Our Team

mcdonnell@pennfuture.org

Patrick brings over 20 years of experience on climate, clean energy and environmental issues to his role as president and CEO of PennFuture. Prior to joining PennFuture, he spent six years as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, leading key initiatives like passage of the state’s first carbon trading regulation, acceleration of the Commonwealth’s cleanup of waterways, and a new focus on environmental justice issues. He also served as President of the Environmental Council of the States, the voice of state environmental agencies nationally.

Prior to being named Secretary, Patrick served in roles at the DEP and the Public Utility Commission, heading up the state’s energy office, managing the agency’s budget and human resources, and overseeing the development of regulations and guidance documents. Some of his most notable accomplishments in government include development of the state’s first wind farms, the Award-winning Ehrenfeld reclaimed mines project, and entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

Deeply committed to environmental justice issues, Patrick has collaborated with partners across the Commonwealth and the nation. These partnerships have resulted in brownfield cleanups, waterway restoration projects, and new opportunities for tourism and leisure in Pennsylvania towns that have been historically underserved. He is a firm believer that environmentally focused policies will result in new jobs and opportunities for all Pennsylvanians.

On weekends, Patrick can be found on an improv stage in Harrisburg, hiking one of Pennsylvania’s state parks with his wife and four children, or checking out the latest Star Wars film.

215-545-2013

stepp@pennfuture.org

Based in Philadelphia, Matthew oversees all internal operations and programs to ensure that PennFuture is advancing the organization’s mission and strategic plan. He is a spokesperson for the organization and assists the president and CEO on all matters, including fundraising, public policy, advocacy, key relationships, external communications, and partnerships. Stepp leads and manages PennFuture’s senior staff on issues of strategy, coordination, and execution and previously served as PennFuture's Director of Policy.

Prior to joining PennFuture, Matthew served as the director of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation’s Center for Clean Energy Innovation (CCEI) in Washington, D.C., where he managed and directed high-profile energy and climate policy initiatives at the state, national, and international level. He has testified before Congress and his work has appeared in numerous national and state news and media outlets.

Matthew was also a Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Fellow at the National Academies of Science, where he worked with the Transportation Research Board to analyze light duty vehicle energy reduction policy strategies. He also served as fellow at the Breakthrough Institute, where he focused on clean energy innovation policy opportunities, and participated in the inaugural Millennial Trains Project.

Matthew holds a B.Sc. in Meteorology from Millersville University as well as a M.Sc. in Science, Technology, and Public Policy from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is a professional member of the American Meteorological Society.

Matthew was born and raised in Philadelphia and is an avid home brewer, amateur genealogist, and sports geek. His favorite band of all time is Pearl Jam.

570-216-3313

jones@pennfuture.org

Abby is Vice President of Legal and Policy at PennFuture. As Vice President, Abby is responsible for integrating PennFuture's legal, regulatory, and policy activities in furtherance of the organization's mission of protecting Pennsylvania's air, water and land, and empowering citizens to build sustainable communities for future generations.

In her role as an attorney based out of PennFuture's Poconos office, her work focuses on water quality and watershed protection, special protection waters, and stormwater management. Abby also works on the issues related to the petrochemical and fracking industries that are threatening the health of Pennsylvania's people and environment.

Prior to joining PennFuture, Abby was a Staff Attorney at Riverkeeper, where her work focused on civil litigation and administrative enforcement actions targeted at safeguarding the water quality and ecological integrity of the Hudson River and its tributaries. Before that, Abby worked as an environmental attorney in New York City and Cheyenne, Wyoming. She has written about and presented on a variety of environmental issues including the regulation and legal challenges of Marcellus Shale development in New York, energy leases for private property owners in Western States, and the Superfund cleanup of the Hudson River.

Abby earned a B.A. from Cornell University, where she was a member of the nationally-ranked Division I Women’s Lacrosse team. She received her J.D. and Certificate of Environmental Law from Pace University School of Law, cum laude, being presented with the prestigious Henry M. Feldschuh Environmental Law Award upon graduation for her leadership in and dedication to environmental law.

Abby is on the Editorial Board for the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Natural Resources & Environment publication. She is a Senior Fellow in the Environmental Leadership Program (Eastern Regional Network, 2020) and a 2012 graduate of the New York City Environmental Law Leadership Institute (NYCELLI).

