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Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals

Listening to Tribes and understanding Tribal priorities drives our programs and services we offer.

About ITEP

About ITEP

PO Box 15004
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5004
Fax: (928) 523-1266
itep@nau.edu

ITEP Team and contact information

Click on a team member’s photo to read their bio.

Front Office/Administration and Support

Nikki Cooley

Director

Vacant

Financial Oversight Analyst Sr.

Zane Jacobs

Events Coordinator Intr.

Savannah Chappus

Brand Coordinator

Clarence Cooley

Application System Analyst

Kimberly Dalton

Social Media Specialist

Office of Native American and Indigenous Advancement

Ann Marie Chischilly

Vice President

Mehrdad Khatibi

Associate Vice President

Air Quality Program

Christal Black

Assistant Manager

Sharlene Tsosie

Administrative Assistant, Sr.

Marissa Adams

Program Coordinator, Sr.

Environmental Education Outreach Program

Mansel Nelson

Manager

Tribal Exchange Network Group

Lydia Scheer

Manager

National Tribal Water Council

Elaine Wilson

Manager

Elaina Doral

Program Coordinator, Intr.

National Tribal Air Association

Miranda O’Neill

Manager

Marty Johnson

Program Coordinator Int.

Tribal Wellbeing for Seven Generations Program

Nikki Cooley

Director

Karen Cozzetto

Manager

Ashley Gries

Assistant Manager

Kim Shaw

Internship Programs,
Program Coordinator, Sr.

Taryn Bell

Research Assistant

Laureen Lewis

Financial Oversight Analyst Int.

Kelsey Jensen

Program Associate

Cara Corbin

Senior Program Coordinator

Kieren Daley Laursen

Senior Program Coordinator

Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center

Christopher Lee

Manager

Melinda Ronca-Battista

Research Associate

Michael King

Technical Training Analyst

Angelique Luedeker

Technical Training Analyst

Darlene Santos

Administrative Assistant, Sr.

Tribal Pesticide Program Council

Mark Daniels

Manager

Tribal Clean Transportation Program

Karen Cozzetto

Manager

Kieren Daley Laursen

Senior Program Coordinator

Taryn Bell

Research Assistant

Waste & Response Management

Todd Barnell

Manager

Julie Meikowski

Assistant Manager

Amanda Kapp

Program Coordinator, Sr.

ITEP Faculty & Research Affiliates

Bill Auberle

Professor, Retired

Dr. Jani Ingram

Professor, NAU Chemistry & Biochemistry

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Nikki Cooley

Director

Nikki is the Director for Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP). She is of the Diné Nation by way of Shonto and Blue Gap, AZ, and is of the Towering House Clan, born for the Reed People Clan, maternal grandfathers are of the Water that Flows Together Clan, and paternal grandfathers are of the Manygoats Clan. Nikki received her Bachelors and Masters of Forestry from Northern Arizona University (NAU) with a few years of post-graduate study at Michigan State University. For her undergraduate and Masters studies, she has worked extensively with the Cherokee Tribe of North Carolina, and has worked with various tribes including the Kaibab Paiute tribe. Prior to ITEP, Nikki has worked with the Merriam Powell Center for Environmental Research on a Climate Change Education Program, and at NAU Talent Search working with underrepresented, low-income, potential first generation college students at 10 middle and high schools in Northern Arizona.

In addition, as a river guide and cultural interpreter working on the Colorado River-Grand Canyon and San Juan River, Nikki is the co-founder of the Native American River Guide Training Program and Fifth World Discoveries, was the first Native American President and Vice-President of the Grand Canyon River Guides Association (GCRG), and is a former associate director of the Native Voices Program. She is very passionate about advocating for and education about the protection and preservation of the environment and its resources. Nikki thoroughly enjoys gardening, her Navajo language and culture, and spending time with her large extended family in the southwest and Iowa.

Nikki can be reached by e-mail at Nikki.Cooley@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-523-7046

Zane Jacobs (He/Him)

Events Coordinator Intr.

Zane was born on the Diné reservation and grew up in Flagstaff incorporating his rich cultural heritage of Diné and Jewish backgrounds. This unique combination gives Zane’s awareness to DEIJ (diversity, equity, inclusion, justice).

