Contact Us

Sierra Club Ohio Staff and Leadership

General Information or Inquiries

For specific inquiries, email the following:
Conservation: conservation@ohiosteeringcommittee.com
Equity - Social Justice: equity-justice@ohiosteeringcommittee.com
Fundraising: fundraising@ohiosteeringcommittee.com
Compliance Review: Ohio.Compliance.Review@ohiosteeringcommittee.com
For Media: Media@OhioSteeringCommittee.com
For any other Requests: ericka.copeland@sierraclub.org 

For Sierra Club Staff in Ohio:

Ericka Copeland

Director

Ericka Copeland is a compassionate, transformational, and mission-focused leader-driven leader who has spent her career serving diverse populations in the non-profit sector for more than 25 years and is particularly committed to public service. She has been responsible for providing vital services to communities with a higher risk of inequity throughout the Greater Cincinnati Region – with an emphasis on advocacy, equity, and justice. She is skilled in using strategic, long-term solutions in business transformation, fundraising and fiscal management, strategic planning, and partner and community engagement.

An advocate for the most vulnerable, Ericka has championed many successful initiatives that have a long-term impact on the overall health and social well-being of communities in the areas of education, health, social justice, fair housing, career and workforce development, and economic stability. She has studied Psychology and Education at Wilberforce and Xavier Universities.

Ericka is a former elected official and is the past two-term President of the Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education where she worked to address disproportionate rates of poverty and ensure equitable access to excellence for every child in every school.

In her personal time, she enjoys time with her family and is a member of organizations that support the betterment of women.

Email: ericka.copeland@sierraclub.org 

Phone: (513) 378-7589

Nathan Alley

Conservation Program Coordinator

A native of Cincinnati, Nathan spent more than a decade practicing environmental law in California and working with organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund and WildEarth Guardians before returning home in order to protect his family's farm from development. Since 2014, he has worked with Sierra Club Ohio to promote sustainable and equitable transportation alternatives, improve our state's building codes, reduce waste, advance clean energy, and prevent the petrochemical industry from transforming our Ohio River Basin into a hub of polluting activities.

Nathan earned a B.A. in Journalism and Religious Studies from Indiana University, where he was a Wells Scholar, and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law, where he was Editor-In-Chief of the NYU Environmental Law Journal. He spends most of his free time on a bicycle, in a kayak or hiking with his wife, two children and their dogs.

Email: nathan.alley@sierraclub.org

Phone: (513) 713-1134

Chad Stephens

Conservation Program Coordinator - Ready for 100 Cleveland                 

Chad Stephens is a Conservation Program Coordinator with Sierra Club Ohio who works for the Ready for 100 Campaign in Cleveland. Chad's organizing principles are rooted in the belief that anything is possible when it comes to our future. If each person does his or her fair share, we will make our planet a better place. Being solution-oriented, Chad believes in the resilience of the human race, and our ability to solve and implement solutions to the environmental problems that we have created. Chad is a graduate of Cleveland State University and has previously worked for Cleveland Neighborhood Progress. 

Email: chad.stephens@sierraclub.org

Phone: (216) 322-6998

FIELD STAFF:

Neil Waggoner

Federal Deputy Director for Energy Campaigns

Neil has been with the Sierra Club since 2012, when he started as an organizer with the Ohio Beyond Coal Campaign. In 2017, Neil became the Ohio Campaign Representative. Over the 10 years from 2012-2022, the Ohio Beyond Coal Campaign team retired or announced for retirement more coal capacity than any other state in the country, a fact Neil is always happy to discuss.

In 2022, Neil became the Federal Deputy Director for Energy Campaigns. In this role, Neil works in close partnership with Sierra Club's energy campaigns -- Beyond Coal, Clean Transportation for All, Building Electrification, Dirty Fuels, and others -- to help drive federal regulatory and legislative opportunities that support the Sierra Club's goal of transitioning the U.S. from a fossil-fuel based economy to a clean energy economy rooted in racial, gender, and economic justice. 

Neil is a Cleveland area native now living in Columbus with his wife, Jaclyn, whom is also a Sierra Club staffer, and their pup/frequent zoom bomber Winnie.

Email: neil.waggoner@sierraclub.org

Jocelyn L. Travis

Central Region Field Manager

Email: jocelyn.travis@sierraclub.org

Phone: (216) 926-6535

Shelly Corbin

Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign Representative

 My name is Shelly Corbin and I am Mnicoujou/Itapizco - Lakota & Kinichii’nii Dine’ - Navajo. I was born and raised in North Central South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. My future after marrying my partner led me to Ohio in the Spring of 2011. I enrolled in Kent State University part-time and accepted a full-time position working for the Department of Defense as an Electrical/Environmental Systems Craftsman. Discovering my passion for the environment, I started attending protests at The Ohio State University and found myself agreeing to volunteer for the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter. I sat as the Dirty Fuels Pipeline Committee Chair from September 2017 until September 2019. I have experience assisting local communities working to prevent substance misuse and promote mental health wellness through education, outreach, and community empowerment. I graduated Kent State University in May 2019 with a B.S in Public Health Education and Promotion. I transitioned from my previous civilian position as the Logistics Management Specialist for the Department of Defense into my new role here at the Sierra Club. I look forward to working and building relationships to accomplish the goals and vision of this campaign.

