Team
We are a dedicated community of leaders, working together to ensure a sustainable future for all.
TEAM
Judi Shils | Executive Director + Founder
Judi has spent the last 28 years of her life spearheading grassroots community projects. The dearth of answers around Marin County’s high cancer rates led Judi to found the nonprofit Search for the Cause, now Turning Green, a global student-led movement advocating for healthy food, safer products, and ethical businesses. She is also the force behind The Conscious Kitchen, a paradigm shifting model for school food service, transitioning school meals from pre-packaged, processed, heat-and-serve to chef-prepared, scratch cooked local, organic food, cooked in on-site zero waste kitchens. Believing that access to healthy food is a right, not a privilege, she began this work on a campus where 95% of children live below the poverty line, qualifying for free-and-reduced government-subsidized school meals. Moving to the Bay Area in 1989 and becoming a mother to daughter Erin changed the course of Judi’s life. Prior to this, she was an Emmy Award-winning television producer for 25 years with ABC Sports, FOX and Oxygen, founded The Diary Project forum for youth at the onset of the internet, and ran a successful student art exhibition, Celebrate Arts. Judi has been a consultant with the California Coastal Commission around public education for the past two decades.
Erin Schrode | Co-Founder
Erin Schrode is an activist and social entrepreneur. This leading voice on sustainability, social justice and millennials recently ran an unprecedented campaign for US Congress in California. Since co-founding Turning Green in 2005, she’s developed eco-education and action platforms for millions of students and beyond. Erin speaks and consults internationally, contributes to ABC, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Refinery29, and is featured in The New York Times, Today Show, Vanity Fair, CNN, FOX, Seventeen, Forbes, more. After Hurricane Maria, Erin led #ChefsForPuertoRico as COO to serve 3.7+ million meals, for which founder Chef José Andrés was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, then investing in local, sustainable agriculture and food systems islandwide. This bold innovator and community organizer champions civic leadership, conscious living, and environmental stewardship on a lifelong journey to inspire and mobilize people to discover and activate passion for social impact and policy change.
Sue Waiss | Program Administrator
Sue has worked with Turning Green for 13 years and has helped bring all of our key programs to life. She is passionate about sustainability, education, and bringing our programs to students across the country and around the world. Prior to TG, Sue worked as a Project Manager and Studio Manager in the graphic design industry and co-founded two video production companies.
Caralee Ellis | Chief of Staff
Caralee is a recent graduate from the University of California Berkeley where she received a B.S. in Society and Environment and Food Systems minor. Throughout her academic career she has held leadership positions across several student organizations advocating for environmental and social justice. She started her journey with Turning Green as a lead intern on the Conscious Kitchen team in August of 2021 where she worked on projects like Project Cereal, OEHHA Public Comment on glyphosate, and was a guest speaker alongside Dr. Jessica Shade at the PGC Finals. She was promoted to the first fellow position the organization ever had in November of 2021 where she completed a comprehensive cost analysis of all organic scratch-cooked meals served at WCCUSD, supported data collection of all organic purchasing, and worked on recipe development that began Project Salad. Caralee is organized, adaptable, and driven by a passion for protecting the health of the planet and all those who inhabit it.
Debbie Raphael | Strategic Advisor
Debbie, a scientist by training, has dedicated nearly 20 years of her career in public service to creating innovative environmental policies that have positioned the City/County of San Francisco as a world leader in environmental protection and action against climate change. Before serving as Director of San Francisco’s Department of Environment, she was appointed by California Governor Jerry Brown and confirmed by the California Senate to serve as the Director of the state’s Department of Toxics Substances Control where her reforms of the Department were recognized by the State Legislature, and she launched the internationally renowned Safer Consumer Products Program – a first of its kind in the US.
Since coming to SF Department of Environment her contributions to environmental policy and protection have been acknowledged internationally as evidenced by the selection of Debbie by Apolitical (an international news organization) as one of the world’s top 100 most impactful leaders on climate change. For the past 30 years of public service, Debbie has focused her energy forging successful partnerships and collaboration between government agencies, community organizations, and the business sector. Debbie’s accomplishments underscore the importance of such inclusive and cross-sector relationships for tackling the significant environmental challenges facing urban centers like San Francisco.
A few examples of the cutting edge and globally recognized programs that have flourished during the past 8 years of her leadership of the Department of the Environment include:
1. Reducing San Francisco’s emissions of greenhouse gasses over 40% below 1990 levels – 6 years ahead of schedule.
2. Developing an equity-centered Climate Action Plan in partnership with businesses, community organizations, and city agencies. This plan sets out a bold path for the next 20 years of climate action.
3. Creating building codes that eliminate natural gas, require solar and green roofs, install charging for electric vehicles, and protect the health of low income residents.
4. Creating a world class system of composting and recycling and then passing laws that eliminate materials with no end-of-life purpose. San Francisco’s zero waste programs and services are the envy of cities across the country.
5. Providing benefits to small and large businesses alike through energy efficiency, safer janitorial and building maintenance products, waste reduction, and more.
6. Protecting the health of vulnerable populations through programs such as Green Business Certification, Healthy Nail Salons, and Environmental Justice.
7. Educating thousands of school-aged children to form environmental habits and inspiring the future leaders that our planet depends on for its very survival.
Hannah McGovern Gross丨Program Coordinator
Hannah is a native New Yorker, an actor, singer and environmentalist. She founded the NYC chapter of Turning Green while at The Brearley School, won a grant while she was a student at Wellesley College to host a Project Green Dorm event there, and since then, has helped whenever she could, most recently with Project Green Challenge in 2020 and now also for 2021.
Susan Grelock Yusem | Strategic Consultant
Susan is a researcher, storyteller, and super-curious human. She believes that psychology can be a generative force for environmental sustainability and social justice.
She loves bringing together teams and developing workshop environments, where teams roll up our sleeves and create something together. During her past experience in communications and marketing, she built and led creative teams at Whole Foods Market, organic innovator at Amy’s Kitchen, and a leading conservation nonprofit in the Pacific Northwest. As marketing lead at Patagonia’s start-up regenerative food division, Susan dove deep into video production and image-driven storytelling. As a studio art assistant, she has been joyfully immersed in the flow at the community studios Creativity Explored and Drawbridge.