When not working to protect Pennsylvania’s natural resources, Abby enjoys being outdoors and exploring them with her family.

717-214-7933

altenburg@pennfuture.org

Rob brings more than 30 years’ worth of environmental, climate, and energy expertise to advance clean energy solutions for Pennsylvania.

As Senior Director for Energy and Climate, he works with regulatory agencies and clean energy industry experts on climate and energy issues across the Commonwealth and has provided testimony to the White House, the U.S. Senate, the Pennsylvania Legislature, and numerous state and federal agencies.

As a recognized energy and climate policy expert, Rob has been interviewed by numerous media organizations, including ABC, NBC, NPR, Fortune Magazine, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and many state and local outlets. He also writes extensively on these topics and has co-authored a book chapter on federal climate policy.

Prior to joining PennFuture, Rob spent nearly 22 years with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), working in both the Bureau of Air Quality, where he was the primary forecaster for air pollution episodes in South Central PA, and the Lehigh Valley, and in the policy office where he advised the governor’s office and department executive staff on a variety of environmental and public health issues.

In addition to his environmental work, Rob works as an adjunct instructor teaching undergraduate courses in law and ethics; serves on the board of directors of the Keystone Trails Association; volunteers as a pilot with the Civil Air Patrol—the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary; is active in his local Rotary Club; and he is also a certified scuba diver who has dived on shipwrecks in the Atlantic.

Rob is also a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve, where he commanded a combat engineering company and earned the U.S. Army Parachutist Badge jumping out of airplanes.

Rob is a Widener Commonwealth Law School graduate and is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and before the United States Supreme Court.

215-545-9692

nagel@pennfuture.org

Adam serves as Director of Government Affairs for PennFuture. He splits his time between the Philadelphia and Harrisburg offices. In this role, Adam serves as a liaison with elected officials in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

Prior to serving as Director of Government Affairs, Adam worked as Campaign Manager for clean water and climate advocacy in Philadelphia and co-led the coalition for The Green Living Plan for Philadelphia.

Before joining PennFuture, Adam served in various roles for Pennsylvania State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams, including as his Chief of Staff. As a consultant, he has supported nonprofit organizations and political campaigns through strategic planning, communications campaigns, and events. Adam has worked to engage communities to better understand their needs and help promote change.

Adam holds a B.A. in Print Journalism and History from Hofstra University. He also has a M.A. in European History from the University of Rochester.

A native of Ontario, New York, Adam enjoys exploring the outdoors, Yankees baseball, board games, and spending quality time with his wife and stepson.

412-456-2781

regan@pennfuture.org

Annie is the Campaigns Director for PennFuture. In this role, she leads PennFuture’s campaigns and staff to carry out meaningful, multifaceted projects around the Commonwealth.

She also serves as the Director of Digital Communications for the ReImagine Appalachia campaign, a coalition of groups from West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania creating pathways for good union jobs that mitigate the impacts of climate change as well as the state lead for the Climate Action Campaign, a coalition of national climate, conservation, and progressive groups, state and local partners, and key allies working to protect clean air and promote action to limit climate change.

Annie previously worked as PennFuture’s Campaign Manager and Western PA Outreach Coordinator, working with the Breathe Project to reduce air pollution in the region. Her work involved community and coalition outreach around stormwater management, renewable energy, environmental enforcement, and sound environmental policy.

Before joining PennFuture, Annie was a policy intern for American Forests and the environmental legislative intern for the office of Senator Robert Casey, Jr. in Washington, DC.

She earned an interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree from American University (AU), majoring in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government (CLEG) with a minor in Spanish.

Annie, a Pittsburgh native, now works from the Philadelphia office. She enjoys hiking, reading, and sewing in her spare time.

610-717-6680

cadorette@pennfuture.org

In her role as Director of Civic Engagement, Jess leads our Field Organizing team to help build a pro-environment movement across Pennsylvania by educating our communities and mobilizing our members and volunteers to advocate for environmental policies.

Prior to joining PennFuture, Jess organized volunteers with PennEnvironment on their climate and clean energy team to build support for clean, renewable energy across the state of Pennsylvania. She also worked with and continues to stand alongside community activists as they work to prevent a dangerous pipeline from going through her local community in Chester County.

Jess earned her bachelor's degree in Communications from Neumann University, where her research focused on environmental communications.

