People & Partners Archive - Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

Anthony Leiserowitz

Director

Anthony Leiserowitz

Director

Anthony Leiserowitz, Ph.D. is Director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and a Senior Research Scientist at the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies at Yale University. He is an expert on public opinion and public engagement with the issues of climate change and the environment. His research investigates the psychological, cultural, and political factors that influence environmental beliefs, attitudes, policy support, and behavior. He conducts research at the global, national, and local scales, including studies in the United States, China, and India. He has served as a consultant to the John F. Kennedy School of Government (Harvard University), the United Nations Development Program, the Gallup World Poll, and the World Economic Forum. He is a board member of the KR Foundation and serves as an advisor to the UN Foundation, the Ad Council, Years of Living Dangerously, and the China Center for Climate Change Communication. He is also the host of Climate Connections, a daily national radio program and podcast. For a CV and more info, please visit his faculty page.

Bessie Schwarz

Strategist

Bessie Schwarz

Strategist

Bessie helps the community interested in addressing global warming understand how to use YPCCC’s tools and integrate YPCCC insights into their strategies and tactics, while gathering feedback to inform further research. She comes to YPCCC with extensive experience designing, running and winning national and local grassroots campaigns, as the Field Director for Environment Colorado and as the Federal Field Coordinator with Environment America. In these capacities, she has overseen the generation of dozens of press conferences and hundreds of press stories and has helped designed the national and state field strategies for both of these organizations. Since 2009, she has also directed several record-breaking citizen outreach offices across the country, raising grassroots funds and building public support for clean water, clean energy and preservation. Bessie received her BA from Carleton College where she studied Philosophy and Environmental Studies. After graduating, she joined Green Corps, the field school for environmental organizing, and was awarded the Sarah Forslund Scholarship. Bessie developed her love of the environment while visiting the Rocky Mountains growing up.

Cyndi Norrie

Deputy Digital Director

Cyndi Norrie

Deputy Digital Director

Cyndi Norrie serves as the Deputy Digital Director for Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and is the primary contact for matters regarding student employment. She also supports the program’s digital marketing and design efforts. Prior to working at YPCCC, Cyndi worked as the Social Media and Analytics Specialist at Yale’s MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies. She has also worked as a designer and digital marketer for various tech companies and digital agencies, including BuzzFeed.com.

Eric Fine

Project Manager

Eric Fine

Project Manager

As the YPCCC’s Project Manager, Eric Fine supports advocacy organizations to optimize and innovate on their campaigns by leveraging public opinion research and data tools. He also collaborates with groups who are studying public perception in Latin America. Prior to YPCCC, Eric was an outdoor educator taking people on expeditions throughout the Americas and Europe. Watching glaciers recede in Patagonia over ten years inspired him to pursue a Masters of Environmental Science at Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Jennifer Carman

Postdoctoral Associate

Jennifer Carman

Postdoctoral Associate

Jennifer’s research focuses on identifying and supporting behaviors that individuals and communities can take to adapt to both short- and long-term climate change impacts. Her research has included studies of climate change education with youth, and of how practitioners perceive and support adaptation behaviors in the United States. Her work supports the development of strategies to foster behaviors with personal, social and environmental benefits through times of environmental change and stress. As a Postdoctoral Associate, she works on survey research design, implementation, and data analysis. She received her PhD and MS from the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability, and her BA from Haverford College.

Jennifer Marlon

Research Scientist

Jennifer Marlon

Research Scientist

Jennifer is a Research Scientist in the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and produces the Yale Climate Opinion Maps for the YPCCC. Her research focuses on the social and physical dimensions of climate change, particularly extreme weather events and past climate changes. On the social (human dimensions) side, she uses surveys, experiments, and modeling to understand how people perceive and respond to hurricanes, heat waves, and other climate-related changes. On the physical side, she uses sediment records to reconstruct and understand past environments, including changes in wildfires, vegetation, and climate. Jennifer holds a PhD and MS in Geography from the University of Oregon, and a BS from the University at Albany, State University of New York. For a CV and more information, please visit her faculty page or personal website. Contact: jennifer.marlon at yale.edu.

Jon Ozaksut

Digital Director

Jon Ozaksut

Digital Director

Jon Ozaksut manages digital output for YPCCC. He joined in 2017 with 9 years of experience in the fields of digital marketing and advocacy through organizations such as Organizing for Action and Reverb.com. In his work, he has developed email programs, social media campaigns, and messaging strategies built around a user-centered experience and a desire to share stories in ways that resonate with audiences. Jon is inspired by the challenges inherent in communicating climate change, and eager to develop YPCCC’s methods of engaging with the broader online community. He received his BA in psychology from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and in his free time he has a passion for playing bass and drums.

Joshua Low

Partnerships Director

Joshua Low

Partnerships Director

Joshua leads YPCCC’s strategy for engaging and supporting the climate and clean energy advocacy, media, and education communities. He joined in 2019 with 15 years of experience in advocacy and electoral campaigns. Prior to YPCCC, he managed campaigns and led grasstops and grassroots organizing efforts that advanced bipartisan support for climate action, elected climate champions, and passed legislation that expanded access to clean energy in multiple states. His deep experience scaling supporter recruitment, managing coalitions, and leveraging multichannel communications strategies is underscored by his passion for nurturing volunteers and empowering community leaders to lead on climate solutions.

He has an undergraduate degree from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN.

Karine Lacroix

Postdoctoral Associate

Karine Lacroix

Postdoctoral Associate

Karine’s research focuses on applying behavioral science to design interventions targeting group-specific barriers and motivators. She has developed a tool to measure psychological barriers to pro-environmental behavior, tested interventions to help individuals reach their dietary goals, and investigated shifts in climate change risk perception as it relates to experience with forest fires. As a Postdoctoral Associate, she contributes to experimental research design, implementation, and data analysis. Karine received a PhD and a MA in Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria in the Environmental, Social, and Personality Lab, and a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of Ottawa.

Lisa Fernandez

Associate Director

Lisa Fernandez

Associate Director

Lisa oversees program management, operations, and outreach at the YPCCC. She leads YPCCC’s international networking efforts, building a global network of climate communication scholars and practitioners. Previously, she worked in urban environmental conservation and sustainable development in the US and Latin America. She has served as a consultant to the United Nations Development Programme, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the World Bank. She was a Fellow at the World Wildlife Fund-USA and a City Planner implementing solid waste prevention policy for the City of New York. Lisa co-authored Toward a New Consciousness: Values to Sustain Human and Natural Communities and Institutionalizing Sustainability in Higher Education. She holds an MPPM from the Yale School of Management, an MEM from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and a BA in History from Princeton. She serves on the boards of the East Coast Greenway Alliance and the Farmington Canal Rail-to-Trail Association and concluded a 10-year term on the Connecticut Greenways Council in 2015. Her passion is exploring as much mountain wilderness as she can in her tiny time on earth.

Martial Jefferson

Software Engineer

Martial Jefferson

Software Engineer

Martial Jefferson is a software engineer at YPCCC. Martial works closely with our data scientists and researchers to forward design and engineering of dynamic, data-driven prototypes, surveys, opinion maps, component libraries, and visualizations.

Martial holds a B.A. in Classical Civilization from Yale University and prior to joining YPCCC developed web and mobile software at IAC, Adaptly, PixieTV, Samsung Electronics, Hatch Inc/Wethos.co, and Ethershaft.

Matthew Goldberg

Associate Research Scientist

Matthew Goldberg

Associate Research Scientist

Matthew is an Associate Research Scientist at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication at Yale University. His research focuses on persuasion, social influence, ideology, and strategic communication. He applies insights from his research to build public understanding and motivation to address climate change and other urgent environmental, social, and political issues. Matthew holds a BA in Psychology from Hofstra University and received his PhD in Psychology from the Basic and Applied Social Psychology program at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Contact: matthew.goldberg@yale.edu.

Seth Rosenthal

Project Director

Seth Rosenthal

Project Director

Seth serves as research methodologist at YPCCC, with a particular focus on survey methodology. Before joining YPCCC in August 2013, he was Director of Opinion Research at Merriman River Group, where he specialized in election and issues-based opinion polling. Seth has also been the lead author of the annual National Leadership Index report published by the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. Seth holds a B.A. in psychology from Wesleyan University, and an A.M. and Ph.D. in experimental psychopathology from the Department of Psychology at Harvard. He was also a post-doctoral research fellow at the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. Seth has published research on narcissism, self-esteem, positive intergroup attitudes, and leadership.