Susan has a researcher’s inquisitive mind and feels at home with participatory designs and qualitative methods, especially interviews and narrative inquiry. Her PhD is in depth psychology with a specialization in community, liberation, and eco-psychologies. She has worked in fast-paced, innovative product companies, so she is not (just) an academic—and wants to help make sure leading edge thinking reaches a wide audience. Susan melds her inquisitive mind with experience in creative production, like events, podcasts, and print design, to develop arts-based engagements.
For her doctoral research she circled around the Yellowstone to Yukon corridor interviewing biologists, artists and activists about their work and connection to wolves. Usually they were somewhere outside. Always sparks of unexpected insight emerged from the conversations. A beautiful catalog emerged from her work.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
FALL 2022 INTERNS & FELLOWS
Will Funk
BA, Colorado College
Will is a graduate of Colorado College class of 22’ with a degree in History and a passion for environmental law and policy. Will enjoys reading and writing in his spare time and plans to attend law school in 2023.
Alicia Swinton
MPH, University of Alabama
Alicia is a graduate from Fayetteville State University where she received a B.S. in Chemistry graduating magna cum laude. Currently enrolled at the University of Alabama at Birmingham pursuing an MPH degree with a concentration of maternal and child health policy. As a current member of the Maternal & Child Health Student Association, Alicia has the passion to resolve complex public health problems relating to child obesity, social and environmental injustices, health inequalities, and pollution to name a few. Alicia desires to be an obstetrician gynecologist where she will utilize her platform to be an advocate to fight for change in a healthcare setting.
Damya Srivastava
Junior, Forest Research Institute (India)
Damya is studying Forestry at FRI, pursuing a major in Plantation Economics with a research thesis on the same. Born and raised in India, she has a long cultivated interest in environmental issues with a focus on sustainable technologies which are concepts of increasing importance in the world. She took up Biology in high school, Botany in graduation and Forestry in post-graduation – to move into the field of preservation, from a scientist’s perspective. The diverse and collaborative projects in Turning Green are what most attracted her; and she hopes to learn new skills and make life-long friends here.
SUMMER 2022 INTERNS
Aimee Tsang
Sophomore, Cornell University
Aimee is a rising sophomore at Cornell University studying Chemistry & Chemical Biology with a minor in Environment & Sustainability. She is from the California Bay Area and grew up with a love for nature that has since developed into a desire to protect the Earth’s resources. At school she is a member of Sustainable Education, a project team oriented around sustainable architecture, and in the future hopes to research biodegradable polymers. Outside of academics, Aimee enjoys reading in her hammock, exploring nearby hiking trails, slacklining, and going to the farmer’s market.
AJ Yuan
BS, UC Davis
AJ is a recent graduate from UC Davis, where he studied Environmental Science. Both of his parents were environmental scientists in Delaware, which inspired him to also pursue a career in the field. AJ is passionate about uplifting communities inequitably impacted by climate change, and hopes to become an environmental lawyer. He is currently also canvassing for Environment California in Oakland, and in his free time AJ loves to do fencing, take pictures of sunsets, and make Spotify playlists.
Avery Fratto
Sophomore, University of Southern California
Avery is a rising sophomore at the University of Southern California. She's currently getting a Bachelors of Science degree in Environmental Studies as well as a minor in Economics. She is the Event Coordinator for the Science Policy group on her campus, a student organization that seeks to promote and advocate for the important intersections of research and public policy. She's a vegan, an animal-lover, and is passionate about creating meaningful environmental change through both policy as well as consumer behavior. In her free time she can be found out with friends, reading a good book, or working as a tour guide at USC.
Damya Srivastava
Junior, Forest Research Institute (India)
Damya is studying Forestry at FRI, pursuing a major in Plantation Economics with a research thesis on the same. Born and raised in India, she has a long cultivated interest in environmental issues with a focus on sustainable technologies which are concepts of increasing importance in the world. She took up Biology in high school, Botany in graduation and Forestry in post-graduation – to move into the field of preservation, from a scientist’s perspective. The diverse and collaborative projects in Turning Green are what most attracted her; and she hopes to learn new skills and make life-long friends here.
Davis Block
Senior, Colby College
Davis is a rising senior at Colby College studying Environmental Studies Computation. He was raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia and spent many summers at Acadia National Park in Maine. As a sailing instructor there, he developed an affinity for the locally conserved lands and wished for the next generation to be able to embrace them as well. He is intrigued by environmental policy and would love to see sustainable design emphasized. Davis looks forward to potentially working in the data analysis sector to help further his fight for the environment.
Elizabeth Lockerby
Senior, Dominican University of California
Elizabeth is pursuing a double major in microbiology and psychology with a chemistry minor at Dominican University of California. She has always been interested in integrating green practices into her everyday life and into her community. Elizabeth uses experimental research, another of her passions, to build solid foundations for stories that promote green lifestyles. She completed two theses in the course of her studies: the first involved determining whether compost was a viable means of carbon sequestration in her county, and the second looked at how access to greenspace can impact student stress and academic performance. Elizabeth hopes to continue inspiring her local and global community to make changes that better themselves and the environment.
Ella Widmann
Sophomore, Grinnell College
Ella is a rising 2nd year at Grinnell College majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Environmental Studies. Learning about environmental justice as a form of social justice has fundamentally changed the way she views the world, and she is so excited to apply those learnings to the work of Turning Green. She is originally from Colorado and is a big advocate for collaborative thinking. In her free time, Ella can be found laying in the sun, eating bagels, and reading creative nonfiction.
Fiona Kubalak
Sophomore, Scripps College
Fiona is a rising sophomore at Scripps College. She has not yet declared a major because she loves so many different things but will most likely dual major in Media Studies and Art with a minor in Environmental Studies. Fiona grew up in Seattle Washington and was surrounded by sustainability projects and climate action initiatives from a young age. Throughout high school she developed a passion for climate activism and making her life as sustainable as possible. She hopes to make the Scripps campus a more sustainable place over the next three years, continue to support local climate justice policies, and incorporate climate activism into her art. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering at a local farm with her friends, playing board games, drawing, and reading graphic novels.
