EPN Signature Earth Day Event: Building Local Coalitions for Climate Action in Ohio

Jason Cervenec serves as the Education and Engagement Director for the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, where he leads programs that reach more than 12,000 learners each year across science, climate resilience, history, and the arts. His team develops geoscience visualizations and public‑facing tools to make climate and polar research accessible, and he regularly supports Central Ohio communities by convening climate resilience efforts. Before joining BPCRC, Jason spent over a decade as a high school science educator, founding Science Olympiad teams and serving as a lead instructor on statewide science‑education initiatives. He regularly collaborates with Ohio educators, community organizations, and university researchers to strengthen climate literacy and broaden public engagement with Earth systems science. Jason holds a B.S. in Biology and an M.Ed. in Secondary Science Education from Ohio State University.

Van brings more than a decade of experience to launch Green Umbrella’s climate action work. Most recently they were a Climate and Community Resilience Analyst for the City of Cincinnati, where they led climate, equity, and community engagement efforts. Van worked with Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute, Rural Action, ACS Green Chemistry Institute, US EPA and the City of Oberlin to lead sustainability programs in urban-to-rural and local-to-international settings. They are a proud alum of Public Allies Cincinnati, AmeriCorps VISTA-Ohio, and Turner Farm’s Apprenticeship. They received their Master of Public Affairs and Master of Science in Environmental Science from Indiana University’s O’Neill School for Public and Environmental Affairs, and Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Environmental Studies from Oberlin College.

Joe Flarida is the Executive Director of Power a Clean Future Ohio, an expansive coalition of organizations that works with cities and municipalities in Ohio to develop community-driven carbon reduction strategies. Power a Clean Future Ohio empowers local governments and community members by providing tools and resources to implement climate action plans and clean energy policies that are achievable, measurable, equitable, and economical. Joe previously worked in the U.S. House of Representatives for the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and was a Robert Bosch Fellow in Germany in 2018 and 2019, where he examined Germany’s energy transition. He received his BA in Political Science and Public Affairs from The Ohio State University.

Madeline Fleisher has spent more than 15 years practicing energy and environmental law, including roles in both the public and private sectors. She currently works as regulatory counsel at Oracle, and volunteers as Co-Director of Electrify Central Ohio. She co-founded ECO in 2022 as a community-based effort to support Central Ohio residents in planning and implementing home electrification and other clean energy solutions to reduce household greenhouse gas emissions. 

Dr. Andy Leber is the Co-Founder and Co-Director, Electrify Central Ohio where he helps residents across Central Ohio access the resources and information needed to switch their homes to clean energy. Dr. Leber is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at The Ohio State University, and directs the Cognitive Control Lab, which investigates questions pertaining to attention, learning, and memory. He also serves as co-organizer of Sustainable Grandview; a grass-roots community action organization focused on improving community health and resiliency in Grandview Heights, Ohio. Dr. Leber received his Ph.D. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Johns Hopkins University.  

With the City of Dayton, Meg Maloney leads major initiatives in renewable energy, climate resilience, community‑wide aggregation, and long‑term sustainability planning. She oversees projects aimed at reducing the city’s carbon footprint, advancing equity in environmental decision‑making, and helping Dayton residents benefit directly from city clean energy programs. She has also conducted greenhouse gas inventories, developed climate‑stress GIS analyses, secured state and federal grants, and collaborated with agencies on stormwater and resilience planning. Previously, Meg served as Dayton’s Sustainability Specialist, co‑authoring the city’s first sustainability plan and helping design its 100% renewable‑energy aggregation program. As a result of her efforts, Dayton has received multiple statewide sustainability awards. Meg earned her M.S. in Environmental Science and B.S. in Environmental Biology from the University of Dayton.

Anand Natarajan is currently the Assistant Director, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability in the City of Cleveland, Ohio (since April 2023). Reporting to the Director of Sustainability, Anand assists in developing overall strategy and execution of programs for the office, besides daily administrative management of personnel and processes, developing process efficiencies wherever possible. Since joining the City in April 2010, Anand has worked on several Sustainability and Climate Action Planning focus areas such as Energy Management, Green Buildings and Sustainable Transportation for both city operations, as well the city proper. Anand serves on a number of energy and climate related advisory committees in the region, as well as on the board of the local ASHRAE chapter.

Roberto Burga serves as the Community Relations Coordinator for the City of Columbus, where he leads projects related to regional climate action planning and community engagement. Over the past year, Roberto’s team has worked to develop the Central Ohio Climate Action Plan (COCAP) - Central Ohio’s first regional climate action plan that outlines goals and recommendations aimed at improving air quality and supporting climate action across a ten-county region. Roberto is now coordinating the Columbus Youth Climate Action Fund which has awarded over $100,000 in microgrants to youth groups seeking to address climate change and its impacts on our community. He regularly collaborates with partners and community groups to align regional priorities with broader national climate goals. Roberto holds a B.S. in Environmental Geography and Spanish from Ohio University.

Treg Sibert is a junior at The Ohio State University majoring in Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability with a specialization in Sustainability in Business. Over the past three years, he has led a portfolio of student-driven initiatives transforming underutilized campus landscapes into living laboratories for environmental education, community engagement, and experiential learning beyond traditional classroom settings. In addition to his project leadership, Treg serves as a Sustainability Engagement Intern with The Ohio State University Sustainability Institute, where he supports the development of programs that empower student-led sustainability initiatives and connect students with resources that translate passion into action. He regularly collaborates with student organizations, faculty, and university partners to strengthen cross-campus networks advancing practical and community-centered sustainability solutions at Ohio State and beyond.

Nithya Duddella is a junior at The Ohio State University majoring in biochemistry whose work integrates community-based environmental initiatives with biomedical research and healthy communities. Over the past three years, she has collaborated on the design and implementation of an educational garden initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity while promoting community engagement with ecologically sustainable practices. Concurrently, her research focuses on pulmonary fibrosis and typhoid fever, with particular emphasis on Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), a human-restricted pathogen responsible for systemic infection via fecal–oral transmission in settings with inadequate water infrastructure. Through this work, she examines the intersection of environmental determinants, infectious disease burden, and health disparities, aligning her scientific research with her broader commitment to advancing public health and social equity through sustainable, community-centered interventions.