The Dogwood Alliance Board of Directors is full of visionary leaders. They hail from diverse backgrounds and experiences. They share a common commitment to the future of Southern forests and communities. Our Board members have worked in healthcare, climate justice, forestry, community organizing, and nonprofit management. And that’s just to name a few! We vet and select new members annually. Members commit to a minimum of two year terms and rotate leadership responsibilities. Their unique talents and insights help us create a more equitable and sustainable future.

Florence Anoruo

Dr. Florence Anoruo is a Plant Physiologist/Ecologist/Environmental Scientist and faculty at South Carolina State University. Her research and community outreach focus on a community-centered approach to just and sustainable solutions to climate/energy justice in frontline communities in South Carolina. Dr. Anoruo is an Appointee to the EPA Science Advisory Board and was recently selected to serve on their Environmental Justice Science & Analysis Review Panel (EJSARP).

John “The Baker” Beal

John grew up in rural New England, wandering the woods, climbing trees, tracking animals, and spying on copperheads sunning on rocks. In his first activist experiences with the Civil Rights and Peace movements, he saw the destructive forces of poverty and racism while learning there is tremendous power in joining together to take action. People are not powerless to affect major change. He later discovered Dogwood Alliance hosting a booth at a music festival in Atlanta. For many years, John has organized events supporting the work of Dogwood. John is returning to the board, and he’s excited to be working with the “brilliant staff and dynamic board.”

Jacob Blass

Jacob Blass is the president and co-principal of Ethical Advocate, a leading edge ethics and compliance company. Initially a psychologist, he subsequently led four healthcare organizations for 23 years. Jacob specializes in strategy development, management, and executive mentoring. He has worked nationally and internationally with organizations and governments, facilitating processes he developed on the integration of deeply embedded ethical cultures, values, purpose, and goals. Thousands of people have attended his seminars. Jacob has served on numerous boards, including an international hunger-relief organization, a national think-tank devoted to end of life care, and a planning committee for the city of Boulder, CO.

Marvin J. Burns

Dr. Marvin Burns is a higher education professional. He has more than 20 years of experience working in colleges and universities. Marvin grew up around the Tuskegee National Forest. There he learned to appreciate the world of natural resources. He has also worked for the US Forest Services in Oregon and Montana. He understands the impacts of natural resources on people and communities. Marvin has a BS in Environmental Science from Alabama A&M University. He holds a MS in Agricultural Education from the University of Missouri. He earned a PhD in Education and Human Resources Studies from Colorado State University.

Aanahita Ervin

Aanahita is a Master of Public Policy student. She received her undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. Aanahita merges science with policy to address the climate crisis. She realized the link between climate change, poverty, and criminal justice. She explores systemic issues to better serve marginalized Southern communities. Annahita hopes to work at the local level. She plans to use her skills to support underserved and minoritized populations.

Richie Harding

Richie majored in computer programming at Hardbarger Junior College of Business. He’s the pastor for New Vision Christian Center. He’s also the CEO of Visionware Recordings and the Executive Director of Gaston Youth. Gaston Youth teaches kids to grow vegetables and appreciate the earth. Richie and his community face pollution from hog farms and wood pellets facilities. His mother worked to protect their community’s water 20 years ago. Richie is proud to follow in her footsteps.

Angela Hallowell

Angela Hallowell is the founder of Rootful Media, a documentary production company. She is the host of the podcasts Honey & Hustle and Creative Architects. She makes documentaries about the outdoors, health equity, social impact, and environmental justice. Her work centers Southern voices. Angela’s interviews explore creative entrepreneurship. She also helps storytellers and entrepreneurs build their audience and impact.

Joe Jackson

Joe has been in the natural resource management business for over 30 years. He has worked in both public and private sectors and is currently providing consultation services for several “green industry” organizations through his company, EcoGrounds Management Systems. For 18 years, Joe was a Facilities Management Director at Duke University’s 900 acre campus, which included the management of its grounds and sanitation program, recycling program, fleet operations, stone quarry production, as well as buildings and grounds at the school’s Marine Laboratory facility located in Beaufort, North Carolina. Joe has a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Wisconsin and a Masters in Environmental Management from Duke University.

Rebekah Miel

Rebekah Miel is the founder of Miel Creative, a design and communications studio. Her clients span the ecosystem of ESG. From soil health to community outreach and food systems policy to affordable housing. She has spent 20 years fundraising for nonprofits, movements, and disaster relief. Rebekah enjoys putting together puzzles. She loves hiking through the Smoky Mountains with her partner and 11-year-old twins. Her tattered copy of “50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth” sits on her office bookshelf. It’s a reminder of the teenager who started out on this path, trying to make sense of our changing planet.

Jonathan Phillips

Jonathan is the Director of the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke University, with an appointment at Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, & Sustainability. His work focuses on policy, regulatory, and economic issues related to rural electrification, grid de-carbonization, off-grid energy systems, and energy for productivity, especially in the Global South. He’s held a variety of roles in US Congress, including the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming as well as the House Natural Resources Committee. Jonathan volunteered with the Peace Corps in Mongolia. He received a bachelor’s degree from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Abigail Rome

Abi is a conservationist and environmental advocate who worked in the Eastern US and Latin America to establish and manage nature reserves, fight climate change, support healthy communities, and raise awareness about assaults on the environment. She founded an ecotourism business, consulting on projects and programs throughout the world and offering ecotours to sites in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. She serves on the Boards of American Rivers and As You Sow. She is active in funder networks addressing climate change and environmental protection. Abi is also a climate activist and proponent of racial justice, helping to overcome bias within environmental organizations. Abi loves bicycling, hiking, paddling, and pickleball!

Damie A. Sesay

Damie is an experienced attorney dedicated to serving her community. She currently serves as in-house counsel at GLG. Her vast legal experience has led to several speaking engagements and publications. Damie is passionate about Dogwood’s mission of advancing environmental justice and climate action. Damie obtained her BA in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma. She received her law degree from American University Washington College of Law. While in law school, she held a leadership role in several organizations. But she’s most proud of receiving the Pro Bono Honors Pledge Award for her commitment to community service.

Loretta A. Slater

Loretta is the Executive Director of The Whitney M. Slater Foundation, which she and her mother founded in 2012 in memory of her daughter. Inspired by Whitney’s dream of providing better educational opportunities for African American women especially around health, the foundation educates frontline communities and communities of color on environmental health issues, supports early detection of cancer, and encourages second medical opinions. Loretta also works closely with Reverend Leo Woodberry on multiple initiatives, is an active member of Southeast Climate & Energy Network, and was a key organizer of the Justice First Tour, a solidarity movement for justice issues that convened in more than 27 cities and 12 states throughout the Southeast US.

Amanda Starbuck

Amanda has extensive experience in campaigning, network building, and organizational change. She is the former program director for Greenpeace in South America. There Amanda set the strategic direction and priority campaigns across the region. She also led the global finance team at Rainforest Action Network. There she pressured the largest US and European banks to address their role in the climate crisis. She challenged them to reduce their financing of destructive fossil fuel extraction. She holds a MA in Environmental Policy and has lectured at Yale, Berkeley, and Leeds Universities. Now she works with the Sunrise Project.