Xinran Wang

Data Scientist

Xinran Wang

Data Scientist

Xinran analyzes the datasets gathered from national, state, local and international surveys and experiments. Originally from China, she joined YPCCC in 2017 and is excited to take a quantitative approach to understand environmental communications and opinions. She incorporates predictive modeling, data mining, visualization and mapping to provide statistical input for the ongoing studies. Xinran holds an M.A. in Quantitative Method in Social Sciences from Columbia University, and a B.S. in Math from University of California, Los Angeles.

Amelia Fortgang

Intern

Amelia Fortgang

Intern

Amelia Fortgang is a high school senior from San Francisco, California. She chairs the Bay Area Youth Climate Summit, an education and advocacy group, and serves on EarthEcho’s Youth Leadership Council. Amelia is interested in climate policy and is excited to be interning with YPCCC to grow her understanding of how we can utilize public opinion research to create change.

Annabel Sotomi

Instagram Producer

Annabel Sotomi

Instagram Producer

Annabel Sotomi is a Yale College junior majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics and History. She has a special interest in sustainable investment and environmental racism. Outside of her work for YPCCC, she is a member of the Yale Cheerleading Team, a researcher for the Roosevelt Institute, and on the executive board for Pi Beta Phi.

Arunima Sircar

Research Assistant

Arunima Sircar

Research Assistant

Arunima Sircar is a first-year Master of Environmental Science candidate, originally from Singapore. Her research interests focus on combining scientific research with policymaking through effective climate change communication to further strategies for climate resilience. She is a recent graduate from the University of Oxford, holding a degree in BA Geography. There, she spent her time either analyzing deep convection in high-resolution climate models across the pan-African climate, advocating for climate justice and gender equality in her community, or expanding her rock collection.

Ava Gehlen-Williams

Social media producer

Ava Gehlen-Williams

Social media producer

Ava is a sophomore in Yale College majoring in Environmental Studies and Music. Outside of her work at YPCCC, Ava plays violin in the Yale Symphony Orchestra, teaches violin lessons, and enjoys vegan cooking.

Ben Everett-Lane

YCC Research Assistant

Ben Everett-Lane

YCC Research Assistant

Ben Everett-Lane is a sophomore at Yale University majoring in Environmental Studies, on the B.S. track. His main focus is studying how to effectively collect and analyze environmental data, and then communicate it to the public in an effective and meaningful way based on their interests and needs. He has participated and/or helped lead backpacking trips for the past eight years, studied tropical biodiversity conservation in Costa Rica through the Council on International Educational Exchange, and participated in conservation work as a volunteer for the Appalachian Mountain Club. Outside of academics and environmental work, he is a Student Technician for the Yale Student Technology Collaborative, a member of the Berkeley College Council, and sings with the Yale Society of Orpheus and Bacchus.

Benjamin Stern

Ads assistant

Benjamin Stern

Ads assistant

Ben is a first-year Master of Environmental Management candidate at Yale’s School of the Environment, specializing in Climate Change Science and Solutions. He is interested in environmental politics, sustainable food systems, and strategic environmental communications. In his free time, Ben enjoys playing racquetball, word games, and Pittsburgh sports. Ben holds a B.A. in Global Environmental Change and Sustainability as well as in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Johns Hopkins University.

Cloe Dickson

Social Media Lead

Cloe Dickson

Social Media Lead

Cloe is a first-year student in the Master of Environmental Science program at the Yale School of the Environment and is the Social Media Manager for the Yale Climate Connections podcast. She earned her BA from University of Colorado Boulder in 2019 with a double major in Environmental Studies and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Her research focuses on the history, culture, and politics of community organizing around water in Colorado’s San Luis Valley and the broader phenomena of rural-to-urban water transport in the North American Southwest. Prior to graduate school, she served in AmeriCorps as a Youth Development Coordinator at Alpine Achievers Initiative, where she supported students in rural southern Colorado schools. At YPCCC, she is interested in creative storytelling and social media as a mode of engaging diverse audiences in environmental science and climate action. In her free time, you can find her somewhere outside, hopefully bagging another 4,000-foot peak in New England, where she grew up.

Devi Nayar

Social Media Producer

Devi Nayar

Social Media Producer

Devi is a first year Master of Environmental Design candidate at the Yale School of Architecture. Her research interests include gendered spaces in 15th century Kerala, gender and sexuality in domestic architecture and the intersection of religion, geography, gender and the built environment. Prior to coming to Yale, she ran her own architectural practice and furniture design studio. She holds an undergraduate degree in Architecture from Visvesvaraya Technological University, India and a Master of Science in Architecture from Tampere University of Technology, Finland. At Yale, she is currently also a member of the MED Committee.

Elizabeth Hopkinson

Instagram Producer

Elizabeth Hopkinson

Instagram Producer

Elizabeth is a student at Yale College majoring in Environmental Studies with a concentration in environmental humanities. She is interested in exploring how humans relate to their environments, and how they express that relationship through the humanities. On campus, she is an editor for the Yale Daily News, First Year Outdoor Orientation Trip leader, board member of Yale Outdoors, and intern with the Urban Resource Initiative.

Francis Commercon

Social Data Scientist

Francis Commercon

Social Data Scientist

Francis is a 2022 Master of Environmental Science Candidate at Yale School of the Environment. His research addresses the sociology of cross cultural and trans boundary environmental collaboration. Before Yale, Francis conducted research on community social norms around illegal hunting and behavioral contagion of wild meat consumption in rural southwest China. In addition to his work at YPCCC, he enjoys planting trees in New Haven as an assistant field coordinator for Yale’s Urban Resources Initiative. Originally from Highlands Ranch, CO, Francis holds bachelors degrees in Biological Science and Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from Colorado State University.

Gabriela Garcia

Social Media Producer

Gabriela Garcia

Social Media Producer

Gabriela Garcia is a sophomore at Yale College majoring in Political Science with a certificate in Spanish. Besides her work for the YPCCC, Gabriela works for the Yale MacMillan Center’s Council of Latin American & Iberian Studies, and is an active member of Sube: Yale Latinx Business and Leadership Student Association.

Grace Cajski

Digital Content Editor

Grace Cajski

Digital Content Editor

Grace is a rising sophomore at Yale College studying Environmental Studies and English. She’s interested in environmental writing and marine conservation. Through her work as a science communications intern and researching Hawaiian aquaculture, Grace advocates for bottom-up conservation and food sovereignty. She believes that the power of storytelling is a critical component to climate advocacy, and she looks forward to working with YPCCC as the digital content editor.

Grace Lowe

Ads assistant

Grace Lowe

Ads assistant

Grace is a Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of the Environment. She plans to pursue a specialization in Policy Analysis with a focus on energy and communication. Grace is particularly interested in behavioral science and how cognitive biases inform individual and group decision-making. Prior to Yale, Grace worked at an energy efficiency consulting firm in Washington, DC, where she helped implement LED lighting programs and develop utility strategies in the electric vehicle space. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Psychology from Middlebury College.

Isabel Harrison

Instagram Lead

Isabel Harrison

Instagram Lead

Isabel is a Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of the Environment, specializing in business and the environment. Prior to beginning her graduate studies, Isabel led communications for a strategic advisory firm focused on accelerating climate and clean energy solutions and policy. She is a fellow of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute and holds a BA in environmental studies from Dickinson College.

James Larson

Instagram Producer

James Larson

Instagram Producer

James Larson is a senior at Yale College majoring in Psychology with an emphasis in Neuroscience. Besides his work for YPCCC, James tutors local students as part of the Flyte Scholastics organization, and is the intramural sport secretary and social activities co-chair for Branford college.

Jhena Vigrass

YCC Social Media Deputy

Jhena Vigrass

YCC Social Media Deputy

Jhena is a first-year Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of the Environment, specializing in environmental policy analysis. She is interested in bringing her background in behavior change and environmental justice to policy advocacy in order to create more inclusive and durable environmental policies. Before attending YSE, Jhena worked to increase food access and oppose fossil fuel projects in the New York region, and most recently spent a year studying in Israel. She holds bachelor degrees in Viola Performance and Environmental Studies from the University of Michigan.

