Jazmary Morales Pronouns: she/her Jazmary Morales is an undergraduate student of urban studies and sustainability at the University of Pittsburgh. She is from and grew up in Lebanon, PA alongside her two sisters. Being a child of immigrants, it is easy to see how our cities leave them behind, and I would like to change that. For her, GIS isn’t just a tool to produce maps about tree canopy distribution, heat vulnerability, bus routes, etc. It is a lens that allows us…Read More
Nissa Johnson Pronouns: she/they From Pittsburgh’s paintball fields to the rhythm of everyday life, Níssa moves with purpose, passion, and a whole lot of heart. You’ll catch them on the field with The Command Bros, not always front and center—but always bringing energy, creativity, and that unmistakable fire. That says just as much about their spirit as their game does. Beyond the splatter and strategy, Nissa is rooted in family and fueled by love. A proud parent of six—including bonus babies they…Read More
Kris Chandler Pronouns: he/him/his An artist with a passion for public policy, Kristopher (Kris) hails from Erie, Pennsylvania! With a background in writing, film, community engagement, non-profit management, and transportation advocacy, Kris is driven by connecting his passions to discover solutions to some of the most pressing policy issues of today. He strives to meet people where they are at, in order to better understand who they are, what they need, and how best everyone can work together. As the Land Use…Read More
Ashwini Karanth Board Fellow Pronouns: she/her/hers Ashwini Karanth is a first-year MBA candidate at the Tepper School of Business, bringing a strong foundation in Architecture and Strategic Transportation Planning. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from MSR Institute of Technology in Bangalore, India, and a Master’s in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University, New York. With a deep passion for enhancing public infrastructure in underserved communities, Ashwini’s career spans across private, non-profit, and public sectors. At Gannett Fleming, she specialized…Read More
Jim Langton Treasurer Pronouns: he/him/his Jim Langton is an experienced financial services leader with over 40 years of experience with major financial institutions. Most recently, was a Director at Bank of America in treasury services and commercial banking roles. Jim also held leadership roles at JPMorganChase in global treasury services, business management, and client onboarding. Earlier in his career, he worked at Mellon Bank in cash management, wholesale banking and private wealth management roles. Jim started his career in the audit department…Read More
Ra Heggins Pronouns: she/her Rashelle (Ra) was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and has been stationed at many bases across the United States, which has given way to her being a chameleon and being able to thrive in many arenas and atmospheres. Originally an army brat from Fayetteville, North Carolina, she moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in February of 2016 to continue her community organizing in the nonprofit sector. She attended Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia, majoring in sports medicine and minoring in psychology while also having scholarships…Read More
Dr. Shondricka Burrell Dr. Burrell is an Earth science/geoscience educator and education researcher. Dr. Burrell earned advanced degrees in geology and a PhD in Science Education at Temple University. Dr. Burrell is a socio-cognitive and socio-cultural researcher applying both quantitative and qualitative analytical methods to the study of science teaching and learning. Her research focus includes: the design and implementation of transformative learning experiences, science interest development, self-eFicacy, Earth science and geoscience education, environmental justice, and science for social justice. Specifically, she is…Read More
Greg McAuliffe Pronouns: he/him/his Greg was born and raised in Albany, NY, and received a B.S. in Environmental Science from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. Shortly after graduation he joined the Peace Corps and served in the mountains of Peru. The experience with the Peace Corps instilled a sense of purpose when working in conservation at a community level. He has returned to Peru multiple times to work on projects such as small scale community wind power projects, conservation of monkey habitat,…Read More
Paige Johnson Pronouns: she/her/hers Paige Johnson is a rising senior from Ohio attending the University of Michigan and majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with a minor in the History of Medicine and Health. She plans to pursue a Master’s in Public Health. Through the CDC Lewis Scholars Program, Paige is interning with Grounded to research the impact of Grounded on communities from a public health perspective. She is excited to experience Pittsburgh for a couple months and work with others at…Read More