Jes Thompson is the inaugural Assistant Vice President for Sustainability at Northern Michigan University and the Director of the Sustainability Hub for Innovation and the Environment. She previously served as a full professor in the College of Business. Jes  is a trained facilitator in Adaptive Management of Environmental Systems and Sustainable Business Strategy. She currently serves as the chair of the Marquette Climate Adaptation Task Force and recently served on the U.S. National Park System Advisory Board and the Board of Directors for Michigan Energy Options.

Rich ‘Raz’ Razgaitis co-founded FloWater in 2013 with a singular mission to put an end to single-use plastic water bottles. Since then, he’s led his team to create an entirely new drinking water platform that can provide access to ultra-purified, great-tasting water—without the need for plastic. FloWater  was recognized as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in America on the annual “Inc 5000” list for three consecutive years and by Fast Company as a “World Changing Idea.”

 Throughout her 18 years working in environmental education and community engagement, Eileen Boekestein has been passionate about connecting people with places and bridging gaps between scientists and the public. Her work, which for years has focused on watersheds, stormwater runoff, and water quality, is dedicated to fostering place-based environmental stewardship, environmental literacy, and civic engagement with an emphasis on youth. Eileen is currently the statewide Environmental Education Coordinator for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Marshall Kilgore is a passionate human rights advocate focused on empowering underserved and marginalized communities in Michigan. He joined the Environmental Council in July 2025 as the Movement Building Coordinator. Marshall has made significant contributions to non-profit organizations dedicated to environmental justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and tackling homelessness, alongside his political efforts. He currently holds the position of City Commissioner for the 3rd Ward in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Steve Bertman is Professor in the School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability at WMU where his main focus is on educating the campus about climate change.  In addition to courses on climate change, he is chair of the WMU Climate Change Working Group and Faculty Fellow for Climate Change Solutions. An organic chemist by training, his research interests include atmospheric chemistry and regenerative agriculture

Denise Keele is Executive Director at Michigan Climate Action Network and a former Associate Professor of Political Science at Western Michigan University. She served on the Kalamazoo Township Climate Committee, the City of Kalamazoo Sustainability committee, and as a Board of Trustee with the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Keele led the development of a climate action plan with a carbon neutrality goal of 2035.

Bridget Booth is a middle school science teacher at Haslett Middle School in East Lansing, MI. She is a certified environmental educator working towards integrating outdoor and climate education into public education curriculum through student-driven action and advocacy. She serves a Board Member and is a Past President of Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE). She currently serves as Michigan State Lead for SubjectToClimate and manages Michigan Climate Education Hub.

Becky Williams is a faculty member at GVSU School of Interdisciplinary Studies. Her research focuses on the impacts of climate change on rural and indigenous livelihoods in Central America, and how it impacts livelihood pathways – particularly in terms of  migration or participation in violent livelihoods. She also conducts research on gender and development projects through the lens of contemporary critical feminist critiques of development including intersectionality, masculinities, and decoloniality. 

Blair Stein is a historian interested in the ways that technological systems can act as mediators for modern experiences of space and time. Blair's first book, a technological, cultural, and environmental history of Air Canada, is currently out for review with McGill-Queen’s University Press.

Tanya Cabala is a dedicated community environmental advocate with over 30 years of experience. She serves as a Lakeshore outreach organizer for the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. Tanya has served 12 years on the City Council and is currently in another four-year term. She is a Founder of  White Lake Area Nature Walks and currently works on several important projects promoting clean energy solutions.

Mia Breznau is an award-winning climate activist and youth organizer from Kalamazoo, MI working to advance youth leadership, development, and engagement in grassroots climate advocacy. She currently serves as the Western Student Association Director of Sustainability at WMU and as a Youth Advisory Board Member for the Michigan Student Power Alliance.

Jessica Burpee,  is  Professor of  Geosciences at John Abbott College in Canada. She created a Teams Site for Climate Pedagogy resources for her College, helped to create the Climate Action Plan, and has led the Climate Literacy Project in most programs of the College. As Environmental Studies Coordinator since 2011, Jessica organized many green events for the college.

Marianne Hoffmeister Castro is a multidisciplinary artist and Assistant Professor of Studio Foundations and Visual Studies at Grand Valley State University. Their research critically examines the representation of nature and nonhuman animals in contemporary Western culture.

Charlotte Nana Mayworm  serves a School Climate Action Liaison through the Michigan Healthy Climate Fellows program at EGLE. She works to support Michigan schools by creating tools which address their unique needs, wherever they’re at in the process of “going green".

Janet Vail is a Scientist  Emerita at Annis Water Resources institute and Adjunct Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Studies courses at Grand Valley State University.  She is the author of a Michigan climate change curriculum.

