Don Hatch, SIS 2010

Don Hatch is the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Center for Green Schools and SVP of Marketing and Communications. In May of 2010, Don graduated from American University with a degree in International Studies, focused primarily on Asia and world environmental studies. In April of 2011, he joined the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council as the new Executive Administrative Assistant. He brings more than six years of experience as an administrative professional starting with service in the U.S. Navy from 2000 to 2004 where he was a forward deployed sailor. During his service in the Navy, Don received several awards including a Navy Achievement Medal, Overseas Service Ribbons, National Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Service in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After departing from the Navy, Don began attending the local community college in his hometown while working several jobs. After two years, he was accepted and transferred to American University, School of International Service where he could continue studying and learning more about world cultures, furthering Japanese language skills and environmental politics; all passions that developed early on in his life and drove him to joining the military and seeking an environmentally focused career.

The Center for Green Schools creates programs, resources, and partnerships to accelerate the transformation of schools and campuses. From public schools to private schools, community colleges to four-year institutions, the Center supports an integrated, system-wide approach to sustainability across the education community. Green schools go far beyond bricks and mortar. Learn more about the Center for Green Schools.

Suzanne is the President of Hunt Green, LLC, in Washington DC, an organization which advises clients such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Wildlife Federation on energy, agriculture, transportation, and the environment. She makes frequent speeches and media appearances around the world and provides thought leadership through numerous publications and board memberships. In 2007, Science Magazine featured Ms. Hunt as a "Pioneer." She is a founding adviser to the annual Art Center Sustainable Mobility Summit and the Climate Lab. Ms. Hunt directed the Worldwatch Institute's bioenergy program, where she orchestrated the landmark study, "Biofuels for Transportation: Global Potential and Implications for Energy and Agriculture." Her interest in biofuels began when she initiated biodiesel production and use at her family's farm and winery. Ms. Hunt has a B.S. in Environmental Science from Penn State and a dual master's degree in International Affairs and Natural Resource Management from American University and the UN's University for Peace in Costa Rica. Her most recent initiatives include work on the role of agriculture in climate change, renewable energy and green buildings in South America, and the use of Web 2.0 and GIS (Global Information Systems) technologies to build the "information infrastructure" needed to accelerate the successful deployment of climate change solutions. Full bio and publications at: http://climatelab.org/User:Suzanne_Hunt

Meg Imholt, CAS/SPA 2009

Meg is an organizer with Green Corps, the Field School for Environmental Organizing. At AU, Meg was active in EcoSense and majored in Environmental Studies and Political Science. After graduating, she wanted to turn the ideas she gained on campus into action on today's urgent environmental problems. Each year, Green Corps takes 35 recent college and university graduates for their program. The one-year Green Corps paid program intersperses intensive classroom instruction with multiple campaign efforts. Within just a year of graduating, Meg has run campaigns with some of the country's top environmental groups, Food and Water Watch, Environment Texas, and Corporate Accountability International. In spring of 2010, Meg worked with a team of organizers to build a coalition of 100 businesses, groups, and elected officials, calling for a solar energy standard in the state of Texas. By hosting press conferences, building volunteer groups, and organizing coalitions, Meg has gained hands-on experience running field campaigns to win environmental protections and public health initiatives. At the end of her training in 2010, the Green Corps program will facilitate her placement in a career position with a leading environmental and social change group. For more information about Green Corps or to apply to the program visit www.greencorps.org

Brian Keane '89, helps people go greener and cleaner one community at a time

Brian Keane, CAS 1989

Twice named “Connecticut’s Environmental Hero,” Brian F. Keane is president of SmartPower.

A former advisor to the late Senator Paul Tsongas (D-MA) and congressional aide to Representative Les Aspin (D-WI), Keane has an extensive background in management, political organizing and communications. Keane was one of the architects of The Concord Coalition, a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating the federal budget deficit. He was also the founding executive director of Economic Security 2000 (ES 2000), the nation's first nonpartisan, grass-roots organization dedicated to saving and reforming Social Security. Keane’s testimony before the U.S. Congress helped make ES 2000 a recognized national leader in the debate on Social Security reform. Former presidents Clinton and Bush both recognized ES 2000 as a valuable resource in the discussion on Social Security.

Keane is a 1989 graduate of The American University in Washington, DC, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science. The tenth in a family of eleven children, Keane served as the chairman of his eldest brother’s successful campaign for the Boston City Council and his brother’s subsequent race for the U.S. Congress in Massachusetts’ eighth congressional district in 1998. Keane was briefly a candidate for the Massachusetts State Senate in 2002.

Keane serves as the president of the American University Alumni Association and sits on the board of directors of the Vermont-based Clean Energy Group. He is also a member of the Solar Foundation’s board of directors.

Lindsay Madeira, SIS 2006

Lindsay is a consultant for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, where she has been supporting the initiative, Lighting Africa, since its launch in 2007.  Lighting Africa works to support the private sector to accelerate markets for sustainable modern off-grid lighting products in Sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 500 million people do not have access to electricity (www.lightingafrica.org).  Presently, Lindsay is the Global Knowledge Management Specialist for the program and she will be heading to Nairobi, Kenya, in May to Lighting Africa's 2nd Global Business Conference and Trade Fair for Off-Grid Lighting.  Lindsay also consults for Clean Energy Group, a U.S non-profit organization which works to promote effective clean energy policies, develop low carbon technology innovation strategies and new financial tools to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions (www.cleanegroup.org).  

Prior to her current position, Lindsay acted as the Manager of Sustainability Programs for AU, where she supported the Office of Sustainability to move towards its goal of carbon neutrality and greening of its operations, curriculum, and institutional policies.  Lindsay continues to teach applied renewable energy courses as an adjunct professor in AU's School for International Service, drawing on her experience designing renewable energy technologies for the developing world and her work as a solar installation technician in Vermont. Lindsay holds dual Master's degrees in Natural Resources & Sustainable Development and International Affairs from the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica and American University (SIS '06).  

Lindsay is also an avid marathon runner and cyclist and enjoys practicing sustainability at home by making biodiesel in her garage, building solar technologies, and fueling her car with used cooking oil that she collects from local restaurants. 

Jessica Morey, SIS 2006
Jessica is a Project Director with Clean Energy Group (CEG), focusing on their Climate Change Technology Innovation Initiative, while liaising to the UNEP Sustainable Energy Finance Alliance and directing the Clean Energy States Alliance Hydrogen Education project. She also worked as a clean energy analyst at the World Bank. She consulted for the Natural Resources Defense Council on the Carbon Neutral Costa Rica campaign and worked as an International Fellow at the Pew Center for Global Climate Change. She received her Bachelor's in Environmental Engineering from Dartmouth College, a Masters in International Affairs from American University and a Masters in Sustainable Development from the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica. She is also the co-founder and Board Chair of Climate Lab, a nonprofit organization that develops Web-based knowledge tools addressing climate change. She also teaches yoga and meditation to adults and teens.

Casey Roe CAS/SPA 2009

Casey Roe is currently the Sustainability Outreach Coordinator for Duke University. In this role, she manages the Students for Sustainable Living program as well as outreach efforts such as the sustainability newsletter and the Green Devil Challenge, and she designed an individual carbon calculator for members of the Duke community. Casey graduated Summa Cum Laude from American University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies (CAS) and B.A. in Political Science (SPA) in 2009. Casey received the 2009 award for Outstanding Service to the University Community and the Morris K. Udall Scholarship for her environmental work in 2007 and 2008. While in college, Casey was active in campus sustainability as Policy Director of EcoSense and Environmental Policy Director for AUSG. Casey wrote a clean transportation policy and sustainable purchasing policy for AU and created the Office Eco-Certification program, as well as helped launch the Green Teaching Certificate. She also interned with the Sierra Club, the EPA, Clean Air-Cool Planet, and Representative Carol Shea-Porter while at American.