Climate Generation thrives based on the efforts of our talented staff, who are passionate about developing solutions to climate change. Team members share: why do you do this work?
Climate Generation is a nationally connected and trusted nonprofit founded in 2006 by National Geographic explorer and educator Will Steger.
Our Board of Directors are committed individuals with experience in law, policy, education, finance, non-profits, marketing, communications, and industry who have a passion for our mission.
HE/HIM
Trevor Cobb
Senior Communications and Creative Coordinator
“Climate justice work is important because it impacts every living being on our planet. I care about fighting climate change because I care about maintaining life’s beautiful diversity.”
SHE/HER
Claire Cooke
Programs Coordinator
“I believe we have the power to disrupt the unjust, dehumanizing systems creating the climate crisis to bring about a compassionate world in which all people and the planet can thrive.”
SHE/HER
Noon Ebrahim
Youth Program Intern
"I do this work because I believe collaboration and community go hand in hand with justice and solidarity. I believe it is important for young people to have access to collaborate with one another when it comes to issues in their communities or our world, and I would love to be a part of giving them the space to do so."
SHE/HER
Marie Fargo
Senior Climate Change Instructional Resources Coordinator
“I believe empathy for all living beings is at the root of just and equitable climate solutions, and I love creating resources that encourage people to be curious, connect deeply, and work collaboratively for the benefit of all.”
THEY/THEM
Athena Geer
Youth Climate Justice Coordinator
"I am devoted to this work because I believe that the Climate Movement will be an ongoing, and ever-intersectional fight. I want to pursue the act of dispersing knowledge about the climate crisis and what I've learned to educate and support communities, my communities with care and intention at the center."
SHE/HER
Danielle Hefferan
Regional Minnesota Education Coordinator
"Because what is more important than practicing living well in your place with all who call it home?"
SHE/HER
Lindsey Kirkland
Senior Climate Change Education Manager
“Building a knowledgeable, supportive and connected community around educators is the best way I know how to contribute to future generations.”
SHE/HER
Gigi Kreibich
Development Fund Manager
"I do this work because community led solutions are vital to creating sustainable solutions and I hope that through this work, the energy and momentum of young advocates will create a better world."
HE/HIM
Lee Petre
Administrative Coordinator
"Stories weave our reality, and I believe in working alongside youth and educators to tell the stories that will bring a more just tomorrow."
SHE/HER
Susan Phillips
Executive Director
“I believe in the power of youth and community to build a shared awareness and co-create solutions that will help us build a healthy, just and regenerative future.”
SHE/HER
Zoe Redfern-Hall
Senior Communications & Marketing Manager
"I do this work because we must fight for the world we want to live in. A world rooted in healthy, equitable, vibrant communities, where our planetary ecosystem and its resources are respected, and where the many, not the few, hold power."
THEY/THEM
B. Rosas
Policy Manager
"Power exists within the community and it is our job to increase access and use that to fight for a better future. I do this work to listen and help execute the ideas of young leaders in the movement towards a safer world."
HE/HIM
Seth Spencer
Teach Climate Network Coordinator
“Helping strengthen connections between educators and their communities allows me to have a direct affect on reducing the negative impacts of climate change.”
HE/HIM
Ramiro Vazquez, Jr.
Youth Program Manager
“As a relative to all living beings it is important for me to preserve my ancestral Ojibwe homeland, language, and traditions for the future seven generations.”
Our Founder, Will Steger
Will Steger led the first confirmed dogsled journey to the North Pole without re-supply in 1986, the 1,600-mile south-north traverse of Greenland in 1988 (the longest unsupported dogsled expedition in history), and the first dogsled traverse of Antarctica in 1989–1990 (the historic seven-month, 3,741-mile International Trans-Antarctica Expedition).
