I am the founding executive director of Catholic Climate Covenant. What a privilege it is to work everyday with our partners and supporters to share the good news of Catholic teaching on care for creation. Before this job, I spent 11 years in the department of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and three years in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's social action office. After graduating from Xavier University in Cincinnati, I joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, where I met my wife Susie (also a volunteer). I received an M.A in theology from the Franciscans in Berkeley, CA in 1989. Susie and I have three children: Benjamin, Anna, and Zachary.
Associate Director
I feel blessed to participate in the Covenant’s mission to advance the Catholic Church’s call for us to love and care for God’s creation, especially for our most vulnerable neighbors. I seek to affirm the moral, spiritual, and non-partisan foundations of this call, so that we can build bridges across divides and generate durable, compassionate and cooperative solutions to the climate crisis.
Prior to the Covenant, I have been blessed to serve with the Friends Committee on National Legislation, the National Congress of American Indians, EPA’s American Indian Environmental Office, and the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division. I am a graduate of Brown University and Villanova Law School, and a catechist at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, Virginia.
Program Manager
I have a deep passion for justice and for the protection of God's creation, and have been blessed with the opportunity to work for 17 years on environmental and human rights issues within the faith community. Originally from Chile, I see myself as a "citizen of the world" with a strong commitment to global, sustainable development. I have an M.A. in International Development from American University, and completed the course work for an M.A. in Community and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia. Still adjusting to the empty-nest, I fill any "spare" time with tutoring, hiking, knitting, theological and political conversation, long walks with my husband and "Pepper the Pup," and cooking for friends and family.
Director of Operations
My love of God’s creation comes from my roots in West Virginia, where I grew up encountering God in nature. I feel fortunate for the opportunity to channel this love into my work at Catholic Climate Covenant. As the Director of Operations for the Covenant, I make sure the trains run on time and support the Executive Director and the staff in whatever ways they need. Before working at Catholic Climate Covenant, I taught elementary school and worked at André House of Hospitality, a Catholic ministry for the homeless in Phoenix, Arizona. I earned my B.A. in English from the University of Notre Dame while working as a writing tutor at the University Writing Center.
Consultant
I have served as a consultant to Catholic Climate Covenant since 2009. During that time, I have contributed to the Covenant's public witness and advocacy, media/communications outreach and college/university engagement. In 2017, I became assistant professor and director of the Justice and Peace Studies Program at Creighton University. My research focuses on Catholic Social Teaching and climate change, and I am the editor of All Creation Is Connected: Voices in Response to Pope Francis's Encyclical on Ecology (Anselm Academic, 2018).
Social Media Manager
I am the editor of Millennial, an online periodical by millennial Catholics; a PhD candidate in American Politics at Catholic University; a graduate fellow at the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies; and a father of three. I have a BA from the University of the Pacific in American Politics, an MA in International Security from the University of Leicester (UK), and an MA in American Politics from Catholic University. Care for creation is integral to my commitment to human rights and social justice, which inspires my social media work at the Catholic Climate Covenant. I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids, playing sports, reading, and watching sports, especially the Golden State Warriors.
Administrative Coordinator
With Catholic teachings ingrained in my roots and as a person who loves being in tune with nature, I find it a privilege to work with fellow Catholics to advocate for creation. In my role as Administrative Coordinator, I work with the Director of Operations to support the staff in administrative tasks. With my sharp knowledge of graphic and web design, I support the Covenant in creating digital and print material for their events, advocacy outreach, and social media accounts. I earned my B.A. in Communication and Studio Arts from the Loyola University Maryland while working as a Gallery Assistant at the Julio Fine Art Gallery.