Meet the Waccamaw Riverkeeper^®

The Board of Winyah Rivers is proud to announce the hiring of the second Waccamaw Riverkeeper, Christine Ellis. Christine replaces Hamp Shuping who has been the Waccamaw Riverkeeper since 2002.

Christine has most recently been an Adjunct Professor at Coastal Carolina University and Horry-Georgetown Technical College, teaching biology. She comes to us with an extensive background in environmental compliance for industry; many of the skills she learned there will translate nicely into the nonprofit world.

”Christine is an energetic environmentalist. Her former coworkers and employers speak highly of her skills and her work ethic. We are delighted to welcome her to the Riverkeeper program and full-time advocacy work,“ said Barb Postles, WRF President.

Christine was born in Toronto, Canada and has worked in the U.S. since 1991. She lives in North Myrtle Beach with husband, Bernie Smith, also a Canadian. Both are avid golfers.

The search for the Riverkeeper took several months and extended across the country.

Christine will be spending a great deal of time getting to know our members, our grantors, other environmental organizations, and the people involved in each of our issues.

From Christine …

The first Waccamaw Riverkeeper®, Hampton Shuping Jr., was hired in 2002 and instituted major initiatives and programs throughout the Waccamaw River watershed. In August 2006, I took over leadership of the program. I am proud to be the Waccamaw Riverkeeper, proud to be a member of the Winyah Rivers Foundation, and proud to lead the effort going forward.

I have a Master of Science in Environmental Management and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology. The majority of my career has been in the environmental field, focused on implementing environmental laws and regulations, identifying areas of environmental improvement and helping companies understand the role they play in protecting the environment. Most recently I have enjoyed teaching biological and environmental science courses as an adjunct professor at Horry-Georgetown Technical College and Coastal Carolina University.

As an advocate for the protection of the Waccamaw River watershed, I look forward to working closely with those who love the Waccamaw River and want to protect and preserve our natural heritage for themselves and future generations to enjoy.

Click here to see what I’ve been up to lately.

Click here to send me an e-mail (wrk@coastal.edu).

As the Waccamaw Riverkeeper®, it’s my job to advocate for the ecological, social and economic health and integrity of the Waccamaw River watershed. These responsibilities include:

• educating the public regarding the work of the Winyah Rivers Foundation and the Waccamaw Riverkeeper program;
• increasing commitment to our program through membership development and involvement;
• recruiting, training and maintaining a motivated volunteer network to serve as the “eyes and ears” of their local communities;
• maintaining an on-the-river presence to investigate pollution sources, support monitoring efforts, provide education, and raise public awareness of river issues;
• coordinating with local, state and federal agencies and other environmental groups to stay abreast of actions affecting the Waccamaw River and watershed; and
• facilitating fundraising activities to support the Waccamaw Riverkeeper program and its mission.