Staff
Cassandra Carmichael, Executive Director
Prior to joining NRPE in September 2013, Cassandra was the Washington Office and Eco-Justice Program director for the National Council of Churches USA. In her role at the NCC, she oversaw the Council's advocacy and eco-justice work and worked to set and implement strategic priorities in partnership with various stakeholders. Previously, she was director of faith-based outreach at the Center for a New American Dream, where she worked to encourage communities of faith to take action to protect God's Creation. She received her graduate degree in environmental education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Ms. Carmichael has delivered numerous regional and national conference plenary presentations and written various articles and essays on faith and environment. Her articles have appeared in publications such as Race, Poverty and the Environment; Holy Ground; and Heartstone. Ms. Carmichael is a senior fellow in the Environmental Leadership Program and a previous board member on the Chesapeake Bay Alliance, and she has also served on the White House Faith-Based and Neighborhood Advisory Council Task Force on Climate and Environment and the Advisory Council of the Green Bible. Cassandra can be contacted at Cassandra @ nrpe.org
Helen Smith, Program Associate
Helen is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a degree in International Relations. She has worked with the National Religious Partnership for the Environment since 2019. Helen was the preliminary editor for Journey to Transformation 2020 Lenten Study by Bishop Sharma D. Lewis. She has been an international volunteer building churches, schools and clinics. Helen has been active in the United Methodist Church throughout her life, serving as Chair of Trustees and a member of the Finance and Administrative Council, the Rappahannock River District Board of Connectional Ministries, and the Virginia Conference Communications Board.
Helen grew up exploring nature & learning how to garden, recycle and compost with her parents. She has a deep passion and reverence for God's creation and is elated that she gets to spend her time with the National Religious Partnership for the Environment sharing that passion with others and advocating for this incredible earth. Helen enjoys being out in nature, growing her many houseplants, and reading spy novels.
Helen is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a degree in International Relations. She has worked with the National Religious Partnership for the Environment since 2019. Helen was the preliminary editor for Journey to Transformation 2020 Lenten Study by Bishop Sharma D. Lewis. She has been an international volunteer building churches, schools and clinics. Helen has been active in the United Methodist Church throughout her life, serving as Chair of Trustees and a member of the Finance and Administrative Council, the Rappahannock River District Board of Connectional Ministries, and the Virginia Conference Communications Board.
Helen grew up exploring nature & learning how to garden, recycle and compost with her parents. She has a deep passion and reverence for God's creation and is elated that she gets to spend her time with the National Religious Partnership for the Environment sharing that passion with others and advocating for this incredible earth. Helen enjoys being out in nature, growing her many houseplants, and reading spy novels.
Rev. Michael McClain, National Outreach Coordinator
On behalf of NRPE, Rev. McClain works with denominational leaders and congregations across the US to help educate them on environmental stewardship, climate change and clean energy. Rev. Michael McClain, a native of Statesville, NC, has been pastor of Historic Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Catawba, SC. He has held several leadership positions in his ministerial service including Treasurer of the Sandy River Baptist Association- Upper Division, Executive Board Member of the Baptist Educational and missionary Convention of South Carolina and Deputy Director General of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. Rev. McClain is also the founder and president of Green Bulb Lighting of Columbia, SC, a green energy and lighting efficiency company that specializes in green technology installations including solar and wind generation.
On behalf of NRPE, Rev. McClain works with denominational leaders and congregations across the US to help educate them on environmental stewardship, climate change and clean energy. Rev. Michael McClain, a native of Statesville, NC, has been pastor of Historic Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Catawba, SC. He has held several leadership positions in his ministerial service including Treasurer of the Sandy River Baptist Association- Upper Division, Executive Board Member of the Baptist Educational and missionary Convention of South Carolina and Deputy Director General of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. Rev. McClain is also the founder and president of Green Bulb Lighting of Columbia, SC, a green energy and lighting efficiency company that specializes in green technology installations including solar and wind generation.
Advocate Associates
Partners
Catholic Climate Covenant
Dan Misleh, Executive Director
Jose Aguto, Associate Director
Paz Artaza-Regan, Program Manager
Carolyn Thele, Director of Operations
Dan DiLeo, Project Manager
Robert Christian, Social Media Manager
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Executive Director
Creation Justice Ministries
Amanda Robinson, Fundraising and Operations Manager
Annika Harley, Policy and Outreach Associate
Avery Davis Lamb, Resilience Coordinator
Helen Smith, Ocean-Climate Action Associate
Dr. Jim David, Volunteer
Evangelical Environmental Network
Rev. Mitch Hescox, President and CEO
Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, National Organizer and Spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action
Tori Goebel, Communications Director
Dr. Jessica Moerman, Senior Director for Science and Policy
Marqus Cole, Esq. Director of Church and Community Engagement
Kim Anderson, Representative for Eastern OH and Western PA
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Ricardo Simmonds
Partners
Catholic Climate Covenant
Dan Misleh, Executive Director
Jose Aguto, Associate Director
Paz Artaza-Regan, Program Manager
Carolyn Thele, Director of Operations
Dan DiLeo, Project Manager
Robert Christian, Social Media Manager
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Executive Director
Creation Justice Ministries
Amanda Robinson, Fundraising and Operations Manager
Annika Harley, Policy and Outreach Associate
Avery Davis Lamb, Resilience Coordinator
Helen Smith, Ocean-Climate Action Associate
Dr. Jim David, Volunteer
Evangelical Environmental Network
Rev. Mitch Hescox, President and CEO
Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, National Organizer and Spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action
Tori Goebel, Communications Director
Dr. Jessica Moerman, Senior Director for Science and Policy
Marqus Cole, Esq. Director of Church and Community Engagement
Kim Anderson, Representative for Eastern OH and Western PA
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Ricardo Simmonds