Download Fellows Short Bios 2015

2016 Switzer Fellows
DENA ADLER – JD/MEM, YALE UNIVERSITY – Law & Environmental Management: Dena is interested in
galvanizing new legal opportunities to advance climate change solutions. She has worked on policy issues
related to the Clean Power Plan at the Environmental Defense Fund, on legal campaigns to protect national
forests and the Arctic at Earthjustice, and with the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Dena aims to
develop cross-sectoral climate change policies that integrate differing world views and perspectives.
AUTUMN BERNSTEIN – MS, UC DAVIS – Transportation Technology & Policy: Autumn’s research examines the
role of regional transportation agencies in advancing California’s climate change and sustainability mandates.
She has worked as a grassroots organizer, policy advocate, and coalition-builder in communities across
California, as well as being the founding Director of ClimatePlan. She will pursue a leadership role at a major
regional transportation agency, moving it towards sustainability and social equity.
ANNA DOTY – MCP, MIT – Environmental Policy & Planning: As a researcher for MIT’s Science Impact
Collaborative, Anna uses participatory planning and ecosystem services principles to create resilient, equitable
and ecologically vibrant urban communities. Prior to MIT, she worked as a lobbyist and outreach campaigner at
Environmental Defense Fund. Anna will work as a consultant and facilitator managing collaborative planning
and design processes between community groups and municipalities to increase resilience to climate change.
JACOB GLASS – MPP, HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL – Public Policy: In his first year at the Kennedy School, Jacob
led a Harvard Law and International Development Society team to build environmental litigation capacity among
Chinese NGOs. Prior to his graduate work, he served as a policy analyst in the U. S. Department of
Transportation where, in partnership with the White House, he led efforts to implement President Obama’s
pollinator health initiative. Jacob will work at the nexus of land management, public policy and strategic
communications, creating innovative partnerships for the sustainable use of public lands.
WING GOODALE – PH.D, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST – Environmental Conservation: Wing is
studying the cumulative effects of offshore wind energy development on wildlife. He currently works as the
deputy director of the Biodiversity Research Institute in Maine. After graduation, Wing will continue in his
current role where he will combine his scientific credibility with facilitative leadership skills to improve decisionmaking processes around resource development and wildlife habitat.
KRISTEN GOODRICH – PH.D, UC IRVINE –Social Ecology: Kristen studies how solutions that promote ecosystem
services can improve the environment and human quality of life in the San Diego-Tijuana region. Prior to her
PhD, Kristen worked with the U.S. EPA developing initiatives to reduce hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, and
developed a climate adaptation program for the National Estuary Program. She will work as a researcher and
practitioner connecting social and natural scientists for new perspectives to environmental problems.
JENNIFER HELFRICH– MPP, HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL – Public Policy: Jennifer is interested in building
sustainable cities by balancing environmental impact with growth and equality. Jennifer has worked with the
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the San Francisco School District on various programs promoting
clean energy solutions and education. She will pursue a high-level leadership position implementing urban
sustainability initiatives and helping make green infrastructure the obvious, prosperous choice.
NICK JENSEN – PH.D, CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY – Botany: Nick’s research centers on understanding
biogeographic and evolutionary patterns in the flora of California, as he documents plant diversity on the largest
contiguous piece of private land in California, Tejon Ranch. Prior to his PhD, he worked as the Rare Plant
Program Director for the California Native Plant Society. Nick intends to focus on landscape scale conservation
and land management in his career as a scientist and advocate, establishing intact, resilient habitat networks.
ERIK MARTINEZ – MS, UC SANTA BARBARA – Environmental Science & Management: Erik focuses on
conservation planning and strategic communication as he develops a restoration plan for the Agassiz’s Desert
Tortoise in the Mojave Desert. He works for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians on pollution prevention
initiatives for tribally owned facilities. Erik plans to work as a natural resource specialist with the federal
government, implementing mitigation plans that sustainably manage resources in a changing climate.
