WOHESC

Dr. Adrien Bennings joined Portland Community College in the summer of 2022 as the college’s eighth president, making her PCC’s first permanent female president in its history. Dr. Bennings has taught courses in human resources development, academic development and retention, and small business development. She has held progressively higher-level positions in higher education for more than 15 years. Before coming to Portland, she served as the president of Kellogg Community College, one of 28 community colleges in Michigan whose service region spans three counties. She was also the president of the Kellogg Community College Foundation, helping to lead the foundation’s strategic planning and fundraising activities, and advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Prior to joining KCC, Dr. Bennings was the vice president of administration and finance and chief financial officer at Clovis Community College in New Mexico. Prior to this, she served as regional director of small business development at Texas Tech University where she advanced economic development initiatives spanning a 16-county area.

Dr. Sarah Jaquette Ray works at the intersection of social justice and climate emotions in service of climate justice, especially in Gen Z. She is the author of two books, The Ecological Other: Environmental Exclusion in American Culture (Arizona, 2013), on the political emotion of disgust in environmental thought, and A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet (California, 2020), an existential toolkit for the climate generation. Her most recent edited book brings together 30 scholars, activists, teachers, and students who explore climate emotions in higher-ed teaching and learning-- The Existential Toolkit for Climate Justice Educators: How to Teach in a Burning World came out in 2024. Ray is interviewed and has published widely on emotions and climate justice in the LA Times, Scientific American, The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Edge Effects, KCET, and Zocalo Public Square. Ray is also a certified mindfulness teacher through the UCLA Mindfulness Awareness Research Center.

Judy BlueHorse Skelton, (Nez Perce/Cherokee), Associate Professor, Indigenous Nations Studies at Portland State University, developed and teaches courses in the Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge (ITECK) Certificate Program, including Indigenous Ecological Healing Practices, Indigenous Leadership for Sustainable Futures, Cultural Ecology: Indigenous Science, and Indigenous Gardens and Food Justice. She's worked with federal, state and local governments, Native organizations and tribes throughout the Northwest for more than 25 years, conducting cultural activities and research to reclaim the urban forest for food, medicine, ceremony, and healthy lifeways. Collaborative work includes the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Native American Rehabilitation Association, the Many Nations Academy at the Native American Youth and Family Services, and other Native organizations in the Northwest.

Suluafi Brianna Fruean is a Samoan climate activist who has been leading grassroots climate justice movements for most of her life. She is the youth representative of the Pacific Climate Warriors Council of Elders and is currently studying Politics and International Relations in Auckland, New Zealand. At 11, she became a founding member of 350 Samoa, becoming the youngest 350.org country coordinator. In 2019, Brianna joined New Zealand’s School Strikers who organized Auckland’s “Schools Strikes for Climate”, where 170,000 people joined the movement. The same year, Brianna gave a speech at the “Caring for Climate” Meeting, alongside former United States Secretary of State, John Kerry. She was also the youth representative and speaker during the COP25 High-Level Plenary Session on “Climate Emergency”. Brianna was chosen by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) as their first ever youth ambassador in recognition of her efforts to include young people in environmental conservation, and the youth representative in the COP21 Samoan Delegation COP21 and the Paris Agreement negotiations.

Sophia is a 1.5 generation Filipina American who resides in Tacoma, Washington, on the traditional lands of the Puyallup people. She works alongside communities in the areas of racial equity, justice, and climate solutions, as they do the necessary work of imagining the world they want to build and animating others to join them in creating a more just society where all may thrive. She is the Race and Social Justice Lead Advisor for the City of Seattle, which is housed in the Office of Civil Rights. Before joining the City of Seattle, Sophia led equity efforts in the K-12 sector, Sound Transit, and with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges—a federated system of 34 community and technical colleges in Washington state.

Madeline Ostrander is an award-winning science journalist and the author of At Home on an Unruly Planet: Finding Refuge on a Changed Earth, named one of Kirkus Review’s 100 best nonfiction books of 2022. Her work has also appeared in the The Atlantic, The NewYorker.com, The Nation, Sierra Magazine, PBS’s NOVA Next, Slate, High Country News, Audubon, and numerous other outlets. Ostrander has taught narrative journalism, science-writing, essay-writing, and nonfiction at Seattle’s Hugo House. Previously, she was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT and the senior editor of YES! Magazine, a trailblazing independent outlet focused on solutions journalism. She holds a master’s degree in environmental science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Makerusa 'mak' Porotesano (he/him) is climate activist with the Pacific Climate Warriors (PCW & 350 Pacific) and the Director of Multicultural Services at Portland Community College. Connecting his experiences in Oceania and the Pacific Northwest, mak combines indigenous framework and multicultural services to engage BIPOC students and Climate Justice. Mak is also the founder of the Pacific Islander Student Alliance (www.pisanw.org) and Conference, which hosts the only multi-campus/state student conference for Pacific Islander students in American Higher Education. Using his experience and networks, mak has been able to connect Pacific Islander Students from the diaspora to local and international climate campaigns. Makerusa is a 2nd generation American Samoan from the Village of Fogagogo and a product of Portland, Oregon. He is a member of the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) planning committee and the Second Nature BIPOC Climate Action group.

Thea Prieto is the author of From the Caves, which won the Red Hen Press Novella Award, the First Horizon Award, and the INDIES Book of the Year Award for Literature. Her writing has appeared in Poets & Writers, The Kenyon Review, Longreads, Seneca Review, CRAFT Literary Magazine, and New Orleans Review, among other journals, and she edited Stranged Writing: A Literary Taxonomy, which is a multimedia anthology of defamiliarized creative writing. She teaches creative writing and publishing at Portland State University and Portland Community College, and she also prunes orchards seasonally in Northern California.

