Executive Committee

Jenna Duffin, Chapter Chair

Jenna Duffin is a native Idahoan who loves the great outdoors and everything Idaho has to offer. She holds a PhD in Water Resources from the University of Idaho where she studied the effectiveness of river restoration practices and aquatic habitat changes due to water management practices and climate change. Currently, as an ecohydrologist, Jenna works to ensure the health of natural river systems. You can often find Jenna in her garden or on a trail looking at cool rocks. She is passionate about educating and taking action on environmental issues including clean energy, local food, and water resource issues. She has served on the Idaho Sierra Club Executive Committee for 6 years and strives to represent Idaho’s ambitious environmental community and its passion for environmental protection. Email Jenna
 

Mitch Long, Events Lead

Mitch retired from his work as an emergency physician several years ago and moved to Ketchum to be able to devote more time to backpacking and skiing.  He has had a love of the outdoors since he started canoeing Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness over 50 years ago, and since then, this love of outdoor activities has continued.  This inspired him to join the Sierra Club while in high school, and he has remained a member since then.  20 years ago he moved to Idaho to be able to take part in all of the wonderful outdoor activities that Idaho has to offer, and has truly loved it!  Now that he is living in the Wood River Valley, he has become involved the area’s Climate Action Coalition—a group that has been inspired by the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign.  Working with the Sierra Club, we helped move three cities in the area, as well as the county, to sign on to 100% clean electricity and energy.

Al Poplawsky, Vice Chair, Palouse Group Chair, Conservation Lead

Al has been a Research Scientist at the University of Idaho for 26 years studying the genetics of bacterial and viral plant pathogens.  He enjoys wilderness travel of any type, and has been a Board member of the Palouse Group of the Sierra Club for 22 years, a member of the Idaho Chapter Board for 16 years and Vice Chair of the Idaho Chapter for 10 years.  Al first became involved in environmental work in the early ‘90s working on some of the first timber sale appeals of the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho, and recent work has included efforts to preserve the deep aquifer which underlies the Palouse Region of the Inland Northwest, and save the last remnants of the Palouse Prairie which built the rich agricultural soils of the Palouse.

Crystal Rain, Political Lead

As former Program Associate for Conservation Voters for Idaho, Crystal has an intimate understanding of Idaho’s current environmental issues. While at CVI, she worked closely with Idaho Chapter staff to achieve shared goals connected to clean energy and climate change, public land protection, and sustainability throughout the state. Through that collaboration, she gained a deep appreciation for the mission and values of the Sierra Club. Now, as an urban planner for the City of Boise, she works to ensure that our built environments are part of the solutions, not the problems. Crystal also serves on the board of the Treasure Valley Cycling Alliance and the Steering Committee for the Canals Connect Communities Coalition to promote active transportation throughout the Treasure Valley.  If her name wasn’t a hint, she comes from a dedicated family of outdoor advocates and for as long as she can remember, she's felt the calling of environmentalism. Idaho has been home to her family for many generations and she will continue striving to ensure many more can live healthy lives enjoying the beautiful place we call our home.
 

Ian Schlater

Every year, Ian has experienced the same things: smoke from wildfires closes down sports and school, increasing summer and winter temperatures means less snowfall and snowpack, drought, flooding, heavy rain, and hail which reduces crop yield. Future generations shouldn't have to live like this. Ian has invoked widespread action against climate change through volunteering, teaching, and political involvement. His involvement in Climate Justice League (CJL), a youth climate advocacy group associated with the Sierra Club, has increased his leadership, organizational skills, and passion for environmental action. As Co-President of Moscow CJL, they were editing members of the City of Moscow's Climate Action Plan (CAP) and encouraged City Council to adopt the CAP, which they did on October 4th, 2022. As an executive committee member, Ian brings an engaged and involved North Idaho youth voice to the Sierra Club.

Olivia (Liv) Lampman, Executive Committee Coordinator

Born and raised in Idaho, Liv has always connected with the great outdoors. She enjoys backpacking, rock climbing, skiing, snowshoeing, and trail running with her dog. At the University of Idaho, she obtained a B.S. Natural Resource Conservation Science with Honors while working in the University's Experimental Forest, as a Research Technician. After graduation, she was a Wildland Firefighter, working for the State of Idaho and the Forest Service, and was able to experience much of the Idaho backcountry. After a few years of fighting wildfires, she moved back to Moscow to further her education and complete a 900 hour service-term through AmeriCorps. She currently is employed at a 501c Environmental Nonprofit, Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, where she works with farmers and government agencies to restore the local watersheds through Low-Tech Process Based Restoration Practices. Advocacy for Idaho’s natural resources began for Liv with “Save the South Fork Salmon”, a campaign fighting a mine based near the beautiful Frank Church Wilderness, and has only expanded from there. Over the past year, Liv has worked on the Ready For 100% Clean Energy Campaign, which has recently been successful in ensuring the City of Moscow’s efforts in forming a long-term Climate Action Plan. She is also greatly involved in Idaho Sierra Club’s social media, and the Save the Salmon effort.  Liv serves on the Executive Committee to further her involvement in the conservation of Idaho’s natural resources to ensure a sustainable future, and to increase community participation in local environmental issues. She stands strong for protection of Idaho’s Salmon, watersheds, and wilderness areas. She hopes to evoke change by making information accessible, relatable, and comprehensive to the general public through hands- on experiences, community discussions, and social media campaigns.

Eric Walsh, Tribal Outreach Advisor

Eric Walsh is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Idaho and a Climate Change Specialist with the Nez Perce Tribe. He earned a Ph.D. at the University of Idaho in Natural Resources, and currently studies climate change, land management, and species niche responses using interdisciplinary modeling platforms. He has collaborated with the Nez Perce Tribe on projects aimed at understanding agricultural land use and tribal resiliency. He has worked with the Rhode Island Audubon Society and co-managed their Osprey Monitoring Program; currently, he works with the Kootenai Environmental Alliance on their efforts to develop a community adaptation plan to address climate change.  Eric's work on agricultural issues in north-central Idaho seeks to find win-win solutions for agricultural producers, tribal governments, climate change, and the environment.  He believes through strong networks that transcend organizational structures, e.g., local and tribal governments, NGOs, and Universities, we can foster real change that is built on a foundation of applied science.