Meet our Staff

Dr. Henning (he/him/his) is Professor of Philosophy and of Environmental Studies & Sciences at Gonzaga University and is the inaugural director and founder of the Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment. Originally from Boise, Idaho, Dr. Henning joined Gonzaga’s faculty in 2008. He earned a B.A. sum cum laude from Seattle University and an M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from Fordham University. An award-winning author, Dr. Henning has written or edited more than 13 books and 39 articles and chapters, including Riders in the Storm: Ethics in an Age of Climate Change (Anselm 2015), Climate Change Ethics and the Non-human World (Routledge 2020), and Value, Beauty, and Nature (SUNY 2023). He has delivered more than 180 talks to general and academic audiences in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Director Henning can be reached at henning@gonzaga.edu. For more on his work, visit https://connect.gonzaga.edu/henning.

Karli (she/her/hers) is originally from Reno, Nevada and has lived in Spokane since 2014. She is a Gonzaga University alumna with a BA in Environmental Studies and Biology. Karli has hands-on experience teaching environmental education in the classroom and enjoys helping people understand and take action on climate change. Karli is finishing her masters degree in the School of Leadership Studies and will graduate in May, 2025. In her free time, she likes to read, knit, and go outside with her husband and their dog, Rosie.

Karli can be reached at honebein@gonzaga.edu

Dante (they/them/theirs) grew up in an apple orchard in Orondo, WA. They have a BA in Peace Studies from Whitworth University and an MSc in Climate Change and Development from the University of London. Their commitment to environmental and climate justice was born from their experiences growing up close neighbors with migrant farmworkers, serving in Peace Corps Paraguay, researching the impact of climate change on small-scale agroforestry systems, and witnessing the impacts of climate events on unhoused LGBTQ+ community members in Spokane. In their free time, Dante enjoys reading sci-fi novels, thrifting at local shops, and soaking up all the sunshine they can. 

Dante can be reached at jester@gonzaga.edu

Katelyn (she/her/hers) is originally from Astoria, Oregon. After fifteen years on the westside, she and her husband returned to Spokane in 2021 to raise their daughter Remy. She graduated from Western Washington University with a BA in English Literature and Lake Washington Institute of Tech, where she studied HR Management. Katelyn has spent the past ten years working in Microsoft's University Recruiting organization. After enjoying a career in connecting graduates and interns to their first roles in the workforce, Katelyn is very excited to join Gonzaga and have an opportunity to build her passion around climate and environmental work. In her free time, she enjoys taking her daughter to new libraries and walking her dogs, Li'l Abner and Thom Yorkie.

Katelyn can be reached at carrollk@gonzaga.edu. 

Kara (she/her/hers) is the instructor for Gonzaga’s professional certificate in Climate Action Planning. Born and raised in Spokane, Kara is considered a boomeranger who returned home after spending time living in Seattle and Singapore. Kara has a Master’s in Leadership for Sustainability from the University of Vermont and a Bachelor’s in English from the University of Washington. She is a practiced communicator and community leader with over 25 years of experience working with multinational, national and local organizations across multiple industries and sectors. Kara spent four years using a collaborative leadership model to guide climate action planning for the City of Spokane. Spokane’s plan and the process they developed now serves as a template for other municipalities developing their own climate action plans.

Kara can be reached at odegard@gonzaga.edu

Mary (she/her/hers) is a Spokane native who has recently returned to her hometown after having spent the last decade on the move. She played Division I soccer and graduated from the University of Idaho with a BS in Psychology, BA in Spanish, and a BA in Philosophy. Mary spent 3 years in rural Panama as a Peace Corps volunteer before completing her Masters in International Affairs at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna, Italy. She has worked as a research consultant for Columbia University, the EAT-Lancet Commission 2.0, Inspiratia, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as Johns Hopkins University. Mary speaks English, Spanish, Italian, and a bit of German. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, making little snacks for her friends, taking solo trips to new places, and reading non-fiction.

