Our Leadership Team



The leadership team assists LSSI’s efforts in strengthening our local community connection and responsibility to Lake Superior and its watershed. The team coordinates teacher professional learning, facilitates community-school partnerships, mentors school-community teams, coordinates LSSI-wide community activities, and manages the budget, policies, and procedures for the hub.

Emily Gochis, Project Manager
Emily Gochis portraitWestern Upper Peninsula STEM Network
Phone: (906) 482-0331
Email: egochis@copperisd.org

Emily Gochis is the Director of the Western U.P. STEM Network (MiSTEM Network Region 16) serving Houghton, Baraga, Keweenaw, Ontonagon and Gogebic counties of Michigan. She has been in the education field for 15 years, teaching environmental and outdoor education, high school science and, most recently, science and engineering professional development for K-12 educators. Emily has received her MA in secondary education and BS in Resource and Ecology Management from the University of Michigan, and is currently a PhD candidate at Michigan Technological University where her research interests include field and place-based teacher professional development to improve Earth Science Literacy.

Joan Chadde, School-Community Team Mentor & Professional Learning Coordinator
Joan Chadde portraitCenter for Science and Environmental Outreach
Michigan Technological University, GLRC 115
Phone: (906) 487-3341
Email: jchadde@mtu.edu

Joan Chadde, has an M.S. in Water Resources and Secondary Science certification. She is the Director of the Michigan Tech Center for Science & Environmental Outreach, with more than 30 years of experience in K-12 STEM and environmental education program development and delivery, including teacher professional learning. She is the lead author of the Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support (MEECS) Water Quality Unit (2012) and is coordinating a new 2-year EPA-funded project titled “Creating Great Lakes Stewards to Promote Clean Water & Healthy Urban Watersheds in Detroit.” She has been a member of the Leadership Team for the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative since 2007.

Lloyd Wescoat, School-Community Team Mentor & Fundraising Coordinator
Lloyd Wescoat portraitCenter for Science and Environmental Outreach
Great Lakes Research Center - Michigan Technological University
Phone: (906) 482-4250 ext 186
Email: lwescoat@mtu.edu

Lloyd Wescoat has a masters in elementary education and background in service learning. She is an Education Program Assistant & Service Learning Coordinator for the Center for Science and Environmental Outreach at Michigan Technological University and part of the Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education. As a member of the LSSI leadership team since 2008, she supports teachers, students, and community partners in planning and implementing place-based stewardship projects and in conducting professional learning communities.

Jennifer Lynn, Ed.D., CCISD Early Literacy Coach / Place Based Education & School Improvement Consultant
Jennifer Lynn portraitCopper Country Intermediate School District
809 Hecla Street
Hancock, MI 49930
Phone: (906) 482-0331 ext 141
Email: jlynn@copperisd.org

Jennifer Lynn is new to our team in 2021 as a Literacy Coach and Place Based Education Consultant with the Copper Country Intermediate School District. Jennifer holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and both a master's and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership.

Jennifer brings 15 years of administrative and 15 years of teaching experience ranging from developmental kindergarten through eighth grade science. Most of this time has been serving schools in Lake Superior's watershed. Her belief is that our woods and waters are our greatest classrooms.