Gabe is Cayuse and Walla Walla, an enrolled citizen of Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Gabe has worked for the past twenty years on behalf of the advocacy, protection and restoration of Indigenous First Food resources, through the fields of education, sustainability, fisheries science, environmental restoration, and landscape reclamation. This work has positively influenced Tribes, federal, state, academic and non-profit organizations. Gabe is the Executive Director of the Friends of Tryon Creek, where he leads efforts focused on community building, environmental stewardship, education, and protection of natural ecosystems.

Erin Sharkey is a writer, arts and abolition organizer, cultural worker, and film producer based in Minneapolis. She is the co-founder, with Junauda Petrus, of an experimental arts collective called Free Black Dirt and is the producer of film projects including Sweetness of Wild, an episodic web film project, and Small Business Revolution, which explored challenges and opportunities for Black-owned businesses in the Twin Cities in the summer of 2021. Sharkey has received fellowships and residencies from the Loft Mentor Series, VONA/Voices, the Givens Foundation, Coffee House Press, the Bell Museum of Natural History, and the Jerome Foundation. Sharkey was awarded the Black Seed Fellowship from Black Visions and the Headwaters Foundation. She has an MFA in creative writing from Hamline University and teaches with the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop. Erin is a steward cooperative member of the Fields at Rootsprings Retreat. Rootsprings is a land-based Cooperative stewarding space for healing and development of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists, activists, healers, and community centering Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer (LGBTQ) folx in Central Minnesota.

Sarah Stoeckl, PhD, is program manager in the Office of Sustainability at the University of Oregon. Her work at the UO focuses on campus and community outreach, including support for sustainability in research, curriculum, co-curricular activities and student programming, and community engagements. She also supports the office's communications strategy and content creation that tells the university's sustainability story, and development of sustainability policy and plans. Before starting this position in 2018, she worked in technology and education. Sarah earned her PhD in literature from the UO in 2012.

Emily (she/her) is UW Sustainability's Project and Engagement Specialist. In her role, she focuses on devising creative ways to connect with students, staff and faculty on sustainability topics, with a specific focus on engaging community members that are often not at the table. She is able to focus on a variety of programs with the help of her amazing interns (and co-speakers), Elena and Kellie! Currently, she also runs a sustainability podcast, Urban Tumbleweed, with the purpose of making complex sustainability topics more accessible, as well as bringing on subject matter experts to share their knowledge with the world. Emily holds a Masters of Sustainability Leadership from Arizona State University, along with a Bachelor of Science in Management and Marketing from the University of South Carolina, with a minor in German. In her spare time, Emily enjoys hiking, biking, skiing/snowboarding and tackling new challenges. When not exploring the great outdoors, you'll find Emily baking cookies, hanging out with her dog and cat, coaching a CorePower Yoga class, or planning her next party!

Eric Alipio (He/Him) was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area to a Diné mother and a Filipino father. Arriving in Seattle, Washington in 2016 to attend the University of Washington, he earned his BA in English and minor in Art History. Here, he began his journey in and fostered his passion for community building, community organizing, and social justice. With a focus on placemaking, design activism, and community co-creation, Eric is now pursuing his Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) and Master of Urban Planning (MUP) at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Melissa is an equity and social justice project/program manager for King County Solid Waste Division (SWD), Wa. She has over 7 years of experience in community engagement, environmental justice policy work, environmental consulting and project management. She grew up in southern California and received her BA in Environmental Policy and Political Science at Pitzer College in Claremont. She worked for Ross Strategic, a consulting firm based in Seattle, WA for which she provided facilitation and stakeholder management on federal contracts and other projects. Melissa currently provides ESJ leadership, strategy, and support for SWD’s Capital Improvement Project (CIP) program; builds and strengthens trust and relationships with SWD employees and frontline communities in King County; and manages relationships with community-based organizations, ESJ consultants, multicultural media organizations, and others to ensure outcomes outlined in the County’s ESJ plans and policies. She is passionate about working with community and helping make change.

Kate coordinates the implementation of Western's Sustainability Action Plan, reports on Western's sustainability progress, and brings people together to work towards Western's sustainability goals. Kate also teaches sustainability and urban and environmental planning and policy classes at Western. Prior to working at Western, Kate worked as a regional planner and policy researcher in public utilities and transportation. Kate enjoys working on topics that focus on health and wellbeing in built and less-built environments.

Valentine (he/him) is a fourth-year student at the University of Oregon studying Indigenous, Race and Ethnic Studies. He helps coordinate the UO Student Sustainability Center’s Grove Community Garden and is a Co-Director of the UO Radical Organizing and Activism Resource Center (ROAR). He is particularly passionate about building place-based communities that can support our needs while outgrowing the systems we organize against.

Annalyn Bergin is the Clean Buildings Performance Standard compliance lead at the Washington State Energy Office within the Department of Commerce. She has been with been with Commerce since Feb 2019. She played an integral part in developing the rules for the state’s building performance standard, streamlining the compliance process, and expanding the outreach and education program. Annalyn has over 20 years of experience in compliance and program development.

Eric is an Energy Advisor with Energy Trust of Oregon's Existing Buildings program. He has nearly eight years of experience helping customers utilize Energy Trust energy efficiency offerings. In his role, Eric works with higher education customers primarily, providing them with energy-saving solutions and recommendations on maximizing cost savings on their campuses.

I teach a wide range of interdisciplinary courses in environmental studies at the University of Washington. These include courses on research methods, introductory environmental studies, environmental education, natural history, and environmental history. I strive to center environmental justice, diversity, and inclusion in all of my courses. Many of my courses meet outdoors, in locations ranging from urban to wilderness. I am trained as a biologist, and have worked on the ecology of birds and plants over the years.