Prior to ITEP, Zane has been a prominent figure in the Northern Arizona community, known for his passion for service and volunteering. For the past 9 years, he has volunteered with the Shadows Foundation, an organization providing assistance to people and families affected with life-threatening illness, and in 2019 accepted a position on their board. His journey with Flagstaff Pride began as a devoted board member for the past 19 years, where he tirelessly worked towards the organization’s mission of supporting, uniting, and strengthening Flagstaff 2SLGBTQIA+ community. His dedication and leadership qualities were soon recognized, leading to his appointment as President.

Zane joined ITEP In 2023 at NAU as a part time employee and now as the Events Coordinator for the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP). Where he has also help coordinate partnerships with the Native American Planning Committee and Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures to organize “Indigenously Sacred: A Night of Two-Spirit Drag”. A first for NAU, which was an Indigenous cast of Two Spirit Indigenous Drag entertainers. Working at NAU has allowed Zane to apply his expertise in event planning and nonprofit work to my role at the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP). ITEP’s mission to “Strengthen tribal capacity and sovereignty in environmental and natural resource management through culturally relevant education, research, partnerships, and policy-based services” which deeply resonates with him. As an Indigenous person, contributing to this department is incredibly meaningful and fulfilling.

Zane can be reached by e-mail at Zane.Jacobs@nau.edu.

Savannah Chappus

Brand Coordinator

Savannah Chappus joined the ITEP team in December 2025 as the Brand Coordinator and design manager. She was born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona and attended NAU, where she completed a BS in Mathematics, a BFA in Animation, and a Master’s in Computer Science. Savannah’s work focuses on 3D animation, simulation, and visualization, where she can combine her passion for art with her interest in STEM.

Savannah has many interests, but she can generally be found drinking coffee, spending time in her garden, knitting, and cooking.

Savannah can be reached by e-mail at Savannah.Chappus@nau.edu.

Clarence Cooley

Application System Analyst

Clarence joined the ITEP Team in December 2019 as the Application Systems Analyst. Clarence is a member of the Navajo Nation. He is an alumnus of Fort Lewis College where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Communication Design.

Aside from working with ITEP, Clarence is a creative artist, a professional photographer, and a graphic designer. He has always had a passion for the arts, which led him to pursuing a degree in Communication Design, a more functional type of art.

Clarence can be reached by e-mail at Clarence.Cooley@nau.edu.

Kimberly Dalton

Social Media Specialist

Kim Dalton is the Social Media Coordinator for the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals. Kim joined the team in May 2021. She was born and raised in Winslow, Arizona. Kim is a member of the Navajo Nation and Laguna Pueblo tribe. Her maternal clan is Kinyaa’áanii’ (Towering House) and paternal clan is Naakai Dine’é (Mexican People). 

Kim is a graduate of Northern Arizona University where she received a BFA in Visual Communication (Graphic Design emphasis) and studied Anthropology as a minor. During her time at NAU, she interned with the Advanced Media Lab as a visual designer and worked with virtual/augmented reality and game design engines. For her Anthropology minor, she studied abroad for cross cultural learning, international experience, and language proficiency in French. Kim also served as a student representative for Lessons from Abroad and EDUCAUSE.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her daughter and family, reading and writing, cooking, traveling, and playing video games.

Kimberly can be reached by email at Kimberly.Dalton@nau.edu.

Ann Marie Chischilly

Vice President

Ms. Chischilly serves in a dual capacity at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, Arizona. In February 2022, she was named Vice-President of the Office of Native American Initiatives (ONAI). ONAI is tasked with advancing NAU’s strategic goal, ‘to become the nation’s leading university serving Indigenous Peoples,’ with initiatives focusing on Native American student retention, tribal leadership, environmental stewardship in Native communities, culturally responsive K-12 pedagogy, and Native mentorship.

Ms. Chischilly continues to support the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP). For the past 10 years, she has managed ITEP’s work with Northern Arizona University, state and federal agencies, Tribes, and Alaska Native villages. In 2022, ITEP celebrated 30 years of serving over 95% of all 574 Tribes and Alaska Native villages. ITEP remains the premier tribal environmental organization training Tribes and Indigenous Peoples.

Ms. Chischilly is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation (Diné). She earned her Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law and a Master’s in Environmental Law (LL.M) from Vermont Law School.  She is licensed in Arizona and is also a member of the International Bar Association.

Ann Marie can be reached by e-mail at Ann-Marie.Chischilly@nau.edu.

