Heinz Center Staff Biographies

Ralph Ashton is Program Director of the Terrestrial Carbon Group project, which he convened in 2007 while Leader of the Climate Change Program at the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists in Sydney.  Previously he coordinated WWF's global response to the Indian Ocean earthquakes and tsunami and then co-founded its Humanitarian Partnerships Program, which he ran from Banda Aceh. He contributed to WWF-Indonesia's "Green Reconstruction Policy Guidelines for Aceh"; managed a regional partnership with American Red Cross; and sought and established a regional collaboration with World Vision. Ralph co-authored "A Blueprint for the Forest Industry and Vegetation Management in Tasmania" - a new policy for forest and grassland management in Tasmania, one of Australia's most controversial environmental issues. He is editor of and contributor to "Tarkine", a photographic book published in 2004 to raise awareness of the plight of this unique Tasmanian rainforest wilderness.  A native of Papua New Guinea, he studied in Australia and Germany. During 2008, he was a Visiting Fellow in the Climate and Energy Program at The Australian National University, and in 2009 is a Visiting Scholar in the Center for Environment, Economy, and Society at Columbia University.

Karen Boler is the Office Manager/Meeting Planner at The Heinz Center.  New to the D.C. area, Karen moved from her home in Columbus, Ohio.  There she was employed for 20 years as office manager for a security systems company.   Karen also enjoyed her role as the Business Development Specialist for a non-profit agency in Ohio. Always an active volunteer within her community, she has served as a commissioner, a board member, and secretary for numerous organizations that focus on the health and wellbeing of children and families.  She is most proud of completing a marathon in 2002 in affiliation with the American Stroke Association.  Karen is a graduate of Bliss Community College with an Associates Degree in Business Administration.

Ashley Clark is a research and program assistant at the Heinz Center.  Ashley came to the Heinz Center after graduating cum laude from Middlebury College in 2007, receiving her Bachelor’s in Political Science with minors in German and African Studies.  She wrote her thesis on transitional justice in post-genocidal states in Africa, for which she received highest departmental honors.  An active member of the Middlebury Community, she helped set-up and orchestrate a symposium on Sex Trafficking in Vermont and around the world for Amnesty International.  Ashley has also worked for the Office of Congressman Andrews (NJ-1), where she conducted research on water quality assessment laws and handled constituency concerns.

Robert W. Corell is Vice President of Programs at The Heinz Center.  He joined the Center as Global Change Director in December 2006.  Before coming to The Heinz Center, Dr. Corell served as a Senior Policy Fellow at the Policy Program of the American Meteorological Society and an Affiliate of the Washington Advisory Group. He recently completed an appointment that began in January 2000 as a Senior Research Fellow in the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.  Dr. Corell is actively engaged in research concerned with the sciences of global change and the interface between science and public policy, particularly research activities that are focused on global and regional climate change, related environmental issues, and science to facilitate understanding of vulnerability and sustainable development.  He co-chairs an international strategic planning group that is developing a strategy designed to harness science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development, serves as the Chair of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, counsels as Senior Science Advisor to ManyOne.Net, and is Chair of the Board of the Digital Universe Foundation.  Dr. Corell was Assistant Director for Geosciences at the National Science Foundation where he had oversight for the Atmospheric, Earth, and Ocean Sciences and the global change programs of the National Science Foundation (NSF).  He was also a professor and academic administrator at the University of New Hampshire.  Dr. Corell is an oceanographer and engineer by background and training, having received Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. degrees at Case Western Reserve University and MIT.

Amber Childress is a Program Assistant for the Terrestrial Carbon Group.  In 2007 Amber graduated from Austin College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a focus in Economics.  While attending Austin College, she was active in the Leadership Institute, through which she organized and led the first team to observe and interview finalists for the Greater Dallas Business Ethics Award.  Her previous work includes experience on Capitol Hill, both as a House Page and an Intern in the Speaker’s Office.  Prior to joining the Heinz Center, Amber was a Finance Project Assistant at Vinson & Elkins, LLP

Anna Creed is the Economics Policy Advisor for the Terrestrial Carbon Group project.  After gaining an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics, Anna worked in consultancy at Andersen and Deloitte and built up particular expertise in modelling and analysis, broadening out to strategy at BSkyB where she was a Manager in the Strategic Planning Group.  Most recently she provided economic analysis for The Prince's Rainforests Project (PRP).  At the PRP, Anna focused on forest valuation, the costs of shifting away from deforestation and possible models for REDD (the international mechanism to incentivise ‘reductions in emissions from deforestation and degradation’).

