Meet the Board of The Virginia Osprey Foundation

Joanie Millward, Executive Director

Joanie Millward has had a lifelong passion for wildlife and animals. Even as a child, she was known for trying to help injured birds and dreamed of one day becoming a wildlife rehabilitator.

After retiring from her career as Clerk of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Joanie and her husband, Barry, relocated to Colonial Beach in 2017. There, she discovered a new passion while watching an osprey pair build a nest, raise their young, and successfully fledge their chicks just beyond her backyard. Fascinated by these remarkable birds, Joanie immersed herself in learning everything she could about ospreys and their conservation.

When the opportunity arose to join the Osprey Festival Committee in 2022, Joanie eagerly became involved. In 2023, she chaired the committee, rebranded the event as the Virginia Osprey Festival in Colonial Beach, and, together with a small group of dedicated friends, founded the Virginia Osprey Foundation. She was elected President of the Foundation and has served in that role since June 2023.

Joanie also obtained her Virginia Category IV Wildlife Rehabilitator Permit. Alongside Barry, she has assisted in the rescue and transport of numerous wildlife species, including eagles, owls, vultures, hawks, raccoons, and osprey chicks. One of her most memorable experiences was participating in the successful release of a rehabilitated Great Horned Owl back into the wild.

Today, Joanie dedicates her time to advancing the Foundation's mission of protecting ospreys and their habitat through science, education, advocacy, and community engagement. She and Barry continue to explore and learn about the wildlife that surrounds them, and she considers herself fortunate to live in what she proudly calls "the best place in the world"—Colonial Beach, Virginia.

Yunuen Zuniga - Treasurer

Born in Mexico, Yunuen (Yun) developed a lifelong passion for nature and biodiversity during her youth while exploring some of the country’s ecological treasures, including the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve and the Cozumel Reef National Marine Park. Following her university education, she relocated to the United States, settling in Los Angeles, California. There, she built a professional foundation, spending over 12 years managing finance operations within the supply chain and electrical distribution sector. Yun first discovered the charm of Colonial Beach, Virginia, during a vacation while still residing on the West Coast.

Captivated by the area, she eventually chose to make the town her permanent home. Upon relocating, she joined the Colonial Beach Public Schools system, further rooting herself in the local community. Inspired by Colonial Beach's official status as a designated bird sanctuary, Yun turned her passion for wildlife toward the region's diverse bird population.

She has developed a particular interest in ospreys, a species that remains a central focus of her ongoing independent study. Dedicated to community engagement and civic contribution, Yun actively lends her skills to several local initiatives. She currently serves as a professional Spanish interpreter, works with other non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting local schools and students, and serves as the Treasurer for the Virginia Osprey Foundation.

Jenny Grimes, Secretary

Jenny Grimes is a painter and fiber artist who lives full time in Colonial Beach. She and her husband love living by the water, where daily walks, bike rides, and kayaking feed her creativity and appreciation for small‑town life. An avid traveler and road‑tripper, Jenny explores coastal and inland birding hotspots across the Mid‑Atlantic and beyond, documenting outings in watercolor travel journals, field sketches, and nature notes.

Now retired from a career as a systems consultant and project manager in the energy industry, Jenny has held leadership roles with several nonprofits. She delights in volunteering with the Virginia Osprey Foundation, supporting education and environmental stewardship through outreach, event coordination, and advocacy. Her work and travels reflect a lifelong commitment to art, nature, and community.

Cindy Ligon, Board Member

Cindy retired to Virginia from Nashville, TN in 2021. She loves the river and, of course, the wildlife. Smitten with the Osprey, she became a fixture at the annual Festival and eventually joined the Board

On the Board, Cindy is often involved in community educational outreach. As a Child Development Specialist, one of Cindy's roles with the Foundation is to make learning about and advocating for Virginia's wildlife attainable to children of all ages. Connecting children to nature has positive benefits for child development but also creates good stewards for the natural world.

