2021-2022 REC Managers and Analysts

Alex is a third-year analyst from Bellevue, Washington whose love for the environment stems from his childhood in the Pacific Northwest. He is excited about decarbonization and climate innovation. He also loves reading, surfing, and music.

TJ is the manager of the Natural Science team. He is a Senior at Claremont McKenna College studying Environment, Economics, Policy with a Sequence in Data Science. Outside of class, he plays on the Men’s Basketball team and is the RA of the Senior Apartments.

I am Justin, a junior at Claremont McKenna College from Bellevue, Washington. I enjoy skiing, hiking, and almost any outdoor activity. Drawing energy from the outdoors, I have always felt connected to the environment. I hope to align this passion with the energetic REC team to make a real-world impact.

I’m Diya Courty-Stephens from Victoria, BC, Canada. I’m a third year at CMC majoring in Environment, Economics, and Politics. I’m super pumped to be joining the Green Consulting team this year. When I’m not studying for classes, I love going on hikes, playing soccer, and busting some jams on the ukulele.

Sophie is a junior at CMC studying international relations. She is from Boston, MA, but spends most of her time in Ketchum, ID. She has worked at a garden center in Idaho for the past three summers (though she does not have a green thumb). Sophie cultivated her passion for the environment in high school, where she participated in a yearlong, residential, and interdisciplinary environmental studies program. At the REC, Sophie is a member of the Sustainable Business Practices/Green Consulting Team. She enjoys hiking, horseback riding, and the thirteen-hour drive between California and Idaho.

Miller McCraw is a sophomore at CMC majoring in Environment, Economics, and Politics. He is a member of the Conservation team, and in his free time enjoys reading Kurt Vonnegut, playing the piano, and playing overly complicated board games. On campus, he is also a research fellow for the Gould on global coffee cultures, a member of the Model United Nations Team, and an art fellow for the CMC Art Council. He dreams of being an environmental prosecutor for the EPA, and can be found on campus buying an absurd amount of snacks from the Hub.

Lizzy Mitchell is a part of the Class of 2023 at CMC. Lizzy grew up in Weston, Connecticut. She is majoring in Economics with a Data Science sequence. She cultivated her interest in the environment in high school where she engaged in an independent study entitled, “Evaluating the Reefs of The Bahamas – What is it Worth?” Lizzy is passionate about sustainable and socially impactful companies, and she hopes to pursue a career in sustainable private equity. In her free time she enjoys scuba diving, cooking, and traveling to national parks.

Lia Harel is a member of the Class of 2023 at Claremont McKenna College, majoring in Philosophy and Public Affairs. She has a strong background in grassroots organizing and policy advocacy from previous work in her home state of Minnesota. At CMC, Lia is the manager of the Energy Team at the REC and a technician at the CMC Bike Shop. Her other passions include climbing, cycling, creative writing, and graphic design.

Rohan is a junior at Pomona College, and is a part of the Policy and Outreach team! He is majoring in biology, and is considering graduate studies in marine biology. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball, jump roping, reading, watching movies, and cleaning his room. Ever since he read Why We Sleep, he’s been on a constant battle to average 7 hours of sleep over the semester. He’s not doing too bad!

I’m Noa Schachtel from Honolulu, HI majoring in Philosophy and sequencing in Ethics! Growing up in Hawaii, I have always felt a deep connection to the land and the sea. I can say that I have internalized the Hawaiian ideology that the human is as much a part of the fabric of nature as any other living or non-living part of the natural whole. I enjoy bodysurfing and exploring the outdoors in my free time and I hope to one day be a founder of a startup that integrates technology and environmental sustainability!

Hi y’all! I am a senior at CMC studying Environment, Economics, & Politics with a sequence in Public Policy. Super psyched to be working with the Conservation team this year! On campus I’m involved with 1Gen, QuestBridge, and ¡Mi Gente! I’m also a tour guide and FYG. In the past I’ve done the Appel Fellowship traveling to National Parks, finding the barriers to gaining access to the outdoors. My most recent work is participating in the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program and interning at a non-profit called Forterra.

Calli ONeal is a first year at Pitzer pursuing a combined major in International Political Economy and Environmental Analysis. She is passionate about community climate resilience in her work and aims to bring that passion to her work in the Policy and Outreach team. She loves trying new things often through traveling, camping, and cooking.

Spencer is a third-year Environmental Policy student at Pitzer College and is currently working on the Conservation Team. His academic interests include public land advocacy and equitable access to outdoor spaces. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Spencer spends nearly all his free time in the mountains cycling, hiking, skiing, or just reading a good book.

My name is Carolina Auerbach and I am a first-year from the Bay Area joining the Natural Sciences Team! I am intending on dual-majoring in Environmental Analysis and International Relations with a sequence in Italian and in my free time I love surfing, skiing, hiking, and reading. I am looking forward to gaining the experience and connections that will allow me to learn, grow, and ultimately be able to pursue my passions in conservation and environmental justice.

Santi is a senior at Pomona from New Hampshire. He’s studying Environmental Analysis with a concentration in Economics. When he’s not at the REC, you can find him at the Green Bike Shop or on the mountain with the 5C Ski and Snowboard Club. Ask him about his latest ecological achievement- adopting a stray kitten off the street. It seems as though he has singlehandedly saved the local bird population. Thanks Santi!

Daniel Branstetter is an undeclared student from Pittsburgh, PA. He joined the REC in Fall 2021, on the Energy Team, and looks forward to learning more about energy technology from his colleagues.

Lilly Chertock (Los Angeles, CA) is a first-year at CMC, hoping to major in Environment, Economics, and Politics (EEP). Her passion for environmental work began in her freshman year of high school, and since then, she’s led a variety of climate communication projects. She has also been a member of the Climate Action Santa Monica Climate Corps for more than three years, and is currently serving as a board member for the Verdani Institute for the Built Environment (VIBE). Lilly is thrilled to continue pursuing climate justice and sustainability through her work at the REC.

Ben is a Junior at Pitzer majoring in Environmental Analysis. He is interested in societal connections and disconnections to the natural world, and embraces the opportunity to learn more with every project at the REC. Outside of work, he dives for the PP Swim and Dive team, collects too many books for his bookshelves, and plays board games with friends until the wee hours of the night.

My name is Sonja, I’m a second-year at CMC dualing in International Relations and Film Studies, and I’m so excited to be working with the Policy & Outreach Team this year! I grew up in Southern Pines, NC and love to eat baked goods, watch movies but call them ‘films’, go surfing, take photos, take photos OF surfing, and do anything on the ocean. At CMC, I’m a leader for the Outdoor Initiative Club and am also a member of ROTC. I am so stoked to be joining the REC this year!

Gage Hornung was born in Boulder, Colorado and is currently a Junior at CMC. He is dual majoring in Environment, Economics and Politics, and Mathematics with a data science sequence. In his free time Gage enjoys running, spike ball, climbing mountains, skiing in the mountains, and doing anything that involves the mountains.