Lauren Anderson

Lauren Anderson graduated from OSU with a Master of Public Policy in 2015. Her area of study focused on energy and environmental policy. Her background is in the field of conservation biology and ecology. She is most interested in facilitating communication between scientists and policy makers, especially regarding environmental management. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, and all other outdoorsy adventures. She went on to work for the National Wildlife Federation in Washington, DC.

Virginia Dee Montier-Burke

Virginia Dee Montier-Burke, “Dee”, graduated from OSU with a Master of Natural Resources in 2023. She completed a BS in Marine Biology from Texas A&M in 2010. Prior to joining OSU, she worked as a contractor to NOAA as a North Pacific Groundfish observer, assigned to the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. After four years at sea, she found a shore side job as a Water and Wastewater Laboratory Manager. In her spare time, she can be found hanging out with her dog, Tonks, or reading a good book.

Victoria Williams

Victoria Moreno

Victoria Moreno completed her Master of Public Policy at Oregon State University in 2021. Her graduate research explored Dungeness crabbers’ perceptions of their ability to adapt to ocean acidification (OA) and other environmental stressors in Oregon. Victoria graduated in ’19 from the University of Richmond with her BSc in Environmental Studies and Anthropology, where she explored the intersectionality of environmental change in marine ecosystems and corresponding human effects within the coastal communities. When she is not working on her research, she enjoys cooking, reading, engaging with the community and exploring the Pacific Northwest with her Great Pyrenees puppy. She went on to a position as a Regional Engagement Fellow at COMPASS.

Rachel Mooney

Rachel Mooney graduated from University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with her BSc in Chemistry where she conducted research on atmospheric and physical chemistry. She completed her Master of Public Policy degree in 2021, analyzing public perceptions of LNG export in the Pacific Northwest. She went on to a position as an Analytical Associate at the Climate Action Reserve.

Jenna Knobloch

Jenna Knobloch graduated from OSU with a Master of Public Policy in 2016. Her research interests include environmental and climate change policy, particularly where they intersect with collaborative governance. Prior to coming to OSU, she earned a degree in Economics from Portland State University and was an AmeriCorps VISTA member at a financial education nonprofit. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading and brewing beer. She worked with Hilary on the community reactions to extreme weather project. She went on to a position as a forest program manager at Sustainable Northwest.

Alexis James

Alexis earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University. After working as a transportation engineer for one year, Alexis returned to NC State and earned a Master of Science in Biological & Agricultural Engineering. She then proceeded to work in Alaska for almost two years in both water resources and roadway engineering until she returned to North Carolina. After returning to her home state, she earned her Professional Engineering license and continued to work as a water resources and roadway engineer for seven more years. She earned her Master of Public Policy at Oregon  State University in 2021, concentrating in environmental and energy policy. Her essay examined the relation between religious beliefs and perceptions of climate change in the Pacific Northwest. She went on to a Hatfield Fellowship with Portland State University.

Brianna Rybka

Brianna was born in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania but moved to the Pacific Northwest to complete her undergraduate degree. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Oregon State University. After receiving her degree, Brianna relocated back to Pennsylvania and began working as a teacher and starting an organic vegetable farm. She returned to Oregon State University and earned a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Natural Resources. Brianna completed her Master of Public Policy degree in 2022, with a concentration in Sustainable Natural Resources. Her essay looked at the relationship between the many stakeholders and coalitions involved in Pennsylvania’s attempts to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

Keenan Lindsey

Stephen Naimoli

Stephen Naimoli graduated from OSU with a Master of Public Policy in 2016. His chief interest is in energy policy, and he studied opposition to utility-scale wind power in Kittitas County, Washington. Before coming to OSU, he worked for various environmental groups on the East Coast. He went on to a research associate position in the energy and national security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Emily Miller

Emily was born and raised just north of Chicago, a few blocks from Lake Michigan. Prior to coming to OSU, she studied Planning, Public Policy, and Management at the University of Oregon. During her undergrad study, she worked for UO’s Bike Program building and engaging community through bikes. She interned for the City of Eugene’s Office of Equity & Community Engagement where she co-created a community resource toolkit that facilitates educational conversations about preventing and responding to hate and bias while supporting community action. After spending several years in Chicago and San Francisco working in training and development for a global law firm, she returned to Oregon and community development work as a Strategy Development Specialist for the South Central Oregon Economic Development District through the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments program. She is working with Hilary on projects related to public perceptions of offshore wind development. Emily loves riding her bike, playing cards, making soup, looking at art, and jumping into lakes and oceans.