Annemarie Bairstow, Board Member

Annemarie Bairstow is the Director of Northern Neck CASA in Virginia. She also works part-time at the local library and is a member of the Colonial Beach Planning Commission and.

Annemarie has over 30 years of project management and community service experience. Before moving to Colonial Beach, she headed the Skyland Workforce Center in Washington DC, a project of Building Bridges Across the River. Before joining the BBAR team, Annemarie was the VP of Marketing and Communications at WC Smith, where she was responsible for marketing strategy, internal and external communications, and public relations.

At WC Smith, she helped found the Skyland Workforce Center and ran the Summer Youth Employment Program.

Before joining WC Smith, Annemarie worked extensively with business improvement districts. She was Executive Director of the BID Council, as well as Executive Director of the Adams Morgan BID and Transportation Director at the Downtown DC BID. She managed Councilmember Mary Cheh’s first election campaign and served four years on the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

Annemarie has a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Virginia and a BA from Swarthmore College. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Greater Washington program.

Luna Nordstrom Board Member

Luna Nordstrom is a lifetime summer brat of Colonial Beach, spending every childhood summer cruising on beach bikes with her cousins, swimming in the Potomac River, and eating crabs on the porch with fans blowing. Osprey were a constant fascination, along with the Herons in Monroe Bay. Now a full-time resident, Luna and her husband moved from Colorado a couple of years ago to be in the town she loves most in the world. Being here has focused her interest on all things Osprey, learning all she can about their behaviors, environments, diet, and conservation.

Luna is a former elementary school teacher, relentlessly curious about the world around her, and passionate about supporting local artists of all kinds while dabbling in creating art for herself. She draws inspiration from 30 years of belly dancing, traveling the world, gardening, and wildlife watching. Once upon a time ago she owned an eclectic imports shop. Luna curates a unique playlist and loves a good book.

Peter M. Mecca, PhD, Board Member

Educator and Scientist

Adjunct Professor of Biology, University of Maryland Global Campus

Science Education Consultant

High School Biology & Environmental Science Teacher (Ret. June, 2020)

Commonwealth of Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District Conservation Education Teacher of the Year, 2015

Dr. Mecca has served as a science teacher (MD, NY, VA), science education consultant (Kuwait, Egypt), school administrator (NY), and a faculty member at multiple universities (UMGC, Georgetown, SUNY-Oneonta, UW-La Crosse). He was also the Instructional Systems Specialist for Science with DoDEA (U.S. Department of Defense Schools) and has enjoyed working with and learning from many successful educators and students.

Michael Academia, Science Advisor

Michael H. Academia, M.S., is an Environmental Scientist with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Adjunct Faculty for the Virginia Peninsula Community College. He holds degrees in Biology and Fisheries Biology from William & Mary and Cal Poly Humboldt and is an award-winning researcher specializing in osprey ecology, Atlantic menhaden, and Chesapeake Bay ecosystem health.

His research has been featured in The New York Times and the Chesapeake Bay Journal, and he has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on osprey conservation. Through research, education, and outreach, Michael works to advance science-based conservation and stewardship of Virginia's aquatic resources.

Below are a few of his articles of osprey research:

Food Supplementation Increases Reproductive Performance of Ospreys in the Lower Chesapeake Bay

Use of Nest Web Cameras and Citizen Science to Quantify Osprey Prey Delivery Rate and Nest Success

Deborah Newman, Web Designer/Marketing Advisor
She is the owner of Petite Taway Inc, a web design and social media marketing company specializing in working with small businesses and nonprofits. Deborah designs websites for a host of non profit organizations and businesses throughout the United States and abroad. She provides social media and web management training, designs marketing materials, and creates fundraising plans.

Deborah also provides direction, guidance, and training to aspiring entrepreneurs as well as our startup nonprofits. Her passion is helping people who have faced obstacles succeed in business and in life. She currently sits on the board of the Westmoreland County Historical Society, The RappArts Council and is Vice President of the Colonial Beach Historical Society & Museum. Contact Info: arts@petitetaway.com