Our Team

Maria Payan (She/Her)

Our Executive Director, Maria Payan, …

Rachel Casteel (She/Her)

Our Program Director, Rachel Casteel, …

Brentdy Chavez (He/Him)

Our Community and Youth Engagement Director, Brentdy Chavez, leads SHEN’s community and youth engagement efforts, connecting residents—especially young people—with programs that promote health, sustainable housing, and environmental well-being throughout Sussex County.

Michael Payan (He/Him)

Our Director of Operations, Michael Payan, …

Gina Burton (She/Her)

Our Community Engagement Specialist and Research Technician, Gina Burton, …

Aarush Sudamalla (He/Him)

Our Youth Leadership and Community Science Manager, Aarush Sudamalla, is a senior at the Charter School of Wilmington and the founder of the Give With Love Foundation, a youth-led nonprofit advancing environmental justice and food security in underserved communities. His advocacy bridges public health and environmental equity—from helping SHEN deploy low-cost pollution sensors in poultry-dense rural areas to battling environmental health disparities in EJ communities. Aarush continues to merge science, service, and sustainability to promote lasting environmental justice for vulnerable populations.