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McKinney Midwest Climate Project
Climate Fellows
Building a green talent pipeline

Building a green talent pipeline

Empowering sustainability leaders

Read about the experiences of McKinney Climate Fellows alumni and how the program informed their professional journeys in sustainability.

Delaney Barber

2021 alum

As a graduate student at IU’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Barber wanted to make a positive impact on global environmental issues, including climate change. Through experiences like McKinney Climate Fellows, she found she wouldn’t have to leave the Midwest to do it.

Matthias Benko

2021-22 alum

In back-to-back summers, Benko worked with Indiana Nature and the Town of Zionsville on tree ordinances and planting plans related to sustainability. The experience not only attuned him to the natural world but also to people and the importance of engaging community members on environmental issues.

Madison Byarley

2020 alum

Working with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Byarley got to know the people of Indianapolis and the rich histories of local neighborhoods. The experience introduced her to working at the community level, where building relationships is critical to organizational success.

Nicole Chandler

2022 alum

From an early age, Chandler has been concerned about the environment and the impacts of climate change. Her experience as a McKinney Climate Fellow with the Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization helped equip her with the skills needed to make positive change in her hometown.

Chaise Cope

2018 alum

A native of Bremen, Ind., Cope immediately found an opportunity to apply her training as a McKinney Climate Fellow with the City of Columbus, working in the municipality’s community development office. The experience helped kickstart her career in local government and sustainability.

Katherine Couch

2022-23 alum

A South Bend native, Katherine Couch didn’t hear much about global warming and its effects until she was a college undergraduate. As her knowledge about climate change grew, so did her desire to be part of positive change on behalf of her community, the state of Indiana, and the planet.

Barbara Dale

2022 alum

As a McKinney Climate Fellow with the City of South Bend in 2022, Barbara Dale helped the city apply for a grant to increase community engagement around climate action planning. Today, she manages the program spurred by the successful grant as a full-time sustainability staff member for the city.

Miranda Frausto

2019-20 alum

Born in Mexico City, Frausto grew up in a Latino family that cared about the environment. This special connection led Frausto to become a local climate leader in Carmel, Ind. and a McKinney Climate Fellow. Later, she was hired as the first the first Hispanic and Latino Outreach Coordinator for Earth Charter Indiana.

Amber Greaney

2019 alum

When Greaney was earning a degree in sustainable management and policy, she was sure her career would take her outside the Midwest. Her experience as a McKinney Climate Fellow with Keramida in 2019, however, convinced her that staying in Indiana meant she could make an even bigger impact.

Halee Griffey

2021 alum

When Halee Griffey started college, she dreamed of working abroad to improve the lives of people in other countries. A virtual exchange program, however, convinced Griffey that she could have just as much of an impact by staying closer to home and creating a sustainable future for the Midwest.

Kerry Korpela

2021 alum

As a McKinney Climate Fellow, Korpela helped institute a sustainability framework for Fort Wayne City Utilities projects, becoming a full-time program manager after graduation.Today, Korpela is playing a leading role in implementing Fort Wayne's recently adopted climate action and adaptation plan.

Erin Lasher

2018-19 alum

As a student, Lasher sought out opportunities to channel her climate anxiety into action. Her search led her to McKinney Climate Fellows, where she created the first greenhouse gas inventory for her hometown. The experience equipped Lasher with specialized skills that helped jumpstart her career.

Jonathon Lewis

2020-21 alum

When Lewis arrived at IUPUI as a freshman in 2018, he didn’t know what sustainability was. After learning about the concept on the first day of college, he embarked on a career path that led him to McKinney Climate Fellows and a full-time job as a sustainability professional in Indiana.

Angelica Lopez

2020 alum

Growing up near the steel mills of Northwest Indiana, Lopez witnessed the toll that heavy industry can have on public health and the environment. With the vision for a more equitable and sustainable future, Lopez helped her community take the first steps toward developing a climate action plan.

Lucy Mellen

2020 alum

When Mellen enrolled at IU Bloomington, she knew she wanted a career in the environmental sector but wasn’t sure what that might look like. Her experience as a McKinney Climate Fellow with Earth Charter Indiana crystallized the community-oriented professional pathway that she found appealing.

Logan Pollander

2020 alum

In 2020, Pollander joined McKinney Climate Fellows to help his hometown of Fort Wayne create a climate action plan, benchmark local greenhouse gas emissions, and establish sustainability goals. The experience gave him insight into effectively working with stakeholders toward a common goal.

Hannah Walker

2023 alum

Walker didn’t major in sustainability or an environmental field, but as a fellow she contributed to the City of Fort Wayne’s sustainability goals and deepened her understanding of local government. The experience has proved invaluable in her role as town manager.

Andrew Walters

2022 alum

As a McKinney Climate Fellow with Greater Indiana Clean Cities, Walters helped a major Indiana utility transition its vehicle fleet to electric and biofuel vehicles. The experience gave him the opportunity to develop new skills relevant to his current role helping Hoosiers avoid utility disconnection.