Earth Ethics Institute

Mike Matthews

EEI Collegewide Director
Wolfson Campus
Room #1201
mmatthew@mdc.edu
(305) 237-3796

Mike is an environmental educator interested in how human society and culture interface with and affect the natural world. He has an M.S. in Environmental Studies from Florida International University and his thesis research looked at the efficacy of experiential teaching techniques in environmental education.  Other areas of study include deep ecology, environmental ethics, South Florida ecology, environmental policy, and sustainable development. Mike has held a visiting instructor position at Florida Gulf Coast University where he taught Environmental Biology, Global Environment and Society, Deep Ecology, and FGCU’s University Colloquium (which focuses on sustainability issues, educational reform, and the Earth Charter).  He has also taught for Florida International University’s Department of Earth and Environment, Johnson & Wales University, and has worked as a naturalist at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center in Crandon Park.  Matthews currently serves as director of Earth Ethics Institute at Miami Dade College where he oversees the institute’s programming and operations across all eight Miami Dade College campuses.

Words from the Director:
The Call for Earth Literacy

Netiva Kolitz

Program Professional
Kendall Campus
Room #8201-4
nkolitz@mdc.edu
(305) 237-2247

Netiva holds a B.S. degree and completed graduate course work both in Environmental Studies and Education. She has more than 20 years of professional experience in program coordination, environmental education, and public outreach, and has served as the Earth Ethics Institute’s Kendall Campus Program Professional since 2012.

Stephen Nesvacil

Program Professional
North Campus
Room #1254-9
snesvaci@mdc.edu
(305) 237-1338

Stephen is an environmental educator interested in co-creating community building aligned in nature. He graduated from Florida International University with BA’s in Religious Studies and Liberal Studies with certificates in Environmental Studies and Spirituality. His Bachelor Thesis for Honors focused on a critique of modern industrial agriculture, which informed ongoing interests in agro-ecology and sustainable food systems, eco-spirituality, and biomimicry. Interested in eco-spirituality, Stephen uses his experience as a chaplain to a spiritual community as inspiration in relying on Nature as primary reality and spiritual home. His belief that Nature is our primary teacher informs how he connects students and Earth through mindfulness and nature reflection.

Yadira Capaz

Program Professional
Padrón Campus
Room #612100
ycapaz@mdc.edu
(305)237-6733

Yadira Capaz is an accomplished program manager, communications professional, and facilitator with nearly a decade of experience organizing workshops, retreats, and conferences across the US and Latin America focusing on areas such as climate justice, wellness, and creative technology for social impact.

Yadira’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Barnard College, Columbia University, where she wrote her thesis on creative placemaking and gentrification. Following her curiosity has led her to various post-grad certifications including Creative Technology New Media Arts from ITP Camp at NYU, Art + Research Center Scholar in Contemporary Art Theory at ICA Miami, a 125-Hr Permaculture Design Certification with the The Heartland Collective, a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Pachamama Ecovillage in Costa Rica, and earning her spiritual names through cultural immersions with African and Indigenous elders. She is currently a facilitator for the Community Leadership on the Environment, Advocacy, and Resilience (CLEAR) program and a Neighbors to Leaders Fellow at Catalyst Miami. She is also an Aspen Climate Future Leaders Fellow at The Aspen Institute.

Through her research she has created an art practice combining ecological restoration and community building. Her most recent projects involve coral restoration and coastal resilience. She loves writing poetry and organizing creative, playful experiences for her community to learn along with her.

Michelle D. "Majica" Naples

Professional Assistant 
Wolfson Campus
Room #1504
mnaples@mdc.edu
(305) 237-7119

A seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience serving the S. Florida Community. Areas of mastery include development & finance administration as well as extensive process improvement, project management & database expertise with a background including a history of work on Sustainability and Environmental Education and programming as well as grant writing, fundraising, and event management. Specialization in environment, culture, music, wellness, events, and festivals. Areas of interest include singing/songwriting, and hosting of a weekly world music show on 88.9FM WDNA: "Global Gumbo w/ Majica & Mano P," Sundays,  4-6 pm on www.wdna.org.  

Ashley Campbell

Sustainability Coordinator/AmeriCorps VISTA
Wolfson Campus 
Room #1201
acampbe3@mdc.edu 
(305) 237-3163

Ashley is an environmental educator interested in inspiring a new generation of diverse environmental stewards. She has a special interest in teaching how diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice is impacted by environmental devastation and advocacy which is incorporated throughout her educational materials. She has spent her professional career developing programs and curriculums about climate change, wildlife conservation, and ecology providing youth the foundational knowledge they need to be informed environmental stewards and activists seeking a just and equitable future. She holds a B.S. in Animal Science and a M.P.S. in Marine Conservation. She is also an artist who utilizes different artistic mediums to help engage others in environmental science.