Mehrdad Khatibi

Associate Vice President

Mehrdad is serving a one-year assignment as Associate VP for the Office of Native American and Indigenous Advancement (ONAIA).

Prior to his ONAIA assignment, Mehrdad served as the Co-Director for the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. He joined NAU ITEP in July of 2003.

Prior to joining ITEP & NAU, Mehrdad worked for the Pueblo of Jemez, as Director for the Jemez Department of Resource Protection. He has been working in the Native American environmental and natural resource management field since 1996. Work experience includes: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 Tribal Operations Committee delegate; Department of Energy (DOE) State Tribal Government Working Group (STGWG) delegate; New Mexico Inter-tribal Resource Advisory Council (IRAC); Ex-Officio member Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center; Ex-Officio member of the National Tribal Air Association; development of multi-media environmental monitoring programs; and strategic resource management and planning.

Mehrdad can be reached by e-mail at Mehrdad.Khatibi@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-523-0946

Christal Black

Assistant Manager

Christal is Assistant Manager for the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP). Christal joined ITEP in January of 2019.

Prior to ITEP, Christal managed the Journey for Underrepresented Medical Professionals (JUMP), the Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP) and the Bridges to Baccalaureate training programs at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Her previous work focused on recruitment and retention of underserved population enrolled in health professional programs. She has been employed with NAU since 2010. She specialized in the transition of scholars from high school to professional programs.

Christal is a graduate of Northern Arizona University. She has a BA in Applied Indigenous Studies, a BS in Public Health and a Masters of Administration. She is a member of the Navajo Nation. On her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and being a cheerleader of chess, basketball, cross country, track and field, softball and soccer.

Christal can be reached by e-mail at Christal.Black@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-523-8410

Sharlene Tsosie

Administrative Assistant, Sr.

Sharlene is the Administrative Services Assistant, Sr. for the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP). She is enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. Her maternal clan is Bitterwater Clan, born for the Two Rocks Sit Together Clan, maternal grandfathers are of the Salt Clan and paternal grandfathers are of the Coyotepass Clan.

Sharlene joined ITEP in February of 2004. Prior to working with ITEP, she worked for the Institute for Human Development for several years. And as of August 2025, she has attained an impressive milestone of 25 years of service with Northern Arizona University!

Sharlene earned an associate’s degree in Secretarial Science from Haskell Indian Junior College and later pursued studies in Business Administration at Northern Arizona University before choosing to focus on supporting her family. Flagstaff has been home to her and her kids since 1996. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, camping, traveling, hiking, and maintaining an active lifestyle through exercise and weightlifting.

Sharlene can be reached by e-mail at Sharlene.Tsosie@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-523-5504

Marissa Adams

Program Coordinator, Sr.

Marissa Adams is a proud member of the Hopi Tribe of Fire Clan (Kookopwungnwa) from the village of Sichomovi. She serves as a Program Coordinator Sr. for the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Air Quality Program, where she supports Tribal Nations in strengthening air quality management, outreach, and environmental stewardship initiatives. Grounded in her cultural values and community teachings, Marissa is deeply passionate about working alongside Tribal communities to build capacity, foster partnerships and protect the health of present and future generations.

Marissa can be reached by email at Marissa.Adams@nau.edu.

Mansel Nelson

Manager

Mansel joined ITEP in 1998 as the Manager for the Tribal Environmental Education Outreach Program (TEEOP) at Northern Arizona University. He works with professionals, educators, and students to show how mathematics, science, and technology can be applied to understanding local and global environmental issues. He also organizes support for tribes and schools on Indoor Air Quality.

Mansel completed a BS in chemistry and an MS in chemical engineering. During fourteen years of military service in the US Army Chemical Corps, he held a variety of positions, including Platoon Leader, Company Commander, Chemical Operations Officer, Chemist, and Chemical Engineer. Following his military service, Mansel taught chemistry on the Navajo Nation for six years, exploring issues such as uranium mining and milling and solid waste management with his high school classes. He was able to help students see the connections between math, science, and local community issues.

Mansel is married, with four adult children and six grandchildren. He enjoys walking, hiking, and the outdoors. He enjoys reading, particularly, science, science fiction and fantasy. Mansel enjoys teaching and learning.