Katherine Tucker

Research Assistant

Katherine Tucker

Research Assistant

Katherine is a Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of the Environment specializing in Water Resources Science and Management and Rural Planning. A native of Vermont, she received her BA in Geography and History from Bucknell University. Prior to Yale, Katherine worked as a GIS Technician for the City of Thornton, Colorado. She’s excited to work with YPCCC on identifying emerging geographies for place-based climate stories.

Kristina Rodriguez

Research Assistant/Intern-Partnerships

Kristina Rodriguez

Research Assistant/Intern-Partnerships

Kristina is a first-year Master of Environmental Management candidate at Yale’s School of the Environment, specializing in Environmental Policy Analysis. She is especially interested in sea level rise adaptation, coastal resilience, and climate change mitigation. She is from Miami Beach and graduated from the University of Florida this past spring with a B.S in Environmental Science.

Laura Gonzalez Mantecon

Social Media Producer

Laura Gonzalez Mantecon

Social Media Producer

Laura González Mantecón is a Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of the Environment, focusing on Ecosystem Conservation and Management. She is interested in the intersection of ecosystem conservation and rural development, and in the incorporation of traditional knowledge and community-led planning into land management practices, as part of the broader goal of addressing climate change and environmental inequities. Before coming to YSE, Laura worked in outdoor and international education, where she learned about the importance of delivering environmental messages to a broader audience that is at the core of YPCCC’s mission.

Lauren Ashbrook

Deputy Social Media Manager

Lauren Ashbrook

Deputy Social Media Manager

Lauren Ashbrook is a Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of the Environment. She’s focused on agriculture, rural livelihoods, and climate adaptation. Before coming to YSE, Lauren was working in communications and strategy at a Boston-based agriculture start-up. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from Yale College.

Lauren Kim

Research Assistant

Lauren Kim

Research Assistant

Lauren is a rising senior majoring in Environmental Studies & Urban Studies interested in strategies for climate resiliency. Through her work as an environmental justice peer mentor and agroforestry researcher in Taiwan, she advocates for an intergenerational and inclusive climate movement. She hopes to pursue graduate research in disaster mitigation, equitable urban planning, and critical geography in coastal communities. She is excited to work with YPCCC on data visualization and storytelling projects this summer!

Mallika Talwar

Research Assistant/Intern-Partnerships

Mallika Talwar

Research Assistant/Intern-Partnerships

Mallika supports the work of the Partnerships Team in helping climate advocacy organizations apply public opinion data and research towards strategic campaigning, organizing and advocacy. She is currently a graduate student at the Yale School of the Environment and is pursuing a master’s degree in Environmental Management . Prior to joining YPCCC, owing to her passion for community-centred approaches to environmental management, she worked with a grassroots organization on community-based conservation and resource governance in India.

Marissa Grenon

Social Media Writer

Marissa Grenon

Social Media Writer

Marissa is a second-year Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and a Juris Doctor candidate at Northeastern University School of Law. Prior to coming to Yale, she worked in environmental health consulting in Puerto Rico as well as reproductive and perinatal epidemiology at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. She is interested in studying the intersection of coastal, marine, and estuarine restoration, ecological resilience, and environmental justice.

Meera Rothman

Digital Content Editor

Meera Rothman

Digital Content Editor

Meera is a senior at Yale College majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics. She is interested in ecofeminism, and studying how environmental justice can lead to greater racial, economic, and gender equality. Meera serves as the editor-in-chief for the Yale Human Rights Journal, as well as an associate editor for The New Journal. This summer, she is working as a researcher at The Public Policy Lab, where she is focusing on projects aimed to alleviate urban disparities in health care and education.

Megan He

Instagram Producer

Megan He

Instagram Producer

Megan He is a junior at Yale College majoring in Environmental Engineering and Global Affairs. Outside of YPCCC, she conducts research on atmospheric aerosols and air quality in the Gentner Lab and writes for the Yale Scientific Magazine. In her free time, she enjoys running to East Rock while listening to podcasts.

Mia Reback

Social Media Manager

Mia Reback

Social Media Manager

Mia is a second-year Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. She is pursuing a specialization in Climate Change Science and Solutions. She is particularly interested in solutions to achieve 1.5 C and the energy transition off of fossil fuels. Prior to arriving at Yale, Mia worked as a community organizer in Portland, Oregon developing community-based climate policy and leading campaigns against new fossil fuel infrastructure projects. She holds a degree in Environmental Studies – Economics from Reed College.

Miles Starr Radin

Ads assistant

Miles Starr Radin

Ads assistant

Miles Starr Radin is a first year Business & the Environment student at the Yale School of the Environment (’22). He is joining YPCCC to help find ways to engage the public with climate change news and solutions, from skeptics to activists. At YSE, he plans to find community-minded ways to drive organizations to be leaders in combating climate change. Before YPCCC, Miles worked on environmental communication at the University of Connecticut, and created the first sustainable living community in a national park – the Yosemite Living & Learning Community.

Nick Dahl

Social Data Scientist

Nick Dahl

Social Data Scientist

Nick Dahl is a rising senior at Yale University where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in the Statistics and Data Science Department. In S&DS, he specializes in data analysis and exploration, machine learning, and data mining with a particular focus in environmental protection and modeling. Outside of his work with YPCCC, Nick spends his time as a varsity athlete on the Cross Country and Track and Field teams representing the Yale Bulldogs, as well as tutoring in the New Haven community. He is a proud Philadelphia native, and current resident of Davenport College.

Ruby Park

Digital Ads Assistant

Ruby Park

Digital Ads Assistant

Ruby is a Digital Ads Assistant for the Google Ads Team in YPCCC. She is a junior at Yale College, studying English and data science. She is passionate in learning about data storytelling and digital marketing to highlight the racial and gender inequities caused by the impacts of global warming. Outside of YPCCC, Ruby is involved in gender advocacy work on campus, serving as a research assistant at the Yale Institution of Social and Policy Studies, the Vice President of STAND with the “Comfort Women” and the Panel Chair of Women Leadership Initiative. She is excited to work with YPCCC to initiate more conversations on climate connections and the social impact of climate change for our digital audience.

Sam Konstantinov

Instagram Producer

Sam Konstantinov

Instagram Producer

Sam Konstantinov is a 2021 Master in Environmental Management candidate, with a focus on Water Resource Science and Management. Prior to his arrival to Yale, Sam interned as a research analyst at a water non-profit in Tel Aviv and worked as a water flow data analyst in Pennsauken, NJ. Sam is interested in developing water networks that responsibly and effectively integrate the latest technology and management practices. Sam holds a BA in environmental studies and a minor in anthropology from Temple University, in Philadelphia.

Selin Goren

Social Media Producer, Instagram

Selin Goren

Social Media Producer, Instagram

Selin Goren is a first-year student at Yale College and a climate activist. She’s passionate about climate justice and she is a part of the climate movement in both Turkey and the US. Outside her work for YPCCC, she’s a part of Dramat, EECO and Endowment Justice Coalition on campus.

Siya Piparsania

Partnerships Research Assistant

Siya Piparsania

Partnerships Research Assistant

Siya is a first year Masters of Environmental Management student at the Yale School of the Environment specializing in Business and the Environment. Prior to coming to Yale, she worked at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in New York City where she supported the Brand Partnerships, Marketing and National Media teams. Siya is originally from New Delhi, India and holds a BA Degree in Environmental Studies from New York University.

Tom Murray

Speaker Series Coordinator

Tom Murray

Speaker Series Coordinator

Thomas Murray is a junior at Yale College from New Jersey. He is double majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Political Science. He is particularly interested in the strategies of turning important climate science into understandable material. When he is not at YPCCC, he is probably busy on the Model UN Team at Yale (MUNTY), Mock Trial, Moot Court, and doing ecological research. In his free time, he enjoys mountain biking and camping.