Jen Kunz
Sophomore, American University
Jen is a rising sophomore at American University, pursuing an interdisciplinary public affairs degree with a minor in environmental science. Going on road trips and visiting national parks (Glacier is her favorite!) as she grew up gave her a love for the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. She is deeply passionate about the importance of advocacy and policy to protect and restore the environment for future generations. In her free time, Jen can be found baking cookies, reading comic books, playing board games, and drinking coffee.
Jen Mynard
Senior, The College of Wooster
Jen is a rising senior at the College of Wooster with a double major in Art History and Environmental Studies. Within her Environmental Studies Major, Jen focuses on food and waste systems. As a Hoboken, NJ native, Jen has grown up in a concrete jungle and wants to learn how to create meaningful solutions within her urban community at home and rural community at college. Going into her senior year, she is excited to focus on her Independent Study capstone project centered around the barriers and solutions to making sustainable architecture accessible and affordable. She is active on campus as a member of several clubs including the Environmental Justice Coalition, the Greenhouse Club, the Shades of Gold Acapella Group, and the Women's Rugby team. When not in classes or working at the library, you can find Jen reading fiction, painting bad self-portraits, or making a mess in the kitchen.
Jerry Dai
Sophomore, University of California, Davis
Peijie Dai (“Jerry”) is a rising sophomore at UC Davis majoring in Environmental Science & Management. He enjoys working on the Sustainable Development Goals because he is motivated to promote and protect those things he values most in this world, including the environment, animal life, and human rights. He tries to keep this work in perspective by focusing on one step at a time, contributing bit by bit towards a better world for all people. Growing up in a different country, Jerry gained a global mindset after coming to the U.S. to study.
Margarita Niemann
Senior, California State University of Sacramento
Margarita is currently a 4th year student at the California State University of Sacramento studying Political Science and Chicanx/Latinx studies. Growing up in the quickly urbanizing city of Elk Grove, Margarita became greatly interested in learning about the damaging effects of urbanization on both the community and the environment, particularly focusing on its disproportionate impacts on minority neighborhoods. As a half-Mexican, half-Irish and Scottish woman, she also advocates for education and immigration reform to work towards obtaining social justice for the Chicanx/Latinx community through education and immigration reform. In her free time, Margarita enjoys attempting new vegan recipes, running/ hiking in nature, and playing with her three dogs.
Olivia Kilborn
Junior, Middlebury College
Olivia is a rising Junior at Middlebury College studying International & Global Studies with a focus in environmental change and Arabic. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, she is fascinated by the relationship between climate health, public health, and urban environments. As an intern at the Knoll—Middlebury’s student-run sustainable garden—she is passionate about facilitating conversations on food justice and BIPOC accessibility to the outdoors. In her free time, she enjoys backpacking in the Cascades, language learning, reading, and gardening.
Olivia Murphy
Junior, University of Michigan
Olivia is a junior at the University of Michigan majoring in Environmental studies and Spanish. She is passionate about the intersection of climate justice and law and policy as she hopes to one day practice Environmental law. In the meantime, she is focused on learning the intricacies of sustainability as it relates to urban planning and food justice through the Graham sustainability scholars program at her university. She also co-leads her University’s chapter of Students Helping Honduras, an organization committed to education-based, community-driven global development. In her free time Olivia enjoys running, reading and spending time with her friends.
Reily Fairchild
Sophomore, University of California, Los Angeles
Reily is a rising sophomore at UCLA, pursuing a major in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society. Born and raised in San Francisco, she was exposed to the power of urban expansion in cooperation with technological advancement. Additionally, she spent her childhood exploring the wonders of the California flora and fauna surrounding the San Francisco peninsula, and fell in love with the idea of orienting her future towards protecting the Earth. With interests in renewable energy and food systems, Reily is excited to be apart of the Turning Green team to experience the positive impact that community-based, sustainably focused organizations can achieve. Prior to Turning Green, she has worked as an educator and as a member of UCLA’s Sustainability Action Research, analyzing energy inefficient practices within the student dormitories. She leads her life with an open outlook of all possibilities, and loves to rock climb, play guitar, cook vegan meals, and paint.
Tenaya Fottrell
Sophomore, Smith College
Tenaya (she/they pronouns) is a rising sophomore pursuing bachelor's degrees in Medieval Studies and English Literature at Smith College. Born and raised in Oakland, California, she found a passion for environmental activism at a young age and served as a student eco educator throughout high school. They are thrilled to return to the environmental justice sphere and share their passion for the natural world with others through Turning Green. In her spare time, she loves to explore the outdoors through hiking, camping, and backpacking as well as play tabletop games, sing, and train martial arts.
Tiffany Chan
Junior, University of California, Los Angeles
Tiffany will be a junior at the University of California, Los Angeles in the fall of 2022. She is currently working towards her degree in Geography/Environmental Studies, while minoring in Conservation Biology and Geographic Information Systems & Technology. The topics of GIS, food sustainability, and environmental protection are particularly fascinating to her, and she hopes to pursue a career in the intersection of these fields. Born and raised in California, Tiffany enjoys spending time in nature and particularly values the aesthetic nature of flowers. Outside of academics, she can be found baking, creating playlists, painting, and exploring new places.
Will Funk
BA, Colorado College
Will is a graduate of Colorado College class of 22’ with a degree in History and a passion for environmental law and policy. Will enjoys reading and writing in his spare time and plans to attend law school in 2023.
FALL/WINTER 2021 FELLOWS & INTERNS
Caralee Ellis | Conscious Kitchen Fellow
Senior, University of California Berkeley
Caralee is a senior at the University of California Berkeley where she is studying Society and Environment with a minor in Food Systems. Since the beginning of her academic career she has had a strong passion for sustainability that drove her to lead various student organizations advocating for environmental and social justice. She believes in leading by example and tries to live as sustainably as possible while inspiring others to do the same. Caralee is currently an intern with Conscious Kitchen and hopes to continue working in the field of sustainability in any way she can make meaningful change upon her graduation. Outside of academics, she loves vegan cooking, picnics, hiking, and rock climbing.
