| Michael Michaud – President | Michael Michaud – President | Michael is a Ph.D. student in the disaster science and management program. He is also a graduate research assistant with the Disaster Research Center. He has a diverse background with his B.S. degree in atmospheric science and M.Ed. in educational leadership and policy. From a young age he had a deep passion for weather. Over time, he began to better appreciate the impact weather has on society. He also spent seven years working within different aspect of higher education, specifically student affairs. Today, his research interests include severe weather warning systems, education initiates around severe weather and disasters, crises in higher education, and finding the best desserts ever made.<br> | mmichaud@udel.edu | https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/Student Association/Michael Michaud.png | | | |
| Pravesh Raghoo – Vice President | Pravesh Raghoo – Vice President | <p>Pravesh is a Ph.D. student and teaching assistant at the Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. He was a former Fulbright Scholar, graduate student and teaching assistant at the School of Public Policy, Oregon State University from 2015 to 2017. Pravesh was a research assistant at the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Mauritius. His research interests are climate change mitigation and adaptation, energy policy and economics, energy systems and power generation, especially in islander communities. Pravesh has worked as project manager for an EDULINK II funded project entitled “Lifelong Learning for Energy Security, Access and Efficiency in African and Pacific Small Island Developing States" in which he developed an online learning course on “Sustainable Energy for Small Island Developing States," organized several national and international conferences, and conducted research on energy transition of islands.<br></p> | pravesh@udel.edu | https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/Student Association/Pravesh Raghoo.jpg | | | |
| Kyungmin Lee – Secretary | Kyungmin Lee – Secretary | <p>Kyungmin Lee is a Ph.D. student in energy and environmental policy at the University of Delaware. Her research interests lie at the intersection of energy, climate change, urban development, and social sustainability. With a broad research interest covering areas of environmental planning in the international and regional contexts, she is interested in understanding dynamical interactions between humans and the environment. Her current research focuses on the impact of human behaviors and the built environment on energy use and heat in cities. With a specific interest in quantitative and spatial analysis methods, she has also developed an interest in machine learning, using big data analysis, image processing, and computer vision tools, for public policy. Prior to joining the Ph.D. program, she worked in the field of international environmental development and cooperation at the government research institute, governmental agency, and United Nations. She received a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Sungshin Women's University and a Master of City Planning in environmental studies from Seoul National University in South Korea.<br></p> | kmlee@udel.edu | https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/Student Association/kyungmin lee.jpg | | | |
| Melissa Jurist – DISA Representative | Melissa Jurist – DISA Representative | <p>Melissa Jurist is a second-year master's student in disaster science and management. She is focused on family preparedness, particularly for children and those living with disabilities. Her interests center upon designing cognitively appropriate preparedness content for children and supporting preparedness in families experiencing high-stress caregiving (e.g., raising a child with a disability). She is the current manager for UD K12 Engineering, designing and evaluating STEM content for children. Her previous positions include directing a state-wide evaluation of special education and being assistant director of research for Sesame Workshop.<br></p> | mjurist@udel.edu | https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/Student Association/melissa jurist.jpg | | | |
| Phillip McNeil | Phillip McNeil | Phillip McNeil is a second year master's student in the energy and environmental policy program. His interests include renewable energy, decentralized energy infrastructure, and climate adaptation policies in the US. He holds a B.S. in biology from the University of Mary Washington and is from Arden, Delaware.<br> | mcneilp@udel.edu | https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/Student Association/Phillip McNeil.png | | | |
| Ruth Decosse | Ruth Decosse | <p>Ruth is a second year master's student in the Masters in Public Administration program. She specializes in both public management and nonprofit management. She received her Bachelor's degrees in Africana Studies and Urban Studies from the University of Connecticut. Her interests lie in housing (affordable housing), criminal justice and education. She has interned for the Federal Finance Housing Agency in their Office of Fair Lending and has interned for a reentry center in Connecticut, her home state. Currently, Ruth is research assistant at the Institute for Public Administration in the Conflict Resolution program working on various projects and assignments related to education, mediation, and facilitation. <br></p> | rdecosse@udel.edu | https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/Student Association/Ruth Decosse (1).jpg | | | |
| Sam Watkins | Sam Watkins | <p>Sam is an Organizational and Community Leadership undergraduate student. Since joining the University of Delaware, she has been passionate in engaging with the Biden School and everything it has to offer. She works closely with her program director to be involved, and spends time as a student ambassador sharing her experiences and all of the great things she has done with her major at open houses and Decision Days. With a special interest in LGBTQ+ experiences, she works to be involved with the community and to improve the climate for marginalized communities at the University of Delaware. Her biggest goal is to make a positive impact in people’s lives. <br></p> | samwat@udel.edu | https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/Student Association/Sam Watkins (1).jpg | | | |
| Catherine Gilman | Catherine Gilman | <p>Catherine is a first year undergraduate student studying Energy and Environmental Policy. Her interests include renewable energy, environmental ethics, and climate change policy. <br></p> | cgilman@udel.edu | https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/Student Association/C Gilman (1).jpg | | | |
| Adam Andresen | Adam Andresen | <p>Adam Andresen is a Ph.D. student in the Disaster Science and Management program. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Sciences with a concentration in Meteorology and a minor in GIS/Emergency Management from California University of Pennsylvania. During this time, he completed internships with the American Red Cross and City of Pittsburgh Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security that helped shape his interests in natural hazards and vulnerability. He also holds a Master’s degree in Sustainability from Arizona State University. There, he worked on projects on heat adaptation strategies to climate change in the Phoenix metropolitan areas and assisted with outreach events regarding extreme heat education and safety. His interests include climate change adaptation, climate change policy and planning, infrastructure, vulnerability, and natural hazards.<br></p> | andresen@udel.edu | https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/Student Association/Andresen_Headshot (1).jpg | | | |
| Walker Schwartz | Walker Schwartz | Walker is a first year master's student in the Energy and Environmental Policy program. He has conducted research pertaining to the offshore wind where much of his interest lies. Walker's research interests also include energy transition, energy infrastructure, renewable energy and ESG. He graduated with a bachelors of science in Meteorology & Climatology from University of Delaware in 2020 where he conducted previous research analyzing which synoptic weather patterns result in major coastal flooding events in the Delmarva region. After graduating he obtained a graduate certificate in sustainable business and is from Moorestown, New Jersey.<br> | walkerhs@udel.edu | https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/Student Association/Walker Schwartz.jpg | | | |
| Calaia Jackson | Calaia Jackson | <p>Calaia S. Jackson is a first-year doctoral student in the Public Policy and Administration program at The Biden School of Public Policy and Administration where she is studying the relationship between education policy and health equity. Calaia is interested in the sociocultural and political context of education policy, the relationship between education policy and the social determinants of health, and local and state government and policy and management. Calaia studied political science and Spanish at the University of North Texas before completing a service year with AmeriCorps’ City Year San Antonio. She received her Master of Public Service Administration degree in public policy analysis from The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. Prior to attending the Biden School, Calaia worked for The American Heart Association as a research and project coordinator. She is a 2021-22 recipient of the UD University Graduate Scholar award and a first-generation scholar from Dallas, Texas. Calaia is an award-winning miniaturist and scale modeler, competitive poolplayer, and former Girl Scout. <br></p> | calaia@udel.edu | https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/Student Association/Calaia Jackson.jpg | | | |
