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.
Brigitte Bazie, Special Projects
Brigitte Bazie works on special projects for NRPE including National Monuments and communication projects. Brigitte has worked on antiracism and inclusivity issues as part of a Social Justice Inclusive Leadership Institute at Montgomery College. She has worked as a student assistant at the Student Health and Wellness Center at Montgomery College and served as assistant coach on the Girls on the Run of Montgomery College.
Brigitte has earned top honors at Montgomery College and earned the Excellence in Philosophy Award in 2021. She is active in the United Methodist Church and in the Summer of 2022 participated in a summer long Ethnic Young Adult program with the General Board of Church and Society-United Methodist Church in Washington, DC. Brigitte is passionate about health, economic justice and how that connects to environmental justice and advocacy.
Brigitte Bazie works on special projects for NRPE including National Monuments and communication projects. Brigitte has worked on antiracism and inclusivity issues as part of a Social Justice Inclusive Leadership Institute at Montgomery College. She has worked as a student assistant at the Student Health and Wellness Center at Montgomery College and served as assistant coach on the Girls on the Run of Montgomery College.
Brigitte has earned top honors at Montgomery College and earned the Excellence in Philosophy Award in 2021. She is active in the United Methodist Church and in the Summer of 2022 participated in a summer long Ethnic Young Adult program with the General Board of Church and Society-United Methodist Church in Washington, DC. Brigitte is passionate about health, economic justice and how that connects to environmental justice and advocacy.
Catholic Advocate Program
Sarah Carter, Program Coordinator
Partners
Catholic Climate Covenant
Dan Misleh, Executive Director
Jose Aguto, Associate Director
Elana Gaona, Director of Communications
Anna Robertson, Director of Youth and Young Adult Mobilization
Robyn Webb-Williams, Director of Development
Paz Artaza-Regan, Program Manager
Emily Burke, Social Media Manager
Kathy Foley, Office Manager
Dan DiLeo, Consultant
Nancy LaVerda, Public Health Volunteer
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Executive Director
Creation Justice Ministries
Karyn Bigelow, Co-Executive Director
Avery Davis Lamb, Co-Executive Director
Helen Smith, Ocean-Climate Action Associate
Evangelical Environmental Network
Rev. Mitch Hescox, President and CEO
Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, Vice President
Tori Goebel, National Organizer and Spokesperson, YECA
Dr. Jessica Moerman, Senior Director for Science and Policy
Marqus Cole, Esq. Director of Church and Community Engagement
Kim Anderson, Representative for OH and PA
Grace Swanson, Director of Communications
Rev. Dave McCullough, Eastern PA Field Representative
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Ricardo Simmonds
Sarah Carter, Program Coordinator
Partners
Catholic Climate Covenant
Dan Misleh, Executive Director
Jose Aguto, Associate Director
Elana Gaona, Director of Communications
Anna Robertson, Director of Youth and Young Adult Mobilization
Robyn Webb-Williams, Director of Development
Paz Artaza-Regan, Program Manager
Emily Burke, Social Media Manager
Kathy Foley, Office Manager
Dan DiLeo, Consultant
Nancy LaVerda, Public Health Volunteer
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Executive Director
Creation Justice Ministries
Karyn Bigelow, Co-Executive Director
Avery Davis Lamb, Co-Executive Director
Helen Smith, Ocean-Climate Action Associate
Evangelical Environmental Network
Rev. Mitch Hescox, President and CEO
Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, Vice President
Tori Goebel, National Organizer and Spokesperson, YECA
Dr. Jessica Moerman, Senior Director for Science and Policy
Marqus Cole, Esq. Director of Church and Community Engagement
Kim Anderson, Representative for OH and PA
Grace Swanson, Director of Communications
Rev. Dave McCullough, Eastern PA Field Representative
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Ricardo Simmonds