When she's not working to protect our environment, she's out enjoying it by hiking, kayaking, and walks through local parks with her dog.

lee@pennfuture.org

Jane is the chief fundraiser for PennFuture and is responsible for creating, executing, and managing all fundraising and development activities. She is based in the Pittsburgh office.

Before joining PennFuture, Jane served as the Development Director for Women for A Healthy Environment (WHE), where she was responsible for donor stewardship and cultivation, writing grant proposals and reports, and prospecting all potential funding sources.

Jane holds a BS degree in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. In her early career, she worked as an environmental chemist analyzing water and soil samples while preparing reports for the United States Government.

Once she left the lab, Jane became a product manager for Fisher Scientific, where she was responsible for several multi-million-dollar consumable lines and was an inside sales associate.

She began her non-profit career with the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, where she was the STEAM Manager, overseeing all STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math)programs. During her tenure, she participated in the State of Black Pittsburgh-2019, discussing the importance of the STEAM pipeline for the underserved populations in the Pittsburgh region. Upon leaving the Urban League, she went to YouthPlaces where she was the Director of Education and then transitioned to the Development Manager.

Jane is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoys crafting, reading, traveling, and singing in the church choir.

martinez@pennfuture.org

As Communications Director, Leigh supports and amplifies the PennFuture team’s advocacy and policy work in promoting clean energy and protecting the environment in Pennsylvania. She leads communication strategy and manages all public communications and media relations.

Leigh is a former broadcast journalist, having served at news stations in California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Her reporting focused on environmental disasters, politics, and agriculture, including coverage of California’s multi-year drought, the deadly Northern California wildfires in 2017 and 2018, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.

Before joining PennFuture, Leigh served as Corporate Communications Director and public relations consultant for global technology companies.

She holds a Master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University and a Bachelor’s degree in communications and political science from Rowan University. Before starting her television news career, Leigh served as a United States Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Armenia. She taught English in a secondary school, led teacher training programs, secured grants for the construction of new learning centers, and developed a graduate journalism course at Yerevan University in partnership with USAID.

On weekends, Leigh is on the trails or at the beach with her dog, Moxie. An avid hiker, Leigh completed the Na Pali Coast (Kalalau) Trail in Kauai, the Canyon Creek Lakes Trail up to the alpine lakes of Trinity Alps, and twice climbed Half Dome in Yosemite.

yardsley@pennfuture.org

Jude Yardsley (they/them/theirs) is PennFuture’s Culture and Operations Manager.

Based in Harrisburg, Jude works as part of a team of go-to internal leaders, along with the President & CEO and Executive Vice President, to manage operations, grant, administrative, and internal policy processes. They also serve as Staff Liaison and Assistant Secretary to the Board, providing administrative support for Board operations.

Jude is the diversity lead for PennFuture, acting as an ongoing ex-officio member of the internal DEIJ Committee, leading external DEIJ initiatives with aligned partner organizations, and developing or supporting internal initiatives.

Prior to joining PennFuture, Jude worked in the Harrisburg hospitality and small business industry for 8 years, where they occupied customer-facing administrative roles and management positions. Jude has been focused on creating equitable and worker-focused business environments in the redeveloped Midtown district, putting down roots, and learning how to be a good neighbor.

molly@conservationpa.org

Molly Parzen serves as Vice President for Civic Engagement at PennFuture. She's responsible for fundraising, strategic direction, and management of the Field and Democracy For All teams. She also serves as Executive Director at Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, PennFuture's strategically aligned 501c4 partner organization.

Molly has been with CVPA for more than 10 years, previously serving as the Assistant Director and Development Director. She also previously served as the Director of Operations for Civic Engagement at PennFuture.

Before joining CVPA, she worked as a campaign manager and finance director for political campaigns in the greater Philadelphia area. A proud graduate of Bryn Mawr College, Molly enjoys studying ballet and traveling. She lives in South Philadelphia with her husband and three cats.