Mansel can be reached by e-mail at Mansel.Nelson@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-523-1275

Lydia Scheer

Manager

Lydia Scheer has worked with ITEP since July 1998, when she started out as a student assistant while completing her BA in Anthropology at Northern Arizona University. She was hired to join ITEP’s regular staff in 1999 to support the American Indian Air Quality Training Program. As a Program Manager, she is currently responsible for coordinating the National Tribal Forum on Air Quality as well as supporting tribes with the National Environmental Information Exchange Network (NEIEN) effort, and is involved in various collaborative planning efforts for other ITEP projects. In 2015, Lydia was awarded the Cal Seciwa Award for Outstanding Staff, presented by Northern Arizona University’s Commission on Native Americans.

Lydia can be reached by e-mail at Lydia.Scheer@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-523-6887

Elaine Wilson, CPM*

Manager

Elaine Hale Wilson serves as the Project Manager for the National Tribal Water Council (NTWC/Council), administered by ITEP through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. EPA Office of Water. In this role, she oversees and coordinates Council activities under the direction of the NTWC Chairman. The NTWC is a technical and scientific body that advocates for the water quality interests of federally recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages. Elaine joined ITEP in December 2015.

She also serves on the External Advisory Board for Arizona State University’s Environmental Engineering Program.

Before joining ITEP, Elaine spent 25 years with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA), including 11 years as Environmental Quality Programs Director. Her work included program leadership, technical assistance, training oversight, and program development. In 2015, she received the Connor Byestewa, Jr. Award for her contributions to strengthening tribal selfgovernance and improving environmental and public health conditions in Indian Country within the EPA Region 9 area.

Elaine is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation (Diné). She holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Certified Public Manager (CPM) certification from Arizona State University. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, learning, camping, fishing, and spending time outdoors.

Elaine can be reached by e-mail at Elaine.Wilson@nau.edu.
Phone: 480-452-6774

Elaina Doral

Program Coordinator, Intr.

Elaina is the Program Coordinator, Intermediate, for the National Tribal Water Council (NTWC), where she develops the monthly NTWC newsletter and assists with various NTWC projects. Elaina joined the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) in February 2019.

Prior to joining ITEP, Elaina worked as a program coordinator at the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., and later as an environmental specialist at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. She has also worked in an environmental laboratory and has experience with environmental programs for solid waste and underground storage tanks.

Elaina is a graduate of Arizona State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Environmental Technology Management.

Elaina is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and is originally from Newcomb, New Mexico. Her maternal clan is the Water Flows Together People and paternal clan is the Mud People. She enjoys building Legos and spending quality time with her family and pets.

Elaina can be reached by e-mail at Elaina.Doral@nau.edu.
Phone: 602-826-0779

Miranda O’Neill

Manager

Miranda O’Neill is the Program Manager for the National Tribal Air Association. Originally from Washington, Miranda holds a degree in Human Centered Design from the University of Washington. With over seven years of experience in the tech industry, Miranda has worked with Fortune 500 companies driving impactful and high-profile projects. A dedicated advocate for Diversity & Inclusion and Inclusive Design, Miranda continually strives to develop with accessibility in mind.

You can usually find Miranda outside with her three dogs exploring, hiking, backpacking, running or rucking in beautiful Arizona. She enjoys tending to her plants, painting or being lost in a good book. She currently volunteers her time with veterans and fostering animals.

Miranda can be reached by email at Miranda.Oneill@nau.edu.

Marty Johnson

Program Coordinator, Int.

Marty Johnson is the National Tribal Air Association Coordinator at ITEP. She originally moved to Flagstaff in 2006 from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, where she grew up, to work as an Americorps volunteer with the Coconino Rural Environment Corps (CREC). This led her to work as a wildland firefighter for two seasons, first on the Kaibab and then the Coconino National Forests. Her love of the outdoors and environmental conservation stemmed from spending time outdoors and backpacking with her family in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of northern New Mexico. Her desire to learn more and become an advocate for the environment prompted her to pursue a Master’s degree in Sustainable Communities from Northern Arizona University. Her coursework at NAU was varied including classes in Foresty, Anthropology, Environmental Science and Policy, and Community Organizing. Environmental Justice was a key theme throughout her studies and became a passion for her.

She previously worked as the Energy and Sustainability Manager for Coconino County and prior to that, advised students at Coconino Community College with their Academic and Career goals.

