Crystal Stevens
Crystal Stevens co-owns Flourish Farmstead & Folk School, a Botanical Sanctuary and regenerative farm, with her husband and two children.
Crystal is a folk herbalist, author, multidisciplinary artist, and organic herb farmer. Crystal runs Herbalism Programs and Workshops through the Flourish Folk School/School of Botanicals. She teaches classes in herbalism, gardening, ethical wild foraging, wildcrafting, botanical dyeing, and earth skills at their farm in Godfrey, IL. Their family is passionate about earth stewardship and increasing biodiversity on their 10-acre farm in Godfrey. She is currently enrolled in Project Dragonfly, a master of Arts in Biology program through Miami University.
Nicholas Johnson
Dr. Nicholas Johnson is an assistant professor of sustainability and economics at Principia College, and chair of the Department of Sustainability. He holds a BS in physics and religion from Principia College, an MS in environmental policy from Michigan Tech, and a PhD in energy and mineral engineering from Penn State. His particular expertise is in electricity markets and the organizational behavior of the bodies that operate the electric grid in North America. Dr. Johnson recently had an AAAS [pronounced “triple A S”] Science and Technology Policy Fellowship at the U.S. Department of Energy where he served in the Office of Policy. He was awarded the 2023 Secretary of Energy’s Achievement Award for his work on the Inflation Reduction Act Energy Tax Credit Tiger Team and his work on the Pathways to Commercial Liftoff Report Team. Dr. Johnson also worked as a rugby coach for 15 years.
Mary Carol Ghislin
Mary Carol Ghislin spent decades in education and educational publishing as an English teacher in the Chicago suburbs. She was also a Senior Editor and Product Manager for McGraw Hill Education on the nation’s #1 reform elementary mathematics program, as well as for the Social Studies department. She is a published writer and has been a member of the Sierra Club for decades. She spent 8 years as a Girl Scout leader, earning the Outstanding Leader Award (nominated by the girls). She is pleased to take on communication needs for the Executive Committee, including regenerating the Newsletter.
Brent Masiero
While growing up in the Alton area Brent developed his love for the natural world. He studied Restoration Ecology and Horticulture at Lewis and Clark Community College and has since served in many roles in the Ecological and Arboriculture Industry. Currently he coordinates for the Great Rivers Prescribed Burn Association, owns and operates Mas Resource Management, and is a real estate agent for Elite Land and Auction Company.
Susan Jensen
Susan Jensen is a practicing attorney with a career spanning over 45 years with a BA in Government and a JD in Law. The majority of her career was spent as an Assistant State’s Attorney, including twelve years as First Assistant. She was a former trustee for the Village of Glen Carbon and participated on its Cool Cities committee for several years as a trustee advisor and now as a member of the Cool Cities committee. She is on the board of the League of Women Voters Edwardsville Area, having served as its president for two terms.