Steger is also an educator, author, entrepreneur, and eyewitness to the effects of climate change. With his ability to blend extreme exploration and cutting edge technology, Steger pioneered online education—reaching more than 20 million students via online daily journals and even delivering the first-ever transmission of digital photography from the North Pole.
Based on his unique eyewitness experience with climate change in the polar regions, he established Climate Generation in 2006 (formerly the Will Steger Foundation), as a Minnesota-based nonprofit that empowers individuals and their communities to engage in solutions to climate change.
Steger joined Amelia Earhart, Robert Peary, and Roald Amundsen in receiving the National Geographic Society’s prestigious John Oliver La Gorce Medal for “Accomplishments in Geographic Exploration, in the Sciences, and Public Service to Advance International Understanding” in 1995. This was the first time the Society presented these three categories together and this award has not been given since. Steger holds a Bachelor of Science in geology and Master of Arts in education from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, in addition to five Honorary Doctorates.
In 1996, he became the National Geographic Society’s first Explorer-in-Residence and received the Explorers Club’s Finn Ronne Memorial Award in 1997. In 2006, Steger joined Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Dr. Thor Heyerdahl, and Neil Armstrong in receiving the Lindbergh Award. Steger was given this award for “numerous polar expeditions, deep understanding of the environment and efforts to raise awareness of current environmental threats, especially climate change”. In 2007, National Geographic Adventure presented him with their Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on climate change.
A recognized authority on polar environmental issues and ceaseless advocate for the earth’s wellbeing, Steger has been invited twice to testify before the United States Congress, as well as advise world leaders on the environmental protection of Antarctica. He is also the author of five books: Over the Top of the World, Crossing Antarctica, North to the Pole, Saving the Earth, and The Steger Homestead Kitchen: Simple Recipes for an Abundant Life.
Read more about Will Steger’s legacy on his personal website.
After Antarctica follows follows Climate Generation founder Will Steger’s life journey as an eyewitness to the greatest changes to our planet’s polar regions.
When Climate Generation began, our programming centered on adventure learning, expeditions, and climate change’s impact on the Polar Regions.
Directors serve on the Board for three-year terms. They provide fiduciary oversight, strategic vision and direction and financial support for the organization. We are proud to have the energy, time and dedication from the following Board members:
List of Board of Directors:
Kathleen Bacigalupi - Director
Kathleen is a sophomore at Smith College. She was involved in Climate Generation YEA! Network for 3 years as a high school student and served on the City of St. Paul’s Climate Justice Advisory Board.
Iman is a sophomore at Stanford University. Iman organized for electric school buses through MN350, helped organize a Minnesota state wide Climate Strike, and was a member of Climate Generation’s YEA! Network while in high school.
Barry Greenwald is a recently retired science educator who had been at Harding High School in the St. Paul Public Schools since 1998. Barry taught classes in Biology, Environmental Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science. He was appointed as a Teaching Specialist in the University of Minnesota College in the Schools program and taught the course Climate Crisis: Implementing Solutions at Harding. Prior to choosing a career in education, Barry was a research technician on the University of Minnesota Corn Breeding Project. He has attended and/or presented at several Climate Generation Summer Institutes for Climate Change Education and served on the former Education Program Committee before joining the Board.
Markeeta Keyes is the Director of Public Health Infrastructure and Organizational Development at the Minneapolis Health Department. Through her efforts she endeavors to ensure a competent and skilled public health workforce, development of strong leadership and cultural competency, with investment in training to meet the modern and emerging public health responsibilities and services for a healthy Minneapolis. Her purview includes advancement of diversity, antiracism, employee wellbeing, trauma mitigation, and professional development. Through this work she also leads the Department’s Green Careers Exploration Program. The program centers Black, Indigenous, Latin/e/x, and other communities of color to advance intentional, equitable and inclusive education and training opportunities that lead to Green sector careers. With the aim to reduce inequities, the Green Career Exploration Program centers BIPOC representation and participation by reducing barriers to access, elevating diverse industry representation and enlisting a framework that mitigates trauma. Markeeta believes experiential learning opportunities and investment in strong, collaborative relationship building ensures this program is instrumental in gaining ground for racial and environmental justice across our communities. The GCEP endeavors to collaborate and strengthen relationships with those leading the environmental justice movement through education, awareness, and career readiness, offering students experiences that prepare them for a just and sustainable future.