Marty spends her free time recreating outdoors with her two kids, husband, and their dog. She loves reading, gardening, and watching movies.

Marty can be reached by email at Marty.Johnson@nau.edu.

Karen Cozzetto

Manager

Karen Cozzetto joined ITEP as a Co-Manager with the Climate Change Program in 2015. She develops curriculum for and coordinates climate change trainings and webinars, and develops content for ITEP’s Tribes & Climate Change website. She also works with individual tribal communities to facilitate the development of climate change adaptation plans.

Prior to joining ITEP, Karen obtained a Ph.D. in hydrology from the University of Colorado – Boulder. She was the lead on a Native American Communities and Climate Change Preparedness project and was a contributing author on the Indigenous Peoples chapter of the third National Climate Assessment. Most recently, she helped organize a project, Tribe’s Eye – Native American Youth Photograph Environmental Change.

Karen can be reached by e-mail at Karen.Cozzetto@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-523-6758

Ashley Gries

Program Coordinator, Sr.

Ashley Gries is the Assistant Manager for the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professional’s (ITEP) Tribal Wellbeing for Seven Generations Program (TW7G), where she supports Tribal climate adaptation planning and implementation. She leads TW7G’s Caring for Our Relatives Program which supports Tribal environmental departments on ecological resilience projects and adaptation planning, and leads TW7G’s Living Waters, Resilient Nations Program, which supports Tribal climate resilience planning for water throughout the Colorado River Basin. Ms. Gries is a co-author of the Status of Tribes and Climate Change Report (STACC), Volume 2, and a planning member of the National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC).

Originally from the Midwest, Ashley received a BA in Environmental Studies and a BFA in Interior Architecture from Iowa State University. Post-undergrad, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Panamá with her husband for two years, where she worked on community-based mangrove restoration, sea turtle conservation, and bringing fresh drinking water to their community. Ashley then received her Master of Science in Environmental Conservation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she worked on biocultural restoration of Indigenous food systems, culturally-sensitive non-native species management in the Great Lakes region, and dryland riverine restoration research in the southwestern U.S. Prior to coming to ITEP, Ashley’s work centered on sustainability in design and the built-environment, including LEED certification and green building.

In her free time, you can find her paddling, camping, gardening, or finding a patch of sunshine to lay in — preferably with a good book.

Ashley can be reached by email at Ashley.Gries@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-699-9238

Kim Shaw

Internship Coordinator

Kim Shaw is the Internship Coordinator for ITEP programs. Kim moved to Flagstaff from Alaska to attend NAU in 2002 and received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and her Master of Education in Secondary Science Education. During her graduate work, she taught science for the Four Corners Upward Bound Math and Science program which began her career and love for the Federal TRIO programs and the populations of students they serve. After graduation, she joined NAU Talent Search where she served students all across Northern Arizona for seven years. In 2013, Kim and her husband moved to Doha, Qatar where she helped open and coached at the first CrossFit affiliate in Qatar. After growing their family to include their son, the Shaw’s moved home and Kim joined TRIO Student Support Services where she worked for the last many years.

You can find Kim outside with her family, friends, and pup hiking, camping, running, cross-country skiing, paddleboarding, and exploring this beautiful place. Kim currently serves on the board of Flagstaff Junior Academy and is a graduate of the Flagstaff Leadership Program, class of 2023.

Kim can be reached by email at Kim.Shaw@nau.edu.

Taryn Bell

Research Assistant

Taryn Bell originally joined ITEP as an intern in 2022 and was brought in 2023 on as a Research Assistant with the Tribal Wellbeing for Seven Generations Program. They have a MS in Climate Science and Solutions and a BS in Environmental Science and Policy from Northern Arizona University. Their background is in clean energy systems, greenhouse gas accounting, and sustainability data analysis. After graduating, they taught science communication at Northern Arizona University. Taryn lives in Flagstaff, where they can be found either cooking, reading, or gardening.

Taryn can be reached by email at Taryn.Bell@nau.edu.

Laureen Lewis

Financial Oversight Analyst Int.

I am the Financial Oversight Analyst Int. for Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP). I joined ITEP in July of 2019 working as part time temp and became a full employee in February 2020. I provide administrative support for the Climate Change Program and the Environmental Education Outreach Program (EEOP).

