Staff Bios

As a doctoral student in applied economics at the University of Minnesota, David Bael integrates the natural and social sciences to address environmental issues. This interdisciplinary approach dates back to his undergraduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he double-majored in biology and management. As a graduate student, David is rounding out his economics coursework with a minor in conservation biology. His project with the Institute on the Environment focuses on conservation decisions to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. Originally from New York, David has lived in the Twin Cities since the mid-1990s. He currently lives in South Minneapolis with his partner, Andrea, and their two-year-old daughter, Zora. In his free time, he enjoys reading, watching films, doing crossword puzzles, playing Ultimate Frisbee, biking, canoeing, backpacking and gardening.

As the administrative data and information systems developer for the Institute on the Environment, Michelle Beaman develops and supports Web-based applications, databases and other Web programming projects. She also manages the extensive grants and research programs within the Institute. Prior to her current roles, she designed Web sites and provided administrative support for the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. Michelle earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Minnesota and is currently pursuing her master’s degree through the U of M’s Master of Liberal Studies program.

Lance Brisbois works on communications, student and faculty collaboration, online resources, and event planning with the University of Minnesota's Sustainability Studies Minor. Lance is from a small rural community in western Iowa and is currently a senior at the U of M majoring in urban studies, with minors in geography and sustainability studies. He is active on campus with the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group's Sustainability Task Force, and off campus with the Sierra Student Coalition. With this job, Lance has helped create a Sustainability Student Advisory Board, a Sustainability Tour of the St. Paul campus, and is working with numerous student organizations to build a coalition and improve collaborative efforts on campus. In his leisure time, he enjoys reading, traveling, hiking and just about anything else outdoors.

As the chief of staff, Dawne Brown White manages the administrative function within the Institute on the Environment, along with grant-making projects and efforts to increase operating revenue. A fund development professional, her recent experience includes three years as a social entrepreneur, founding and leading an organization with a mission to improve community health for low-income families. Dawne earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Education in human resource development from the University of Minnesota, where she’s currently pursuing a graduate degree. A native of Canada, she has a deep connection to the Rocky Mountains, as well as the forests, rivers, lakes and prairies of the Midwest. The parent of an active 9-year old, Dawne spends most of her leisure time cheering on youth sports—and has become a reluctant parts person for Lego projects.

As managing editor and lead writer for the Institute on the Environment, Eve Daniels oversees the editorial side of Momentum magazine, Web sites, promo materials and many other communications efforts. Before joining academia, she covered arts, entertainment and business for Greenspring Media Group and worked as a marketing writer for Minnesota Public Radio. Her articles have won several awards and have appeared in an eclectic mix of regional and national publications. Following a stint at a Navy helicopter squadron, Eve earned her bachelor’s degree in technical communication from Metropolitan State University. She supplemented her degree with creative writing courses in Hamline University’s Master of Fine Arts program, and is currently enrolled in the cinema production program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. In her free time, Eve enjoys screenwriting, snowboarding, playing piano and traveling. She and her husband moved from Green Bay to Minneapolis in 1999.

Jenny Edwards joined the Institute on the Environment as a NorthStar fellow in October 2009. Her interests encompass resource use and infrastructure—how we produce, distribute, use and dispose of the "stuff" of everyday life—and how to implement better alternatives. At the IonE, she works with the NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise on sustainable production-consumption pathways, with an emphasis on cross-sector strategies and the integration of life-cycle and systems analysis techniques into environmental decisions. She has worked as a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on energy and climate policy, primarily around distributed generation, renewable energy and locally adapted resource use. Jenny has a master's degree from MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning, and a bachelor's degree in physics from UC Berkeley. She is a newcomer to the Upper Midwest and is trying to remember that here, people eat "hot dish," drink "pop" and rarely, if ever, honk their horns while driving.

Vamsi Ganti joined the University of Minnesota in fall 2007 as a master’s student and switched to the doctoral program in civil engineering in spring 2009. His research focuses on developing a new class of models for environmental transport processes; this work could lead to a greater understanding of the physics behind the processes that shape landscapes, and could provide a better predictive capability in integrated watershed management. Vamsi is currently exploring a rich class of mathematical models called non-local theories, with an emphasis on the application of fractional calculus. In 2007, he earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. His hobbies include reading, photography, traveling and watching movies.

