Board of Directors
The Climate Consensus is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The founding board members have expertise in climate change science, nonprofit management, university administration, grant writing, and fundraising.
Austin Reed
President, Executive Committee Member
Austin Reed is a Ph.D. student in Climate Dynamics at George Mason University (GMU), studying observed changes in the contribution of Extratropical Cyclones (ETCs) to the poleward transport of energy in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as the role of Latent Heat Release in observed changes in track and intensity of ETCs, in the Atlantic and Pacific storm tracks. Growing up on Long Island, New York during the landfall of Superstorm Sandy, and observing the strength and damage from the storm's aftermath, he was inspired to understand the dynamics of the atmosphere. He earned his B.S. degree in Atmospheric Sciences from Stony Brook University, studying the relationship between Tropical Cyclones and extreme rainfall on Long Island. He got involved with The Climate Consensus upon his start at GMU, and became the graduate student representative starting in his second year. Now taking a key role into the restructuring of the organization, he hopes that this group can be a vehicle for effectively communicating the risks of climate change amongst scientists and the public.
Allison LaFleur, PhD
Vice President, Executive Committee Member
Allison received her PhD from Purdue University in 2023 where her research focused on observing signs of tornadogenesis with weather radar. She is now an environmental consultant with RoVolus LLC, a company that provides a comprehensive suite of environmental planning services for airport sponsors and aviation-related clients. She has been involved with the Climate Consensus since it started in 2014 and is now on the Board of Directors.
Andrew Westgate, PhD
Treasurer, Executive Committee Member
Andrew earned his B.S. degree in Atmospheric Sciences from Lyndon State College (now Vermont State University - Lyndon), where he first encountered The Climate Consensus. There, he became heavily active in the organization, attending many events and giving presentations about The Climate Consensus at several conferences and functions. Since then, he went to the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (UWM) to earn his M.S. and PhD in the same field, with a research focus in climate dynamics. At UWM, he formed a chapter of The Climate Consensus and served as the graduate student representative to the organization. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor at Vermont State University - Lyndon and serves as their faculty representative.
Carlisle Wishard, PhD
Secretary
Carlisle Wishard is a visiting lecturer in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of New Mexico. She is passionate about undergraduate education and strives to connect classroom learning to real-world student experiences. She also has extensive experience working in informal education and enjoys engaging with learners outside of the classroom. Her PhD work focused on telling the story of the formation and evolution of the early solar system through impact craters on planetary surfaces. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening, and cuddling her pets.
Dr. Debanjana Das is an interdisciplinary climate scientist and performing artist with a Ph.D. and M.S. in Atmospheric Science and a B.Sc. in Chemistry. She serves as a Research Scientist at Howard University, where she works with the NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology and the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. She is also an Affiliate Faculty member at George Mason University. Her work focuses on climate variability and extremes, deeply connected to climate and energy justice, science-policy dialogue, public engagement, and mentoring students across minority-serving institutions in both India and the United States.
Bridging science, art, and community, she advances inclusive climate solutions rooted in equity and care. Guided by her faith, she sees science as a sacred responsibility entrusted by God, grounded in love, humility, and service. Dr. Das is deeply committed to The Climate Consensus, with a focus on fundraising, workforce development, and building bridges between science, faith, and public understanding to help reduce political polarization and create a just, sustainable future for both people and the planet.
gideon alegado
As the Community Engagement and Outreach Manager at the American Meteorological Society (AMS), connecting people both with, and within, the weather, water, and climate enterprise is my jam. I love bringing science outside of research and the professional setting and bringing it into the broader community. In my role, I focus on fostering the growth and progress of the next generation through student and early-career programs, supporting AMS Local Chapters, and expanding our online engagement.
Before this, I spent 20 years in science education. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling. I’m an avid hiker, a bookworm, and a recovering surfer and snowboarder.
Ryan is a Ph.D. student in Atmospheric Science at the University of Oklahoma using deep learning and high resolution storm simulations to study how tornadoes form. Ryan earned his B.S. in Meteorology-Climatology from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL) in 2023 and his M.S. from the University of Oklahoma in Meteorology in 2025. At UNL, Ryan worked with the student group SustainUNL as the outreach coordinator and in a subcommittee to push for UNL to divest from fossil fuels. He joined The Climate Consensus in 2024 as a member of the Events and Outreach Committee to continue his involvement with climate outreach and activism. During his free time, Ryan plays soccer and table tennis and enjoys long-distance running.
Arianna Huff (she/her) is currently working at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network as their Grants Manager. Arianna has been interested in the environment, specifically climate, and sustainable food systems, since her undergraduate career at the University of Oklahoma, where she earned her B.S. in Environmental Sustainability. She received her Masters in Environmental Management from Duke University in 2023. Throughout her career, she has worked in nonprofit organizations ranging from small local organizations teaching children to garden, to a larger international development organization, but all dedicated to improving the environment. Outside of the office, she likes to play board games, play the piano, crochet, and be outdoors.
lillie farrell
Lillie is an air quality meteorologist for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. She has been involved with The Climate Consensus since she was an atmospheric science student at Vermont State University-Lyndon. At Lyndon, she found her passion for science communication. Her senior capstone research focused on communicating weather safety through song. She later won a student presentation award at the American Meteorological Society 6th Conference on Weather Warnings and Communication for her work. Lillie received a Master’s in Atmospheric Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she built an agent-based model to see how forecast credibility played a roll in decision making during snow events.
In her free time, Lillie likes playing ukulele, visiting her family pugs, going to the gym and exploring the beautiful state of Maine.