I am a member of the Havasupai and Hopi Tribes, I received my associate’s degree in Pre-Health Careers at Coconino Community College and got my Nursing Assistance license at the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Prior to working with ITEP, I worked for Abrio Care for 10 years providing exceptional home care services for children with disabilities. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, going fishing, camping, hiking and going to plant nurseries.

Laureen can be reached by e-mail at Laureen.Lewis@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-523-6327

Kelsey Jensen

Research Assistant

Kelsey identifies as a Diné woman from the Navajo Nation and grew up in Leupp, AZ and Shonto, AZ. She was raised learning how to farm from her father and found a passion in horticulture, botany, and native plant restoration. Kelsey’s professional background consist of working with the Navajo Nation Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and co-created the Diné Native Plants Program. Kelsey continues to be a voice for native plants and understands their importance to indigenous peoples and the role they play in preserving healthy ecosystems. She’s excited to be a new team member to the ITEP family and is excited to learn more about how we can all collectively protect these precious lands.

Kelsey can be reached by email at Kelsey.Jensen@nau.edu.

Cara Corbin

Senior Program Coordinator

Cara is a Senior Program Coordinator for ITEP’s Tribal Wellbeing for Seven Generations Program. Cara grew up in rural Northwest Arkansas in a region with limited economic opportunities, where many people hunted, fished, and gardened for subsistence. This impacted her interest in community resilience and informed her desire to pursue her masters in Sustainable Communities at NAU. She holds an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts and is currently pursuing studies in Geographic Information Systems and Water and Culture.

Cara worked on organic vegetable and flower farms in Oregon, Arkansas, and Portugal. She managed farmers’ markets in Arkansas, Texas, and Arizona. She led projects in energy literacy with the Institute for Sustainable Energy Solutions and Wind for Schools. She taught water conservation and rainwater catchment for Arizona Project WET and with City of Flagstaff Water Conservation. She was the owner and founder of Corbin Compost, a residential community composting venture. Cara is passionate about sustainability and loves running, gardening, cooking, and reading.

Cara can be reached by email at Cara.Corbin@nau.edu.

Kieren Daley Laursen

Senior Program Coordinator

Kieren Daley Laursen is a Senior Community Program Coordinator for the Tribal Wellbeing for Seven Generations Program at the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals. Kieren has worked in number of areas including clean energy, ecological resilience, and climate change adaptation for over six years. He enjoys working with Native Nations to provide technical assistance tailored to each Nation’s unique goals. Kieren holds a Master of Public Affairs with an emphasis in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Colorado Denver. Kieren also holds a BA in Philosophy from Colorado State University. Kieren spends free time working with social justice and animal rights organizations along with spending time outside and playing music.

Kieren can be reached by email at Kieren.Daley-Laursen@nau.edu.

Chris Lee

Manager

After a long search, ITEP recently hired Chris Lee to serve as Manager of the TAMS Center in Las Vegas alongside EPA-TAMS Co-Director, Farshid Farsi. Chris, a member of the Dine Nation, comes to us from Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, South Dakota, where he served as an instructor and Site Director for NASA’s Science, Engineering, Math, and Aerospace Academy.

Chris graduated from Northern Arizona University in 1999 in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Applied Geology. During his time at NAU he first experienced tribal environmental program work as an ITEP intern. During his internship, he was placed with the Pueblo of San Juan to assist them in their 103 air-program development; he also performed monitoring work with the All-Indian Pueblo Council. Over the years in his work with both the Navajo Nation and the Southern Ute tribe, Chris has been involved in PM and gaseous monitoring, Title V work, air-code development, grant-funding activities, and a host of other air-program efforts.

Chris says of his new role at TAMS, “I have the unique experience of having worked at the tribal program level, and now I’ll be providing assistance to tribes, often on projects involving limited funding and limited technical knowledge. I think I’ll be able to use my experience to assist tribes in these kinds of projects, and if it’s not possible to take projects on in conventional ways then to look at alternative routes. That’s been my experience; for example, the process of obtaining Title V delegation authority was a black and white, straightforward process, but the route to get there wasn’t black and white at all. I believe with my experience, I’ll be able to help tribes to get things done.”