LOGAN MCCOY – MEM/MBA, YALE UNIVERSITY – Environmental Management/Business: Logan is interested in
the role of business in achieving a more sustainable future. He has worked with organizations such as Patagonia
and 1% for the Planet, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Sierra Institute for Community and the
Environment. In his career, Logan will develop more holistic indicators of the true environmental cost of doing
business, and create incentives for improving environmental performance in the sourcing of raw materials.
KIMBERLEY MINER – PH.D, UNIVERSITY OF MAINE – Earth & Climate Sciences: Kimberley is researching the reemergence of legacy pollutants in glacial meltwater. She is trained as a First Responder, Wilderness Firefighter
and Black Belt and has worked at the Office of Emergency Management in New York City. Kimberley will play a
leadership role in climate change mitigation utilizing modeling and scenario planning that will aid scientists and
planners to prepare for severe climate-related events.
CAROLINA PRADO – PH.D, UC BERKELEY– Environmental Science, Policy & Management: Carolina is examining
hazardous waste sites, air pollution and environmental stewardship of rivers in the Tijuana-San Diego region.
She has been an active environmental justice advocate and activist with organizations in Tijuana, Mexico and
participates in collectives in San Diego and Oakland on access to healthy foods for low income neighborhoods.
As an action-oriented professor, Carolina envisions transforming the cross-border environment to be more
healthy and just for communities on both sides of the border.
MARY ROCK – JD/MS, STANFORD UNIVERSITY– Environmental Law: Mary is editor-in-chief of Stanford’s
Environmental Law Journal and is dedicated to improving low-income communities’ access to the legal system.
In her studies as well as her work with California Rural Legal Assistance, she has focused on contaminated
drinking water in farmworker communities and the legal systems that are inadequate to prevent the pollution.
She aspires to empower low-income communities through education and litigation to challenge polluters.
ERIN SATTERTHWAITE – PH.D, UC DAVIS– Environmental Science & Policy: In Erin’s research, she works with
NOAA Fisheries and the California Ocean Protection council to develop indicators to understand marine larval
movement and how it informs marine conservation. She is passionate about science communication and
education, having developed K-12 programs and workshops for early career scientists on bridging science and
policy. Erin plans to work for a marine-focused organization in California to develop novel solutions to marine
conservation issues.
EMMA SCHNEIDER – PH.D, TUFTS UNIVERSITY – Environmental Literature: Emma studies environmental literature,
considering how the imaginative environments of literature can provide opportunities for thinking beyond our
current ways of engaging with our environment. She has worked with elementary, high school and college
students to develop their environmental literacy. In her role as a professor, Emma will work with students and
communities to communicate environmental issues and cultivate leadership through storytelling.
2
SARAH SKIKNE – PH.D, UC SANTA CRUZ – Environmental Studies: Sarah’s research focuses on strategies to
promote species’ natural adaptive capacities in the face of climate change using historic data from a California
desert ecosystem. Prior to graduate school, she worked with the California Academy of Sciences, the Monterey
Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and with The Climate Group. She plans to work for an NGO in the field of
climate adaptation to drive the implementation and evaluation of sound adaptation projects.
KATALYN VOSS – PH.D, UC SANTA BARBARA – Geography: Through Kate’s research and professional activities,
she provides hydrologic data to local communities, government agencies and the private sector to inform water
resource management. Her prior work with the World Resources Institute contributed to the development of
Aqueduct, a risk index used by business leaders on issues of water security as it relates to business operations.
Kate looks forward to a career in a government or NGO position informing global water policy.
MICHAEL WIRONEN – PH.D, UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT –Environment & Natural Resources: Michael’s dissertation
explores how ecological economics can inform decision-making, helping policymakers in Vermont identify novel
solutions to reduce phosphorous pollution from agricultural runoff. Michael’s past experience includes work as
a senior sustainability specialist at an international consulting firm where he helped private and public sector
clients integrate sustainability best practices into their operations. Michael intends to establish a “think-do
tank” that leverages the latest in academic ideas to support concrete action towards a sustainable food system.
3