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Meet the Team

Staff

Amber Pairis
Amber Pairis

Founder and Lead Advisor

Paula Ezcurra
Paula Ezcurra

Operations and Grants Manager

Will Madrigal, Jr.
Will Madrigal, Jr.

Tribal Capacities and Partnerships Program Manager

Althea Walker
Althea Walker

Co-Director and Community Resilience Lead

Jeanette Starpine
Jeanette Starpine

Education and Engagement Lead

Kat Schroeder Mora
Kat Schroeder Mora

Visual Communications Designer

Diane Terry
Diane Terry

Co-Director and Creative Lead

Connor Magee
Connor Magee

Research and Data Applications Lead

Shannon Magee
Shannon Magee

Indigenous Land Rematriation Specialist

Fellows + Interns

Meliza Le Alvarado
Meliza Le Alvarado

California Sea Grant Fellow

Levi Hill
Levi Hill

Climate Media Fellow

Previous Fellows + Interns

Emily Gelbart

Emily Gelbart joined the team in 2023 as a NASA intern between the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and Climate Science Alliance (Alliance). During her spring season with the Alliance, Emily worked closely with the Alliance team on compiling regional climate impacts for the Nevada region as part of southwestern resilience partnerships including the Great Basin Tribal Alliance, and on climate science education efforts as part of the Climate Kids Hub and Traveling Trunk programs. Read Emily's internship reflections here.

Jada McCovey

Aiy-ue-kwee (Hello), my name is Jada McCovey, I am a Hoopa Tribal Member with Yurok and Karuk affiliation from Northern California. I am a student at the University of California, Davis attaining a bachelor’s degree in Native American Studies and Environmental Policy and Planning in hopes to pursue a career in environmental management in Indigenous communities to better support and empower traditional knowledge systems and build resiliency against environmental challenges that threaten cultural vitality. Last year I worked with the Yurok tribe’s environmental department back home to better learn and meet my own communities needs. This summer I am interning with the Climate Science Alliance to build greater knowledge of intertribal environmental work that strengthens communal resilience to the impacts of climate change, while promoting Indigenous ecological knowledge and stewardship. I am beyond thankful for this opportunity and for my hosts at Climate Science Alliance in La Jolla, San Diego CA.


Ko-weesh-cho’ (thank you)

Karla Nailea Monroy

Karla Nailea Monroy (she/her) joined the team in 2023 as a NASA intern between the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and Climate Science Alliance (Alliance). During her spring season with the Alliance, Karla worked closely with the Alliance team on climate science education efforts as part of the Climate Kids Hub and Traveling Trunk programs, and in broadening outreach efforts underway as part of the Baja Working Group and bi-national partnerships. Read Karla's internship reflections here.

Advisors

Nikki Cooley
Nikki Cooley

Advisor

Megan Jennings
Megan Jennings

Advisor

Tamara Wall
Tamara Wall

Advisor

Laura Engeman
Laura Engeman

Advisor

Julie Kalansky
Julie Kalansky

Advisor

Shasta Gaughen
Shasta Gaughen

Advisor

Melodie Lopez
Melodie Lopez

Advisor

Technical Advisors

Martha Aidé Escalante Garcia
Martha Aidé Escalante Garcia

Climate Kids Mexico

Wesley Ruise, Jr.
Wesley Ruise, Jr.

Stewardship Pathways: Fire

Anna Lucia López-Avedoy
Anna Lucia López-Avedoy

Climate Kids Mexico

Ana Gloria (Martha) Rodriguez
Ana Gloria (Martha) Rodriguez

Baja Working Group

Staff
Advisors
Technical Advisors
Fellows + Interns
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