Corinne Shefner-Rogers, PhD Dr. Shefner-Rogers is a New Mexico-based Independent Social and Behavior Change Consultant with more than 25 years of experience in advising leading multilateral organizations, governments, non-governmental organizations, universities, and non-profit organizations on how to strategically develop, implement, and assess their public health programs, both in the U.S. and internationally. Between 1996 and 2004, she was also an adjunct professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism and the Public Health Program at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Shefner-Rogers holds a Ph.D. in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, an MA in Communications Management from the Annenberg School for Communication/University of Southern California, and a BA in Anthropology from McGill University. |
Susan Gordon Susan Gordon has more than three decades of grassroots organizing experience with impacted community groups around the nuclear weapons complex. She joined the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment in 2014, providing communications and coordination for five groups impacted by the legacy of uranium mining in New Mexico. These front-line communities continue to live in contaminated environments while fighting for environmental justice, cleanup of their land, air and water, and compensation for generations of health impacts. They advocate for renewable energy and oppose nuclear power plants that would require future uranium mining. Susan was previously the director of the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability for 17 years where she led a network of 36 individual organizations that developed national strategies on nuclear weapons policy and environmental cleanup issues. She played a key role in establishing the Monitoring and Technical Assessment Fund that distributed over $4 million to community organizations conducting science research at the Department of Energy’s environmental cleanup sites. She also helped create the Citizens’ Involvement Fund located in the New Mexico Community Foundation that supported grassroots groups participation in federal decision-making. In addition, she has raised over $12 million dollars to directly support grassroots and community-based organizations during her career. |
Virginia Necochea, PhD Dr. Virginia Necochea is a long-time educator, researcher, writer, and community advocate. She is the former executive director and a founding board member of the Center for Social Sustainable Systems (CESOSS), a community-led nonprofit focused on protecting and preserving land and water resources in the Valle de Atrisco (South Valley, NM) and larger Middle Rio Grande region. Dr. Necochea’s connection and commitment to land and water emanates from her abuelitos - individuals who were deeply connected to Mother Earth and the importance of remaining connected to the land. The foundation and drive for Dr. Necochea’s work is rooted in ceremony, her Mexican Indigenous roots, and motherhood. She strives to engage in work that places community and environmental justice at the forefront. |
Romilly Ortiz, PA Romilly Ortiz grew up in Albuquerque, NM and has worked as a Physician Assistant in NM for the past 6 years. Until recently she worked at the Canoncito Band of Navajos Health Center in To’Hajiilee, NM providing full spectrum primary care. She now works at the School Based Health Center- Middle Schools through UNM Medical Group. She enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 toddlers and dachshund. She can be found enjoying the bosque, reading and occasionally figure skating in her free time. |
Allyson Siwik Since 2003, Allyson has served as the executive director of the Gila Resources Information Project. She is also the director of the Gila Conservation Coalition that works to protect the free flow of the Gila River. Allyson graduated with a BA in biology from Colby College and a Master of Environmental Management in Resource Economics and Policy from Duke University School of the Environment. She has nearly 30 years of experience in environmental protection, conservation, and advocacy, including 12 years with the US Environmental Protection Agency in North Carolina and El Paso, TX. She has worked extensively with local communities in the borderlands to resolve environmental problems, including binational air quality management, mining environmental impacts, water quality and water supply concerns, and community-wide initiatives on climate change and sustainability. She has served on several local, state and federal boards including, the Good Neighbor Environmental Board that advises the President and Congress on U.S.-Mexico Border environmental and infrastructure issues. |
Elena Fernandez Elena is a champion for upholding leadership values in STEM, Environmental Stewardship, Academia, and National Laboratory Suitability. She has contracted as an Environmental Consultant for the Lower Rio Grande Hydrographic Survey on behalf of the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, and as a Research and Development Specialist for the Army Research Laboratory/New Mexico State University (NMSU)/Yale University Atmospheric Aerosols experimental group. Elena serves on the NMSU Engineering Physics Program External Advisory Board (ex-officio), and the Northern New Mexico Citizens’ Advisory Board (DOE-EM-SSAB) for Department of Energy legacy waste cleanup sites in New Mexico. She is also a charter member of the Norwich University Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), the National Leadership Honor Society. Her work with Amigos Bravos reaches across the state to the New Mexico Dairy Coalition, the Miranda Canyon Commission for illegal dumping mitigation, and toxic pollutants in New Mexico’s waters. |