James M. Eaton is a science policy analyst for the Terrestrial Carbon Group.  He works on issues related to monitoring, reporting, and verification requirements for including terrestrial carbon in the climate change solution.  Additionally, he is helping develop a project methodology for categorizing tradable and protected terrestrial carbon. Previously, Mr. Eaton worked as a research biologist with the Centre for Hydrology, Micrometeorology and Climate Change in Cork, Ireland, where he led a project measuring and monitoring organic carbon in Irish soils. James was awarded a United States Fulbright Scholarship to the Agricultural University of Krakow in Poland. There he used remotely sensed data in conjunction with field surveys of vegetation to investigate the causes and consequences of land-use change in Polish forests. Mr. Eaton holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia.  While in the degree program he spent over nine months in Mexico quantifying carbon stocks in dry tropical secondary forests.

Anne E. Hummer is the Heinz Center’s Vice President for Development and External Relations.  Previously she served at the Center as Communications and Development Director. Before joining the Center in 2003, Ms. Hummer served as communications and fundraising consultant for several nonprofit organizations in Washington D.C., and Maryland. Ms. Hummer has previously worked as Development Director for WAMU Radio, the Reproduction Research Institute, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest. At World Wildlife Fund, Ms. Hummer served as Special Assistant to the President, Membership Director and Editor of FOCUS, a quarterly membership publication. Ms. Hummer received her B.A. in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and serves on the development advisory boards of several organizations.

Insu Kuak is the Heinz Center's Accountant.  Insu’s background includes several years of accounting, human resource management and benefit administration.  Prior to joining the Center, he served as a Senior Accountant at the Brookings Institution, where he assisted in their year-end audit.  Previously, he served as Assistant Controller at the Park Hyatt in Washington D.C.  He started his career in accounting as an intern at KPMG, Seoul in 1999.  He received his B.S in Accounting from the State University of New York in Binghamton. 

Thomas E. Lovejoy became the first recipient of the newly created Heinz Center Biodiversity Chair in August 2008.  Previously he served as President of the Heinz Center since May 2002. Before coming to The Heinz Center, he was the World Bank’s Chief Biodiversity Advisor and Lead Specialist for Environment for Latin America and the Caribbean and Senior Advisor to the President of the United Nations Foundation. Dr. Lovejoy has been Assistant Secretary and Counselor to the Secretary at the Smithsonian Institution, Science Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior, and Executive Vice President of the World Wildlife Fund–U.S. He conceived the idea for the Minimum Critical Size of Ecosystems project (a joint project between the Smithsonian and Brazil's INPA), originated the concept of debt-for-nature swaps, and is the founder of the public television series Nature. In 2001 he was awarded the prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. Dr. Lovejoy served on science and environmental councils or committees under the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton administrations. He received his B. S. and Ph.D. (biology) degrees from Yale University.

Anne S. Marsh, Director of Policy Dialogue, coordinates the Centers’ scientific communication with policy makers.  From 2004 to 2008, she worked as a staff scientist for the Center’s Environmental Reporting Group. Before joining the Center, Anne was a visiting scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. She has also worked as a consultant to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and served as a research associate and editor of the National Wetlands Newsletter at the Environmental Law Institute. Anne received her B.A. from Williams College (Environmental Studies), and her M.F.S (Forest Science) and Ph.D. (Ecosystems Ecology/Plant Physiology) from Yale.

Jonathan Mawdsley, Director of Climate Adaptation Programs, co-directs the Center’s efforts to promote sustainable responses to the challenges posed by global climate change.  He is the lead author of the Center’s newly released report, “Strategies for Managing the Effects of Climate Change on Wildlife and Ecosystems” and the forthcoming report “Measuring the Results of Wildlife Conservation Activities,” which was funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation through the Wildlife Habitat Policy Research Program of the National Council for Science and the Environment.  Before joining the Center, Dr. Mawdsley worked for five years at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, where he served most recently as a Program Director administering national and regional grant programs on topics that included native plant conservation, invasive species management, endangered salmonid restoration, and the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.  Prior to working at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Entomology of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.  In addition to his work at the Center, he maintains an active research program at the National Museum of Natural History that focuses on insect and pollinator conservation in the United States and southern Africa.  He received his B. A. from Harvard University (Biology) and his Ph.D. from Cornell University (Entomology)..