Paul serves as Program Director of the Breaking Barriers Collaborative, an initiative that helps Pacific Northwest businesses and institutions accelerate efforts to equitably curb their climate emissions. In this role Paul led the creation and delivery of the Fleet Decarbonization Accelerator, a hands-on, cohort-based program that combines learning, planning, and action to help organizations accelerate their fleet transition to clean energy. The Breaking Barriers Collaborative is now a leading provider of educational programming to fleets across the Pacific Northwest, with over 100 Accelerator graduates from 40 organizations representing more than 15,000 vehicles. Prior to joining Climate Solution Paul conceived, launched and scaled dozens of new technology products for consumers and businesses at companies including Microsoft, Avvo, and Apex Learning. He holds an Electrical Engineering degree from Western University in Canada, an MBA from Stanford University, and a Certificate in Sustainability from UCLA. Paul also serves as Board President for the Holocaust Center for Humanity.

In her current role, Sarah Bronstein oversees the Sustainable Transportation program at Oregon State University. Her work is focused on reducing single occupancy vehicle trips to campus, while enabling students and employees to find sustainability, affordability, and maybe even joy in their commute.

Cyril is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington, Seattle. He is majoring in Environmental Studies and Medical Anthropology, with a minor in Data Science. His academic interests lie in the intersections of climate adaptation and public health. His current research projects cover health insurance, community farms, and stormwater management, among others. Through his further studies and career, he plans to uncover ways to disrupt the policies and systemic mechanisms that contribute to environmental injustice and inequality. He is the co-president of Climate Collaboratory, a student organization focused on bringing together students from various disciplines to collectively engage with environmental issues. Outside of school, he enjoys hiking, playing soccer, and exploring the PNW.

Moon loves being part of community change, the tending of plants, and the sharing of knowledge. As the PCC Learning Garden Coordinator for the Cascade and Southeast gardens, they focus on providing students access to free fruits and veggies from the gardens via donations to PCC’s Panther Pantries, programming on food sovereignty, and events & workshops. Moon is passionate about students positively accessing food and all things food justice related. They sometimes teach classes on Companion Planting, Organic Gardening, and Sustainable Garden Design. Moon is also a small-scale, sustainable urban farmer, medicine-maker, dancer and occasional poet. They feel safest, wildest, and most grounded when in community with plants and sharing knowledge with people.

Amy is the Sustainability Director at Lewis & Clark College and teaches Sustainability for the Bates Center. She has an educational background with a BS in Environmental Science from Oregon State University, a BA International Studies in Environmental Science from Oregon State University and a Masters of Environmental Management from Portland State University. She leads the Sustainability Office which provides Lewis & Clark students with opportunities to learn, grow, and serve our community and region in an effort to build a more livable world. Through internships, service learning, workshops, and events, students are able to develop a variety of skills to support them in a life of learning and civic leadership.

Professor Andrea Eklund has been at CWU teaching Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising for 17 years. Starting out with 25 students she solely built the program for 11 years to a thriving industry-relevant program with graduates working at small and large companies like REI, Eddie Bauer, zumiez, zulily, Amazon, and Nike to name a few. Andrea’s time in the industry as a Quality Engineer for Nordstrom’s private label division, Nordstrom Product Group gave her experience working with men’s, women’s, kid’s, at home, accessories and shoes. She brings this experience into the classroom for industry-relevant content assuring students are prepared for the industry. In her time at CWU as the program director and the Student Fashion Association advisor, she has 30 category A publications and 26 category B publications, teaches 12 different classes a year, advises 50 students and serves the department, college, university, profession and community.

Charlotte Epps is a place-based facilitator and storyteller, plant lover, community organizer, and an Oregon State University (OSU) alum. She holds a BA in BioResource Research, with specializations in Plant Growth & Development and Sustainable Ecosystems, in addition to a BA in Sustainability. As a student, Charlotte started the Reciprocity Garden, a community project rooted in social justice, nutritional security, and sustainable land stewardship. Since graduating from OSU in Spring of 2023, she has carried on her leadership role with the Reciprocity Garden, alongside serving as a Community Engagement Consultant for the Letitia Carson Legacy Project. Charlotte is passionate about building bridges between cultures and disciplines to move towards a more sustainable future. While nomadic in spirit, the Pacific Northwest, and especially Oregon, hold a special place in her heart. She hopes to see more Black and Brown folks experience the benefits of being connected to this land and the precious ecosystems found here.

Erika Giesen (she/her) is the Department Chair of Social Science and Human Services at Rogue Community College (RCC) which is within the ancestral homelands of the Shasta, Takelma, and Latgawa peoples. Erika teaches sociology, chairs the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Faculty Learning Community, and facilitates the Sustainable Community Development Focus Award.

Elissa is the Associate Director for the Office of Sustainability and has been with the college for 6 years. Her background is in natural resource conservation, with a focus in wildlife biology, and she holds a degree in Environmental Science. She has previously worked at the state, federal, and local non-profit levels on various conservation projects. Researching and observing human-caused impacts to the environment, fostered a deep passion for sustainability and she enjoys helping BC work towards its carbon neutrality, environmental, and climate justice goals. Elissa has worked at all three national parks in Washington State and in her free time, you can find Elissa exploring the outdoors with her dog and husband.

Srijita Gurung is a senior at CWU, majoring in Information Technology Management. She works as a student employee with Computer Support Services (CSS), playing a lead role in CWU's ongoing computer inventory reconciliation project. In this role, Srijita tracks and reconciles computer usage to ensure that devices are replaced according to contract terms and assess more sustainable end-of-life disposal options. This work helps minimize waste, reduce unnecessary replacements, and extend the life of equipment, while also supporting the university's broader commitment to sustainability.

Sara has been coordinating Transportation Services outreach to the Oregon State University Corvallis campus for the past 2 years and coordinated sustainable transportation programs at OSU since 2018. Drawing from a background in outdoor recreation and ecological planning, Sara values dialogue and facilitating exploration of living systems and complex issues.

Sara Holzknecht, Director of Sustainability at Bellevue College, supports local resilience and sustainable practices through work in energy, waste reduction, decarbonization, and stormwater management. She serves on the Washington State Department of Ecology's Recycling Market Development Board, supporting recycling practices and the local circular economy. Before joining Bellevue College, she worked in climate and environmental policy at Oceana and 350 Eastside, a Seattle-based chapter of 350.org. She holds a Masters in Energy and Climate Policy from Johns Hopkins University.

