Board of Directors

Gabrielle Brown

President, Executive Committee Member

Gabrielle Brown is a graduate student at The University of Oklahoma in pursuit of a master’s degree in meteorology. She received her B.S. in atmospheric sciences from Northern Vermont University. In 2019, she joined The Climate Consensus as a student member (i.e., “Climate Champion”). Shortly after, her passion for bringing awareness to climate change was ignited. In 2021, she sought out opportunities to get further involved in the organization leading to a position as a student leader and representative for her university. This organization prompted her goals of conducting research on the impacts of climate change, and, more specifically, improving how this research is communicated. Currently, she is excited to continue her involvement with The Climate Consensus as a member of the board of directors to help motivate others to conduct climate outreach further establishing climate change awareness.

Andrew Westgate, PhD

Vice President, 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. 

Janel Hanrahan, PhD

Treasurer

Dr. Hanrahan is a Research Environmental Scientist at RTI International where she is a member of the Center for Water Resources Group. She researches hydroclimatological processes and is involved with a project that estimates precipitation frequency data which are necessary for infrastructure design in a warming world. She spent 11 years in academia and was most recently an Associate Professor and Chair of the Atmospheric Sciences Department at Northern Vermont University-Lyndon (now Vermont State University). She earned her B.A. in mathematics from Alverno College, and a M.S. and PhD in mathematics with a focus in atmospheric sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She completed a postdoctoral research appointment at the University of Alberta where she did climate modeling to understand how human-caused climate change influences extreme weather. As a college professor, she taught several classes, including thermodynamics, atmospheric dynamics, and various introductory and advanced climatology courses. With the assistance of two students, Dr. Hanrahan founded The Climate Consensus in 2014 and she is now excited about the opportunity to build capacity for this work on a broader scale.

Gerard Falco

Secretary, Executive Committee Member

Gerard A. Falco received his Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law and has been a practicing litigation attorney in the New York City Metro Area for many years. He is a passionate climate change advocate. He previously served as Board Chair of New York State Interfaith Power & Light (NYIPL). Currently he serves as chairperson of the Metropolitan New York Synod’s (ELCA) Environmental Stewardship Committee. He also leads the green team at  his local parish. During his tenure with these organizations he has helped lead a nationwide fossil fuel divestment effort, recruited and organized constituents for major climate events such as  national climate marches and lead the effort of his local church community to become one of the first churches in NY State to install solar power. During his free time Mr. Falco is an avid sculler, sailor and woodworker.

Allison LaFleur, PhD

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. 

Austin Reed

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 and Future Changes in ETCs. 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.

Carlisle Wishard, PhD

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.