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…

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…

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…

Corinne Bell

Senior Attorney, People & Communities Program

Corinne Bell focuses on drinking water and surface water pollution in several states, as well as the water-related impacts of climate change. Bell's work includes PFAS and lead contamination, environmental rights, urban runoff, and green infrastructure. Before joining NRDC, Bell…

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…

Jon Devine

Director, Federal Water Policy, Water Division, Nature Program

Jon Devine leads NRDC’s federal water policy team. His work focuses on implementing, defending, and strengthening the core programs under the Clean Water Act. Prior to working on water policy, he worked with NRDC’s Health & Environment program for four…

Steve Fleischli

Senior Director, Water Initiatives, People & Communities Program

Steve Fleischli’s area of focus encompasses not only water quality but also the role of water security in climate-preparedness programs and the relationship of water to energy production. Prior to joining NRDC in 2010, he served as the executive director…

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…

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…

Dr. Mark Gold

Director of Water Scarcity Solutions, People & Communities Program

Dr. Mark Gold focuses on building climate resilience through integrated water management solutions for the increasingly arid urban California and the West. From 2019–2022, Gold served as Governor Gavin Newsom's deputy secretary for Oceans and Coastal Policy and executive director…

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…

Becky Hammer

Deputy Director, Federal Water Policy; Senior Attorney, Nature Program

Becky Hammer focuses on stormwater runoff, green infrastructure, low-impact development, water-pollution permitting issues, and climate change preparedness. Before joining NRDC in 2009, she interned at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Hammer is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law…

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…

Sara Imperiale

Litigation Director and Senior Attorney, Environment, Equity & Justice Center

Sara E. Imperiale litigates and advocates in support of low-income communities of color and environmental justice coalitions across the country. In her current role, she builds litigation capacity and strategy for NRDC's Environment, Equity & Justice Center to advance community-led…

Jessica Jinn

Advocate, City Equity, People & Communities Program

Jessica Jinn supports NRDC advocates, core partners, community partners, and cities to equitably advance climate programs and goals. Prior to this role, Jinn worked in clean transportation policy and programs with the mayor's office of Los Angeles and the Center…

Adam Kent

Senior Advisor, Green Finance Center, People & Communities Program

Adam Kent works at the intersection of finance and climate, with a particular focus on the role housing and community development finance play in creating a more equitable and environmentally sustainable economy. Prior to NRDC, Kent was the deputy director…

Patrick King

Advocate, Southeast Mobility Choices, People & Communities Program

Patrick King leads NRDC's work to create and advocate for low-carbon, equitable transportation choices in the Southeast, focusing on partnerships and policy opportunities in North Carolina and Georgia. Prior to joining NRDC, King worked regionally as an electric transportation and clean energy…

Dr. Kim Knowlton

Senior Scientist, Science Office

Kim Knowlton focuses on the public health impacts of climate change and advocates for strategies to prepare for—and prevent—these impacts, especially in vulnerable communities. Her research into the links between climate change and health supports NRDC’s knowledge partnerships with a…