215-545-9694

oneill@pennfuture.org

Jessica is the Managing Attorney for Litigation at PennFuture. Jessica is based out of Philadelphia, and her work focuses on protection of Pennsylvania’s public natural resources, including clean air and water. Jessica leads PennFuture’s litigation team on matters impacting communities and the environment, including watershed protection, fighting against the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, and ensuring the rights of Pennsylvanians under the Environmental Rights Amendment of the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Prior to joining PennFuture, Jessica was an Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. She also worked as an environmental lawyer in private practice, where she primarily focused on clean water issues, and as an Assistant Regional Counsel for the Environmental Protection Agency in its Mid-Atlantic office, bringing administrative enforcement actions under federal hazardous waste and toxic chemical regulations. In 2010, she served as an assistant counsel to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. Jessica clerked for the Honorable Louis H. Pollak on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Honorable Robert B. Kugler on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Jessica has an undergraduate degree in environmental studies from Brown University and graduated magna cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center. She was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers in 2023. Jessica also enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time with her children.

412-547-3017

kilbert@pennfuture.org

Angela is a Senior Attorney in PennFuture’s Pittsburgh office.

As Senior Attorney, Angela works on improving air quality in Western Pennsylvania and challenging the petrochemical and fracking industries. Prior to joining PennFuture, Angela was an Associate Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center in Charleston, South Carolina, where her work focused on litigation and advocacy targeting regional environmental issues such as coastal resilience, protection of wetlands, and offshore drilling. Before that, Angela worked as an environmental attorney in Pittsburgh and clerked in Baltimore for the Honorable William D. Quarles, Jr., U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Maryland.

Angela received her B.A. from the College of William and Mary and graduated magna cum laude from the George Washington University Law School. Originally from Pittsburgh, Angela enjoys hiking and kayaking in Pennsylvania’s great outdoors.

267-838-9154

bast@pennfuture.org

Emma is a Staff Attorney in PennFuture’s Philadelphia office.

Emma’s work in Philadelphia focuses on water and water quality issues in Philadelphia and throughout the Delaware River Basin. Prior to joining PennFuture, Emma was an Associate Attorney at Spiegel & McDiarmid, LLP in Washington, D.C., where she worked on a wide range of energy issues in the public interest, including clean energy policy research and ensuring fairness to ratepayers across the country.

Emma received her B.A. in Geology from Mount Holyoke College, and graduated from Georgetown University. Originally from northern Vermont, Emma spent years visiting family in the Philadelphia region, and enjoys exploring Pennsylvania by cycling, hiking, and kayaking.

meyer@pennfuture.org

Brigitte is a Staff Attorney in PennFuture’s Pocono Office.

Brigitte’s work focuses on water quality and watershed protection, special protection waters, and stormwater management.

Prior to joining PennFuture, Brigitte was an Associate Attorney at Siana Law in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, where her work focused on municipal and land use law.

Brigitte received her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame and graduated from Northeastern University Law School (NUSL). While completing her law degree, Brigitte served as a judicial intern at the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and participated in the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Clinic. Her article, “Lawyering in the Age of Lynching” is published in the Northeastern University Law Review. Prior to attending law school, Brigitte worked full-time as the director of food service at camps in Virginia, Texas and New York.

Originally from the Lehigh Valley and now residing in Monroe County, Brigitte enjoys hiking, camping and exploring local flea markets and garage sales.

570-216-3344

kohut@pennfuture.org

As the Policy Manager for Sustainable Economics, Donna leads PennFuture’s cross-cutting work related to connecting clean air, clean water, and climate progress with economic growth and community development. She engages across PennFuture's statewide campaigns, working with those teams on tactics, policies, content creation, and other tactics to advance sustainable development as a core environmental indicator in Pennsylvania.

Donna came to PennFuture through her work as a volunteer with the Our Pocono Waters campaign, acting as the voice for the most pristine waterways in Pennsylvania in conversations with lawmakers. In 2020, she officially joined the PennFuture staff as a Field Coordinator in Bucks County. Her relationship with PennFuture came full circle in 2021 when she took on the role of Campaign Manager for the Delaware River Watershed, leading the Our Poconos Water campaign, for which she had previously volunteered and acting as the Pennsylvania State Lead for the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed.

Donna's pathway to PennFuture serpentined and flowed like any great river. She received a B.A. in Political Science and Writing from Moravian College and a M.A. in Women’s History from Sarah Lawrence College, where she focused her studies on the history of social movements. Then, inspired by her academic studies to become an intentional agent of social and environmental justice, Donna completed two terms of service with the Student Conservation Association in Arches National Park and the Mojave Desert in southern California, one term with the California Conservation Corps in that backcountry of Yosemite National Park, and served for one year as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Winooski, Vermont, supporting the local refugee resettlement program for New Americans in the Office of Community Development. Before coming to PennFuture in 2020, she spent fifteen years in the outdoor recreation and environmental education industries, immersed in the waterways of the Delaware River Watershed.