Chris can be reached by e-mail at Christopher.Lee@nau.edu.
Phone: 702-784-8278

Melinda Ronca-Battista

Research Associate

Melinda has worked for the Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center, which is a collaboration between Northern Arizona University and the US EPA, for 20 years. Before working at the TAMS Center, she spent 7 years as a contractor conducting radiation safety audits of military bases, nuclear power plants, laboratories, and private facilities handling radioactive materials. In her first life, she spent 6 years at the EPA Office of Radiation and Indoor Air in Washington DC, where her work developing the original radon measurement protocols and radon measurement proficiency program led to the Administrator’s gold medal for exceptional service to the EPA mission.

Melinda is responsible for assisting all federally-recognized tribes with data management, analysis, and reporting, as well as quality assurance issues such as preparation of QAPPs. Melinda develops software, educational videos, conducts online and classroom courses, travels to tribal agency environmental offices and works extensively with tribes via email.

Melinda can be reached by e-mail at Melinda.Ronca-Battista@nau.edu.
Phone: 602-616-2218

Micheal King

Technical Training Analyst

Michael King (Navajo, Dine) provides air monitoring training and individual on-site and remote technical assistance to Tribal Air Programs, through the Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center, which is a collaborative between NAU and the US EPA.  Before working at the TAMS Center, he spent 12 years performing air quality management, regulatory development, community outreach and air monitoring for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Navajo Nation. Mike has experience in air monitoring equipment operations, data management, and reporting of air pollutant data to U.S. EPA’s Air Quality System data base. He also has participated in collaborative air pollution research on Tribal lands along with the development of management plans to protect Tribal health, welfare, and the environment.

Mike received his BS degree in Environmental Science from Haskell Indian Nations University in 2005 and a MS degree from Purdue University in 2013.

Mike can be reached by e-mail at Michael.King@nau.edu.
Phone: 505-672-8612

Angelique Luedeker

Technical Training Analyst

Angelique has worked for ITEP since 2002. Before working for ITEP, she received a B.S. degree in chemistry from Northern Arizona University. She then worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory, focusing on reviewing and managing air quality data. When she started working for ITEP, her main task was reviewing emission inventories and submitting the data to the EPA National Emission Inventory (NEI) database. Although Angelique continues to provide tribes assistance with emission inventories, her work has broadened to include database development and providing tribes assistance with the EPA Air Quality System (AQS).

Angelique can be reached by e-mail at Angelique.Luedeker@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-282-8101

Darlene Santos

Administrative Assistant, Sr.

We wish to welcome Darlene Santos to her new position as Administration/Support for the TAMS Center in Las Vegas, NV. Darlene, a northern California native, has 30 years of experience as an administrative assistant and previously managed a healthcare office. She moved to Las Vegas in 2000 with her “high school sweetheart” whom she married 27 years ago. Darlene has three grown children and a huge extended family. She loves to travel and dance and says, “I absolutely love my new position and working with the most wonderful, amazing people, who have all been very welcoming, supportive and great to work with!”

Darlene can be reached by e-mail at Darlene.Santos@nau.edu.
Phone: 702-784-8264

Mark Daniels

Manager

Mark Daniels joined the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals in January, 2019. Mark has worked on a few different programs at ITEP since then, and currently manages the Tribal Pesticide Program Council cooperative agreement with EPA. In this role Mark works with Tribes on efforts to protect and enhance human and environmental health, and to build capacity of tribal programs to manage environmental resources in accordance with traditional cultural values.

Prior to coming to ITEP, Mark worked for two decades in the fields of botany, ecology, environmental science, and environmental engineering. He has extensive experience with research and land management projects around the Southwest, including forest restoration, native plant seeding, and rangeland inventories, and co-authored the 650-page Field Guide to Forest and Mountain Plants of Northern Arizona. Since 2011 Mark has worked on various aspects of air quality management and regulation, including permitting and compliance assistance, preparation of emissions inventories, pollutant dispersion modeling, NEPA analysis, air monitoring, and diesel emissions mitigation. His work with Tribes includes ecological research after a major wildfire on the White Mountain Apache reservation, environmental engineering assistance for projects in the Hopi villages of Moenkopi and Sipaulovi, rangeland inventories for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Navajo Nation, and multiple regulatory compliance projects on the Navajo and Hopi reservations.

Mark is an avid hiker, camper, biker, and kayaker, and enjoys exploring the natural world on his own or with his wife Rachel and their two dogs. He has called Flagstaff home since 1997.