Christine Negra Director of Mitigation Programs, leads the Heinz Center’s efforts to promote scientifically-based policy strategies for reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.  She also serves as the Principal Investigator for the EPA-funded Ecological Effects of Air Quality project.  Dr. Negra came to the Center in 2005 to guide the development of indicators of carbon storage and environmental contamination for The State of the Nation’s Ecosystems 2008.  In addition to her work at the Center, she engages with a national coalition to establish comprehensive mercury monitoring in the U.S.  Previously, Dr. Negra worked on state-level environmental science policy as a Public Policy Fellow with The Snelling Center for Government.  Her doctoral research on the behavior of trace metals in soil systems was conducted at the University of Vermont and the National Synchrotron Light Source. From 1994 to 1998, she worked with farmers, local and state officials, and environmental advocates on sustainable agriculture, water quality, forestry and community leadership projects.  She received her M. S. (Natural Resource Planning) from the University of Vermont and her B.A. (Government Studies) from Wesleyan University.

Thomas W. Nichols joined the Heinz Center in October of 2008 as Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer.  Tom brings over twenty years of oversight experience in areas like strategic planning, budgeting and accounting, human resources, and information technology.  Before joining the Center, he provided financial consulting services to nonprofit clients in the Washington, D.C. area.  Previously he was Vice President for Operations and Chief Financial Officer at the African Wildlife Federation. Additionally, he spent 13 years at World Wildlife Fund, eventually serving as Chief Financial Officer.  Tom received his B.S. in Business Administration from Virginia Tech University.

Dennis Ojima is a Senior Scholar and co-Director of Mitigation Programs at the Heinz Center. He is also a Senior Research Scientist of the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory (NREL) at Colorado State University where he was Interim Director from 2005 to 2006. Dr. Ojima received his BA and Masters Degree in Botany from Pomona College (1975) and the University of Florida (1978), and his PhD from the Rangeland Ecosystem Science Department at Colorado State University in 1987.  His current US research contributes to the North American Carbon Project. His research areas include global change effects on ecosystem dynamics and regional climate change assessment for the Central Great Plains, as well as international efforts in Central Asia, Mongolia, and China. His research with the Chinese Academy of Sciences includes development of Regional Carbon Management. Dr. Ojima is also member on the U.S. National SCOPE Committee and member-at-large on the Governing Board of the Ecological Society of America (2005-2007).

Robin O'Malley is the Heinz Center’s Director of Program Development.  Previously he directed the Heinz Center’s Environmental Reporting Program, which published The State of the Nation’s Ecosystems: Measuring the Lands, Waters, and Living Resources of the United States. Mr. O’Malley came to The Heinz Center in November 1997 from the Department of the Interior, where he led U.S. Government efforts to establish a biodiversity information network throughout the Americas. From 1993 to 1996, he was Chief of Staff for the National Biological Survey, where he was responsible for numerous program development, budgeting, implementation, and outreach activities. Mr. O'Malley has also served as a Special Assistant to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt; Deputy Science Advisor within the Interior Department; Associate Director for Natural Resources at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ); and senior environmental advisor to Governor Thomas H. Kean of New Jersey; he has also held a variety of environmental positions within New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection involving financing of environmental infrastructure, hazardous site remediation, and solid waste management. He holds a master’s degree from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York.

Carmen R. Thorndike is the Executive Assistant to the Biodiversity Chair of the Heinz Center.  Ms. Thorndike has been with Dr. Lovejoy since 1987, when he was Vice President for Science at the World Wildlife Fund. Since that time, she has served with him at the Smithsonian Institution, the World Bank, and the United Nations Foundation. Before joining the World Wildlife Fund, Ms. Thorndike had been a Project Associate for the Latin American Manufacturers Association (LAMA). She received a business administration degree from Cenecape Andrés Bello, Peru.

Stacia VanDyne is Communications and Development Manager at the Center.  Prior to joining the Center, Stacia served as production coordinator and publicity and publisher's assistant at Hearst Books in New York.  Additionally, she worked as an intern and assistant in the Chief of Staff's Office during the Clinton Administration, and later coordinated efforts for the U.S. Department of Commerce in their regional Miami, Florida Export Assistance Center.  Stacia has researched and helped manage events for various non-profits, including academics researching alternative energy.  She graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in International Studies from Southern Methodist University.

Tranice Watts is Executive Assistant to Robert W. Corell, as well as Research & Administrative Assistant for Heinz Center Programs.  Tranice is a 2005 graduate of The Ohio State University (OSU), receiving her Bachelor’s in English with a focus on Rhetoric and Linguistic Studies.  While attending OSU, she completed her internship with the American Association of Retired People (AARP), assisting them with research in soft money contributions and senate/congressional voting records.  Prior to Ms. Watts’ time at OSU, she was Head Officer (’95-’98) of her student American Welding Society chapter’s district, focusing on the increase of funding and recruiting women for the program.