Volunteers & Staff

The Environment Program volunteers are comprised of community leaders with a high level of expertise in regional environmental issues who oversee grantmaking and donor engagement strategies to meet the most critical needs of San Diego’s environmental nonprofits, and creates partnerships and initiatives to support those strategies.

Environment Working Group Members

L. David Engel, PhD, Chair, University of Washington
Diane Coombs, Vice Chair, Community Volunteer
Allison Alberts, PhD, Zoological Society of San Diego Institute
for Conservation Research
Trish Butler, BRG Consulting, Inc.
Myrian Solis Coronel, REI – Recreational Equipment, Inc.
Vicki Estrada, Estrada Land Planning
Joaquin Fletcher, Pechanga Development Corporation
Conny Jamison, Community Leder
Michelle Jaramillo, The U.S. Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership
Peggy Lauer, WELL Network
Andrew Lissner, PhD, Science Applications International Corporation
Tom Oberbauer, AECOM
Illeana Ovalle, Cox Communications
Susan Randerson, Community Volunteer
Tomas Torres, US Environmental Protection Agency

Climate Advisory Committee Members

The work of the Climate Initiative to catalyze comprehensive local action on climate change in the San Diego region would not be possible without the thoughtful insights and contributions from our Climate Initiative Advisory Committees:

Lisa Bicker, Climate Initiative Chair
David Engel, Vice-Chair, University of Washington
Scott Anders, University of San Diego Energy Policy Initiative Center
Risa Baron, San Diego Gas and Electric
Lisa Briggs, Sempra Energy
Jason Foster, San Diego County Water Authority
Molly Gavin, Qualcomm
Judy Forrester, Bank of America
Jill Gravender, Seventh Generation Advisors
Ben Haddad, California Strategies, LLC
Andy Hamilton, San Diego County Air Pollution Control District
Brian Holland, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability
Debra Kelley, American Lung Association of California
Bob Leiter, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
Andrew McAllister, California Center for Sustainable Energy
Michael Meacham, City of Chula Vista
Devon Muto, County of San Diego
Patricia McCoy, Former Imperial Beach City Councilmember
Scott Peters, Port of San Diego
Linda Pratt, City of San Diego

To get involved, donate or learn more about The Foundation’s Environment Program, contact

Emily Dr. Emily Young, PhD
Senior Director, Environment Program
eyoung@sdfoundation.org
619-235-2300.

Marisa Quiroz Marisa Aurora Quiroz, MA
Manager, Environment Program
marisa@sdfoundation.org
619-235-2300.

Nicola Hedge, MPIA
Manager, Climate Initiative
nicola@sdfoundation.org
619-235-2300.

Karen Begin
Development Director
Karen@sdfoundation.org
619-235-2300.