coordination at an urban planning foundation.

Contact Vanessa with questions about the Swim Park Project or the Charles River Floating Wetland.

Email: vnason@thecharles.org     Phone: (617) 300-8162

Scott McCue, Impact Director

Scott (he/him) has spent much of his adult life working or playing near the Charles River. He brings a varied set of professional experiences to CRC, including 20 years building and leading urban educational institutions. Scott served most recently as a Regional Director with Mass Audubon, where he oversaw sanctuary management and educational offerings at properties in Boston’s Metro West. He strives to support people from different backgrounds finding belonging in the outdoors. Scott holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Harvard and Master’s Degrees from Columbia and Johns Hopkins. Scott can be found most weekends running on a trail alongside the Charles River.

Contact Scott with questions about CRC community events, programs, and projects.

Email: smccue@thecharles.org     Phone: (617) 549-8770

Sasha Vallieres, Stewardship & Volunteer Program Manager

Sasha (she/her) currently manages 2,000 annual volunteers and the Conservancy’s horticultural and conservation activities. Sasha has over ten years of experience in the non-profit sector, where she has worked in resource management, taught environmental education and natural history, performed trail maintenance, and organized volunteer events for small groups to events with several hundred. Sasha has previously worked for YMCA of Greater Boston, National Parks Service, Trustees of Reservations, and interned with the Student Conservation Association. When not working in the Charles River parklands, Sasha enjoys gardening, reading, movies, and hiking.

Contact Sasha if you are interested in scheduling a corporate volunteer event or attending the next open volunteer day. Please note that group volunteer days are typically scheduled one month in advance.

Email: svallieres@thecharles.org     Phone: (617) 300-8173

Taylor Leonard, Program Manager, Community Partnerships

Taylor (she/her) is passionate about programming that lies at the center of art, the environment, and advocacy. With a BFA from Suffolk University and Master of Liberal Arts in Museum Studies from the Harvard University Extension School, Taylor prioritizes creative and innovative approaches to activating public spaces along the Charles River. She champions partnerships and programs that empower community-driven initiatives. Prior to her time at the Charles River Conservancy, Taylor organized free community celebrations at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and planned art residency programming at the Harvard University ArtLab. Needless to say, she is partial to a celebratory event—including the much-anticipated City Splash annual river swim! In her spare time Taylor enjoys biking on the Charles with a watercolor kit packed in her bag to capture the beautiful views (including the CRC’s incredible Floating Wetland!).

Contact Taylor with questions about programming along the Charles River. 

Email: tleonard@thecharles.org     Phone: (617) 300-8174

Pablo Brenes Coto, Park Resilience Project Manager

Pablo (he/him) has spent most of his professional career working along the Charles River at the Museum of Science and the Esplanade Association. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Wheaton College, MA and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in City Planning at Boston University. Pablo’s favorite part of cities are their green spaces, and he believes that everyone should have access to a public space where they relax, exercise, and spend time with family and friends. When he is not working, Pablo enjoys taking long walks in a nearby park, riding his bike, reading, and playing board games with his friends.

Email: pbrenescoto@thecharles.org

Christine Liu, Communications and Advocacy Manager

Christine Liu (she/her) is driven by the rich intersection of ideas, technology, and community. With experience in multimedia journalism, corporate innovation, and emerging platforms, Christine is dedicated to building human-centered experiences and staying relentlessly curious. Before joining Charles River Conservancy she worked in healthcare consulting and digital media, and now serves on the board of the Dance Complex. In addition to daily walks along the Charles and bird-spotting along the way, she enjoys traveling with her husband, cooking new recipes using produce from her community garden, and doting on her rescue cat.

Contact Christine with questions about CRC advocacy, for press inquiries, or to share your favorite photos of the Charles. 

Email: cliu@thecharles.org     Phone: (617) 300-8172

Erica Evans, Development Manager

Erica (she/her) is passionate about strengthening relationships with existing CRC donors and fostering new connections. She brings experience from her previous positions at other nonprofits and within the art world, which has given her a thorough understanding of fundraising, special events, and the power of positive donor relations. Erica graduated from Brandeis University with BAs in Art History and German Studies, and has an MA in Art History from Hunter College. As part of her master’s thesis, she wrote about the importance of natural living for city dwellers at the turn of the 19th century, sparking a passion for the significance of good stewardship of our natural resources in everyday urban life. In her free time, Erica enjoys reading, visiting museums, and perfecting her skills to make the perfect cup of coffee. A Boston-area native, she grew up kayaking on the Charles.

Contact Erica with question about gifting to The River Bank and other ways to support the CRC. 

Email: eevans@thecharles.org     Phone: (617) 300-8171

Drew McKenna, Project & Event Assistant

Drew (he/him) is a second-year student at Northeastern University studying Environmental Studies and International Affairs. With a passion for sustainability, community involvement, and people-centered leadership, Drew could not be more excited to be part of the CRC team! Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Drew enjoys spending his time in nature hiking along the Appalachian mountains and enjoying the many beautiful East Coast beaches. While in Boston, you can catch him on the Charles River Esplanade or the Emerald Necklace walking with friends or on a run. He also enjoys the live music scene in Boston/Cambridge and is always up for a concert or performance. Drew can’t wait to give back to the New England community by connecting people and nature to fulfill what the Charles River Conservancy is really about: making the Charles River and its parks a well-maintained network of natural urban places that invite and engage all in their use and stewardship.

Email: amckenna@thecharles.org