Lucy Yoshioka | Conscious Kitchen Fellow
University of California Los Angeles
Lucy is a senior at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is currently studying geography and environmental studies, with minors in GIS and urban and regional studies. As a southern California native who has lived in city environments her whole life, she is interested in finding ways to incorporate green infrastructure and sustainable urban planning into our built environments, while addressing social justice issues. She is deeply passionate about using her privilege and skill sets gained through my education to help others in ways both large and small. She also loves to stay active and spend time exercising or exploring outdoors. She is a four year member of the UCLA DragonBoat team and loves to paddle in Long Beach on the weekends for training with her teammates. Paddling through the gorgeous marine environments in California has strengthened her commitment to creating a clean future for others, and her team has shared that same vision by hosting beach clean-ups in the past. In her free time Lucy can be found at the gym, reading, writing poetry, drawing in her bullet journal, or visiting a local farmer's market.
Kenna Clawson | Conscious Kitchen Intern
University of California Berkeley
Kenna is in her final year at UC Berkeley studying Nutritional Science. After learning about the substantial amount of food waste in America and taking a class about the food practices across many different cultures, she was inspired to get involved in changing the food system in America. This is what led her to the Conscious Kitchen and she has thoroughly enjoyed working on this team - being inspired daily, seeing real change happen, and everything revolves around a more equitable, sustainable, and FLOSN food future. Kenna has been moved by Turning Green peers, leaders, and supporters alike, all with the vision of a bright future and taking action to get there.
Andrew Fu | Conscious Kitchen Intern
Stony Brook University, Freshman
Andrew is a first-year student at Stony Brook University studying Health Sciences with a minor in Asian Studies. His journey began in the bustling streets of New York City. Working at GrowNYC Farmstands, he saw firsthand the devastation food apartheid wreaks on communities of color and how social determinants of health intersect with environmental justice, food justice, and sustainability. He learned about the relationship between healthy food, healthy humans, and a healthy planet, and wants to create change through food. He is working with the Conscious Kitchen team to transform the current paradigm of food as a commodity into one that celebrates food as an ambassador for culture, community, and the environment. In his free time, he enjoys powerlifting and playing guitar.
Olivia Graham | Conscious Kitchen Intern
University of Michigan, Junior
Olivia is a junior at the University of Michigan studying Community and Global Public Health, with a minor in Food in the Environment. After she graduates, she wants to pursue her masters in Nutritional Sciences with the goal of working for food and nutritional justice within marginalized communities. She is passionate about advocating for a sustainable, balanced and exciting diet for all people. In her free time, Olivia enjoys listening to podcasts, cooking new meals, and playing board games with her friends.
SUMMER INTERNS 2021
Brooke Crouch丨Summer Intern Coordinator
Senior, University of Virginia
Brooke is a rising fourth year at the University of Virginia studying Global Environments + Sustainability and Environmental Science. Her passion for the environment began at a young age, spending every summer camping, hiking, and backpacking in National Parks across the country with her family. After she graduates, she wants to work in the environmental nonprofit sector, with a special focus on sustainable, equitable food systems. She is passionate about living a low waste, plant based lifestyle, and loves talking to her friends and family about ways to lower their footprint and live a lower impact lifestyle. In her free time, Brooke enjoys camping and backpacking, vegan baking, reading, and yoga.
Emily McCabe | Campus Rep Coordinator
Sophomore, University of California, Berkeley
Emily is a second year student at the University of California, Berkeley, studying Environmental Economics and Policy. She grew up in rural northern California, where she fostered a love for the environment through playing outdoors and enjoying the area's many public parks. After graduating, Emily hopes to study environmental law and work for the Environmental Protection Agency. On the Berkeley campus, Emily works with the Housing and Dining Sustainability Association to advocate for food policy across campus as well as educate students about their waste habits. In her free time, Emily enjoys meeting new people, walking her dog, practicing yoga, and reading magazines.
Addie Foote | Summer Intern
Addie Foote is a rising high school senior with a passion for the environment. To dive deeper into this interest, she competed and won second place in PGC 2020 with her team. She also enjoys working on engineering challenges and hopes to continue her education in this area in college. Constantly learning, Addie spends her free time reading as well as connecting with nature and friends.
Aly Rasmussen | Summer Intern
Senior, University of Oregon
Aly is a senior at the University of Oregon, studying Psychology and Sociology focusing on environmental issues. She grew up in Oakland California, where she saw the impacts of environmental racism and injustice within her own city. After graduating this June, she wants to work for an environmental nonprofit that focuses on environmental justice and giving a voice to indigenous and underserved communities that are underrepresented in protections and policy. In her free time, Aly enjoys hiking, traveling, spending time with pets, and wants to begin raising butterflies.
Belle Fisher | Summer Intern
Senior, University of California, Berkeley
Belle is a rising senior at the University of California, Berkeley studying Conservation and Resource Studies in the College of Natural Resources. She grew up in the East Bay Area spending her childhood hiking and camping, which inspired her love of all things outdoors. After graduating, Belle hopes to continue into the field of environmental education, teaching kids about the interconnectedness between humans and our environment, encouraging kindness to our planet. Belle spends her weekdays tutoring elementary school kids, and her weekends at the farmers market, picnicking, reading or watering her plants.
Brandon Vorrath | Summer Intern
Senior, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Brandon Vorrath is a fourth-year political science major at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, concentrating in pre-law. Brandon currently serves as an intern on the Turning Green team. He is from the San Francisco Bay Area and is passionate about entertainment, politics, news, and social trends - with an emphasis on the intersection between politics and the arts.
Cameron McKenzie | Summer Intern
Senior, Bowdoin College
Cameron is a rising senior at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine studying Environmental Studies and Earth & Oceanographic Science. Growing up in western New York, she spent the majority of her childhood hiking in the Adirondacks, landscaping with her dad, and visiting her Uncle’s farm. Living in Maine for the past 3 years has only deepened her passion for sustainable agriculture. She worked on a local, organic farm last summer that worked to decrease food insecurity across MidCoast Maine and hopes to use her knowledge about sustainable agriculture practices while at Turning Green. After graduating, Cameron would like to pursue work within the environmental, non-profit agricultural sector. In her free time, she enjoys going on runs, hiking, reading, baking, and exploring local farmers markets.
