Event Information

Angela Crenshaw

Ranger Crenshaw received her bachelor’s degree in economics and environmental studies from Washington College and her master’s degree in Energy and Environmental Policy from the University of Delaware. Working at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park allowed Ranger Crenshaw to share both her knowledge of the environment and the legacy of Harriet Tubman, a powerful historic shero and a motivating force for all women. In honor of Ms. Tubman’s skills as a naturalist, she composed an article entitled Harriet Tubman: The Ultimate Outdoorswoman  for the Department of Natural Resources Magazine.

In 2020, Ranger Crenshaw transferred to Gunpowder Falls State Park to be closer to family and friends. Covering over 18,000 acres in Harford and Baltimore counties, Gunpowder Falls offers guests the opportunity to swim, hike, picnic, bike, boat and visit historic sites. Ranger Crenshaw was honored to become the first Black Lady Park Manager in the history of the Maryland Park Service when she accepted the position of Park Manager of Susquehanna, Rocks and Palmer State Parks in 2022. Rocks State Park is home to the second highest waterfall in Maryland, Kilgore Falls. Susquehanna State Park boasts a historic area, boat ramp, campground, and a diverse network of trails.

In April of 2023 she was appointed the Acting Director of the Maryland Park Service and was honored to be offered the position full time in November of 2023. As the Director of the Park Service, she oversees over 90 properties (that include parks, battlefields, rail trails, natural resources management areas, natural environment areas and state historical parks), 269 classified employees, over 142,000 preserved acres, 1,153 miles of trails, and 2,200 camp sites. In 2024, Crenshaw received the Department of Natural Resources Leader of the Year Award and the Harriet Tubman Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture.

In early 2025, Ranger Crenshaw was named the Maryland Woman of the Year by USA Today. This honor has allowed her to share the good news of the Maryland Park Service and the incredible life of Harriet Tubman with a wider audience, including Good Morning America!

Dr. Lou Strolger

Dr. Louis-Gregory (Lou) Strolger is an Observatory Scientist at Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), and a Research Scientist in Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins University. His scientific research explores supernovae, cosmology, and dark energy, where he primarily works on the nature of supernovae progenitors through bulk analyses of events and environments, and the evolution of these properties over cosmic time. He is an alumnus in Physics at Earlham College (Richmond, IN), and received his Master’s in Astronomy, and his Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics, from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 

Fred Tutman

Fred Tutman is a grassroots community advocate for clean water in Maryland’s longest and deepest intrastate waterway and holds the title of Patuxent Riverkeeper and organization that he founded in 2004. He also lives and works on an active farm located near the Patuxent that has been his family’s ancestral home for nearly a century. Prior to Riverkeeping, Fred spent nearly 25 years working as a media producer and consultant on telecommunications assignments all over the globe, including a long stint working with and advising traditional healers in West Africa and coverage of the Falkands conflict in Argentina on assignment by the BBC. After late life sojourn into law school, in addition to his duties as a Waterkeeper, has also taught classes in Environmental Law and Policy at various Colleges in Maryland. He is the recipient of numerous regional and state awards for his various environmental works on behalf of communities He is the longest serving Waterkeeper in the Chesapeake region and the sole African-American Waterkeeper in the Nation.