Mark can be reached by email at Mark.Daniels@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-523-8897

Todd Barnell

Manager

Todd joined ITEP in August of 2002, and is grateful to work with his stellar team and amazing colleagues across the country. They do such vital and inspiring work in the fields of Superfund, emergency response, USTs, solid waste, and brownfields, and achieve amazing things.

Prior to moving to Flagstaff in 1999, he spent time as a hod-carrier, welder, secretary, public relations hack, and field grunt/lab rat for a climate change project, back in his birth-state of Indiana. Once he and his partner were fortunate enough to move to Flagstaff he did stints with the Ecological Restoration Institute and The Nature Conservancy before landing his dream job at ITEP.

When not at work, Todd is happiest when playing in his garden, or spending time with our feathered friends, preferably with a cup of really good tea in his hand.

Todd can be reached by e-mail at Todd.Barnell@nau.edu..
Phone: 928-523-3840

Julie Meikowski

Assistant Manager

Julie Meikowski joined the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) in 2014.

Julie was born and raised in the Midwest and spent most of her adult life traveling and working in, and for, the protection of the natural environment. She has her Bachelor’s degree from Prescott College in Environmental Studies and her Master’s from Northern Arizona University in Climate Science.

Julie is passionate about environmental responsibility and has done work ranging from studying jaguar populations throughout the U.S. and Mexico border wall regions to researching energy policy to determine new markets for renewable energy credits.

Before making Flagstaff her home, she worked in northern California implementing building and energy efficiency programs, creating a Green Business Program for Humboldt County, working on greenhouse gas inventories and climate action plans for a number of cities in northern California, and helping to create and organize green building events and conferences.

She is a backpacking guide in Grand Canyon National Park and a mom of two young boys, Journey and Quest. She is most at home when she is outdoors on the trail, appreciating all the gifts around her.

Julie can be reached by e-mail at Julie.Meikowski@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-523-9404

Amanda Kapp

Program Coordinator, Sr.

Amanda is a Senior Program Coordinator for the Waste and Response Team at ITEP. She assists with the planning and delivery of the Tribal Lands and Environment Forum, and annual national event that connects Tribal Environmental Professionals with staff from EPA and other federal agencies and organizations. She co-facilitates trainings including the annual Development and Implementation of Tribal Solid Waste Codes and Ordinances funded by IHS and oversees the Waste and Response Team’s slate of online self-paced courses. She loves working with ITEP and it dovetails beautifully with her previous work with the NAU Environmental Caucus and their Waste Minimization Team.

Amanda can be reached by e-mail at Amanda.Kapp@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-526-0583

Bill Auberle

Professor, Retired

Email: WAUBERLE@msn.com.

Dr. Jani Ingram

Professor, NAU Chemistry & Biochemistry

Email: Jain.Ingram@nau.edu.
Phone: 928-523-7877

Rebecca Stevens

Chair

Coeur d’Alene Tribe – Idaho

Program Manager/Restoration Coordinator
Working with the Tribe since: 2005

Rebecca is the Program Manager for the Tribe’s Natural Resources Department-Hazardous Waste Management Program. She also serves the role as the Restoration Coordinator with the Restoration Partnership. Rebecca has been working on water quality related issues for over 19 years. She represents the Tribe in the Bunker Hill Mining and Metallurgical Complex Superfund Site working with EPA while implementing their remedy for the Basin. She is also the Tribe’s Restoration Coordinator for the Restoration Partnership for which all Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) claims have been settled and on the ground restoration work has been underway since 2019. Rebecca continues to work with other Tribes on NRDA issues while coordinating with the US DOI, USDA, and the State of Idaho.

Rebecca is a proud member of the Tribal Waste and Response Steering Committee where she also serves on the Tribal Superfund Work Group and Advisory Council. Rebecca enjoys x-country skiing in the winter, summertime water sports, Frisbee golf, and spending time with her friends, family, and blue heeler. Rebecca is very honored to work for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and is proud to be a part of restoring natural resources in the Coeur d’Alene Basin.

Rebecca can be reached by e-mail at rstevens@cdatribe-nsn.gov.

National Tribal Forum on Air Quality

The National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (NTFAQ) aims to support tribal programs by fostering information-sharing and networking opportunities that are focused on building tribal capacity in air quality management. The event’s agenda is driven by tribal input and priorities, with a focus on increasing tribal engagement in air quality initiatives that are relevant to tribal communities across the nation.