Cassidy Nelson | Summer Intern
Cassidy is entering her fourth year at Whitman College, where she is pursuing a degree in Sociology and minoring in Economics. She became interested in sustainability from a young age, while gardening, cooking, and traveling with her parents and siblings. Growing up in Central Oregon, being surrounded by nature was a daily joy. Each day she does what she can to live a responsible and sustainable lifestyle, participate in climate activism, and support policy that furthers climate justice. This coming year she hopes to develop her senior thesis on generational differences related to climate action. She has previous experience with non-profits fundraising for the local Humane Society. Upon graduation, she hopes to continue non-profit work in the sustainability, environmental and social justice fields to make an on-the-ground difference in my community. In her free time, she can be found reading, running, listening to Fleetwood Mac, taking care of her various house plants, and cooking with her family or housemates.
Connor Webb | Summer Intern
Junior, San Jose State University
Connor is currently a junior at San Jose State University. He is majoring in Environmental Studies with a concentration in environmental restoration. Initially, he didn’t plan to major in environmental studies and put it as my backup major without any real reason. He ended up not getting into my first major of choice and so he went into Environmental Studies. He didn't really know what to expect but it's now become a passion of mine and I've come to enjoy writing because of it. Being in this major definitely changed his perspective on the world and how we inhabit it and now he wants to do his part in protecting it. Some of his hobbies include backpacking and hiking.
Daniel Schneider | Summer Intern
Junior, University of Michigan
Daniel is a Junior at the University of Michigan majoring in Environment and minoring in Computer Science. He is an active member in environmental organizations on campus and has a strong interest in exploring the relationship between technology and sustainability. After graduating, Daniel hopes to use data analysis techniques to solve the world's agricultural and ecological challenges. In his free time, Daniel enjoys running, cooking, and a good road trip.
Devon Chapman | Summer Intern
Junior, University of Washington
Devon is a third-year student at the University of Washington in Seattle studying political science and environmental studies. She was born and raised in the PNW with an adventurous family of surfers and explorers in Southern California as well. Her passion and love for the outdoors started at a very young age, from riding her first wave to hiking her first mountain. As she grew up, she became aware that the environment that she loved to explore was degrading, with fish she used to snorkel with not being there anymore and parks beginning to look different. This sparked her desire to fight for the planet which brings her here, to an internship with Turning Green. After graduation, she hopes to go on to further fight the environmental and social discrimination in this country and encourage sustainability in all sectors.
Ella Fesler | Summer Intern
Junior, University of Virginia
Ella is a rising 3rd year at the University of Virginia. She is majoring in Global Environments + Sustainability with a minor in public policy. Sustainability sparked Ella's interest in high school, thanks to one of her teachers and her participation in the Project Green Challenge 2017. In particular, Ella is interested in the development of sustainable food systems. In her free time, Ella can be found journaling or cooking a good meal.
Francesca Mustain | Summer Intern
Junior, Brown University
Francesca is a junior studying environmental science at Brown University. She was born and raised in Colombia, where she fell in love with the surrounding nature and became very interested in the environment. After learning more about climate change and its impact, she became passionate about environmental justice and equality. Francesca is now taking classes on climate policy and sustainable development in order to better advocate for the future of our planet and its people. Francesca has been involved with environmental groups on campus whose mission is to inform and encourage sustainable policies and habits on campus. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and listening to true crime podcasts.
Gabriela Nahm | Summer Intern
Sophomore, Davidson College
Gabriela is a rising sophomore at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. She is an intended Environmental studies major on the social sciences track with a potential minor in sociology. She has always had a strong love for the environment through years of hiking on the nearby Appalachian trail and other outdoor adventures, but she found her passion for Environmental Justice after watching There’s Something in the Water in her first environmental studies college course. She is the student ambassador for Davidson’s Sustainability Collective and is passionate about making sustainability an accessible choice for all students on campus. In her free time, she loves long walks, plant-based baking, and having dance parties in her dorm room.
Giulia Oltranti | Summer Intern
Senior, University of California, Berkeley
Giulia Oltranti is an incoming Senior at the University of California, Berkeley. She is majoring in Society in Environment and minoring in Food Systems. Growing up in an Italian household she was always surrounded by delicious fresh food made from scratch. This inspired her to take on baking as a hobby and she now shares her passion for baking through teaching the Life Skills: Intro to Baking DeCal at Berkeley. Throughout her time as an undergraduate taking courses on the environment, public health, nutrition and agriculture, she has become especially interested in transforming our food system to one that is more sustainable and resilient in the long-run. She hopes to spread awareness about the benefits of plant-based diets for the environment and one’s health and encourage healthy eating habits through fun and easy recipes. In her free time, Giulia can be seen baking up a storm in her kitchen.
Grace Leary | Summer Intern
Junior, University of California, Los Angeles
Grace is going into her third year at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she is studying History and Political Science. She is passionate about youth activism and has been involved in sustainability efforts and activism on her campus. This past year, she has been working on a campaign to end oil drilling in California and recently started a campus coalition for human and environmental intersectional advocacy. In the future, she hopes to work in research and policy for environmental justice and focus on human issues of climate change. For fun, Grace loves to cook plant-based food, hike, and swim, and she is learning how to surf.
Hannah Lempert | Summer Intern
Sophomore, University of Pittsburgh
Pronouns: They/Them
Han is a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh studying Sustainability, Urban Studies, Architecture, and American Sign Language. When not in school Han enjoys traveling, volunteering, and working at Thriftsburgh, an on campus thrift store. Han has always had a passion for environmental justice and the environment in general which is heavily related to their upbringing with Judaism. Han is a vegetarian and enjoys hammocking. Han has played violin for 12 years and has an artistic view on life due to their interest in art their entire life. Han is interested in sustainable urban design and is incredibly excited to be a summer intern!