Wan Ping Chua

Research Assistant/Intern- Partnerships

Wan Ping Chua

Research Assistant/Intern- Partnerships

Wan Ping is a final year student at the Yale School of Environment. She brings her corporate experience working across Amsterdam, Vietnam and Singapore to her role as partnerships intern. She is interested in climate change and forwarding a circular economy. She is also an avid rock-climbing fan, as it combines her passion for sports with the outdoors

Yulan Lu

Social Media Producer

Yulan Lu

Social Media Producer

Yulan is a first-year Master of Environmental Management candidate at Yale’s School of the Environment. At YPCCC, she coordinates and shares posts about climate-related issues on the Chinese social media platforms, Weibo and WeChat. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a double major in Environmental Science and Biology. Yulan is passionate about climate change and ecological conservation, and she looks forward to sharing global environmental issues with the Chinese audience.

Zhiheng (Carbon) Chi

Deputy Social Media Manager

Zhiheng (Carbon) Chi

Deputy Social Media Manager

Zhiheng (Carbon) Chi is currently enrolled as a second-year MEM student at FES. She specializes in business and environment concentration and is passionate about corporate social responsibility and sustainable investment. In YPCCC, she primarily works on posting climate-related facts that attract the Chinese audience on social media such as Weibo and WeChat.

Abel Gustafson

University of Cincinnati

Abel Gustafson

University of Cincinnati

Abel Gustafson is an Assistant Professor of Public Relations and Environmental Communication in the Department of Communication at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Gustafson is an expert on strategic communication, public opinion, and social psychology. His research investigates how people think and act regarding environmental issues and sustainable technologies, and uses those findings to design more effective communication strategies. He is also a Research Affiliate of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and a Faculty Affiliate of UC’s Center for Public Engagement with Science. He earned his Ph.D. in Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara and was a postdoc at Yale University.

Binbin Wang

Research Affiliate

Binbin Wang

Research Affiliate

Binbin brings decade of expertise and experience in climate change and sustainable development, working across media, NGOs, academia, and think tanks. She started her career as a reporter for China Central Television. In 2008, she joined Oxfam and tracked the UNFCCC process since 2009 as the China Climate Lead. As the first PhD in climate communication in China, Binbin co-founded the China Center for Climate Change Communication in 2010; the group conducted two national surveys on Chinese public perception of climate, partnering with YPCCC. In 2016, Binbin moved to School of International Studies, Peking University as the Post-Doctoral Research Fellow on global climate governance and China’s role based on her 8-year practice. Most recently, Binbin joined the new think tank, Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development, at Tsinghua University.

Brandi Shaw Morris

Postdoctoral researcher

Brandi Shaw Morris

Postdoctoral researcher

Brandi is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Management at Aarhus University in Denmark where she is working to understand how we might improve science communication through the use of stories. Her experimental research focuses on understanding the neurological and psychological mechanisms of influence, decision-making and risk perception in the context of climate change. Together with Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz and colleagues at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, she is investigating how messengers, values and identification influence risk perception among diverse audiences.

Prior to embarking upon her PhD, Brandi worked in private sector agencies as a marketing communication strategist. Her integrated campaign work included print, digital and short-film campaigns to raise awareness and funds for well-known charitable brands.

Connie Roser-Renouf

His primary research interests are in the fields of health communication, climate change communication, media content analysis, and strategic communication campaigns. He has served as a Graduate Research Assistant on a National Science Foundation grant, examining American broadcast meteorologists’ best practices to communicate climate science. He also worked with Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz (Yale University) to conduct and analyze the first national sample survey of Indians’ beliefs, attitudes, and policy support about climate change, and other sustainability issues. A paper that he co-authored won the top student paper award in the Applied Communication Division in National Communication Association (NCA) conference, San Francisco, 2010.

Prior to his Ph.D. degree, he also worked as English compere in All India Radio, and as a copy-writer in many advertising agencies, before a brief stint at teaching English in Nizam College, his alma mater. He also holds a master’s degree in English literature from University of Hyderabad.

Jeff Nesbit

Climate Nexus

Jeff Nesbit

Climate Nexus

Jeff Nesbit is the executive director of Climate Nexus, a non-profit communications organization that works on climate and clean energy issues and solutions. He was the director of legislative and public affairs at the National Science Foundation during the Bush and Obama administrations, where he helped craft the legislative and public affairs strategy that led to the passage of the bipartisan America COMPETES Act. He was also former Vice President Dan Quayle’s communications director at the White House, and former FDA Commissioner David Kessler’s public affairs chief at the Food and Drug Administration, where he was instrumental in the agency’s successful efforts to regulate the tobacco industry and ban the marketing of cigarettes to children. He was a national journalist with Knight-Ridder newspapers and others prior to that, and currently writes regular opinion pieces for The New York Times, Time and U.S. News & World Report. He’s written multiple books and novels, including THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS and POISON TEA with St. Martin’s Press.

John Chung-En Liu

National Taiwan University

John Chung-En Liu

National Taiwan University

John Chung-En Liu is an associate professor of sociology at National Taiwan University, and a faculty affiliate in the International Program on Climate Change and Sustainable Development. Previously, he was an assistant professor at Occidental College in Los Angeles and a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. John received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and joint master’s degrees from Yale University

Dr. Liu’s research draws from environmental sociology and economic sociology to study topics related to climate change. He has particularly studied climate change opinions and discourses in China, and this work has been featured in media outlets such as Foreign Policy, Guardian, and Public Radio International.

John Kotcher

George Mason University

John Kotcher

George Mason University

John recently completed his Ph.D. at George Mason University’s Science Communication program, and he currently works as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in the Center for Climate Change Communication. His research broadly focuses on science, environmental, and risk communication through the use of surveys, experiments, and quantitative content analysis. More specifically, his research investigates the interaction between media and social identity in shaping attitudes toward contentious issues about science and scientists, with a particular emphasis on the issue of climate change. His work has examined ways to correct misperceptions about the scientific consensus on climate change, how the public responds to political advocacy by scientists, and the process through which reflecting on one’s core values (referred to as self-affirmation) can make individuals more receptive to risk information. He has a strong interest in applied communication research that can aid organizations in improving citizen engagement with and reducing political polarization on public debates about science.

Katharine Hayhoe

Texas Tech University

Katharine Hayhoe

Texas Tech University

Katharine Hayhoe is an accomplished atmospheric scientist who studies climate change and why it matters to us here and now. She is also a remarkable communicator: in 2014, she was recognized by Time Magazine as one of the top 100 Most Influential People in the world and by Foreign Policy as one of the top 100 Global Thinkers; her work was featured on the Emmy award-winning documentary series, The Years of Living Dangerously; and she won the American Geophysical Union’s award for climate communication. In 2016, she was named to the POLITICO 50 list of thinkers, doers and visionaries transforming American politics while in 2017 she was named one of FORTUNE’s world’s greatest leaders. She is a lead author for the U.S. National Climate Assessments and has served on the panels for the National Academy of Science, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and many other professional organizations devoted to understanding and communicating climate change. Katharine is currently a professor and directs the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. She has a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Toronto and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University of Illinois.

Leah Stokes

University of California Santa Barbara

Leah Stokes

University of California Santa Barbara

Leah Stokes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and a faculty affiliate at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). She received her PhD and MA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), an MPA from Columbia University and a BSc from the University of Toronto. Her research examines public policy, public opinion and political behavior, with a focus on energy and environment. Her current book project studies interest groups’ role in changing US states’ energy policy, with a focus renewable portfolio standards and net-metering laws.

Matthew Cutler

Research Social Scientist

Matthew Cutler

Research Social Scientist

Matt Cutler is a sociologist with the Social Sciences Branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). He provides analytical support to both the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Councils and is involved in the design and implementation of the Socio-economic Survey of Hired Captains and Crew in New England and Mid-Atlantic Commercial Fisheries. Matt is also working as an Agency Fellow with the JPB Environmental Health Fellows Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (https://ehfellows.sph.harvard.edu/).

Prior to joining the NEFSC, he completed a postdoctoral appointment at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies where he studied public attitudes and beliefs about climate change as a member of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. His research more broadly has focused on public perceptions of climate change and other socio-environmental phenomena, such as environmental hazards and urban sprawl and development. Matt holds a BA in Political Science and Justice Studies, an MA in Justice Studies, and a PhD in Sociology from the University of New Hampshire.

Matthew Ballew

Chapman University

Matthew Ballew

Chapman University

Matthew specializes in social psychology and environmental psychology. His research interests focus on environmental beliefs, attitudes, and actions and the personal, social, and cultural factors that influence environmental views and behaviors. Matthew received his PhD in Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and his BA in Sociology from the University of Michigan. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Chapman University in Orange, CA.