Molly Nichols

Beyond Coal Campaign Organizing Representative

Molly grew up in central PA and worked as a high school teacher and non-profit manager before attending graduate school in Pittsburgh, where she studied global literature and environmental movements. She was inspired to get involved in local environmental activism, and in response to massive transit cuts, she organized riders to successfully restore their bus service. Then in Tacoma, WA, she organized displaced tenants to secure city and statewide tenant protections. She is thrilled to apply her organizing skills to the Beyond Coal campaign in Ohio and is committed to building grassroots community power to fight for renewable energy and environmental justice.

Email: molly.nichols@sierraclub.org

Phone: 412-216-9659

Jaclyn Waggoner 

Advancement Specialist

Jaclyn provides administrative support to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Deputy Chief Advancement Officer, Major Gifts, and the Equity Implementation Team. Jaclyn joined the Sierra Club in August 2022. Prior
to joining the Sierra Club, Jaclyn acted as the Coordinator of Planning and Scheduling for the President at The Ohio State University. She previously worked in public service for the state of Ohio as a Senior Legislative Aide at the Ohio House of Representatives.

Jaclyn holds a bachelor of arts degree in both history and political science from Miami University. She lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband Neil and their dog Winnie.

Email: jaclyn.waggoner@sierraclub.org

Emma Hayes

Intern - Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO)

We are pleased to introduce our new Inspiring Connections Outdoors Intern (Ohio team), Emma Hayes.

Emma Hayes is thrilled to bring her experience in education and youth development to the Inspiring Connections Outdoors Ohio team as an intern. A lifelong learner with a deep love for the natural world, Emma is always curious to learn what makes people feel connected to their environment, and how programs such as Inspiring Connections Outdoors act as a bridge between nature and community. She describes herself as a high-impact human who enjoys a variety of hobbies and activities. In her free time, she can be found cycling, hiking on the local trails, or hanging out with her pet bearded dragon.

ICO is at the center of the Sierra Club's efforts to expand outdoor access for children, youth, and families through direct, local programming at the grassroots level. The goal of Sierra Club's Inspiring Connections Outdoors is to empower youth from communities with limited access to connect and reconnect to the outdoors, for the benefit of both. ICO is guided by Sierra Club's Outdoors for All Theory of Change: by naming and reducing barriers to entry and ensuring all people have opportunities to explore and enjoy nature, we will improve lives while inspiring and empowering a new generation of leaders to protect the environment.

Ohio Steering Committee

To reach an individual member of the committee:

Bob Shields - Conservation Chair: The conservation chair works with Sierra Club Ohio leaders and Strategic Planning Committee to develop a long-range vision of what Sierra the Club's conservation strategy and priorities should be over the next four years. Reports regularly on conservation committee activities to the Sierra Club Ohio vice-chair, external and Steering Committee.

Lisa Rooney - Strategic Planning Chair: Lisa has more than 30 years of professional experience as an attorney, manager, and research administrator in both public and private sectors.  Her management experience includes developing partnerships, working with new ventures, and facilitating consortia between industry, university, and government agencies to launch technologies resulting from university research.  Much of this work has been focused on green energy and environmental technologies. Lisa is semi-retired but continues as a partner with the Vortechs Group providing economic engagement and innovation recruiting services to universities and non-profit research organizations.  Volunteering has always been an important part of her life and in most recent years, she has been active within the Sierra Club as a member of the Grassroots Network Support Team and the Leader Recruitment Committee as well as participating with several Ohio Chapter teams.  Lisa has a passion for the outdoors and nature and spends much of her time hiking in Ohio and New Mexico among other places around the world.

Andrew Linebarger has dedicated his professional career to advancing sustainability. With a Master's degree in Sustainability Management and Policy from Penn State, Andrew brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. As a Data Analyst at The Recycling Partnership, he has been instrumental in addressing systemic barriers to recycling access across the United States. Andrew's ability to analyze large sets of data allows him to identify and tackle critical challenges, making him a vital asset in our efforts to promote sustainable practices. Beyond his professional pursuits, Andrew's passion for athletics as a track and field coach demonstrates his commitment to holistic well-being. His presence in the greater Cleveland area, alongside his wife Claire and their beloved dog Daisy, brings a strong local perspective to our committee.

Gwen Short's journey towards environmental advocacy began in Dayton, where she explored the beauty of the Miami Valley and developed a profound sense of stewardship. As an outdoor educator, Gwen inspired others to appreciate and care for our natural world while actively breaking down barriers to outdoor recreation. Her transition from education to the legal field demonstrates her commitment to social justice. As a social justice lawyer, Gwen brings a unique perspective to our committee, advocating for Ohioans and the environment. Her passion for seeing Ohio thrive in every aspect aligns perfectly with our vision, and her legal expertise will be instrumental in addressing environmental challenges and supporting the communities we serve.

Lakshmi Prasad is a community health and international development professional with a strong commitment to gender equity and the intersection of climate change and health. Her experience in building better health systems and programs resonates deeply with our mission. Lakshmi's passion for understanding how climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, particularly women, aligns perfectly with our commitment to environmental justice. Her expertise and dedication will help us drive positive change within Ohio's communities and promote sustainable practices that prioritize the well-being of all.