Jenny Nguyen | Summer Intern
Junior, University of California, San Diego
Jenny is a third year student at the University of California, San Diego, majoring in Environmental Systems (Earth Sciences) and minoring in Psychology. She is passionate about understanding the impacts of climate change and what solutions can be implemented to address it as well as promoting sustainability within communities and the environment. Her sustainability journey began with her love for nature's beauty, and since then, she has been dedicated to learning about how she can practice sustainable living and help others learn more as well. On her campus, she is an active member of a few sustainability and climate change related organizations, working to raise awareness about these topics and uplift student and community voices. In her free time, Jenny enjoys dancing, exploring new places, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Kaija Schlangen | Summer Intern
Senior, University of Minnesota, Duluth
Kaija is a senior at the University of Minnesota Duluth and studies Psychology and Latin American Studies. She grew up in Two Harbors, MN with Lake Superior in her backyard. This proximity to nature ingrained deep respect for environmental conservation in her. She is passionate about committing to equity and justice in all work, but particularly sustainability. In her free time, Kaija enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time with her friends and family.
Karina Zimmerman | Summer Intern
Sophomore, Wellesley College
Karina is a sophomore at Wellesley College double majoring in Latin American Studies and Environmental Studies with a focus on ecology. Her love for the natural world grew throughout her childhood in the Pacific Northwest, where she enjoys hiking and skiing in the mountains and boogie boarding at the beach. Karina’s favorite area of sustainability is sustainable fashion, and she loves teaching others about the positive impacts of thrift shopping and upcycling clothing on the environment. In her free time, she loves to read, bake, and knit!
Kat Nguyen | Summer Intern
Freshman, University of California, Berkeley
Kat Nguyen is an incoming Freshman at the University of California, Berkeley, where she plans to major in Data Science and Environmental Economics & Policy. She became involved with Turning Green as a Project Green Challenge 2020 Finalist, where she completed her own climate action plan focused around cafeteria sustainability, hydroponics, composting, gardening, and a circular economy. During college, she hopes to explore the relationship between data science and sustainability to identify data-driven approaches to solving global ecological challenges. In her free time, she enjoys going on long hikes, picnics, and doodling in her bullet journal.
Kyra Clark | Summer Intern
Senior, University of Minnesota, Duluth
Kyra is an incoming senior at Wesleyan University studying Anthropology and Writing. Her interest in sustainability was sparked at a young age, but fortified when she studied cultural and biodiversity along the Mekong river at age 18. She has worked with the Middletown, CT chapter of Sunrise Movement, as a podcast editor for Women in Waders, and is interested in studying environmentalism and sustainability through an ethnographic and/or film-based lens. In her free time, Kyra can be found crocheting, cooking vegetarian meals, making sauerkraut, and watching movies with friends.
Lena Karam | Summer Intern
Senior, University of Oregon
As a rising senior at the University of Oregon Lena has always known that her passions around the environment would be the biggest influence in her life. From Portland, OR Lena spent all her time nurturing her passion, whether it be hiking in the Columbia River Gorge, exploring in her backyard, or taking trips exploring the pacific northwest Lena always had to be outside in some capacity and this led to her constantly growing love and wonder of nature and the environment. As an Environmental Studies major Lena uses her passion in hopes to begin her lifelong career of fighting against the injustices of environmental racism. Lena dreams of a world filled with unified communities who work together to not only protect the environment but who love and feel compassion for it as well."
Loren Jacobs | Summer Intern
Senior, University of Michigan
Loren is a rising senior at the University of Michigan School of Information concentrating in User Experience Design and minoring in Gender and Health. This is Loren’s first year working with Turning Green and she is beyond excited to spread her passion for environmental justice and gain experience in the non profit sector as she aspires to work in this space after graduation. She loves teaching art and writing to children, singing in her a cappella group, and going on outdoor adventures no matter the weather. She is working to combine her background in design and data manipulation with her passion for women’s and environmental health to fight for better support and resources to underserved communities. All she needs to be happy is the California sun and her puppies.
Max Hancock | Summer Intern
Sophomore, Frostburg State University
Max Hancock is a sophomore at Frostburg State University in rural Western Maryland. He is a senator on Student Government and holds the position of Vice President of Finance of the Frostburg chapter of Pi Lambda Phi. Max is a Quantitative Economics major with minors in both Geography and Sustainability Studies. His career path will take him into Appalachian resource economics, a field plagued by the exploitation of both workers and the environment. The flow of money has a massive impact on the way humans interact with natural resources: an unavoidable truth of life on the edge of Fracking territory. When not participating in activism, Max likes to raise aquatic plants and fish and play Dungeons and Dragons.
Meredith Epstein | Summer Intern
Meredith will be graduating from Stony Brook University in May 2021 where she studied Environmental Studies and Psychology. She has always been passionate about the environment and influencing the people around her to practice sustainability in their everyday lives. She is thrilled to be an intern at Turning Green, and is very excited to see how this experience will shape her future in environmental work! She loves to travel, and her dream is to live in as many countries as possible during her lifetime, all while advocating and educating others about how to live an environmentally-conscious lifestyle. Some of her favorite things to do are travel, cook plant-based meals, go on nature hikes, continue to learn about the environment, and read Harry Potter, Nicholas Sparks, and John Green books!
Rachel Kessler | Summer Intern
Senior, University of Virginia
Rachel is a rising fourth year at the University of Virginia studying Environmental Thought and Practice and Music. She first grew up surrounded by nature in Florida and later in Virginia where she discovered her passion for exploring and conserving the natural world. She volunteers with lake and trail clean-ups in her hometown and hopes to work for an environmental non-profit that focuses on sustainability, conservation, and social justice through environmental action and education. In her free time, Rachel enjoys playing the piano, painting, playing tennis, hiking, and exploring different National Parks.
Tamia Lewis | Summer Intern
Sophomore, Barnard College
Tamia is a rising sophomore at Barnard College in New York City, originally hailing from a rural town in Southern Chile. She is a lover of nature and good organic food, and is majoring in Environment and Sustainability. Tamia grew up in the countryside and spent most of her time camping and tending to her garden + animals. Together with her mother and sister, she owns and operates an organic, locally sourced, vegetarian coffee shop in her hometown.In the future, she hopes to use her degree to further environmental education, sustainable living practices, and sustainable agriculture + organic food production. In her free time, Tamia loves hiking, drinking coffee, baking, and knitting.