Matto Mildenberger

University of California Santa Barbara

Matto Mildenberger

University of California Santa Barbara

Matto Mildenberger is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of California Santa Barbara. A political scientist by training, Matto studies how ideology and emotions shape political bargains over climate policy. His work also focuses on the applications of complex systems theory to political science and environmental policy. Matto previously completed an MA (Global Governance) at the University of Waterloo, and an Hon. B.Sc. (Botany and International Relations) at the University of Toronto. He received his PhD from the Yale¹s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Nicholas Smith

University of Westminster, U.K.

Nicholas Smith

University of Westminster, U.K.

Nicholas Smith is a social-environmental psychologist with research interests in the perception and communication of risk issues. He was a postdoctoral research associate for the YPCCC working on a variety of projects exploring American public awareness and understanding of climate change. He is currently a lecturer in social psychology at the University of Westminster. He obtained his MSc in research methods and PhD in social psychology from University College London and his BA in environmental management from the University of Leeds.

Parrish Bergquist

Georgetown University

Parrish Bergquist

Georgetown University

Parrish Bergquist is an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. She studies environmental policy and politics in the United States, with a focus on public opinion and political behavior. Parrish’s research examines the development and implications of public attitudes about environmental protection, energy, and climate change; the implications of partisan polarization and nationalization for environmental policy outcomes; and how political actors and members of the public perceive, portray, and evaluate political issues, problems, and proposals. At the McCourt School of Public Policy, she teaches courses in environmental policy and statistics. In her teaching she aims to help students apply theories and insights from political science, sociology, and economics to a wide range of public policy topics. Read more about Parrish’s work at her personal website.

Peter Howe

Utah State University

Peter Howe

Utah State University

Peter Howe has been an Assistant Professor of Human-Environment Geography at Utah State University since 2013. His research focuses on the intersection of human perception and cognition with vulnerability and adaptation to climate change and natural hazards. This research aims to improve the ability of individuals and communities to detect and effectively respond to environmental change. Dr. Howe’s research also explores how spatial relationships influence risk perceptions and decision making, using methods including survey research, spatial analysis, geovisualization, and multilevel modeling.

Prior to joining USU, Dr. Howe worked as a postdoctoral associate with the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication. He received his PhD in Geography from Penn State University in 2012. He also holds an MS in Geography from Penn State, and a BA in Political Science and BS in Geography from Arizona State University.

Sander van der Linden

University of Cambridge

Sander van der Linden

University of Cambridge

Sander van der Linden, Ph.D., is a University Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Social Psychology at the University of Cambridge, where he directs the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab. At Cambridge, he is also a Fellow and Director of Studies in Psychological and Behavioral Sciences at Churchill College. His research explores the psychology of social influence, risk, judgment, communication, and decision-making, with a particular focus on the psychology of climate change. His research has received numerous awards from institutions such as the American Psychological Association (APA), the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) and the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP).

Prior to Cambridge, Sander was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs at Princeton University and a visiting scholar (2012-2014) with the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication at Yale University. He received his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Teresa Myers

George Mason University

Teresa Myers

George Mason University

Teresa Myers is a Research Assistant Professor at the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University. She is currently Co-Principal Investigator on a NASA grant investigating public trust in NASA’s climate change research, and public understanding of NASA’s web-based educational materials on climate change. She is also actively analyzing and publishing research using the Climate Change in the American Mind data and working with a team to evaluate the Climate Matters broadcast meteorologist engagement project. Teresa specializes in research methodology and advanced data analysis techniques in the context of communication and public opinion research, and has published on climate change, data analysis, and foreign policy.

Center for Business and the Environment at Yale

The Yale Center for Business and the Environment provides a focal point for research, education, and outreach to advance business solutions to global environmental problems.The Center joins the strengths of two world-renowned graduate schools – the Yale School of Management and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies – together with a network of internal and external thought leaders at the business-environment interface. Their work connects students, executives, academics, and policy-makers, and spans issues from environmental finance to corporate social responsibility.

Climate Advocacy Lab

The Climate Advocacy Lab is a growing network of advocates, data experts, social scientists, and funders developing and sharing best practices for mobilizing Americans to take action on climate and clean energy issues, and for organizing to build the power of our movement.

Climate Nexus

Founded in 2011, Climate Nexus works to change the conversation on climate change and clean energy from an argument to a constructive search for solutions. Climate Nexus leverages all forms of communication to tell the stories of the people impacted by climate change and those driving the energy transition. Climate Nexus helps its partners achieve their communications goals: improving media relations, reaching new audiences, launching online campaigns, organizing events, coordinating activities across the larger community, and anything else they might need.

Facebook Data for Good

Facebook Data for Good uses data to address some of the world’s greatest humanitarian issues. In partnership with YPCCC, Facebook launched a climate change opinion survey that explores public climate change knowledge, attitudes, policy preferences, and behaviors across more than 30 countries and territories.

George Mason University – Center for Climate Change Communication

The mission of the Center for Climate Change Communication is to conduct unbiased public engagement research, and to help government agencies, non-profit organizations, and companies apply the results of this research, so that collectively, these groups can stabilize the planet’s climate. They use social science research methods – experiments, surveys, in-depth interviews and other methods – to find ways of effectively engaging the public and policy makers in the problem, and in considering and enacting solutions.

Hispanic Communications Network

Hispanic Communications Network (HCN) works with nonprofits, universities, and government agencies to deliver cost-effective, culturally-resonant Spanish language media solutions for national and regional impact. Working closely with partners, HCN creates, produces and syndicates Spanish-language public interest media and educational campaigns that reach 90% of U.S. Hispanics via daily programming on the HCN national network of affiliated radio stations and through the “La Red Hispana” community outreach and engagement digital assets. These include a mobile app, website, live streaming/social media, video channels, and podcasts.

The China Center for Climate Change Communication (China 4C)

The China Center for Climate Change Communication (China 4C) was jointly established by the Research Center for Journalism and Social Development of Renmin University and Oxfam Hong Kong. It is the Chinese counterpart to the YPCCC and George Mason 4C.

The OpEd Project

The OpEd Project’s mission is to change who writes history. Working with universities, think tanks, foundations, nonprofits, corporations and community organizations across the nation, we scout and train under-represented experts (especially women) to take thought leadership positions in their fields (through op-eds and much more); we connect them with our international network of high-level media mentors; and we vet and channel the best new ideas and experts directly to media gatekeepers across all platforms.

The Pulitzer Center

The Pulitzer Center promotes in-depth engagement with global affairs through its support for quality international journalism across all media platforms and an innovative program of outreach and education.

Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy

The Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy seeks to advance cutting edge environmental thinking and policy analysis so that decisionmaking in the public, business, community, and personal realms promotes sustainability. The Center seeks to identify pressing environmental problems and advance effective policies, strategies, and decisionmaking tools in response. They seek to move the environmental debate beyond political and sectoral boundaries to enable integrated approaches to problem-solving.

The 11th Hour Project

The mission of The 11th Hour Project is to promote a fuller understanding of the impact of human activity within the web of interdependent living systems. This project aims to connect organizations with good information on how to develop a more responsible relationship with the world’s water, energy, and food resources.

The Endeavor Foundation

Founded in 1952 by Christian A. Johnson, the Endeavor Foundation is dedicated to efforts that foster independent thought, ethical understanding, deep appreciation of the arts and reverence for the natural world. The Endeavor Foundation pursues this objective primarily by supporting and catalyzing excellence in liberal arts education and related fields, and has supported the curricular and pedagogical development of a significant number of liberal arts colleges in the United States. The Foundation has also made major contributions to the arts, to projects that assist independent states in the formerly Soviet-dominated region of Central and Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, Estonia, Poland, Rumania, Slovakia and Ukraine, to Native American projects and to efforts that promote environmental awareness. Endeavor was instrumental in the creation of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, and ECLA European College of Liberal Arts in Berlin, Germany.

Circle of Service Foundation

The Circle of Service Foundation is a private foundation supporting organizations in Community Services, Education, Jewish Communities and Medical Research.

Doris Duke Charitable Foundation

The mission of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is to improve the quality of people’s lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke’s properties.