Yumiko Jakobcic is the Director of Grand Valley State University’s Office of Sustainability Practices. Her research interests include the transboundary management of natural resources, human diversity in conservation, and neighborhood cohesion supported by natural areas.

Yue Liang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History. Her research interests include environmental history, Asian history, and the history of science, technology, and medicine.

Ian Tjoelker, Earthkeepers Chair, is a Politics, Philosophy, and Economics student, and Chair of the Earthkeepers Coalition at Calvin University. Ian has a passion for leading young people to advocate for themselves, the environment, and progress towards better institutional policy around sustainability. 

David Crandall is a translator, composer, and theater maker with a special interest in traditional Japanese stage arts. As a member of Citizens' Climate Lobby, he is also a dedicated environmental activist in West Michigan.

Shalom Yabilsu is an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design whose work explores design as a catalyst for social justice and change. She focuses on creating equitable, sustainable design solutions at the intersections of community, environment and technology

Donovan Anderson is Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at GVSU. He is Associate Professor of German in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures where he has also been German Section Coordinator. Donovan is a strong advocate for international education and study abroad.

Tierney S. Powell is Assistant Professor of English at Grand Valley State University. Her current book project theorizes how aesthetic representations of logistical crises expose the dehumanizing and ecocidal logics of accelerating, energy-intensive commodity circulation.

Edward F. Aboufadel is Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at GVSU. Ed is an applied mathematician  whose scholarly work has focused on wavelets, ordinary differential equations, large data sets, 3D printing, and applications of mathematics.

Kristin Reeves is an Assistant Professor of Visual Studies and Foundations in the GVSU Visual & Media Arts department. Her creative scholarship encompasses live expanded cinema performances and electronic and lens-based artworks.

 Diva Muhammad Alfirman holds a M.Sc. in Environment and Sustainability from the University of Michigan and  works at the Indonesia Infrastructure Guarantee Fund (IIGF), a state-owned enterprise under Indonesia's Ministry of Finance providing government guarantees for infrastructure projects.

Elena Lioubimtseva is a Professor of Geography and Sustainable Planning at GVSU. She is a Co-Founder of CCESN and Planning Committee Chair  for GCCW 2025-2029.  She is Principal Investigator for the NOAA GLISA ELF project with MCC and University of Michigan.

Steve Crandall has a management consulting practice specializing in Organizational Development. His specialties include communication and leadership training, executive coaching, and working with schools and nonprofits on Board governance. Music has been his passion since 7th grade.

Paul Clements is a Professor of Political Science and co-founder of the Climate Change Working Group at Western Michigan University. He directs a master’s program in International Development Administration and a graduate certificate program in Climate Change Policy and Management

Eric Carballido is a Geography Faculty at Muskegon Community College Life Science Department. He serves as a Co-Investigator for the NOAA GLISA ELF project "Elevating Youth Leadership And Peer-Learning To Support Climate Adaptation In West Michigan Lakeshore Frontline Communities" and the key organizer of the CCESS at MCC

Anne-Laure Legendre  is an Assistant Professor in Environmental Health from the University of Paris Saclay in France. She has a PhD in Urban Planning, and her research mainly focuses on well-being in relation with one's living environment, with a particular interest for questions of environmental and social justice. 

Andrew Slagter, Earthkeepers Director of Communications, is a junior studying Biology and Strategic Communications at Calvin University. Working at the intersection of environmental research and storytelling, he aspires to bridge gaps between the scientific community and public stakeholders through visual media, including documentary filmmaking.

Rachel Kelly is a Climatologist for GLISA at the University of Michigan. In this role, she supports various GLISA projects and products for their partners and stakeholders throughout the Great Lakes region. Rachel is currently developing new extreme precipitation guidance/resources for the region, and is coordinating the next Climate Modeling Workshop. 

Lauren Westerman is an  environmental  and outdoor educator and currently serves as President of Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education. Lauren has recently completed and about to defend her PhD at Prescott College this month.

Jeff Insko is Professor and & Coordinator of American Studies at Oakland University in Michigan. He writes about and teaches courses on the nineteenth-century U.S. literature and culture and the Environmental and Energy Humanities. He and his students published “How to Know About Line 5” essay series.

Wenxin Zhao is an Assistant Professor of graphic design at GVSU and is originally from China. Her visual art explores data-driven human narratives across mediums including graphic design, textiles, printmaking, photography, and installation. 

Ed Doddridge is Research Fellow in Physical Oceanography at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies in Tasmania. Ed’s research uses numerical models, theory, and observations to improve our understanding of the ocean around Antarctica and its role in global climate.

GVSU Office of the Provost

Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies

Koeze Business Ethics Initiative

NOAA GLISA CAP

GVSU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

GVSU Geography and Sustainable Planning Department