Karli is the Program Manager for the Climate Literacy Project at the Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water and the Environment. She has a strong history of serving diverse groups of students in Eastern Washington. Under Karli, the Climate Literacy Project has reached over 16,000 K-12 students and served 477 K-12 teachers and 22 school districts through professional learning. The Climate Literacy Project continues to be a climate education leader in Washington and the broader region. Program Manager Honebein currently sits on an advisory committee focused on supporting bilingual, migrant, and native education across Washington state and serves as co-chair of the Spokane Environmental Learning and Cultural Center Board of Directors. Program Manager Honebein has also presented regional and national science education conferences on the work of the Climate Literacy Project.

Olivia Horwedel is a graduate student in the Geography Department at the University of Washington, as well as a graduate from the School of Marine & Environmental Affairs and the Department of American Indian and Indigenous Studies. Her research addresses the intersections between marine conservation ecology, Indigenous knowledge, and regenerative food systems. She has been involved with the Urban Farm course throughout the duration of her education at UW, working as both a teaching assistant and instructor. Her passion for food stems from her upbringing in Michigan, working on the University of Michigan’s campus farm, and traveling around the world working on farms and in food production from Hawaii to Aotearoa (New Zealand). In addition to her interests in terrestrial food systems, Olivia works with Cross-Pacific Indigenous Aquaculture Network, a collaborative dedicated to strengthening community access to traditional and customary foods while increasing local seafood production.

Dante Jester is the Program Manager for the Climate Resilience Project at the Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment. They have an MSc in Climate Change and Development from the University of London, where they researched the response of small scale agroforestry systems to climate change. Their career began in agriculture and food security first at home in Washington and then abroad during their time serving in Peace Corps Paraguay. Since returning stateside, their work has grown to focus on locally-led climate change resilience efforts. The Climate Resilience Project is a leader in the region for community-informed and community-led extreme heat and wildfire smoke education, preparedness, and response. In their role at Gonzaga, Dante chairs the Spokane Community Resilience Collaborative and oversees over $21M in grant-funded climate resilience programming in partnership with Inland Northwest organizations, governments, and Tribes. In their free time, they are President of the Board for Spokane Edible Tree Project.

Jordan Johnson is a 48-year-old student at Rogue Community College (RCC) with a passion for Sociology and the environment. While taking the Environment and Society course he found a passion for Native studies and has taken that passion and worked with the chair of the science department on creating a Native science class at RCC. Jordan is currently the Teaching Assistant in RCC’s Environment and Society class.

Paul has over 45 years’ experience developing and managing clean energy programs and initiatives at the national, regional, state, and local levels. He currently works as a consultant for SEI and helps the organization expand its successful sustainability and workforce programs to the Pacific Northwest. The first 30 years of Paul’s career were spent with the US Department of Energy where he focused on clean energy and climate-friendly program development. Paul has lived and worked in Seattle for over 30 years and knows the Pacific Northwest and its energy and climate interests well. After retiring from the DOE, Paul set up his own consulting business (PEJ Eco Solutions LLC) and has workied with SEI and other clients across the county on a broad array of energy and sustainability projects over the past 20 years.

Michael has been deeply involved in sustainability initiatives at The Evergreen State College since 2013, leading impactful projects like the development of a $175,000 Solar PV array on the Tacoma campus, and the $256,000 PV array on the Olympia campus. As well as collaborating with students to establish the Sankofa Hydroponics Lab, community gardens, and a variety of other student-led projects. Inspired by the innovation and resilience of his Haitian and Afro-Caribbean family, Michael carries their legacy into his work, fueling both his vision and motivation to act. With expertise in project management, educational development, and fostering student leadership, Michael focuses on bridging campus groups to advance equitable and practical climate action. Currently pursuing an MPA, they are committed to creating accessible pathways toward sustainable futures through collaborative innovation and long-term planning.

Elizabeth Swanaset KingGeorge is a gifted educator and artist, coming from a family of workers of cedar. Now retired, she is still much in demand as an educator and speaker on Coast Salish history, culture, and weaving practices.

Warren KingGeorge is the Tribal Historian with Muckleshoot Tribe. He is a gifted educator, in demand as a speaker on Coast Salish culture and resource use in numerous University of Washington courses and public events.

Kailey Legier is a recently graduated alum of Oregon State University, hailing originally from Washington state. She holds a BA in Soil science, with specific interest soil ecology, as well as a BA in Sustainability. Kailey has been passionately community-focused since moving to Oregon, and you can find her at town hall serving as a discussion facilitator, on the picket line in worker solidarity, or in the lab, working on understanding urban communities and the complex social politics of gardening and yard management. Kailey is currently looking into graduate programs that will allow her to continue to clear the paths that connect ecological sciences and social sustainability in order to promote a diverse and equitable community that uplifts not only humans but the critters that surround them.

I recently graduated from the Information Technology Management Program at Central Washington University (CWU), where I specialized in CyberSecurity Management. During my two degrees awarded from CWU, I was involved in a plethora of electronic sustainability research, including presenting at WOHESC in 2022 with the panel titled "How to Strengthen Innovative, Interdisciplinary Sustainability Programs Through an Applied IT Sustainability Minor/Certificate." In addition to this presentation, two of my peers and I published an academic journal article for the IEEE Sustainable Technology (SusTech) 2024 Conference titled "The Challenges and Opportunities of Transitioning to Modular Smartphones." As a full-time employee, I work as the Student Tech Fee Liaison at CWU, managing 18 student employees who maintain the 16 computer labs around campus and managing the Student Tech Fee Fund, which supports academic departments and student success.