The Energy Foundation

The Energy Foundation’s mission is to promote the transition to a sustainable energy future by advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The Heising-Simons Foundation

The Heising-Simons Foundation works with its many partners to advance sustainable solutions in climate and clean energy, enable groundbreaking research in science, enhance the education of our youngest learners, and support human rights for all people.

The MacArthur Foundation

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world.

NOAA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) works to keep citizens informed of the changing environment around them.From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product. NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers with reliable information they need when they need it.

NSF

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense. With an annual budget of about $6.9 billion (FY 2010), they are the funding source for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America’s colleges and universities. NSF issues limited-term grants to fund specific research proposals that have been judged the most promising by a rigorous and objective merit-review system.

High Tide Foundation

High Tide Foundation, based in San Francisco, California, provides support to organizations that are dedicated to educating and informing the public about global warming and to those taking concrete actions to reduce the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere.

The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment

The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment seeks to raise awareness around urgent environmental issues, and supports individuals and organizations working to find solutions. The foundation’s grantmaking supports communication and collaboration in environmental protection, with an emphasis on climate change.

The Yale School of the Environment

The Yale School of the Environment (formerly the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies), founded in 1900, is the oldest institution of higher learning devoted to conservation and natural resource management in the United States. Now in its second century, the school’s research and teaching aim to provide unequalled education and training in the multiple dimensions of contemporary environmental issues toward developing solutions for a more sustainable future.

YSE’s mission is to provide the next generation of national and international leaders with the knowledge, skills and experience needed to advance environmental decision making, formulate effective solutions to enhance environmental goals, and meet the challenges and opportunities of environmental management, in ways that provide broad, sustainable, resilient and equitable advances for human well-being in a complex and interdependent world.

Abigail Cheskis

Research Associate

Abigail Cheskis

Research Associate

Abby is a 2017 Environmental Studies graduate of Yale College. Her main work as a Research Associate entails supporting strategic communications and civil society capacity building through the use of Yale Climate Opinion Maps. Abby focused her undergraduate studies on climate change communication and sustainable food systems, and the knowledge that she brings to YPCCC stems from her coursework and prior work experience. As an undergraduate, Abby was a Research Assistant and Social Media Manager at YPCCC. She has also worked with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Head of Communications and Media Relations, the National Park Service, and George Mason University’s Center for Climate Change Communication. In her free time, she enjoys riding her bike and knitting.

Adam R. Pearson

Ben Levin

Digital Ads Assistant

Ben Levin

Digital Ads Assistant

Ben Levin graduated from Yale College in 2020 with a degree in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration. He is particularly interested in the role of labor unions and alliances between governments and community organizations in combatting climate change. He has been a student organizer throughout his time at Yale with climate justice organizations including Fossil Free Yale, the Endowment Justice Coalition, and Sunrise Movement. In 2018, he travelled to Peru to study climate activism there, and then worked as a field organizer for a congressional campaign in Michigan. In spring 2019 he studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He loves rock climbing, basketball and books.

Bonnie Frye Hemphill, MEM 2013

Residing in Maine, Bonnie is the Coordinator for Businesses for Climate Action and a Consultant for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. She sharpens the communications of nonprofit advocacy groups working for solutions to climate change, especially for profitable and practical business propositions. Prior to Yale, Bonnie worked for three years in Seattle at the nonprofit Climate Solutions; there she helped grow its Business Leaders for Climate Solutions network from 125 to more than 1000 clean-economy executives and entrepreneurs advocating for stronger climate policies. Bonnie is a native of Cary, NC, holds a BA from Middlebury College in Vermont, and enthusiastically pursues adventures and shenanigans whenever possible – from sledding the Presidential Range to canoeing across the Canadian Arctic, rafting the Grand Canyon, tossing Frisbees, quilting, and jumping into cold bodies of water.

Breanne Chryst

Yale University

Breanne Chryst

Yale University

Breanne is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Statistics at Yale University. Her main research interests include network driven sampling and Bayesian inference. She is a consultant in the Yale StatLab and previously worked as a Data Scientist for Audible. Before coming to Yale, she graduated with a Bachelors degree in mathematics (cum laude) from the University of Utah. She has an interest in science education and outreach, especially as it pertains to environmental issues.

Cameron Ramey

Cami is a climate change communicator and resilience professional currently pursuing a Master of Environmental Management at the Yale School of the Environment, graduating in 2022. Her current work is devoted to helping communities thrive in the face of chronic and acute climate impacts such as sea level rise, extreme weather events and rising heat, with a focus on intersectional problem solving and environmental justice. She is interested in all facets of climate change communication and is currently building a portfolio in environmental journalism.

Catherine Martini

Digital Strategist

Catherine Martini

Digital Strategist

Catherine is a Masters of Environmental Management candidate, focusing on international climate policy at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She is currently a photographer for Yale F&ES and Science Communication Strategist for ParisAgreement.org, an NGO she helped launch at COP21 in Paris which contextualizes and visualizes core issues around the international climate negotiations and technical greenhouse gas inventory processes. Prior to attending Yale, Catherine received her B.A. in Political Science & Environmental Studies from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. As a Digital Strategist at YPCCC, Catherine tracks analytics, and helps the team of research assistants succeed in executing social media campaigns through linking relevant YPCCC research to current events with innovative graphic design. In her free time, Catherine loves ballroom dance, photography, travel and is a member of Yale’s Forestry Club.

Chris West

Research Assistant

Chris West

Research Assistant

Chris is an undergraduate at Yale studying Physics. He is from Massachusetts and is a proud member of Saybrook College. Chris is excited to be working with YPCCC on their places of worship data collection project. He has an interest in renewable energy and plans to pursue a career in that field after graduation.

Dana Patterson

Digital Strategist

Dana Patterson

Digital Strategist

Dana is a passionate environmental leader currently studying her Master of Environmental Management with a focus on science communication and wildlife conservation at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She is currently an Assistant Editor for Yale Environment 360, Social Media Ambassador for Yale F&ES and served as the Marketing and Communications Director for the 2016 Environmental Film Festival at Yale. Prior to attending Yale, she devoted the last decade to making positive environmental shifts in New Jersey communities. In her 5-year nonprofit role, she empowered dozens of individuals in environmental justice communities; taught thousands of students about wetlands, wildlife, and watersheds; and served a leadership role on a half dozen Community Advisory Groups providing technical guidance and community outreach on toxic site remediation. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is a Board Member of FDU’s Institute for Sustainable Enterprise. As the Digital Strategist at YPCCC, she curates our social media platforms, designs digital graphics for media releases, tracks analytics, and assists the research team as needed. She is also a member of Yale’s Forestry Club and in her free time, she enjoys nature photography and bird watching.

Dani Schulman

Contributing Writer

Dani Schulman

Contributing Writer

Dani Schulman is a junior majoring in Environmental Studies and Human Rights at Yale University. Her academic works centers on themes of food justice, climate communications, Chinese environmental policy, and environmental economics. Outside of class, Dani serves as Co-President of the Yale Student Environmental Coalition, and spends her free time traveling, scuba diving, and singing jazz.

Darcy Dugan, MEsc 2009

Darcy Dugan now lives in Alaska with her husband and son and works as the Program Manager for the Alaska Ocean Observing System. AOOS is one of 11 regional ocean observing systems in the US funded by NOAA with the mission of improving access to marine data. Darcy works with scientists and institutions who are monitoring Alaska’s coastal and marine environment, and helps shape the information into user-friendly data tools for recreationists, mariners, coastal managers, fisherman, industry, conservation groups, and other marine users.

Dylan Walsh, MEM 2009

Dylan is a freelance writer based in New Haven, CT. He contributed regularly to The New York Times Green blog until it closed in March, 2013. He now contributes to Elements at The New Yorker, as well as The Guardian environment blog. He has written for Yale Environment 360, The Huffington Post, and environment Yale, among other publications. Dylan writes about science and the environment. He is particularly interested in technology and people within the environment. Until January of 2014, Dylan was an editor at The Solutions Journal. You can find irregular updates on his work at dylancwalsh.com.

Elham Shabahat

YPCCC/Pulitzer Center Fellowship Recipient

Elham Shabahat

YPCCC/Pulitzer Center Fellowship Recipient

Elham Shabahat is a graduate student in the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, studying conservation, environmental justice, and climate change adaptation. Previously, Elham worked in communications for various UN agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF and the World Bank. She is currently exploring the impact of climate change on mountain gorillas and local people living near gorilla habitat, as part of the partnership on climate change journalism between YPCCC and the Pulitzer Center.