SPRING INTERNS 2021
Maya Nesbitt - Schnadt丨Spring Intern
Maya is a recent graduate from Reed College with a BA in English and a minor in Spanish. Growing up in rural England with a vegetable garden, and then moving to the beautiful Bay Area, shaped her appreciation for plant-based eating and interest in sustainability. Maya has worked as a camp counselor for the Audubon Society to help kids get interested in local wildlife and the environment, and has raised money for charity by creating art from recycled sea glass and other materials. She has also interned as a plant-based chef at the Ravens Restaurant in Mendocino. Maya became involved with Turning Green during Summer 2020 and hopes to continue working with the organization as they aim to mobilize and inspire.
Josie Sparks | Spring Intern
Senior, Bloomington High School South
Josie is a senior at Bloomington High School South who plans to study Environmental Science and Nonprofit Management in college. She grew up in southern Indiana going to sailing camp and Environmental Explorers camp which fostered her love for the environment. She became involved with Turning Green through Project Green Challenge in 2019, where she became a finalist and was awarded co-third place. As a result of Project Green Challenge, Josie founded a nonprofit, Yellowwood Youth, which works to provide guidance, opportunities, and inspiration to youth in Indiana regarding their role in solving environmental issues and the climate crisis. She is involved with Students Advocating for a Greener Environment (SAGE) at school and is part of the Youth Climate Accord in Indiana. She has played viola for 8 years, enjoys writing of all kinds, and enjoys teaching those younger than herself.
Ilana Zeitzer | Spring Fellow
Masters Student, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Ilana is a masters student at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, studying ecology. She was the second place winner for the Project Green Challenge in 2017. Her passion for sustainability and conservation is taking her to a future in ecology conservation research with specific interests in plants, fungi and soils. She graduated from Dickinson College in 2019 with honors in Biology and a minor in art.
Liz Tervet | Spring Intern
Liz Tervet is a high school senior attending the Marin School of Environmental Leadership (MarinSEL). MarinSEL is a specialized academy within Terra Linda High School that emphasizes leadership with project-based learning. Within MarinSEL, she has been able to work with the iMatter program, a national youth organization motivated to address the global climate crisis. She is a varsity swimmer and president of Interact club at her school. Interact is a Rotary-sponsored service club that gives young people an opportunity to participate in fun and meaningful service projects while developing leadership skills. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in Marin’s nature painting or hiking.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Heidi Locke Simon | Chair
Former Partner, Bain & Company
Heidi recently retired as a Partner of Bain & Company, a global strategy consulting firm where she worked for 20 years. She was a leader of the firm’s performance improvement capability area and managed Bain’s marketing and client development efforts on the West Coast. Prior to joining Bain in 1993, Heidi worked in investment banking for Goldman, Sachs & Company and spent time in brand management with Colgate-Palmolive Company. Heidi earned an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Politics and Economics with highest honors from Middlebury College, including course work at the University of Paris. Heidi began volunteering for Turning Green with its first Search for the Cause campaign a decade ago. She has served in numerous roles, including Board Chair for several years.
Al Baylacq | Board Member
Partner, Good Earth Natural Foods
Al has co-led the growth of Good Earth Natural Foods since 1999. Since the early 1970’s, Good Earth’s mission has been to bring organic food into grocery stores in a consistent way, while supporting innovative and ethical organic growers and ranchers. Al’s dream was to be part of a marketplace that reflected the community it served. At the time he joined Good Earth, it was his intention that Good Earth would play a role as a “community hub,” while influencing and educating people and businesses far beyond its local community. Al is proud to have initiated an organic school lunch program through Good Earth in 2003. Good Earth’s school lunch program began with 4 schools, and currently is in 17 Marin County schools. Al and Good Earth’s support has been instrumental in the founding and growth of The Conscious Kitchen program.
Chuck Dietrich | Board Member
Corporate Vice President, OPG Mobile Data Applications and Growth
Chuck works for Rajesh Jha and leads the Mobile Data Labs team in San Francisco. The team builds and grows innovative, mobile-centric applications that help people to use their ambient data combined with artificial intelligence (AI) and delightful experiences to automate their valuable administrative tasks. Chuck also works on OPG and corporate strategy around the areas AI, engagement and growth. Chuck enjoys the challenges of matching user needs with product strategy and goto market models.
Chuck has over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and was most recently the cofounder and CEO of Mobile Data Labs, acquired by Microsoft December, 2015. Mobile Data Labs is the creator of MileIQ, the top grossing finance app across both Google and Apple’s apps stores. Chuck's entrepreneurial past also includes building a retail products company, followed by joining Salesforce.com in its inception and staying for 9 years. In the role of General Manager and Vice President, Chuck built and ran many of Saleforce.com’s channel and partner programs, including system Integrators, marketing partners, product partnerships, and Latin American distribution. Chuck also built and led the company’s mobile strategy and business unit. After Salesforce.com, Chuck was the CEO of SlideRocket, which grew quickly and was acquired by VMware in 2011.
Chuck earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the University of Utah.
Chuck has been guest lecturer at Harvard, MIT and Northwestern and presents at many technology conferences. He has served on boards of numerous early to mid-stage companies and is involved with the Pledge 1% nonprofit initiative.
Chuck grew up in New Mexico and lives in Northern California with his wife and two children. Chuck is an avid adventurer and lover of the outdoors. In his younger days he spent a lot of time ski mountaineering in the Andes, Alps and Himalaya. When not working, he and his family can be found traveling, skiing, climbing, biking and kite surfing.
Justina Lai | Treasurer, Finance Chair
Chief Impact Officer and Shareholder, Wetherby Asset Management
Justina is a private equity investor that believes in harnessing the power of capital – and applying the discipline and rigor of conventional investing – to create meaningful social and environmental impact. Justina joined Wetherby Asset management in 2015 where she leads the firm’s impact investment strategy. Prior to Wetherby, she was a Director and Senior Investment Analyst focused on private markets strategies at Sonen Capital, an impact investment management firm. Previously, Justina helped manage the Rockefeller Foundation’s Program Related Investments portfolio comprised of domestic and international impact investments in private equity and private debt. She was also a core member of the Impact Investing team where she advanced and shaped the initiative strategy focused on building the field of impact investing. In addition, she has held positions with Legacy Venture in Palo Alto, CA and Rwanda Ventures, a business incubator launching and operating sustainable agricultural companies in Kigali, Rwanda.