In her spare time, Donna gets her kicks whitewater kayaking and rafting, backpacking, and reading sci-fi.

ganey@pennfuture.org

Wren Ganey serves as Advocacy Manager, where she leads strategic coalition-building and legislative advocacy efforts to advance environmental policy. Based in Philadelphia, Wren manages PennFuture-led coalitions focused on issues such as clean water and sustainable development, and supports PennFuture’s legislative activities by developing policy content, tracking legislation, and facilitating direct lobbying efforts. Collaborating closely with the Government Affairs and Civic Engagement teams, Wren helps drive environmental priorities in Philadelphia and at the state level.

Wren brings a strong foundation in public policy and sustainability, holding a Master of Public Administration from the University of Oregon (go ducks!) and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sociology and Political Science from Colorado State University. Prior to joining PennFuture, Wren worked on projects with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, and the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement. Her work included environmental justice reporting and air quality analysis for vulnerable communities, policy evaluation for carbon-neutral housing through the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition, and technical reporting for local and state agencies on economic and environmental development. As a Project Intern with the Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technology for the Environment, Wren worked with global climate resiliency initiatives focused on sustainable food and water systems for women in developing countries, while also managing charitable investments and stakeholder relationships.

Originally from Oregon, Wren’s passion for environmental advocacy stems from her childhood exploring the Pacific Northwest. Now based in Philadelphia, you’ll find her scoping out new outdoor spaces with her dog, reading in the sun, or watching women’s basketball.

Nickolas leads campaigns to improve air quality through practical, data-driven solutions. Based in the Pittsburgh office, he works with communities, local governments, nonprofits, and businesses to help everyone breathe healthier air.

He earned a Master's degree in Public Policy & Management with a concentration in Environmental Policy from Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College. He graduated summa cum laude from Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, PA, where he majored in political science, environmental studies, and Spanish.

His past research explores how people engage with climate issues and public opinion on energy choices. Nickolas uses mapping, coding, and data tools to support smarter policy decisions. He has presented research internationally on the influences on Americans' views on climate change at the "Climate Change as System Change: Inter-American Perspectives" symposium at the University of Graz in Austria. While studying abroad at the University of Costa Rica, he led research and conducted interviews with local leaders and residents to gain a deeper understanding of the factors behind the country's strong support for environmental policies.

Before PennFuture, Nickolas served as an Allegheny County graduate intern focusing on sustainable construction practices, cross-sector initiatives, and community engagement. He led a feasibility study for Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) to reduce bus emissions by transitioning to renewable diesel. This proposal has since moved forward as part of PRT's climate action plan. Nickolas has spent nearly a decade at the Carnegie Science Center, where he led and developed hands-on demonstrations and live science shows.

In his free time, he enjoys local festivals, watching Star Wars and political dramas, and photographing nature. Whether he's helping to shape policy or enjoying Pittsburgh's festivals, Nickolas is proud to call Pittsburgh home and to keep working so that everyone can breathe easier.

cugini@pennfuture.org

Ollie Cugini is the Clean Water Campaign Manager for PennFuture. In this role, Ollie leads efforts to protect Pennsylvania’s rivers, streams, and drinking water through advocacy, coalition building, and policy development. They work closely with communities, partners, and decision-makers to strengthen clean water protections, advance sustainable water infrastructure, and hold polluters accountable across the Commonwealth.

In 2024, Ollie worked on a commercial salmon fishing crew in Alaska, living on a remote island off Kodiak in a small house with two other crew members. There, they experienced firsthand the deep relationship between local ecology and fishing communities, collected plenty of unique rocks, and, of course, ate their share of salmon. Before joining PennFuture, Ollie served as Public Policy Coordinator at Americans United for Separation of Church and State, collaborating with coalition partners at the state and federal levels to advance church–state separation. Earlier in their career, they organized on the ground as a Field Organizer for the Democratic Party in both Pennsylvania and Georgia, ranking among the top nationally for volunteer recruitment and engagement.

Ollie earned their bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Bryn Mawr College, concentrating on environmental justice and sustainable food policy. While at Bryn Mawr, they also captained the field hockey team for three years.