Emily Connor

Research Assistant

Emily Connor

Research Assistant

Emily is pursuing a Masters of Environmental Management (2017) and is committed to exploring impacts of climate change and how management strategies can help societies improve resilience and better adapt to a changing future landscape. She is interested in studying water scarcity and relevant management solutions, with a particular focus in the Middle East. Prior to joining the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, Emily worked as a contractor with the United States Agency for International Development on climate change communication and outreach. During her time there, she supported the White House-led partnership, Climate Services for Resilient Development, created with the goal of empowering developing nations to improve their climate resilience. Emily has also worked with National Geographic in Washington, D.C. on social media outreach and website development. She holds a BS in Geography and a BA in International Politics with a minor in Arabic from The Pennsylvania State University. In her free time, her interests include hiking and improving her nascent skiing ability.

Emily Tucker

Deputy Social Media Manager

Emily Tucker

Deputy Social Media Manager

Emily Tucker is a recent graduate of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, where she studied environmental policy with a focus on climate change and energy. At FES she serves as a graduate teaching fellow for the Climate Change Policy and Perspectives course and as a co-leader for the climate change student interest group. She also is a Kerry Fellow at the Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs’s Kerry Initiative. She spent the summer of 2019 in the office of U.S. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree working on legislation and conducting policy research on a number of topics related to climate change, natural resources, agriculture, and energy. Before arriving at Yale, she worked as a policy analyst for the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, where she participated in federal, regional, and state policymaking processes. She holds a bachelor’s degree in earth and oceanographic science and environmental studies from Bowdoin College.

Emma Johnson

Contributing Writer

Emma Johnson

Contributing Writer

Emma is an environmental writer, researcher, and storyteller. Using a combination of written word and data and visual storytelling, I help bring cutting-edge and overlooked stories about climate change and the environment to life. I have a background in the natural sciences and job experience in writing and communications, allowing me to bring depth and clarity to environmental journalism today.

Frances Moore, MEsc2009

Fran is currently based in Palo Alto, CA pursuing a PhD in Stanford University’sEmmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources. She combines methods from economics, climate science and psychology to understand how quickly and effectively farmers will adapt to climate change. This is a critical piece of understanding the actual climate change impacts people will face but has received very little research attention. Fran hopes the approach can help make climate change impacts more concrete and salient in communicating climate science.

Gemma Shepherd

Gemma is a senior Environmental Studies major at Yale College. She spent this past summer in the Costa Rican rainforest as a part of a field research class on biodiversity and sustainability with the School for Field Studies. She also spent six months studying in New Zealand during her junior year. ⁠Gemma’s favorite courses at Yale have been EVST. For her senior essay, she is exploring chitosan as a biodegradable biopolymer for food packaging. She is the Sustainability Captain for the Track & Field and Cross Country Teams.

Hamzah Jhaveri

YCC Mapper

Hamzah Jhaveri

YCC Mapper

Hamzah Jhaveri is a Junior at Yale College majoring in Anthropology and is in the Energy Studies program. Hamzah is particularly interested in environmental anthropology, namely, the relationships communities have to their material environments, energy infrastructures, fossil fuels, sustainable economies, and more. He is also inspired by the concept of a just transition, which has led him to pursue organizing work with the Sunrise Movement, the Yale Endowment Justice Coalition, Step Up Yale, and the New Haven Green New Deal Coalition. He previously worked at the Yale Sustainable Food Program as a Communications Manager and held a summer internship position at the New-York-City-based hydroponics farm Farm.One in 2019. Hamzah is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Herald. He enjoys writing and performing sketch comedy with the 5th Humour at Yale, leading backpacking trips with Yale’s First-Year Outdoor Orientation Trips (FOOT), and dancing with friends and family!

Hodiah Nemes, Yale College 2013

Hodiah Nemes graduated from Yale College in 2013 with a major in Environmental Studies, concentrating in environmental rhetoric. His senior thesis analyzed presidential rhetoric on climate change, with a special focus on the speeches of Bill Clinton. As a senior, Hody was elected “Mr. Yale” by his peers for his outrageous impersonation of another president: George W. Bush. During college, he worked as a journalist for the St. Louis Beacon and a communications intern for Israel’s Green party. He now lives in New York City and writes for the Jewish Daily Forward newspaper.

Isabel Del Toro Mijares

Social Media Writer

Isabel Del Toro Mijares

Social Media Writer

Isabel is a senior at Yale, completing her B.S. degree in Environmental Studies with a focus on biodiversity and conservation. Her research focuses on understanding how climate change will impact ecosystems and landscapes, and in turn, how humans relate to them. She’s passionate about scientific communication and finding ways to further the dialogue between the public, policy and science. In her spare time she enjoys drawing, spending time in nature, and hanging out with her dog, Copine.

Jack Rusk

Contributing Writer

Jack Rusk

Contributing Writer

Jack is a first year Master’s of Environmental Management student at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Working in the built environment, he looks for synergies between his academic training in ecology and his professional experience in design. Currently, he works as a research assistant for Karen Seto, creating a hazard susceptibility model for the Himalaya region. Previously, Jack ran his own design firm in California.

James Sun

Social Data Analyst

James Sun

Social Data Analyst

James is majoring in Global Affairs and Statistics & Data Science at Yale University. Outside of the Office of Sustainability, James has done extensive environmental data analysis with the World Wildlife Fund-Australia and Data Driven EnviroLab. He has also been involved in political affairs while writing for the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, interning at the City of Detroit Mayor’s Office, and managing finances for the Yale Taiwanese-American Society. James is interested in data analysis, environmental mapping, food systems, Smart Cities, environmental sustainability, national and international politics, and environmental justice and loves food very, very dearly.

Javier Román-Nieves

Consultant

Javier Román-Nieves

Consultant

Javier A. Román-Nieves serves as a visual communications and brand identity consultant for YPCCC. He joined the team as a graduate student of the Master of Environmental Management program at Yale F&ES, bringing nearly 10 years of experience in environmental communications with a focus on print applications, and having taught fundamentals and history of design at college-level in Mexico City and San Juan, Puerto Rico, his former hometown. Javier strives to combine his architectural design background with newly found skills in ecosystem conservation, GIS and social ecology, bringing these into a seamless place-based storytelling practice to enrich natural resource conservation via photography, graphic design and the written word. He also likes birds and stars.

Jillian Semaan

Research Affiliate

Jillian Semaan

Research Affiliate

John Chung-En Liu, MEM/MA (International Development & Economics) 2009

John Chung-En is a PhD candidate in sociology at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to entering his doctoral program, he received a joint master’s degree in environmental management and economics at Yale University, and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from National Taiwan University in his home country. In John’s dissertation, he looks into the construction and governance of carbon markets, and has conducted extensive fieldwork in the European Union. During his time at YPCCC, John worked with Dr. Leiserowitz to examine environmental attitudes and behaviors in urban China. He is currently writing a paper on the climate change skepticism in China to continue this research agenda.

Jordan Schmolka

Digital Ads Assistant

Jordan Schmolka

Digital Ads Assistant

Jordan Schmolka is a junior at Yale College studying environmental justice. She is particularly interested in the creation, dissemination, and use of environmental knowledge and its relationship to social change. Before joining the YPCCC team, Jordan worked with Artspace New Haven to organize a set of environmentally-focused exhibitions as well as an environmental justice summit centered on activism and the arts. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting museums, working on crossword puzzles, and spending time with her dog, Satchmo.

Kartikeya Singh, MEsc 2009

Kartikeya Singh, a PhD candidate at The Fletcher School and CIERP Junior Research Fellow, received his Master of Environmental Science degree at the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies at Yale University. His research interests include climate change and energy policy, innovation and the geopolitics of energy use. His Master’s thesis focused on effective management of access to energy for rural communities in India through decentralized renewable energy systems. Previously, Kartikeya was a consultant with the Environmental Defense Fund. He is the co-founder of the Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN), which has served as a forum for voices of the budding youth climate movement across South Asia. He has been involved with international climate negotiations since the UN climate talks in Bali in 2007 and has served as part of the negotiating team of the government of Maldives at the climate talks from 2009 to 2012.