Prior to her career in impact investing, she was an Associate in the New York and Paris offices of Vestar Capital Partners, where she diligenced and executed growth equity and leveraged buyout transactions across the US and Europe. Justina began her career in the sponsor coverage group within Citigroup’s Investment Banking Division in New York. Justina received a BS in Finance and International Business, summa cum laude, from New York University and an MBA with certificates in Public and Global Management from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Justina is proficient in Cantonese Chinese and Spanish and has lived and worked in Hong Kong, France, the UK and Rwanda.
Sean Martin | Board Member
President | CEO, Martin Consulting Group
Adam Kesselman | Board Member
Sustainable Food Systems Entrepreneur
Adam Kesselman is dedicated to cultivating a food system that grows in harmony with nature and the people who steward it and consume its bounty. As a chef and co-owner of Acre Gourmet, Adam collaborated with growers and producers to create a better food culture. Through his consultancy, The Lunch Trust, Adam brought his experience and passion for sustainable food systems to clients in the education and consumer packaged goods industries, developing innovative programs and products. Most recently, Adam was the Executive Director of the Center for Ecoliteracy, a non-profit dedicated to education for sustainable living and school food reform, and the recent co-sponsor of California’s School Meals for All bill that led to California becoming the first state to fund Universal Free School Meals.
Claire Veuthey | Board Member
Principal | Rizoma Ventures
Claire has worked in ESG/impact investing for 15 years, serving in product management, research, investment, and sales/business development roles in London, Toronto, Singapore, Amsterdam, and San Francisco. As Principal at Rizoma Ventures, Claire partners with investors seeking to integrate or assess environmental, social and governance (ESG) and impact in their investment processes, from due diligence to exit. Claire is particularly focused on venture and private equity investors. She also advises companies to understand and manage the impacts of their operations, and is co-authoring The Grassroots DEI Organizer Playbook, a tactical guide for early-stage, venture-backed companies on diversity & inclusion. In addition, Claire works as a Venture Partner for NextGen Venture Partners and the crowdinvesting platform Republic, and serves as a strategic advisor for several fintech startups.
She was previously Director of ESG & Impact Product at OpenInvest, one of the first venture-backed public benefit corporations. Before that, she led ESG on the Wells Fargo Social Impact Investing team, and worked in both research and sales at MSCI ESG Research and Sustainalytics. She also served as an advisor to the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board in 2017, its inaugural year. Claire holds an MBA from Berkeley-Haas, and MA From King’s College London, and a Licence from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. She speaks French and Spanish fluently; her Mandarin is a work in progress.
ADVISORY BOARD
Stephen Simon
Founder, Simon Equity Partners
Steve is the founder of Simon Equity Partners, LLC and has been a managing member since January 2007. From February 1997 to December 2006, he served as president and chief executive officer of Melvin Simon & Associates, Inc., a privately-held real estate and investment company. Steve serves on the board of directors of the Pacers Basketball Corporation. He is a director for the Herbert Simon Family Foundation and serves on the boards of the following non-profit organizations; Central Indiana Land Trust, Conscious Alliance and HeadCount.
Steve holds a degree in General Studies with a concentration in Public and Environmental Affairs from Indiana University.
Erin Schrode
Co-founder, Turning Green
Erin is an activist, social entrepreneur and writer. This leading voice on sustainability, social impact and millennials and vocal advocate for environmental action, public health and equal justice recently ran an unprecedented campaign for US Congress in California – to redefine civic engagement and reinvigorate a culture of public service.
Erin speaks and consults internationally and is a community organizer championing civic leadership and environmental stewardship worldwide. After Hurricane Maria, Erin led #ChefsForPuertoRico to serve 3.7+ million meals, while investing in local, sustainable agriculture and food systems islandwide and she coordinated the Conscious Kitchen feeding program to serve hot, organic, nutritious meals to students, elders and vulnerable populations near her home in Northern California amid Covid. This bold innovator is on a lifelong journey to inspire and mobilize people to discover and activate passion for social impact and policy change.
Kevin Grossman
Sales Strategy Manager, Clif Bar & Company
Kevin is currently the Sales Strategy Manager on Innovation at Clif Bar & Company, a multi-bottom line organic food company based in Emeryville, California. With over seven years of Food industry experience, Kevin has held various roles ranging from managing Natural and Grocery retail accounts to developing Clif's go-to-market strategies for new products in Grocery, Foodservice, Convenience, and Mass sales channels.
Kevin has always been interested in food and sustainability. While earning his Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Kevin spent his Saturday mornings roaming the Madison farmers market, learning and engaging with the local farmers to understand the plethora of fresh ingredients to cook with. As a California native, he was surprised to see the only vegetables available in February were those pickled from the summer before! While working at Clif, Kevin learned firsthand how a company can have multiple bottom lines and be both profitable and socially responsible. He helped teams navigate complex distribution channels such as K-12 food programs and developed new communication tools to empower Clif's sales team to better educate and engage their external partners on the company’s various social and environmental initiatives. With his Food industry experience and business-for-good mindset, Kevin is eager to help rethink and redesign our existing food system to create equitable access to nutritious, organic foods in all communities.
Sophie Moniz
Sophomore, Connecticut College
Sophie is a sophomore at Connecticut College studying biology. She first got involved with Turning Green in 2018 when she was a PGC Finalist, and ever since, she's been committed to taking action on her high school and college campuses, where she is a part of numerous sustainability and STEM organizations. While working with TG, she's seen the power of student led movements and continues to be inspired every day by such devoted and passionate peers. Her hope after college is to study marine conservation and explore the unknown parts of the oceans while finding ways to protect our beautiful marine ecosystems.
Susan Grelock-Yusem, PhD
Community & Ecopsychology Scholar