A Pennsylvania native, Ollie is deeply committed to ensuring communities across the state have access to clean, safe water. Outside of work, they enjoy reading, cooking for family and friends, working on their bike, and kayaking on any stream that looks too good to pass up.

Based in Pittsburgh, Natalie serves as the principal point of contact for local activists, volunteers, partner organizations, and elected officials in Allegheny County. Her work includes coordinating volunteer efforts to support local policy changes, building and strengthening partnerships, recruiting and training environmental advocates, and being a reliable environmental resource in the region.

Born in Jamaica, one of the many small island nations at the forefront of our climate crisis, climate resilience and environmental protection have always been important to her.

She has worked in numerous nonprofits focused on assisting communities in need, engaging disenfranchised communities in local elections, and advocating for the conservation of our environment.

Natalie has a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability and Political Science from Allegheny College. There, she studied the intersection of environment and policy, trying to find ways to bridge the gap in adequate protection for people in her communities.

Outside of work, Natalie enjoys learning languages, traveling, going on walks, and reading.

Ibrahim Buyukcelebi serves as the Lehigh Valley Civic Engagement Coordinator.

He is a joint staff member of PennFuture and CVPA, responsible for building a sustainable volunteer advocacy program and managing local partnerships in Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

Prior to joining PennFuture, He has worked at several nonprofits, focusing on interfaith dialogue and serving underprivileged communities in the US and abroad. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from NYU and a Masters from Columbia University.

While born in the Aegean region of Turkey, he grew up in the Lehigh Valley. His passion for conservation work stems from his deep appreciation of nature.

Katriana Marquez (they/them), "Kat", is PennFuture's Allegheny County Civic Engagement Mobilizer.

Based in Pittsburgh (Osage and Shawnee lands), Kat is responsible for recruiting and mobilizing a sustainable base of environmental advocates in Allegheny County.

Through their experiences in social organizing over the last six years, Kat has engaged in a multitude of spaces regarding climate, gender, and race/ethnicity, working alongside groups like Sunrise Movement Pittsburgh, Feminist Frequency, and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance.

Originally from Fresno, California (Yokuts land), they graduated from Westmont College, located in the foothills of Santa Barbara, California (Chumash lands), in May 2021 with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies and served as the Co-President of the Multiethnic Student Association.

In their free time, Kat can be found playing games like Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition and Pokémon with their friends, experimenting with different art mediums, or volunteering at a local bookstore.

singh@pennfuture.org

Neel Singh is PennFuture’s Erie Civic Engagement Coordinator, serving as PennFuture’s primary researcher and collaborator for local organizations, elected officials, volunteers and activists in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Born and raised in San Diego, Neel spent every summer living with his grandparents in Erie. He now aims to give back to the community that helped raise him. His goal is to help expand PennFuture’s presence in Erie and build the coalitions necessary to enact widespread change in the Gem City.

Before moving back to Erie, Neel graduated early from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, with a Bachelor of Political Science and Statistics. During his time in Montana, he worked with several Public Lands and environmental organizations, including the Wild Montana Action Fund and Montana Conservation Voters, as well as election campaigns for Senator Jon Tester and State Supreme Court Justice Katherine Bidegaray.

Outside of work, Neel enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, birding, and fishing, and is deeply passionate about baseball, devoutly cheering on his beloved San Diego Padres.

higgs@pennfuture.org

Shevell Higgs is PennFuture’s Philadelphia Civic Engagement Coordinator. In this role, her primary focus is addressing illegal dumping in the city through community-driven advocacy. She works closely with local partners, activists, and elected officials to push for increased funding, stronger enforcement, and long-term abatement solutions. Alongside that work, she builds and supports volunteer-led initiatives that advance environmental justice and center the voices of communities most impacted by pollution and neglect.

A South Jersey native and the child of immigrants, Shevell developed a deep appreciation for environmental stewardship and civic engagement from an early age. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Political Science and was an active student leader, organizing programs focused on civic engagement, social justice, and sustainability. Her experience includes working on a New Jersey gubernatorial campaign and with several Fortune 500 companies, where she helped coordinate inclusion-focused initiatives, public policy strategy, and community-centered programming.

Outside of her work, Shevell enjoys reading, journaling, arts and crafts, and spending intentional time with her family. She is passionate about building people-powered solutions that create cleaner, more equitable communities.