Gregg serves as the Executive Director for Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM). CEEM is an industry-led, non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening Minnesota’s clean energy business ecosystem. The organization provides a unified voice for clean energy business across the state with a mission to provide educational leadership, collaboration, and policy analysis that accelerates clean energy market growth and smart energy policies. Mr. Mast has nearly 20 years of professional experience in project development, resource analysis, feasibility and financial analysis, and fuel risk management in the clean energy sector. He possesses deep expertise in the economic, marketing, financial, environmental, and policy aspects of clean energy. Mr. Mast has served as Vice President of The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota where he was responsible for developing a long‐term strategic direction for Minnesota in the areas of renewable energy and renewable materials. Early on in his career, Mr. Mast worked in a variety of corporate finance and management capacities, including at Allianz Life, a wholly‐owned subsidiary of Allianz SE and Target Corporation. Mr. Mast received a B.A. from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a M.B.A. in Finance from the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas.
Alissa Matthies Tamasi - Director
Alissa is the Senior Director of ESG Strategy and Reporting at the Uplift Agency and has over a decade of experience in corporate environmental work. Previously, Alissa supported the opening of Target’s first net zero store in Vista, California, where they generate more energy than they use. A long time friend of Climate Generation, Alissa was a delegate in our Window into COP24 program in 2018.
Sofía Mulholland Cerkvenik - Director
Sofía Mulholland Cerkvenik (she/her//ella) is an educator and researcher born in Lima, Perú and based in Saint Paul, MN. Sofía works as a social studies teacher and conducts research on educational methodology, mindfulness, sports equity, and student wellbeing. Sofía is thrilled to be a board member at Climate Generation and had the privilege and joy of being a member of their COP28 Cohort in Dubai, UAE. Sofía is motivated to continue her learning on the climate justice movement, with particular interest in: the role of education in climate justicie, climate literacy, sports sustainability, youth advocacy, and the intersection between climate justice and indigenous land sovereignty.
Dr. Raj Rajan is an independent environmental consultant and Fellow of the Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota. He was formerly the technical lead of corporate sustainability at Ecolab, leading their 2014 effort to become 100% solar powered in MN operations and subsequently negotiated a 100 MW wind power purchase agreement that will make their entire electricity use in North America carbon neutral from 2020 to 2045. He has served on the Advisory Board of Climate Generation since 2015 and is the immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors of Fresh Energy. Currently, Raj also serves on the Board of Directors of Environmental Initiative. He was appointed as the statewide business representative on Minnesota’s Clean Water Council (2015-). He also serves on the Advisory Council of The Nature Conservancy’s Minnesota Headwaters Fund (2015-) and Chair of External Advisory Council for the National Science Foundation project on Sustainable, Healthy and Livable Cities (2015-). Additionally, he serves on the Kresge Foundation’s Urban Climate Adaptation Assessment Advisors’ Group (2015-), and recently participated in Industry Working Groups of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (2014-15), Water Stewardship Advisory Group of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (2014-17), and Sustainability Advisory Workgroup of the American Cleaning Institute (2014-18).
Beth Soholt is the Executive Director of Clean Grid Alliance. Launched in 2001, Clean Grid Alliance’s mission is to overcome the barriers to bringing wind and solar power to market. Ms. Soholt brings more than 15 years experience working with the electric industry in various capacities. At Clean Grid Alliance, she directs work in the areas of technical/transmission planning, state regulatory proceedings, legislative education and outreach. Ms. Soholt holds a law degree from Hamline University Law School, St. Paul, Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa.