COP Ambassador Alumni
Rose Albert
Rose Albert is a senior in the Science and Technology Honors Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham pursuing a BS in Chemistry and an MPH in Environmental Health Sciences. Rose unifies her multi-disciplinary research experiences in bacteriophage genomics, cell biology and microscopy, and air quality modeling with a passion for science as a tool for social justice. She aspires to provide scientific and technical support to communities burdened with environmental injustices. Rose advocates for healthy air and environmental justice in Birmingham, AL through her community science and health policy work with the nonprofit GASP. As president of Green Initiative, UAB's undergraduate sustainability organization, Rose leads campus initiatives on topics such as eco-anxiety, science policy, fast fashion, waste management, place-based environmentalism, and youth activism. Rose has been recognized as a Goldwater and Udall Scholar for her research and environmental advocacy..
Amar Bhardwaj
Amar Bhardwaj is a current Marshall Scholar focused on policy and economic analysis as well as technology development within renewable energy and hard-to-abate sectors. He has worked as a researcher at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy and an Energy Industry Analyst at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), where he helped inform policymaking on the energy transition. Previously, Amar was a lead researcher in Columbia University’s Solar Fuels Engineering Lab, the Editor in Chief of Consilience: The Journal of Sustainable Development, and an expert reviewer for the IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report. Amar has authored numerous publications in energy policy and technology and has presented his work globally, including at the United Nations. He holds a B.S. in chemical engineering, summa cum laude, from Columbia University, an M.Sc. in Energy, Society, and Sustainability from the University of Edinburgh, and will shortly begin a Ph.D. in chemical engineering at Stanford University as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. In this free time, Amar enjoys Latin dance, drone photography, and all forms of outdoor adventure.
Claire Dopp
Claire Dopp is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Kansas pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Environmental Studies. She is a Beckman Scholar at KU, supported by the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation, and is mentored by Prof. James Blakemore. Claire’s research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of heterobimetallic, macrocyclic vanadium complexes, with an eye on controlling the redox chemistry of the oxo cation vanadyl. Claire is inspired by such work, as it could contribute to improved sustainability of nuclear energy, a low-carbon power source. Outside of the lab, she serves as the coordinator for the campus Kansas Union Gallery, and loves baking and exploring the outdoors. Following graduation, Claire aspires to attend graduate school to earn a PhD in Chemistry.
Justin Harrington
Justin Harrington is a fourth-year at the University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville, VA majoring in Chemical Engineering. He spent the previous summer as an undergraduate researcher studying therapeutic peptide-polymer conjugates, with a focus on applications for ALS. Prior to that he spent two summers working for the Department of State and USAID at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan. Upon graduating, he plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering. In his free time Justin attends the Historical Simulation Society, UVA’s board game club, and is the Secretary for UVA’s student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Celina Harris
Celina Harris is a 5th year Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities pursuing her degree in Chemistry. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Gettysburg College in 2017. Her current research focuses on understanding the evolving reactivity of iron oxide materials in the presence of nitroaromatic compounds on sand in continuous flow settings. On campus, Celina serves as the president of the Women in Science and Engineering, Chemistry Chapter and co-president of the Joint Safety Team. She is also involved with the Community of Chemistry Graduate Students – a student group focused on fostering a supportive environment where mental health is prioritized during graduate studies. She has volunteered with the outreach group Chemists in the Library run by the MN chapter of ACS since 2017. Outside of science, Celina enjoys reading, baking, and board games.
Luke Jaskowski
Luke Jaskowski is a senior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Chinese. He is actively involved as President of the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society and Secretary of the environmental activism organization Green Initiative at UAB. As an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Dr. Suzanne E. Lapi, he is using fluorine-18, a radioactive isotope of fluorine, to radiolabel environmental contaminants known as PFAS to observe their movement through water filtration systems. He hopes to pursue a career as an organic chemist in the production of novel pharmaceuticals or greener materials to reduce the impact of climate change. Outside of academics, Luke enjoys cooking, hiking, and observing local art.
Gabrielle Risica
Gabrielle Risica is a fifth year doctoral student and PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on the effect of different molecular architectures on the performance of lanthanide-based single-molecule magnets, for qubit, data storage or energy generation applications. Gabrielle is heavily involved in the TAMU community, volunteering as an event coordinator at the Texas State Science Olympiad and organizing various hands-on activities through the Chemistry Open House. On campus, she has served on executive boards for several student organizations, including the Graduate Student Association of Chemistry, Phi Lambda Upsilon Chemistry Honorary Society, and Women in Science and Engineering. In her (limited) free time, Gabrielle enjoys reading all genres, doing yoga, writing for her blog, playing various table-top games, and spending time with her puppy. Gabrielle hopes to pursue a career in science policy and communications, and is especially interested in connecting her doctoral research to global progress in the fight against climate change.
Tiffany Sill
Tiffany Sill is a second-year graduate student pursuing an interdisciplinary PhD in inorganic chemistry and materials science and engineering at Texas A&M University in Professor Sarbajit Banerjee’s materials chemistry research group. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from California State University San Bernardino. During her undergraduate career, she created and implemented a STEM program which brought science into an afterschool program for underprivileged children in the heart of San Bernardino. She also participates in the American Chemical Society National Chemistry Week events. Her dissertation research focuses on utilizing machine learning and automated synthesis to design nanocomposite coatings for a variety of energy relevant technologies. She is a 2020 Aviles and Johnson Fellow and a 2021 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. In her free time, Tiffany loves to spend time outdoors with her husband, three children, and two dogs.
Spencer Smith
Spencer Smith is a senior at York College of Pennsylvania pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a minor in Environmental Sustainability. In his future as an engineer, he hopes to positively impact the fight for global sustainability. His studies of sustainability have taken him around the world from Costa Rica to now Glasgow, Scotland. On campus, Spencer has served as Vice President and Sustainability Chair on Student Senate, Treasurer and Vice President of YCP’s ASCE Student Chapter, Treasurer of the NASA Student Launch team, President of the Student Alumni Council, a Student Ambassador, an Eisenhart Community Service Scholar, Sunrise Campus Corps Student Leader, a Varsity Swimmer, an EVOLVE campaign cabinet member, and a President’s Task Force for Sustainability Leader. In his sparse free time, Spencer enjoys 3D printing and gaming with friends. He believes in the mantra “Sustainability is Universal”.
Kowan O'Keefe
Kowan O’Keefe, born and raised in Kamloops, British Columbia, is a Trudeau Scholar and third-year PhD student at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. O’Keefe studies climate change policy with a focus on Canada’s goal of achieving a net-zero GHG emissions economy by 2050. O’Keefe attended Minot State University on a golf scholarship and was a two-time NCAA Division II Academic All-American and a finalist for the NCAA Division II Male Scholar Athlete of the Year Award. He became the first in this family to graduate from university, earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics. He then earned a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Toronto. O’Keefe twice attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference representing the American Chemical Society and has written three chapters for a series of collaborative books on climate change literacy and education. In addition to his doctoral studies, O’Keefe is a member of an interdisciplinary team at the University of Maryland’s Center for Global Sustainability that focuses on climate change and energy policy projects.
Lucas Frye
|
Lucas Frye is a fourth-year at the University of Virginia where he majors in Chemistry and minors in Government. As an undergraduate researcher, he studies synthetic organometallic chemistry with a focus on rhodium catalyzed cross-coupling. Upon graduating, he plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Chemistry. While at Virginia, Lucas has been an active member of Alpha Chi Sigma, the professional chemistry fraternity, conducting chemistry demonstrations to spread interest in the sciences among grade-school students in the Charlottesville area. He is also the President of Amuse Bouche, U.Va's long-form improv troupe, which works tirelessly to bring improvisational comedy to the masses.
|
|
Shelby Toles
Shelby Toles is a senior at Baylor University in Waco, TX, and is majoring in International Relations with a focus in global environmental policy and minoring in German. She is interested in how climate change will impact the geopolitical landscape in the coming decades. Additionally, Shelby is interested in the role the United Nations plays in combatting climate change on a global scale, along with the role science plays in environmental foreign policy making. One of her involvements during school is being a member of Baylor’s Model United Nations traveling team. Shelby has become more interested in global climate issues since attending COP 24 in Katowice, Poland. When she graduates, Shelby hopes to continue working within environmental policy on a federal or global scale. In her spare time, Shelby enjoys doing pottery and most outdoor activities.
Yasmin Ajirniar
|
Yasmin Ajirniar, a second year at the Georgia Institute of Technology, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and plans to pursue a minor in French. Her involvement in Chemistry includes active membership and Merchandise Chair for the Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma, undergraduate teaching assistant positions in courses offered by the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, and undergraduate research, which focuses radical polymerization of thionolactone monomers. Outside of academics, Yasmin also enjoys traveling, hiking, running, and practicing yoga.
|
|
Alexis Amelotte
Alexis Amelotte is a senior at York College of Pennsylvania pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Chemistry, Psychology, Neuroscience, and Fine Art. She hopes to pursue a career as a physician scientist. Her current research initiatives focus on neurological development and the use of CRISPR to decrease development of colon cancer and glioblastoma. On campus, Alexis serves as a member of the Executive Cabinet of YCP’s Student Senate, President of the Pre-Med and Allied Health Society, Vice President of Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society, a laboratory assistant, and First Year Seminar fellow. In her (limited) free time, Alexis enjoys growing succulents, baking, making pottery, and playing with her cat Drusilla. Alexis is concerned about the effect that climate change is having on global health.
Aminda Cheney-Irgens
|
Aminda Cheney-Irgens is a fourth year student at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in Tacoma, WA majoring in Chemistry and Hispanic Studies, with a minor in Environmental Studies. Aminda has spent the last two summers participating in research opportunities both at PLU and with an REU at the University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras campus, studying polymer and electrochemistry, and had the opportunity to study conservation biology in Mexico last fall. Aminda is an advocate for socially responsible ecological sustainability, has served as a campus Sustainability Director, and seeks to learn and educate about the importance of climate change mitigation and climate science literacy. Aminda hopes to pursue graduate studies in environmental engineering and work to alleviate the growing consequences of global climate change.
|
|
Connor Crowe
Connor Crowe currently attends Baylor University as an undergraduate senior studying environmental health science with an interest in epidemiology and vector-borne disease. Connor is interested in studying how climate change impacts the transmission and distribution of vector-borne diseases. After graduating, he plans to pursue an MPH in environmental health and then attend medical school. During his time at Baylor, Connor has been an active member of the American Medical Student Association as an officer on the professional development committee. In addition, Connor co-founded and is currently president of the Camping and Outdoor Skills Club, which works to provide a community on the Baylor campus for students passionate about the outdoors.
Haley Davis
|
Haley Davis is a fourth-year student at Baylor University in Waco, Texas pursuing a Bachelor of Science with a major in Environmental Science and a minor in Biology. Haley spends her time outside of class volunteer diving at the Cameron Park Zoo and running Baylor DIVE, a scuba club she helped create. Her primary research initiatives have been the impacts of PCBs on Gulf Killifish with Dr. Cole Matson and the effects of increased turbidity on denitrification in freshwater systems with Dr. Thad Scott. She has spent her summers interning with the Roatan Institute for Marine Science and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration studying human impacts on coral reefs and the ecosystems they sustain. Haley’s main interest in climate change has to do with its effects on the world’s oceans, including ocean acidification and sea level rise. She believes that these two effects of climate change are of extreme importance to coastal and island communities, and to valuable shallow-water ecosystems.
|
|
Jack Green
|
Jack Green is a fourth year student attending the Louisiana State University Ogden Honors College pursuing dual degrees in Applied Coastal Environmental Science and Political Science. Jack is a LASAL scholar at LSU, focusing his studies on coastal land loss and racial poverty in Louisiana. He is a two time national Udall scholarship recipient for his sustainability activism work in Student Government. His experience interning at the LA Governor’s Office if Coastal Affairs clarified his passion for coastal policy and the intersection of science and government. He is a founding member of the Louisiana Youth Platform, a youth advocacy coalition promoting communication between young people in Louisiana with their representatives on the topics of environmentalism, criminal justice reform, education, and economic development. In his spare time, Jack enjoys playing the piano and spending quality time with his parents and two dogs.
|
Kristian Gubsch
|
Kristian Gubsch is a senior at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, WA pursuing a B.S. in chemical engineering. Kristian is very involved on campus and serves as the President of the Harold Frank Engineering Entrepreneurship Institute and Regional Conference Chair for WSU's chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Additionally, he teaches a first-year course in the WSU Honors College and is an undergraduate peer research mentor. He has completed three research internships since arriving at WSU with all of them being related to climate change. The projects were related to remote sensing of particulate wildfire pollution, CO2 conversion to valuable chemicals, and investigating how coral responds to ocean acidification. He is passionate about making limiting climate change profitable and enjoys developing and researching new technology that limits the effects of climate change. In the future, he hopes to launch or work for a company that is dedicated to developing sustainable technology. Outside of research and academics, he is an avid outdoorsman, traveler, podcast-listener, and reader.
|
|
Baxter Krug
Baxter Krug is a fourth-year chemistry major with minors in mathematics and communication from Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX. Baxter has spent the last three years conducting environmental chemistry research on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and on the rhetoric surrounding mental health. These two subjects intersect on science communication and he is an advocate/developer of sci-comm programming. He writes and hosts a radio show called Slice of Pi where he takes deep dives into the technical side of a subject and explains it in a way everyone can understand. Going into COP 25, he wants to analyze the rhetoric surrounding climate change and open that discussion on a world stage. While limited, Baxter enjoys random adventures in the outdoors (e.g. backpacking, swimming, rock climbing, etc.) and playing the tuba in his spare time.
COP Ambassador Advisors
Keith Peterman
Keith Peterman is a Professor Emeritus in the Chemistry Department at York College of Pennsylvania. He
has served as a Fulbright Scholar in Germany and in Russia, a National Academy of Sciences Research
Scholar in Poland, a Research Fellow at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, and as a
visiting professor in China and New Zealand. His current research and writing focus on issues related to
climate change and sustainability, and he is a coeditor of five recent books on these topics. He
participates in the annual UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP) as an accredited member of
the press and mentors a project that takes ACS student members to the COP each year. He is coauthor
with Matt Cordes of the 2022 book titled Contextualizing Climate: Linking Science and Culture. He is a
recipient of the ACS CEI Award for Incorporating Sustainability into Chemistry Education.
has served as a Fulbright Scholar in Germany and in Russia, a National Academy of Sciences Research
Scholar in Poland, a Research Fellow at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, and as a
visiting professor in China and New Zealand. His current research and writing focus on issues related to
climate change and sustainability, and he is a coeditor of five recent books on these topics. He
participates in the annual UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP) as an accredited member of
the press and mentors a project that takes ACS student members to the COP each year. He is coauthor
with Matt Cordes of the 2022 book titled Contextualizing Climate: Linking Science and Culture. He is a
recipient of the ACS CEI Award for Incorporating Sustainability into Chemistry Education.
Gregory Foy
Dr. Gregory P. Foy holds a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Miami University and is an
Associate Professor of Chemistry at York College of Pennsylvania. His research interests are
focused on Environmental Chemistry. Since the International Year of Chemistry 2011 when he
and Dr. Keith Peterman developed the ACS UN Student Ambassador program, they have
shepherded over 80 college students to attend the yearly United Nations climate change
meetings, report on scientific policies, and engage their peers worldwide by using social media
and the blog “Students on Climate Change” to encourage international student involvement. This
project has resulted in an ongoing ACS Symposium, along with three Symposium Series books.
Dr. Foy participates in the United Nations climate conferences as an accredited member of the
press.
Associate Professor of Chemistry at York College of Pennsylvania. His research interests are
focused on Environmental Chemistry. Since the International Year of Chemistry 2011 when he
and Dr. Keith Peterman developed the ACS UN Student Ambassador program, they have
shepherded over 80 college students to attend the yearly United Nations climate change
meetings, report on scientific policies, and engage their peers worldwide by using social media
and the blog “Students on Climate Change” to encourage international student involvement. This
project has resulted in an ongoing ACS Symposium, along with three Symposium Series books.
Dr. Foy participates in the United Nations climate conferences as an accredited member of the
press.