Jamie Gerber is a scientific program coordinator for the Institute on the Environment’s Global Landscapes Initiative. In this role, he assists with research and analysis related to the global environmental consequences of land use and land cover change. Prior to joining the IonE, he worked as the senior hydrodynamics researcher at Ocean Power Technologies, helping to develop devices to convert ocean wave energy to electricity. Jamie has a doctorate in physics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He lives in St. Paul with his wife, Lisa—a political science professor at the University of Minnesota—and their two children, Noah (11) and Lili (4). In his free time, he enjoys hiking, soccer, hockey, cooking, and practicing his French and Spanish language skills.

As a research assistant with the Institute on the Environment’s River Life program, Paula Guetter helps with research, digital materials and program development. She is currently exploring the role of ecological principles in urban river restoration. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental design, she worked for Brown’s Creek Watershed District as an erosion and sediment control inspector and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District as an education intern. Paula returned to the U of M in fall 2009 to pursue a master’s degree in water resources science. In her spare time, she loves hiking, rollerblading, playing soccer, reading and watching movies.

Julia Haltiwanger is a doctoral student in mechanical engineering and a master’s student in the Humphrey Institute’s science, technology and environmental policy program. She graduated from Grinnell College in 2002, where she majored in physics and gender and women’s studies. She came to the University of Minnesota in 2005 after three years in Brooklyn, N.Y., as a seventh-grade math and science teacher. Julia’s research focuses on the technical and economic feasibility of a cutting-edge approach to storing solar energy as hydrogen. Her work draws on the fields of nanotechnology, chemistry, aerosol science and renewable energy. In her spare time, she likes tinkering with and riding bicycles, going for dog walks, and working on garden and house projects with her partner, Anne.

Shari Hemmingsen joined the Institute on the Environment as a student worker in January 2009. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in architecture at the University of Minnesota with a minor in sustainability. When she graduates in spring 2010, she plans to focus on sustainable design in architecture. In her free time, Shari enjoys scrapbooking, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

As a research assistant with the Institute on the Environment, Lucius Jonett is developing materials for the River Life and Telling River Stories Web sites. He will graduate from the University of Minnesota in 2011 with a master’s degree in landscape architecture and a certificate in stream restoration science and engineering. Lucius received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2003. He plans to combine his new design training with his undergraduate background to help protect and enhance water resources. In his personal time, he enjoys traveling, taking walks with his wife, spending time outdoors, training in martial arts and working with tools—whether something needs fixing or not.

As marketing and communications manager for the Institute on the Environment, Sarah Karnas' duties range from graphic design and events planning to strategic communications and promotions. She also serves as art director for Momentum magazine. Prior to her current role, she coordinated the Twin Cities Food & Wine Experience and the Luxury Home Tour for Greenspring Media Group, and designed materials for the Uptown Art Fair and other local clients. A Minneapolis native and an alumna of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Sarah is a sucker for Minnesota summers, attending festivals and farmers markets, kayaking the Chain of Lakes, kicking back at the family cabin, and seeking out the best vegetarian fare in the city. While at home, she keeps busy with her sports-obsessed husband Matt, her raccoon-sized cat Vinny, and her teeny-tiny dog Lou.

Kate Knuth is a doctoral student in the University of Minnesota’s conservation biology program. She has served the residents of 50B in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2007. As a citizen legislator, Kate draws on her background in conservation to find solutions to the many issues facing Minnesota. Previously, she worked at Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education. She earned a Master of Science in biodiversity conservation and management from Oxford University and a Bachelor of Arts in biology and philosophy from the University of Chicago. As a former Fulbright Scholar, she studied culture and environment in Oslo, Norway. In her free time, she enjoys community events, reading and exploring the trails and waterways of the North Metro.

Sri Latha Ganti serves as an administrative fellow for the Acara Challenge and its associated summer institute. This joint program of the Institute on the Environment and the Acara Institute is a global competition among universities to develop and launch sustainable businesses. Sri is also a master’s student in electrical engineering at the University of Minnesota. While pursuing her graduate degree, she is developing the information technology and Web infrastructure for the Acara Institute, along with providing support for the Acara Challenge. In this unique role, she’s honing her technical skills while promoting sustainable business solutions for societal change. Her favorite hobbies include reading, gardening and skiing.