Mary can be reached at condonm@gonzaga.edu

Lauren (She/her/hers) grew up in Livermore, California, and later attended UC Santa Cruz, graduating with a BS in Marine Biology. After graduation she spent five years working in Outdoor Education/Science Camp in the Santa Cruz mountains, where she discovered her passion for teaching others about the environment and providing unique hands-on learning opportunities. In the Summer of ’24 she moved with her husband to Spokane Valley. She is excited to join the team at Gonzaga to share her experiences while teaching others how to learn about the environment. In her free time Lauren enjoys a wide variety of crafting hobbies and training her dogs Godric and Riker.

Lauren can be reached at kaiserl@gonzaga.edu

Ella (she/her/hers) is a sophomore majoring in Environmental Science. She is from Maple Valley, Washington and enjoys reading, listening to music, playing water polo, and spending time with her friends. She is passionate about marine biology and developing sustainable agriculture. 

Aoife (ee-fa) (she/her/hers) is a junior studying Marketing with minors in Communications Studies and Leadership at Gonzaga. She's from Seattle, Washington and loves to hike, run, and grab lots of coffee. When she can, Aoife loves to travel, and just spent last spring in Florence studying abroad. She is really excited to get more involved working on marketing/implementing sustainable practices and giving back to our environment. 

CJ (she/her/hers) is a senior at Gonzaga majoring in Environmental Studies with minors in History and Spanish. She is from Waukesha, Wisconsin, and loves reading, cooking, thrifting, and spending time outdoors. She is passionate about the environment and building resilience to the impacts of climate change. Her previous experience includes working at Dishman Hills Conservancy, and she is excited to continue her environmental work in the Spokane community with the Climate Resilience Project.   

Kimberly (she/her/hers) is a Spokane native and has lived there most of her life except for five years in Bellingham. After moving back home in 2014, she has primarily worked in the healthcare field and, most recently, with Avista on their Transportation Electrification team.  As a student at Gonzaga, she is pursuing a BA in Computer Science and Computational Thinking, with an emphasis in both Data Science and English Literature.  Having personally dealt with the effects of Spokane extreme heat and wildfire seasons, she is excited to join the Climate Resilience Project to help improve the lives of those in her community and positively contribute to her hometown. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, walking around Manito Park, gardening, baking, and volunteering in animal rescue. 

Ellen (she/her/hers) is a senior at Gonzaga majoring in Sociology and Environmental Studies. She is from Seattle, Washington, where her love for the outdoors and urban nature began, and often visited Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho throughout childhood. Her interests include the social and community impacts of climate change and how Spokane can build its communal resilience. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and playing the piano.  

Claire (she/her/hers) is a junior majoring in Environmental Studies with minors in Sustainable Business, Biology, and Leadership Studies. She is from Portland, Oregon, and became passionate about conservation work and environmental justice through her involvement in an AmeriCorps trail crew last summer. In her free time, she enjoys trail running, backpacking, and spending time at the Oregon Coast. Claire is excited to connect with the Spokane community through the Climate Resilience Project.

Michael (he/him/his) is a junior at Gonzaga pursuing two degrees in Environmental Science and Spanish. He is from Phoenix, Arizona, where the rich cultures and fascinating landscapes inspired him to study the interdisciplinary overlap between the two. In his free time, you can find him on the basketball court as a proud GU cheerleader, watching a scary movie, or spending time outside with friends. Moving forward, he hopes to learn more and educate others about the effects climate change on vulnerable communities. He is passionate about everyone in his community and hopes to create a more sustainable world that equally fosters inclusion and diversity.

Jordan (she/her/hers) is a senior studying Environmental Science with a minor in History. Originally from Encinitas, California, she loves to study the ocean and coastal ecosystems. Any free time of hers is spent at the beach or curled up with a good book. This is her third year working for the Climate Institute, and she is passionate about understanding and sharing the effects of climate change on communities and making climate science accessible to all!

Joe (he/him/his) is a junior studying environmental studies with a minor in journalism. He is from Chicago, Illinois and enjoys mountain bike racing, rock climbing, backpacking, hockey and storm chasing. Joe's love for the environment began in scouting, where he earned Eagle Scout! He is passionate about studying how climate change influences weather patterns. 

