Our Experts

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…

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…

Anupa Asokan

Senior Advocate, Oceans Division, Nature Program

Anupa Asokan is a dedicated ocean advocate working to protect California’s marine ecosystems. Before joining NRDC, she managed and implemented a global, public-facing campaign through the World Surf League calling for ocean protections. Prior to that, Asokan served as the…

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…

Sandy Aylesworth

Director, Pacific Initiative, Oceans Division, Nature Program

Sandy Aylesworth advocates to combat illegal fishing and for responsible offshore wind development. Prior to joining NRDC, she worked at the U.S. Department of State and was a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at NOAA's Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs…

John Bailey

Senior Advocate, Federal and State Transportation, People & Communities Program

John Bailey has over two decades of experience as an advocate for sustainable and equitable communities at the national, state, and local levels. Bailey works to ensure that transportation investments and policies benefit people of all ages, abilities, and incomes…

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…

Julee Boan

Manager, Boreal Partnership, International Program

Julee Boan works collaboratively with Indigenous peoples and organizations, local and national conservation groups, plus industry and governments to protect Canada's boreal forest. She has a PhD in forest sciences, where she researched approaches to mitigate the impacts of industrial…

Sharon Buccino

Senior Attorney, Lands Division, Nature Program

Sharon Buccino's current work focuses on energy policy and government transparency. She actively litigates in federal court and advocates before federal agencies and Congress. She has worked to implement effective environmental review and public participation for proposed pipelines, as well…

Giulia C.S. Good Stefani

Senior Attorney, Marine Mammals, Oceans Division, Nature Program

Giulia C.S. Good Stefani works to protect marine mammals, wild places, and communities from environmental injustices. Stefani has worked on a variety of cases and campaigns at NRDC, including the effort to secure greater protection for whales from the U.S…

Alison Chase

Senior Policy Analyst, Oceans Division, Nature Program

Alison Chase helps craft and advocate for effective state and federal policies that will protect and restore ocean and coastal health. Prior to joining NRDC, she worked for a number of environmental organizations including the League of Conservation Voters and…

Sarah Chasis

Senior Strategist, Oceans Division, Nature Program

Sarah Chasis has been a longtime advocate for healthy coasts and oceans. She has protected sensitive areas from offshore oil drilling, protected the public from swimming in polluted waters, strengthened both domestic and international fisheries management, and promoted smarter ocean…

Chris Clark

RAY Diversity Marine Conservation Fellow, Nature Program

Chris Clark advocates for strong protections of marine habitat, marine conservation policy driven by community priorities and strong science, and sustainable and ethical fisheries management. Prior to joining NRDC, he worked on climate resilience and community outreach in the San…

Valerie Cleland

Oceans Advocate, Nature Program

Valerie Cleland advocates for policies that protect and restore our oceans. Prior to joining NRDC, Cleland was a NOAA Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellow in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation where she worked to develop, analyze…

Catherine Cox Blair

Director, SPARCC, Resilient Communities, People & Communities Program

Catherine Cox Blair provides communities with technical assistance and expertise regarding city-led innovation and the forging of private-public partnerships. Prior to joining NRDC, she worked at Reconnecting America, where she managed sustainable-development projects in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Denver, and Atlanta and…

Donna De Costanzo

Director, Eastern Region, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Donna De Costanzo advocates for the implementation of policies that increase energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment as well as promote sustainable communities and smart growth, with a primary focus on New York State and New York City. Prior to…

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…

Dr. Sylvia Fallon

Senior Director, Science Integration, Science Office

Sylvia Fallon is an ecologist and evolutionary biologist who has been working at the interface of science and policy for nearly two decades. Much of her work at NRDC has focused on securing protections for endangered wildlife species such as…

Hilary Firestone

Senior Policy Advisor, City Energy Project, Resilient Communities, People & Communities Program

As a senior city policy expert for the City Energy Project, a collaboration between NRDC and the Institute for Market Transformation, Hilary Firestone works to advance policies and programs that cut energy waste in large buildings and make American cities…

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…