Sue Lewis has served as office coordinator for the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment, a signature program of the Institute on the Environment, for almost five years. A native of Austin, Minn., she took her first job at the University of Minnesota in the mid-1970s as a secretary in the College of Forestry. She eventually moved with her husband (a College of Forestry graduate) to the small farming town of Marshall, Minn., where she worked as a deputy clerk for Lyon County. In that role, Sue monitored a range of court activities, including cases of people, industries and businesses charged with environmental crimes. She went on to work for county zoning and environmental services in Detroit Lakes, Minn., becoming well-versed in land, air and water regulations and adopting the “reduce, reuse, recycle” way of life. In her leisure time, Sue enjoys gardening, camping, reading, fishing and spending quality time with her family. She and her husband are the proud parents of three children.

Beth Mercer-Taylor is the sustainability education coordinator at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She administers the Sustainability Studies Minor, an interdisciplinary, free-standing program with nearly 200 undergraduates enrolled. Her work involves recruiting and advising students, creating community-building activities, coordinating the efforts of the curriculum committee that oversees the minor’s academic program, and leading new initiatives related to sustainability on campus. Beth has practiced commercial real estate and public finance law in Minneapolis and has worked as a land use planner and consultant in Berkeley, Calif. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College, a master’s from U.C. Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, and a law degree from Valparaiso University. Beth, her husband and three children walk, bike or take the bus to jobs and school daily, participate in community gardening and, at home, try very hard to “make dirt, not waste.”

Chris Mueller is a doctoral student in the University of Minnesota’s computer science department.  He serves as a research assistant on Dialogue Earth, a new Institute on the Environment program focused on understanding dialogue related to the environment, and developing resources to promote shared understanding. His work includes in-depth data analysis and the visualization of online conversations about issues related to the environment. Chris earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College with majors in computer science and studio art. He has six years of experience as a software engineer focusing on Web technologies, data visualization and online cartography. He’s an avid cyclist, and also enjoys working in his sketchbook, hiking and traveling.

Nathan Mueller is a first-year doctoral student in Jonathan Foley’s lab at the Institute on the Environment. His research with the Global Landscapes Initiative focuses on the influence of agricultural management practices on global crop yields, nutrient loading, water use and climate change adaptation. Nathan received his bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies from St. Olaf College, where he researched ecological stoichiometry and freshwater nutrient cycling. He was a research assistant at the U.S. EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division before finding his way to the University of Minnesota. In his spare time, he loves hiking, biking, rock climbing, cooking and playing with fancy electronics.

Emily Peters is a doctoral candidate in ecology, evolution and behavior at the University of Minnesota. She is broadly interested in climate change, the influence of vegetation on land-atmosphere interactions, human-altered ecosytems and the intersection of science and policy. Her project with the Institute on the Environment addresses the interface between ecology and climate science, with a focus on scaling up field-based studies on the climate impacts of urban trees in order to assess their influence on regional carbon and water budgets. Emily grew up in St. Paul, Minn., and earned a bachelor’s degree in ecology and evolution from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Outside work, she enjoys hiking, traveling, botanizing, gardening, swimming and watching movies.

Deepak Ray is a postdoctoral research scholar with the Institute on the Environment’s Global Landscapes Initiative. He is working to determine global locations suitable for growing biofuel crops. His interests range from satellite remote sensing and regional climate modeling to land use change modeling and population studies. Deepak’s research projects have covered international locations including Central America and Australia. He holds a doctoral degree in atmospheric sciences from the University of Alabama in Huntsville; while conducting his graduate work, he became intrigued with the processes of land use change, which led him to the IonE. In his free time, he enjoys observing the antics of his cat (Sundari), reading novels and watching movies.

Joanne Richardson serves as the digital information manager for the Institute on the Environment’s River Life program. She has worked in the College of Design’s Metropolitan Design Center as a Web site coordinator since 2004. Her undergraduate work at the University of Minnesota focused on geology, architecture, computer science and French, and she received a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the College of Design. Having spent a number of childhood holidays backpacking through many of the great American deserts, forests and mountains, Joanne developed an early and lasting love of geology that has colored her interests ever since. Born in England, she has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Western Europe, with one brief excursion to India, and she’s very interested in finding solutions to global environmental issues. She is a strong believer in the power of people and technology and aims to find effective ways for people, technology and place to come together.