John (he/him/his) is a junior at Gonzaga majoring in Environmental Studies and Sociology. It was time spent in nature around his hometown of Reno, Nevada where John's passion for environmental studies began. During his time at Gonzaga, he has come to focus on a more community-oriented approach to environmental studies. John loves working in education and is excited to become more involved in the Spokane community through the Fellows program and all the classrooms it gets to visit. 

Holly (she/her/hers) is a senior studying Environmental Science with a minor in Biology. She is from Linden, Michigan and likes to spend her time hiking, picnicking, and playing with her dogs. Holly is passionate about studying the effects of climate change on ecological communities, specifically in aquatic systems. 

Leah (she/her/hers) is a sophomore majoring in Environmental Science with minors in Biology and Leadership studies. She's from Portland, Oregon and loves hiking, yoga, running, and writing. She aims to work in conservation, finding purpose in reworking human impact on the environment. 

Marion (she/her/hers) is a senior studying computer engineering from Grand Rapids, Michigan. In her free time, she enjoys playing card games, reading, and playing pickleball. She is excited about teaching the importance of local ecology and hopes to work on sustainable energy systems in the future. 

Dr. John Traynor (he/him/his) is Associate Professor at Gonzaga University in the Department of Teacher Education where he specializes in the Foundations of Education, Teaching in the Middle School, and Community and Place-Based Education. John received his B.A. from the University of Washington in Political Science, went on to receive his Masters in Teaching in Secondary Social Studies from Seattle University, and finally received his PhD in Culture Studies and Social Thought in Education from Washington State University. Prior to coming to Gonzaga, John taught for nine years as a high school social studies teacher. John's current work involves partnership efforts with local K-12 schools throughout the region. John is an avid outdoorsman with passions for skiing, biking and fly fishing.

John is a key contributor to the Institute's Climate Literacy Project

Dr. Baumgardner (he/him/his) is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, where he joined the faculty in the fall of 2015. He received dual B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from the University of West Georgia and the Georgia Institute of Technology, respectively in 2005. After his undergraduate studies he worked for UOP, a Honeywell Company (a petrochemical technology firm) as a Process Specialist and Technical Expert in Gasoline Refining Technology. In 2014 he received his Ph.D. from Colorado State University specializing in the thermal sciences with a focus on renewable fuels and advanced internal combustion engines. He teaches courses in Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Heat Transfer. Current research interests include fundamental combustion studies, internal combustion engines, advanced engine strategies, chemical kinetics, fuel reactivity metrics, alternative/renewable fuels, biofuels, CFD and modeling of combustion systems, and biomass cookstoves.

Marc is a key contributor to the Institute's Climate Resilience Project 

Dr. Crandall (he/him/his) was previously a clinical associate professor and research professor at Washington State University. His primary research focuses on technologies to support healthy aging in place for our community’s older adults. Dr. Crandall’s academic efforts include researching artificial intelligence to model behavior of people in smart environments as well as addressing user needs with senior care focused technologies. His other research projects include evaluating board game complexity and developing novel CPU management algorithms. Dr. Crandall's undergraduate work has included founding Cougs in Space for developing a NASA-backed cubesat project, Palouse and Gonzaga Robosub clubs working on autonomous underwater vehicles, and rocketry projects building sensors and control systems. He is active in student activities such as hackathons, coding competitions, and senior design projects.

Aaron is a key contributor to the Institute's Climate Resilience Project 

Dr. Isacoff (he/him/his) is Professor of Political Science and Environmental Studies at Gonzaga University. Dr. Isacoff was the founding chair of the Environmental Studies Department at Gonzaga and served in that role from 2006 till 2015. He received his B.A. and M.P.A. from Cornell University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He co-teaches a class, “Climate Change Science and Politics,” with Dr. Hugh Lefcort of the Biology Department.

Jonathan is a key contributor to the Institute's Climate Resilience Project