John oversees the budget and procurement function for PCC's largest ever bond program. Over the next 10 years PCC will be investing over $500M in capital improvements across the four campuses and nine centers in the five counties served by the College. Funds will be used to renovate existing buildings and build new energy-efficient buildings to meet the goals set out in the College Climate Action Plan. Prior to working at PCC John was an Associate Director in Facilities & Planning at Portland State University and a tax auditor in the UK. He has a BA in Accounting from Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Kort Maeda (she/her) is a senior at the University of Washington pursuing a dual degree in Environmental Studies and Visual Communication Design with a minor in Urban Ecological Design. She is the Outreach and Education Coordinator for the Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF), exploring how storytelling and creativity can shift the narrative \ and center historically excluded communities to lead radical change. Outside her work with the CSF, she is interested in the intersection of justice-centered sustainability, participatory design processes, storytelling, and climate resilient design.

Jade Menchaca (she/her) is the Sustainability Coordinator for Portland Community College and focuses on outreach and education and institutionalizing sustainability. She has many years of experience coordinating programs and events for higher education students to enhance their sustainability, involvement on campus, and knowledge of environmental justice. She is passionate about community involvement, social inclusion, and environmental justice. She likes to spend her free time cooking, crafting, traveling, and trying new restaurants and bars.

BreAnna is a Junior at Western Washington University, where she has actively contributed to energy science initiatives on campus. She has developed an in-depth case study on greenhouse gas mitigation, served as the student ambassador for the Energy Institute, and played a key role in sponsoring the first net-zero building on a college campus. Her experiences in the energy science curriculum have provided a fresh perspective on sustainability, which she is passionate about sharing with fellow professionals and peers committed to creating a more sustainable future.

Steve Mital is the founding director of the University of Oregon’s Sustainability Office. He was part of the three-person team that developed the Oregon Model for Sustainable Development, a landmark campus energy policy that required all new buildings to harvest 100% of their energy needs from existing building stock. He also led the initiative to create the Oregon Leadership in Sustainability graduate certificate program that launched in 2011. Prior to this position, Steve was an instructor in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Oregon, where he also studied. While there, he founded and directed the Environmental Leadership Program for graduate and undergraduate students. Steve spent eight years as one of five Commissioners elected to govern the Eugene Water and Electric Board. He is currently on the Lane Community College’s Board of Trustees.

Leina Naversen is a design leader whose sustainability and technical expertise has been instrumental to Bora’s most complex science and higher education work. She is passionate about rising to the challenge of executing ambitious design goals and is guided by architecture’s potential to improve the lives of students, faculty and communities. Her contributions to the Portland State University Vernier Science Center and the University of Oregon Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact have been key to elevating sustainable design and creating innovative research environments. Leina earned her Master of Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona and a Bachelor of Science, Psychology from Brown University.

Holly Nelson started her career at Chemeketa Community College over 24 years ago. She currently serves as the Chief Workforce Innovation and Community Success Officer. Her division includes a wide range of departments including Corrections Education and Prison Reentry programs, Academic Development or pre-college programming, High School Partnerships, Center for Business & Industry, Small Business Development Center, and the Applied Baccalaureate programs. She started her career teaching Health and Human Performance courses both at Chemeketa and Western Oregon University, later transitioning to administrative roles.

Taryn has been teaching environmental science at Portland Community College since 2008. She has a passion for addressing environmental concerns through an equity lens and is an advocate for place-based learning. Her current projects include The PCC Ready Bag and Community Resilience Project, increasing the accessibility of field-based science courses, and helping faculty incorporate climate justice into their curriculum. Taryn volunteers as a climate activist and spends her free time hiking , camping, and traversing the great outdoors.

Beth works with K-12 and higher education customers to help them hit their building performance goals. She has worked in sustainability and commercial energy efficiency for over 15 years and previously worked as a writer and editor for architecture and construction related trade publications. Beth has a BA from the University of Wisconsin Madison and an MS from Portland State where she also taught as an adjunct instructor.

Kaia is passionate about environmental communication, youth mentorship, and regenerative agriculture. As an environmental science student at WWU, she is exploring the intersection of these themes through sustainable practices. Outside of class, Kaia enjoys exploring the trails, forests, and coastlines of the Pacific Northwest.

Daryl Pierson is the Director of the Planning and Sustainability Office for Portland State University. In this role, he leads an accomplished team of professionals to advance planning and sustainability initiatives to achieve the University’s strategic objectives. Daryl is charged with partnering and collaborating with the campus and community to develop, initiate, and operationalize plans that guide the institution’s future direction while also working to achieve sustainable efficiencies across PSU’s various work streams. His professional interests include growing leadership capacity to effectively confront societal challenges related to sustainability. Personally, Daryl enjoys exploring the great outdoors. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Daryl received a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with a research focus on sustainability leadership. He also has a master’s degree in urban planning.

Heather is a climate scientist, climate justice activist, chemistry professor and researcher. She earned her PhD in chemistry and conducted her postdoctoral research with the UW Program on Climate Change. Her current research focuses on improving undergraduate STEM education through the integration of climate justice, equity, and civic engagement across the college curriculum. She is also co-founder of TalkClimate.org and on the leadership team for Seattle's 500 Women Scientists organization.

Ron Prince is the Dean of Campus Services at Clackamas Community College, where he leads several key departments, including Plant Engineering, Maintenance, Grounds, Custodial, Duplication, and the Mailroom. In this roles, he has successfully implemented ETO-incentivized projects within the Energy Trust's Existing Buildings Program and Strategic Energy Management Program. Prior to his current position, Ron served as the Director of Plant Engineering at the College for three years. He also has 13 years of experience as the Chief Engineer and Facilities Manager at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center. He appreciates the opportunity and challenge of continuously improving processes and operations, ensuring that the College has optimal conditions for teaching and learning.

Kay (they/she) is a senior at WWU passionate about urban planning and the intersection between city planning and community development. After graduation, they plan to go into the transportation planning field to improve public transit access and decrease reliance on cars. They are an active member in the Western Urban Planners Club and currently earning a minor in Sustainable Design.