Ann Sather brings two decades of professional experience at the University of Minnesota to her new role as an accountant in the Gateway Finance Cluster, which includes assisting the Institute on the Environment with accounting and financial management. She began her career in the Facilities Management Finance Division, moved to the College of Liberal Arts as one of the first regional accountants, and then to the Graduate School/Vice President for Research Administration Finance and Personnel area as a principal accountant. Ann graduated from the College of Liberal Arts with a bachelor’s degree in Scandinavian studies and art history. She loves all-things-Norwegian and spent her summer after college working on a small farm in Norway. In her spare time, Ann sings with two Twin Cities choral ensembles: VocalEssence and Minnesota Chorale. She’s also a classically-trained violinist and, along with her structural engineer husband, Jeff, a proud parent of an 8-year-old daughter, Maren. Ann has tried to be a good steward of the earth’s resources her entire life, and is now teaching her daughter about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling.

As the communications intern for the Sustainability Studies Minor, Mary Scott works with Beth Mercer-Taylor and the Institute on the Environment’s communications team. By updating the minor’s Web site and developing additional publications, she hopes to enhance the program’s presence at the U of M and in the larger academic community. Her communications background includes editorial work during high school, as well as an internship with WATT Publishing in Rockford, Ill. She is currently pursuing a major in global studies with a focus on sustainable development and South Asia, along with a minor in sustainability studies. In addition to her summer internship, Mary will examine agricultural biotech firms, social activism and genetically modified organisms as part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. Some of her favorite hobbies include reading, cooking and trying new foods.

Mary Swenson works with the Institute on the Environment as the fiscal lead, which entails overseeing budgetary needs and accounting. The University of Minnesota has been a common thread throughout Mary’s life, and one that has recently come full circle. During her years as an undergraduate, she met her future husband as a fellow student. The two lovebirds graduated together after earning their bachelor’s degrees in business from the Carlson School of Management. Mary returned to the U of M as an employee 11 years ago, following a decade as a full-time mother of two children. She joined the Institute staff in 2007, and is proud to support a mission focused on solving today’s toughest environmental problems. Now empty-nesters, Mary and her husband attend Gopher games and other activities as alumni, and they consider themselves lucky to have the continued presence of the U of M in their lives.

Stephanie Szurek is the events coordinator at the Institute on the Environment, where she plans weekly seminars, the annual E3 conference, and other education and outreach efforts. She has more than three years of experience in event planning, including hotel sales and corporate meetings; she also assists with events at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Stephanie earned degrees in entertainment management and Spanish from Missouri State University. A Twin Cities native, she lives in Minneapolis and loves reading, rollerblading along the chain of lakes, and people-watching at the Minnesota State Fair.

Mike Weitekamp assists the Institute on the Environment’s communications team with print publications, e-newsletters and other public outreach efforts. He is currently a senior at the University of Minnesota, double-majoring in marketing and environmental sciences, policy and management. During his undergraduate career at the U of M, Mike has stayed busy as the vice president and communications chair of EcoWatch, a leading environmental student group. He’s also worked in a variety of positions for Student Unions & Activities, including a stint as a senior marketing assistant, when he helped develop print and Web materials for student unions on campus. Mike’s childhood in La Crosse, Wis., combined with his early involvement in Boy Scouts, has contributed to his love of the Mississippi River and the great outdoors. In his free time, if he’s not riding bikes, he’s probably working on bikes, hiking, camping or climbing trees.

Lori Young-Williams serves as an associate administrator, managing human resources for the Institute on the Environment. She has worked at the University of Minnesota for more than a decade, and is a U of M alumna with a bachelor’s degree in human relationships. She is currently enrolled in the Master of Liberal Studies program, researching black women’s stories during the Great Migration. Lori grew up in St. Paul and now lives in Minneapolis, where she loves spending time outdoors with her husband—biking to and from work, identifying birds and trees, and watching the seasons come and go. She is also an emerging poet who has read her work at the Blue Moon Coffee Cafe, Hopkins Center for the Arts, the Kitty Cat Klub, the Amazon Bookstore and Patrick’s Cabaret. Lori has self-published two chapbooks of poetry to date. She also co-wrote and performed Black, White, Chinese Women Got the Beat with fellow writer Sherry Quan Lee.