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.

The Advisory Board is a group of respected individuals who have an active relationship with Climate Generation and are making exceptional contributions in the area of climate change, renewable energy, philanthropy and policy.

SHE/THEY

Cassandra Ceballos

Talk Climate Manager

“As a West Indian and descendant of Indigenous Peoples of modern Colombia, storytelling is in my blood. I come from a long tradition of both protecting the Earth and telling her stories, and to help others do so is a true honor.”

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.”

HE/THEY

Fynn Cofell

Office Coordinator

"I believe that the work of environmental advocacy, justice, and activism is integral to the continued survival of our natural world. I believe that this work can only be effectively done through a DEIJ and radically anti-racist lens."

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

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.”

SHE/HER

Denise Fosse

Senior Director of Development & Marketing

“I need to do what I can to make sure our children—all children—have Earth to call home.”

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?"

HE/HIM

Stephen Johnson

Development Coordinator

"I believe in the interconnectedness of all things. My work here is a way for me to participate in collective hope and action in the pursuit of climate justice."

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

Daniela Kunkel-Linares

Senior Youth Coordinator

“I believe in a radically loving and caring climate movement which is led by young people and our Indigenous relatives. I do this work to stand in solidarity with those who are brave enough to imagine a better future.”

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

Sean Ryan

Grants Manager

"Hope is a discipline. Being involved in climate justice work helps me practice that discipline, one day at a time."

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.”

SHE/HER

Libby Kramer

YEA! Alumni Leader

SHE/HER

Amra

Youth Leader

SHE/HER

Elin

Youth Leader

Our Founder, Will Steger

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.

People In Snow
After Antarctica Feature Film

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.

Expedition Archive

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.

Jennifer Birnbaum - Director

Jennifer is the Senior Compliance Program Manager in Governance and Planning at Medtronic. Prior to Medtronic, she was the Director for Compliance and Regulatory Affairs at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. Jennifer brings experience in governance, legal affairs, passion for our mission and an interest in strategic planning. Jennifer resides in the west metro with her family and has two sons.

Iman Deriche - Director

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 - Director

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.

Cathy Kennedy - Director

Cathy owns Cathryn Kennedy Consulting, a strategic communications firm she started in 2002. A majority of her client work has focused on nonprofit environmental and clean energy assignments. Previously, she was a senior vice president at Weber Shandwick Public Relations in Minneapolis. Cathy’s other experience includes public service as the press secretary for Minnesota Gov. Al Quie. Cathy graduated Magna Cum Laude in Journalism from Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, and earned her M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN.

Gregg Mast - Treasurer

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.

Ben Passer - Chair

Ben Passer is the Senior Program Officer at McKnight Foundation supporting the Midwest Climate and Energy Program’s goal to take bold action on the climate crisis by dramatically cutting carbon pollution in the Midwest by 2030. Ben’s previous experience includes Directing the Energy Access and Equity Program at Fresh Energy, legal clerkships with the Minnesota Department of Commerce and Honeywell International, and internships with Governor Mark Dayton and Senator John Marty. Ben holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Minnesota and a Juris Doctor from Hamline Mitchell College of Law. He is a member of the Minnesota Bar.

Dr. Raj Rajan - Secretary

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 - Vice Chair

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.

Dr. Lisa White - Director

Recent winner of the National Center for Science Education’s Friends of Darwin Award, Dr. Lisa is the Director of Education and Outreach, Museum of Paleontology, at the University of California, Berkeley. A leader in diversity and inclusion in STEM, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in teaching and engaging youth in geosciences.

The Climate Generation Advisory Board serves as a critical community champion of Climate Generation. Members of the Advisory Board share their gifts in our mission to empower individuals and their communities to engage in solutions to climate change.

The Advisory Board launched the Teach Climate Teachers Scholarship Movement in 2017, in collaboration with Climate Generation’s staff.  Learn more about the initiative.

Dr. John P. Abraham
Professor, School of Engineering, University of St. Thomas

Ellen Anderson
Energy and environmental leader

Bob Blake
Founder and Solar Outreach, Solar Bear

Michael Conley
President, Conley Family Foundation

Leigh Currie
Energy and Climate Attorney. Former Board member/past Board Chair.

Joann Knuth
Retired Education Professional and Consultant

Larry Kraft
St. Louis Park City Council Member and Climate Advocate

Ron Kroese
Retired Philanthropic and Nonprofit Environmental CEO

Julianne Laue
Senior Energy Engineer, Mortenson Construction

Sally Leider
Watershed Educator, Somatic Coach, Empowerment Workshop Leader

James P. Lenfestey
Journalist and Poet, former editorial writer, Star Tribune

Craig Neal
Co-Founder, Center for Purposeful Leadership

Frank Niepold
Climate Education Coordinator and Senior Program Manager, NOAA Climate Program

Tim Nixon
Chief Communications Officer and Global Head of Partnerships & Policy, Constellation Research & Technology

Michael Noble
Executive Director, Fresh Energy. Former Board member/past Board Chair.

Megan O’Hara
Nonprofit Consultant/Project Manager – Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light

Roopali Phadke
Professor and Chair, Department of Environmental Studies, Macalester College and former Board Member

Winthrop Rockwell
Partner and Attorney, Faegre Baker Daniels (retired)

Dr. Benjamin D. Santer
Climate Scientist and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellow

Dana Slade
Director, Sustainability Programs, HealthPartners

Kate Wolford
President, McKnight Foundation (retired)