Timothy Randazzo, a dedicated Green Building Program Associate based in Seattle, King County, Washington State, has over 5 years of dynamic experience in the biological, climate, and sustainability industries. Specializing in Green Building technical expertise, Climate Action Plan implementation, grant/contract management, and Equity and Social Justice initiatives, Timothy is committed to driving positive change. A firm believer in the transformative power of youth and eco-consciousness, Timothy has shared his insights at regional conferences and climate leadership programs, emphasizing environmental philosophy and advocating for the crucial role of youth inclusion in the climate sector and climate action. Proudly contributing his expertise to public service, Timothy is passionate about making a meaningful and intentional difference. Beyond his professional pursuits, he has discovered the value of incorporating wellness measures into his own life, including art, music, and rock climbing.

Dr. Ray is a distinguished leader in agricultural education with over two decades of experience in the field. Currently serving as the Dean of Agriculture Science and Technology at Chemeketa Community College, Dr. Ray has been instrumental in advancing the college's agricultural programs since 2021. Dr. Ray earned both a Ph.D. (2024) and an M.S. (2015) in Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership from Ohio State University, after obtaining a B.S. in General Agriculture from Oregon State University in 1995. Prior to their current role, Dr. Ray held several key positions, including Career and Technical Education Coordinator for the Dallas School District, and Education Specialist for CTE Teacher Licensure at the Oregon Department of Education. Their academic journey began as an agriculture science instructor for over a decade in the Eagle Point and Dallas School Districts. Dr. Ray's extensive experience in both educational leadership and classroom instruction has made them a respected figure in agricultural education.

Dr. Sonya Doucette teaches General Chemistry, Environmental Oceanography, and Sustainability at a community college in Washington state. She is a sustainability leader at Bellevue College (BC), where she is Chair of the Sustainability Curriculum Committee, the Sustainability Concentration Coordinator, and manager of the Climate Justice in the Curriculum (CJC) Project. She is PI of a three-year NSF IUSE grant that fund the C-JUSTICE project and co-led an effort by the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges to spread the CJC project (co-developed by BC and North Seattle College) to all 34 CTCs in WA state. She authored an introductory sustainability textbook Sustainable World: Approaches to Analyzing and Resolving Wicked Problems (2017, 2nd edition). Prior to BC, she was a Senior Lecturer in the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University (2010 – 2013).

Athena Rilatos is an Architectural Designer focused on indigenous justice and design who recently earned her Master of Architecture from Portland State University. While a student, she led the BIPOC outreach effort for the Portland State University Vernier Science Center project, bringing her indigenous background to influence critical design discussions. As an advocate committed to championing perspectives not commonly represented in the design world, Athena merges region, tradition and culture to embrace inclusive design and broaden design thinking.

Dr. Peter Ritson, has over 30 years of educational experience at university, community college and K12 providing education, leadership and direction for programs and services for students. Since 2014, Peter has served as the Environmental Center Coordinator and Sylvania Learning Garden Coordinator at Portland Community College. Peter is an accomplished environmental scientist and educator. With a deep passion for sustainability, environmental education and equity, Peter has dedicated his career to fostering a greater understanding, appreciation of the natural world and fostering access and opportunities for all. In his role as Environmental Center Coordinator, Peter oversees various environmental projects and initiatives aimed at promoting equity, sustainability and ecological awareness within the PCC community.

Sean Rooney has spent 20 years in informal science education working towards creating memorable learning experiences for learners pre-K through adult. After graduating with a BS in Biological Sciences, he spent a few years in Conservation Biology before transitioning to Outdoor Education. From there, a passion for informal teaching and learning grew far beyond the field of Biology, thus landing in a college STEM Lab was an excellent fit. He feels very fortunate to be practicing informal education in a formal institution.

Sue played a pivotal role in proposing, designing, and implementing two new sustainability classes, forming the core of the IT Management Department’s Sustainable Practices in IT minor/certificate. The classes were designed in collaboration with many stakeholders, including ITM's Industry Advisory Board. Classes are offered in four different multimodal capacities to enhance equitable access to sustainability education. More recently, Rivera has worked to identify areas where the CWU Information Services (IS) Department operations work integrates with student IT sustainability passion to do good by doing well. Her research centers on developing applied sustainability curriculum for the IT practitioner whilst breaking down barriers and silos within academic hierarchies.

Todd Rosenstiel is Dean of Portland State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as well as an internationally recognized plant biologist focusing on the interactions between trees, atmospheric chemistry, human health, and climate change. Throughout his career, he has been a strong advocate for building collaborative multidisciplinary research teams and advancing opportunities for involving undergraduates in impactful research at PSU. Todd received his B.S. in biology from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, and his Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Edward is a lead project designer with 27 years of experience in higher education, corporate, and civic projects. As the leader of our higher education market, he helps clients create innovative places that serve faculty, staff and students with lasting character and durability. Passionate about designing sustainable, universally welcoming environments where academic and community partners can thrive.

Leticia Cavazos Sanchez | Sustainability Assessment Manager, Oregon State University Sustainability Office
Leticia was hired as a student at the Sustainability Office in June of 2014. After earning a PhD in Industrial Engineering in December 2016, she transitioned to a full-time position. Her primary duties include sustainability assessment & reporting, utility data acquisition & analysis, managing the Eco-Reps program, sustainable purchasing & procurement, and new employee orientation.

Concentration in Ecological Agriculture with minors in Salish Sea Studies and Food Security and Policy, and a certificate in Climate Leadership. Co-founder of Tiny Farm independent study project.

Megan Schneider (she/her) currently serves as the Assistant Program Director of the Student Sustainability Center at the University of Oregon. In her role, Megan oversees student employees who implement student-driven, extra-curricular sustainability programming at the UO campus. Megan holds a Master's degree in Leadership for Sustainability Education and is currently pursuing her EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy from Portland State University. Her main academic and professional interests are sustainability education and critical sustainability, or how we can teach and learn about sustainability in ways that incorporate critical perspectives. Beyond her professional endeavors, Megan enjoys trail running, skiing, and quality time with her three feline companions.

Heidi Sickert has over 25 years of experience as a senior director and consultant in the private and public sectors in the US, Eastern Europe and Central America. Heidi graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and is a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor through the U.S. Green Building Council. After serving Portland Community College’s (PCC) engineering and architectural design programs as the program director for a National Science Foundation grant, Heidi’s been teaching for PCC’s Business & Entrepreneurship program and PSU’s School of Business for over 10 years. She’s also a member of PCC’s Sustainability Leadership Council and Sustainability in Curriculum council called SPARC. Based on her experience working for micro-loan, social venture, and small business development programs, Heidi built a passion for supporting unique and inventive entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs. “All of us can be changemakers who positively impact the livelihoods and ecosystems of our communities. That’s why I focus on designing and teaching PCC courses that provide the most useful, innovative, and directly applicable business knowledge, skills and tools.”

Dr. Trevor Soponis is a life-long education professional with extensive experience in leading transformative education projects involving school, district, state, and university partners. He has successfully worked with thousands of teachers and administrators to continually improve teaching and learning practices in classrooms across the world. His doctorate from New York University examined the impacts of innovative environmental education programs while proposing a unique system to better support the design and implementation of sustainable ecological learning in K-16 education.

Madeleine Stratton is a Basic Needs, Sustainability, and Leadership student ambassador at Portland Community College

Hattie Sterns (she/her) is a Grove Garden Coordinator at the UO Student Sustainability Center. Hattie is a fourth year studying landscape architecture and art at the University of Oregon. She is originally from Corvallis, Oregon and is passionate about using ecology to inform design and art.

Hello! I am a fourth-year student majoring in environmental studies and minoring in law and justice at the University of Washington in Seattle. I have taken a special interest in social sustainability over my academic career with the intention of making diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility a main component of the environmental narrative. My main role with UW Sustainability is to foster meaningful partnerships with academic departments, student clubs, and external organizations in order to boost engagement and centralize students in the climate conversation. I am looking forward to beginning law school this fall to pursue a career in environmental or Indigenous law!

Phyllis Trowbridge has been working outdoors, painting and drawing in the landscape year-round for over 35 years. Since moving to Oregon in 1992, she has exhibited her work in local galleries and in numerous invitational and juried shows. She received her MFA from American University in Washington, DC. and since then has taught painting and drawing classes and workshops at a variety of local colleges and programs around the state. She currently teaches at Portland Community College.

Astrid Vidalon is an Assistant Professor in the Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising program at Central Washington University. Astrid’s creative endeavors and research interests include ethnic art, handmade textiles and dress from Peru, and sustainability. Vidalon believes that design that values traditional art can be an excellent tool for sustainable development and social empowerment.

Marsha Willard, Ph.D. is Faculty Chair at Presidio Graduate School’s MBA program in Sustainable Systems. Marsha has taught at PGS for over 18 years. Additionally, Marsha consults with organizations across all sectors to help them implement sustainable business practices. She is the co-founder and former ED of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals and author of seven business books including The Business Guide to Sustainability and A Step by Step Guide to Sustainability Planning.

Eli Wheat is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Environmental Studies program and an core faculty with the Food Systems Nutrition and Health Program. He was awarded the College of the Environment’s Outstanding Teaching award in 2017 and the UW's Excellence in Teaching Award in 2010. Eli’s teaching and research focus on food systems and sustainability. He is currently working on research projects involving carbon sequestration, kelp production and pasture management. Aside from his work as a teaching faculty, Eli actively pursues a passion for food production. He collaborates in the operation of SkyRoot farm, a 20-acre certified organic farm that integrates livestock and vegetable production on South Whidbey Island. SkyRoot farm practices regenerative agriculture with the goal of growing food while sequestering as much carbon as possible and meeting the economic demands of the production system.

Briar (she/her) is PCC's Associate Dean for Sustainability, with the focus of mainstreaming sustainability across the college and implementing PCC's Climate Action Plan. She has taught sustainability courses at PCC and sat on the Board of Directors for the Greater Portland Sustainability Education Network for seven years. She holds a Master's Degree in Sustainability from Arizona State University, as well as a B.A. in Sustainability and a B.S. in Justice Studies. Briar has represented the college at the local, national and international-level, including at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany. She is also a co-organizer for the annual Washington Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference. She likes to spend her free time crafting, gardening, and spending time with her loved ones.

Becs Walker is the Director of Sustainability for the campus at Southern Oregon University and the Associate Director of the Institute of Sustainability. Becs also teaches Sustainability and Natural Resources at the University. Becs moved to Ashland from Scotland in 2019 after working for 15 years at the Scottish EPA. As Head of Waste and Resources at the Scottish EPA, Becs managed 5 national teams responsible for implementing European, United Kingdom and Scottish legislation. She also worked with the Scottish Government developing world-leading climate change policy and circular economy policy. Becs also serves on the City of Ashland’s Climate and Energy Policy Committee, Mt Ashland Sustainability and Environment Committee. Becs is an avid mountain biker and enjoys skiing, running and being in the mountains.

Boe is pursuing a degree in Computer Science with a minor in Environmental Studies at the University of Washington. As the Grant and Project Coordinator, Boe assists prospective project teams in navigating the grant application process and supports active project teams through check-in meetings, partnership building, and resource sharing. Boe is also responsible for collecting and analyzing project metrics to evaluate student engagement and impact.

With a career in higher education and public policy, Julia Babcock has passionately supported locally led transitions and systemic change through collaborative problem-solving and collective action since 2005. Recent roles include serving as Co-Investigator for the USAID Strengthening Provincial Capacity Program, organizing a pitch competition for the US Embassy Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, and serving as Adjunct Faculty for Western Washington University Study Abroad Programs in SE Asia. Recent publications include "Smart City as a Social Transition Towards Inclusive Development through Technology" and "A Case Study on Training Product-Service Systems between the US and Vietnam." She worked for 15 years at Portland State University (2009-2024) as a Project Manager and Grants Administrator for the National Policy Consensus Center, Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science and Mark O. Hatfield Cybersecurity & Cyber Defense Policy Center focused on international development, collaborative governance and asset-based community development.

Sofia (she/they) is a second year studying environmental studies and policy. She is passionate about recognizing the complexity of sustainability. As the CSF chair, she works to ensure sustainability actions and decisions are made by a diverse team that prioritizes inclusivity. She focuses on learning from those with different perspectives and experiences to create a beautiful, nature-filled UW campus where everyone can feel comfortable.

My name is Hannah Campbell, and I am a third-year student at Central Washington University. I am originally from Ellensburg, and I am majoring in Geography with a specialization in natural resource management with a minor in sustainability. My career interests include exploring the global intersections of human exploitation and environmental impacts and educating communities about environmental and social justice. I desire to encourage other youth and communities to take action regarding their lifestyle habits and inspire them to join the mission of protecting our planet and its people. My favorite outdoor activities are biking, hiking, and playing tennis with my friends!

Cailyn Green, Ph.D., M-CASAC is the assistant professor of addiction studies at the State Univer of of New York, Empire State College. The addiction studies program is an online degree plan, and is part of the School of Human Services. Dr. Green earned her Ph.D in criminal justice with a focus on substance abuse and DWI recidivism rates and her masters degree is in forensic psychology. She is also a New York State Masters level Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). Prior to her involved in the academic field, she worked with recently incarcerated individuals in addiction treatment facilities. Her experience in working hands on with this underrepresented population, fuels her desire for social justice change.

As the Campus Natural Areas Steward, Emily creates restoration, engagement, and research opportunities on the University of Oregon Natural Areas in collaborations with faculty, students, and external partners. Prior to this position, she has worked with over 14 different species and received her Master’s studying the ecology of the San Clemente Island fox at Colorado State University and Undergraduate degrees at Oregon State University and Lane Community College. Her primary research interest is improving human-wildlife coexistence.

Suneeta Eisenberg M.Ed identifies as an "intersectional environmentalist." She is founder, player & executive director of Whatcom Waves. As an inspirational visionary leader for a women's empowerment organization that seeks climate, racial & social justice through sports, her commitment for systems change is through a unique lens.Whatcom Waves' "vision" created an educational platform for hempcrete building through a shared equity model in Washington state using a "just transition" framework, called "North West Living & Learning Community Collaborative (NWLLCC). Currently, Suneeta actively participates as the newest Planning Commissioner to Whatcom County, teaches at WWU in the Human Service Department, is an advisor to the Carbon Derivatives Institute and serves on the sustainability committee to Skagit Valley College.

Audrey is a second-year student at Yakima Valley College pursuing an Associate of Science for Transfer to a university. She is interested in applying aspects of Chemical Engineering to solve real world problems, especially regarding environmental protection. She has completed two Undergraduate Research Experiences. The first, with the Environmental Protection Agency, gathering data to determine pollutant sources of PM 2.5 in the Yakima Valley, and the other through the REU program at UW, with the Rorrer Lab, to improve the process of Chemical Upcycling. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, reading, and dabbling in mixed media art.

Mazzi (she/her) is a fourth year studying psychology. She approaches sustainability as a way to empower communities through opportunity and resources that address environmental and cultural needs. She believes it is important to listen to one another and live with humility so we can nurture reciprocity between each other and nature. Beyond her role with the CSF, she conducts research on how individuals varying in cultural, spiritual, and religious backgrounds define "nature".

Aulin is a third-year student at Central Washinton University studying Environmental Science with a minor in Sustainability, a certificate in Natural Resource Management, and is a member of the Council on Investor Responsibility. During Spring Quarter of the 2023-24 school year, she ran a Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign, collecting signatures from the student body, plus staff and faculty. By June there were over 200 signatures, and they were presented to the CWU Foundation and VP of Business and Financial Affairs. As of July, CWU has unofficially divested from fossil fuels.

Dylan Zintz is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Central Washington University, Majoring in Environmental Science and Geography with a Minor in Sustainability. Last year he led a waste audit for CWU Dining Services researching waste reduction and diversion procedures with a focus on sustainability. The project was done for the Campus Sustainability course, supervised by Professor Susan Kaspari. As a student manager for Dining Services, he is focused on using the knowledge gained from the project to reduce food waste on campus. Dylan is a member of both the Environmental and Geography Clubs with a deep passion for sustainability and environmental education.

Amy is the Sustainability Director at Lewis & Clark College and teaches Sustainability for the Bates Center. She has an educational background with a BS in Environmental Science from Oregon State University, a BA International Studies in Environmental Science from Oregon State University and a Masters of Environmental Management from Portland State University. She leads the Sustainability Office which provides Lewis & Clark students with opportunities to learn, grow, and serve our community and region in an effort to build a more livable world. Through internships, service learning, workshops, and events, students are able to develop a variety of skills to support them in a life of learning and civic leadership.

Adam is the college’s Energy Resources Manager, primarily responsible for managing the Strategic Energy Management program, utility payments, overseeing the HVAC building control system, and energy savings projects throughout the district. Utilities include electricity and natural gas used to heat and cool buildings, water and sewer (including irrigation), and waste disposal. He has a B.A. from Purdue University and 12 years of experience designing and implementing energy savings projects on the East Coast before starting at PCC. His focus is the education of facility staff, students, and continuously improving building operations.

Emma Johnson, a Cowlitz Tribal member, received her BA in Cultural Anthropology from Washington State University Vancouver and her MS in Sociocultural Anthropology at Portland State University (PSU). Emma is currently the Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge (ITECK) Coordinator in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office at PSU. In this role, she focuses on community engagement, partnership development, and cultivating a sense of belonging for students. Emma is extremely passionate about place-based education and connecting people to the landscape by introducing them to plant and animal relatives. She feels at home in the world of tribal food sovereignty and strives to support the reclamation and restoration of traditional foodways in Indian Country.