A photograph straight-up, under a tree canopy in early autumn with the sun in the middle of the frame

About Us

We believe that the central question of our time is how human beings are going to thrive in the world without destroying the earth's ability to sustain us. In the face of enormous environmental challenges, virtually all sectors of our society are now scrambling to create solutions, and the Ecology Center plays a critical role in advancing the best models.

To do that, we do the following:

  • We educate consumers to help keep their families healthy and safe.
  • We push corporations to use clean energy, make safe products, and provide healthy food.
  • We provide people with innovative services that promote healthy people and a healthy planet.
  • We work with policymakers to establish laws that protect communities and the environment.

Our Staff

Meet the Ecology Center’s savvy, experienced, and tenacious staff. We believe that leadership starts right in our office, click below to learn more about our team. 

Katy Adams
Education Director

Katy Adams joined the Ecology Center's education team in 2014. Advanced degrees in biology and education complement over 10 years of teaching in classrooms… Read More

Erica Bertram
Communications Director

Erica joined the Ecology Center in September 2015, focusing her strategic and collaborative marketing and communications approach toward making the planet… Read More

Salam Beydoun
Environmental Justice Organizer

Salam joined the Ecology Center in September 2023 as the Environmental Justice Organizer. She has a background in organizing in Detroit and other parts of… Read More

Alexis Blizman, J.D.
Legislative & Policy Director

Alexis Blizman has years of experience working on political and legislative campaigns in Michigan, New Mexico, and nationally to her role as Legislative… Read More

Erica Bloom
Toxics Campaign Director

Erica Bloom has a M.S. in Environmental Health and Justice from the University of Montana. Originally from Michigan, she has worked in Michigan's… Read More

Tracey Easthope
Senior Strategist

Tracey Easthope is passionate about creating positive and forward-looking solutions to our most intractable problems and about telling success stories across… Read More

Daniel Fivenson
Finance Associate

Melissa Garcia
Regional Environmental Health Organizer

Meli X. Garcia has over 15 years of experience working in the Non-Profit sector. She specializes in public health program development, policy design and… Read More

Michael Garfield
Director

Mike Garfield has served as Director of the Ecology Center since 1993. He has led grassroots advocacy campaigns to raise over $100 million in public funds… Read More

Jeff Gearhart
Research Director

Jeff Gearhart, M.S., has worked for over 20 years on a wide range of environmental issues, including air quality, pollution prevention, life cycle assessment… Read More

Charles Griffith
Director, Climate & Energy Program

Charles Griffith has more than 20 years of experience in research and advocacy on clean energy solutions, with a focus on the automotive and transportation… Read More

Laura Klocinski
HR and Development Associate

Laura joined the Ecology Center in September 2018. In addition to supporting development and operations functions, Laura is responsible for database… Read More

Elsie Lee-Robbins
Communication Fellow

Elsie Lee-Robbins joined the Ecology Center as an intern in 2023, focusing on visual data storytelling to weave together written communication and visual… Read More

Brigit Macomber
Finance Director

Brigit Macomber has worked as Finance Manager of the Ecology Center since 1999, guiding the organization’s finances through years of growth, including… Read More

Gillian Zaharias Miller, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist

Gillian has expertise analyzing materials in both academia and industry.  An author of many peer-reviewed publications, she also taught university classes in… Read More

Mackenzie Munroe
Education Assistant Director

Mackenzie Munro joined the Ecology Center team in September of 2015. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in environmental… Read More

Ronza Potter
Senior Development Officer

Ronza has an international experience working with local and global non-profits– particularly in the Middle East. Her experience and career focus is… Read More

Melissa Cooper Sargent
Environmental Health Advocate

Melissa Cooper Sargent, former education director of LocalMotionGreen, continues the work that she began at LocalMotionGreen while at the Ecology Center.… Read More

Kathryn Savoie, Ph.D.
Director of Equity and Environmental Justice

Kathryn joined the Ecology Center in April 2012 to expand programming in Detroit under the Healthy Food, Healthier Future Project. Kathryn is a veteran… Read More

Crystal Zanders
Communications Fellow Summer 2023

Crystal J. Zanders is a neurodivergent poet, educator, and activist from Tennessee. She received her master’s degree in secondary education from Mississippi… Read More