Our Experts

Erwin Lee Acox Jr.

Managing Director, Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Erwin Lee Acox Jr. joined NRDC in March 2023 with more than a decade of experience in DEI leadership roles. Most recently, he served as director of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at Tides Network, where he led efforts to…

Ann Alexander

Senior Attorney, Dirty Energy, Lands Division, Nature Program

Ann Alexander works as a litigator and policy advocate with the Nature Program's Dirty Energy Team—fighting to curb polluting fossil fuel development that threatens the integrity of our public lands, and harms communities living in proximity. Before arriving at NRDC…

Dana Ammann

Policy Analyst, Sustainable FERC Project, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Dana Ammann leads the development of modeling, analyses, and materials to support NRDC's and Sustainable FERC Project's mission to decarbonize the U.S. power sector and deploy clean energy resources into America’s electricity transmission grid. She works on policy efforts related…

Zanagee Artis

Fossil Fuels Policy Advocate, Nature Program

Zanagee Artis is a founding member and executive director of Zero Hour and has worked in the youth climate movement advocating for the need to transition away from fossil fuels. He is outspoken about the climate crisis and was a…

Josh Axelrod

Senior Advocate, Nature Program

Josh Axelrod focuses on issues including public land protection and conservation, renewable energy siting on public lands, limiting oil and gas development on public lands, energy transmission, and climate policy. Since joining NRDC in 2013, Axelrod has also developed expertise…

Valerie Baron

Senior Attorney and Director, National Policy, People & Communities Program

Valerie Baron works to develop federal policies that make government work for everyone, protect and foster community health, and achieve racial equity. She has more than 15 years of experience in legal advocacy, politics, and policy. Prior to her role…

Dr. Michele Bustamante

Staff Scientist, Nature Program

Michele Bustamante specializes in the development of novel science-based policy tools, with an emphasis on multi-criteria and systems-informed approaches, in service of both people and the planet. Her work takes aim at complex challenges at the intersection of climate, energy…

Susan Casey-Lefkowitz

Senior Strategic Advisor

Susan Casey-Lefkowitz’s work is focused on climate change and fossil fuels. She joined NRDC in 2000 as director of work in Canada, starting and leading the campaigns against tar sands development and the Keystone XL pipeline. She then led the…

Ralph Cavanagh

Energy Co-Director, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Since joining NRDC in 1979, Ralph Cavanagh has focused on removing barriers to cost-effective energy efficiency and on the role that electric and natural gas utilities can play in leading a clean energy transition. From 1993 to 2003, he served…

Jamie Consuegra

Director, Congressional & External Affairs, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Jamie Consuegra advocates for smart climate policies on Capitol Hill and has worked to defend the Clean Power Plan from legislative attacks. Prior to joining NRDC, she studied the link between amphibian extinctions and climate change in Central and South…

Dr. Marilee Shelton Davenport

Senior Director, Capacity and Collaboration, Science Office

Marilee Shelton Davenport focuses on growing NRDC’s scientific capacity by strengthening the organization’s connections with the external science community, while also supporting NRDC’s work at the intersection of climate and health. She brings two decades of experience working with scientists…

David Doniger

Senior Strategic Director, Climate & Clean Energy Program

David Doniger has been at the forefront of the battle against air pollution and global climate change since he joined NRDC in 1978. He helped formulate the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement designed to stop the depletion of the earth's…

Rachel Fakhry

Policy Director, Emerging Technologies, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Rachel Fakhry leads and sets the strategic direction for NRDC’s advocacy around emerging technologies, including efforts to bolster federal investments in clean energy research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D), ensuring the responsible and climate-aligned deployment of renewable hydrogen, as well…

Sasha Forbes, AICP

Director, Community Collaboration & Policy, People & Communities Program

Sasha Forbes works with local and national partners in the Strong Prosperous and Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC) initiative to accelerate community-led projects and policies that prioritizes racial equity, builds a culture of health, and responds to our climate crisis. She…

Meleah Geertsma

Director, Environmental Justice Policy; Environment, Equity & Justice Center

Meleah Geertsma works with communities of color and low-income communities to address environmental injustices, combining her background in public health with legal advocacy to support frontline partners. Her focus includes addressing the impacts of concentrated industrial sources and freight on…

Gillian Giannetti

Senior Attorney, Sustainable FERC Project, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Gillian Giannetti focuses her advocacy on energy issues at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy, particularly natural gas infrastructure projects and grid resilience and reliability efforts. Giannetti also serves as a reports editor for the…

Stephanie Gidigbi Jenkins

Director, Policy & Partnerships, People & Communities Program

Stephanie Gidigbi Jenkins champions public policy solutions that promote economic, social, and environmental benefits for communities. She fosters strategic partnerships to advance federal campaigns, coalition efforts, social equity, and climate justice. She also coordinates NRDC's effort in advancing a federal…

Laura Goldberg

Midwest Director, Energy Equity and Affordability, People & Communities Program

Laura Goldberg oversees NRDC's Midwest strategy for energy equity and affordability. This includes increasing energy efficiency, clean energy, and equitable climate solutions in affordable housing and underserved communities across the region, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. She…

Ariana Gonzalez

Director, Equitable Policy, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Ariana Gonzalez provides guidance and support for nurturing more just, equitable, and inclusive processes, partnerships, and policies. She also acts as a liaison between her program and the newly created Environment, Equity, and Justice Center at NRDC. Prior to this…

Meghan Hassett

Midwest Campaign Manager, Center for Policy Advocacy

Meghan Hassett manages and coordinates Illinois and Midwest campaign efforts on behalf of NRDC and NRDC Action Fund, working with NRDC’s policy experts and advocates, as well as coalition partners, to build the political support needed to protect public health…