Kate Donatelli

YCC Social Media Producer

Kate Donatelli

YCC Social Media Producer

Kate Donatelli recently graduated with a Masters in Environmental Management. While at Yale, she studied environmental policy with a focus on land use and climate adaptation strategies. Before graduate school, she worked for The Trust for Public Land in New York City. She earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

Kate Richard

Research Assistant

Kate Richard

Research Assistant

Kate is a 2018 Master of Environmental Management graduate from the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She is interested urban resilience and climate change adaptation planning. Before coming to Yale, Kate worked on university sustainability and food access programs. She has a BA in English and a BS in environmental science and policy from the University of Maryland. In her free time, she likes to read, play piano, and experiment with sourdough baking.

Kate Tewksbury

Social Media Producer

Kate Tewksbury

Social Media Producer

Kate Tewksbury is a graduate of Yale College, where she majored in Ethics, Politics, and Economics with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Law. She believes in YPCCC’s mission because she sees narratives as a tool that can compel people to take action against the climate crisis. On campus, she was a member of the Yale Women’s Ice Hockey team for two years. She was an active member of her residential college, Berkeley, where she served as a College Aide. She was born and raised in New York City.

Kathryn S. Deeg

University of California Berkeley

Kathryn S. Deeg

University of California Berkeley

Katie Deeg is a PhD Candidate in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. She investigates materials for environmental and clean energy applications, such as carbon capture and hydrogen storage, via computational chemistry methods. She is working to build bridges between science and policy in order to enact research-based, forward-looking policies, especially in climate change and energy. With Dr. Jennifer Marlon and colleagues at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, she is investigating what demographics of Americans have changed their minds about global warming, and why, in order to study how to help Americans better understand the problem.

Kelsey Hartman

Video Producer

Kelsey Hartman

Video Producer

Kelsey is a first year Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. She is pursuing a specialization in Ecosystems and Land Conservation and Management, and is interested in how people and institutions make decisions around sustainable natural resource use. Before coming to Yale, Kelsey did communications and project management for WWF’s Greater Mekong program. Most recently she spent a year in the littoral forests of southeastern Madagascar as a conservation research assistant doing biodiversity surveys.

Kelsey Mulcahy

Facebook Data for Good

Kelsey Mulcahy

Facebook Data for Good

Kelsey is with Facebook Data for Good and partnered with YPCCC on the 31-country survey of climate attitudes in the spring of 2021.

Kelsey Mulcahy

Laura Hammett

Research Assistant / Partnerships Coordinator

Laura Hammett

Research Assistant / Partnerships Coordinator

Laura is passionate about supporting environmentally sustainable and resilient development through a combination of creative community engagement, human-centered design, education, and social enterprise. As a Masters of Environmental Management candidate at Yale, Laura is focusing on issues of urban resiliency and climate change adaptation through studying urban ecology, climate and energy policy, risk analysis, and behavioral economics. Laura comes to Yale after six years in the environmental planning, international development, and communications fields. She spent three years as a project lead with consulting firm Marstel-Day, where she helped the U.S. Air Force resolve resource and land use challenges in collaboration with host communities in South Korea and Japan. Prior to that experience, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Albania, working with a municipality on capacity building and community development projects while also leading a national environmental education network for high school students. Laura holds a Bachelors of Urban and Environmental Planning degree from the University of Virginia and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. As a Research Assistant at the YPCCC, she manages outreach for the Yale Climate Connections daily radio program and assists with overall media strategy.

Lauren Boucher

Research Assistant

Nicole Buttermore

Nicole is with Facebook Data for Good and partnered with YPCCC on the 31-country survey of climate attitudes in the spring of 2021.

Nicole Buttermore

Nora Heaphy

Digital Ads Assistant

The Skoll Global Threats Fund

The Skoll Global Threats Fund’s mission is to confront global threats imperiling humanity by seeking solutions, strengthening alliances, and spurring actions needed to safeguard the future.

Surbhi Bharadwaj

Surbhi graduated from Yale College in May 2020 with a degree in Economics and Statistics & Data Science. She was also in the Energy Studies multidisciplinary academic program, through which she examined sustainability practices in the industry of corporate advising. She is now interning at a data journalism outlet in India, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Urvi Talaty

Research Assistant

Urvi Talaty

Research Assistant

Urvi is a Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of the Environment. She is interested in green chemistry, industrial ecology and corporate sustainability and the role businesses have to play in mitigating climate change. Before coming to Yale, she has interned with various organizations including UN Environment. She has a Bachelors degree in chemical engineering and an MBA, and is a founder of a non-profit initiative in India called Mission SanScar.

Valentina Connell

Social Media Producer

Valentina Connell

Social Media Producer

Valentina graduated from Yale College in 2020 with a major in Political Science. She wrote her thesis on American climate change policies. On campus, Valentina served as the Managing Editor for The Politic, an undergraduate magazine; ran discussions about international climate change-induced migration with the Yale International Relations Association; and danced and choreographed for Danceworks, her dance group. She was also a Harvest pre-orientation leader and has volunteered on five organic farms throughout Connecticut. She loves trying new restaurants around New Haven with her friends.

Vinay Kumar

Social Media Intern

Vinay Kumar

Social Media Intern

Vinay is a Master of Business Administration student at the Yale School of Management. He has a specific interest in the convergence of climate change, environmental education, and impact investing. He has worked for more than five years across different cities in India and comes with an interdisciplinary experience cutting across the information technology, non-profit education and financial services industries. In his spare time, Vinay likes to read, and travel to places of historic and natural significance.

Yuqin (Amelia) Han

Social Data Analyst

Yuqin (Amelia) Han

Social Data Analyst

Amelia is a first-year Master of Environmental Science candidate at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Prior to Yale, she conducted researches broadly on air quality sampling, environmental chemistry analysis, microbiology, and health impact of air pollution. She serves as student associate of Yale Climate Change and Health Initiative this year and has high interests in understanding the general opinion on climate change and environmental issues. She holds a degree from Sichuan University, where she majored in Environmental Engineering.

Zhinan Chen

Chinese Social Media Producer

Zhinan Chen

Chinese Social Media Producer

Zhinan is a Master of Environmental Management candidate at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies interested in environmental anthropology, religion and ecology as well as sustainable development. Prior to attending Yale, she received her B.A. in Arabic and economics from Peking University in China. During her undergrad, Zhinan enjoyed observing and reporting cultures in the Middle East through months of studying in Oman, Morocco, and UAE. Nature and language are the two things that Zhinan loves the most. At Yale, she aspires to combine her expertise in Arabic with methodologies in environmental studies to understand water, energy and environmental impacts of Chinese investment in the Middle East.

Our Team

Anthony Leiserowitz

Director

Anthony Leiserowitz

Director

Bessie Schwarz

Strategist

Bessie Schwarz

Strategist

Cyndi Norrie

Deputy Digital Director

Cyndi Norrie

Deputy Digital Director

Eric Fine

Project Manager

Eric Fine

Project Manager

Jennifer Carman

Postdoctoral Associate

Jennifer Carman

Postdoctoral Associate

Jennifer Marlon

Research Scientist

Jennifer Marlon

Research Scientist

Jon Ozaksut

Digital Director

Jon Ozaksut

Digital Director

Joshua Low

Partnerships Director

Joshua Low

Partnerships Director

Karine Lacroix

Postdoctoral Associate

Karine Lacroix

Postdoctoral Associate

Lisa Fernandez

Associate Director

Lisa Fernandez

Associate Director

Martial Jefferson

Software Engineer

Martial Jefferson

Software Engineer

Matthew Goldberg

Associate Research Scientist

Matthew Goldberg

Associate Research Scientist

Seth Rosenthal

Project Director

Seth Rosenthal

Project Director

Xinran Wang

Data Scientist

Xinran Wang

Data Scientist

Amelia Fortgang

Intern

Amelia Fortgang

Intern

Annabel Sotomi

Instagram Producer

Annabel Sotomi

Instagram Producer

Arunima Sircar

Research Assistant

Arunima Sircar

Research Assistant

Ava Gehlen-Williams

Social media producer

Ava Gehlen-Williams

Social media producer

Ben Everett-Lane

YCC Research Assistant

Ben Everett-Lane

YCC Research Assistant

Benjamin Stern

Ads assistant

Benjamin Stern