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.  Mike Matthews currently serves as Collegewide 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

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.

Melissa Lau

Program Professional
Kendall Campus
Room #8201-4
mlau@mdc.edu 
(305) 237-2602

Born and raised in Miami, Melissa pursued her passion for environmental studies by earning her associate’s degree at Miami Dade College before transferring to Florida International University, where she completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. While studying South Florida's diverse ecosystems, she became deeply interested in how individuals and communities interact with and care for these natural spaces. Her research combined these interests through the use of photovoice, a method that empowers participants to capture their emotional connections to the Miami River using photography and personal narratives. Melissa’s work highlighted the community's relationship with the river and sparked conversations around its preservation and protection, bringing attention to this historic yet often overlooked waterway.

Melissa's commitment to environmental advocacy extended into her role as an Education and Outreach Assistant at Miami Waterkeeper, where she continued educating the public about the significance of the Miami River. She later returned to MDC, joining the iCED team as a Grant Coordinator for the Poll Workers Are Heroes campaign—a $65,550 grant awarded to Miami Dade College by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to recruit college students to serve as poll workers. In collaboration with the Miami-Dade County Department of Elections, Melissa recruited 504 MDC students, 227 of whom served as poll workers during the 2024 election cycle. Her leadership not only mobilized students to participate in the democratic process but also provided them with a deeper understanding of civic engagement beyond just voting.

Now, in her role at the Earth Ethics Institute, Melissa is focused on developing programming that strengthens student leadership, rebuilds connections with faculty, and transforms the Environmental Center into a hub for hands-on learning about South Florida’s fragile and unique ecosystems.

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.