Dr. Kartik Sheth, CEO and Founder of Empowered Earth Alliance, is a distinguished astrophysicist and strategic leader. His career reflects a deep commitment to public service and social justice, spanning influential roles in government, academia, and nonprofits.

At the White House, Dr. Sheth served as Program Examiner in the Office of Management and Budget, overseeing an $8.5 billion budget for the Department of Energy's Office of Science. He also held the position of Assistant Director for Research Infrastructures and Science Equity at the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, where he advanced initiatives in advanced manufacturing, physical science, and clean energy.

His NASA tenure included roles as Associate Chief Scientist and Program Scientist in the Astrophysics Division, managing missions like SphereX, Spitzer, SOFIA, and Webb. He also contributed to the Earth Science Division, assessing the socioeconomic benefits of Earth observations and promoting UN Sustainable Development Goals.

As CEO and Founder of Empowered Earth Alliance, Dr. Sheth leads a nonprofit dedicated to empowering local leaders to develop sustainable climate resilience solutions. His dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion earned him the NASA 2021 Medal. He founded the National Astronomy Consortium and the National International Exchange program, fostering STEM opportunities for underrepresented groups globally.

Originally from Mumbai, India, Dr. Sheth holds degrees from Grinnell College, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Maryland. He was a postdoctoral fellow and staff member at Caltech and a tenured astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. With over 180 refereed papers and 25,000+ citations, he is a respected thought leader. In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling, golfing, gardening, and cooking vegan dishes, and is actively involved in volunteer work, including sexual harassment and violence prevention.

Roger Boodoo, MD, is a distinguished radiologist, American Board Certified since 2011, and an Assistant Professor of Radiology at the Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences since 2014, reflecting his commitment to both medicine and national service. He further honed his expertise as a Clinical Informatics Fellow at the University of Illinois, Chicago, from 2016-2018, with a keen focus on the application of Blockchain to healthcare and information technology.

A true entrepreneur, Dr. Boodoo has consistently driven innovation in healthcare. He founded the "myRadiology app," a radiation dose tracking application, from 2011-2013, and "Diagnosis Protocol," an Artificial Intelligence platform for crowdsource image annotation, from 2017-2019. His entrepreneurial spirit continues at HOPPR, a cutting-edge AI developer platform dedicated to accelerating AI development in medical imaging. HOPPR provides secure infrastructure, extensive medical imaging datasets, and advanced fine-tuning tools to build and deploy AI models that meet the rigorous demands of healthcare, ultimately aiming to optimize radiologist workflows and improve patient care.

As a team member for Empowered Earth Alliance, Dr. Boodoo brings his unique blend of medical knowledge, technological acumen, and entrepreneurial drive to a non-profit organization focused on community improvement and climate resilience. His diverse background and innovative mindset make him a valuable asset in addressing critical global challenges.

Stephen Cauffman is a consultant specializing in community and infrastructure resilience, with a holistic approach considering the built environment, social and economic dimensions, and the natural environment. He retired from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in 2024, where he was Chief of the Resilience Services Branch, overseeing programs like the Regional Resiliency Assessment Program (RRAP) and developing security and resilience assessment products.

Before CISA, Mr. Cauffman spent 19 years at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), holding management positions and initiating resilience work in 2010. His work at NIST included managing the World Trade Center Investigation and leading studies on structural performance after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

His early career focused on research and development of composite structures for various applications. He holds a B.S. in Physics from George Mason University.

Felicia Chou is a distinguished leader in media and communications, with a rich background spanning news, television, radio, and government. She excels in strategic communications, public relations, marketing, social media, and project management. Her career includes over six years as a Spokesperson and Public Affairs Officer for NASA, where she held televised press conferences for missions including the Hubble Space telescope. 

Currently, Felicia is the Public Relations and Media Outreach Manager for Ramboll Americas. Prior, she was a Communications Manager at the Department of Energy and at the US Environmental Protection Agency. Before her government service, she worked as an Associate Producer at News 10 Now, a Time Warner Cable news station in Syracuse, NY.

Felicia holds an M.S. in Media Management from Syracuse University and a B.A. in Media and Communication Studies from Ursinus College. 

Patricia Nying'uro is a dedicated climate scientist and policy expert driven by a core belief that effective climate action must be rooted in rigorous science, ethical practice, and equitable policy. Her career is built at the critical intersection of research and real-world implementation, where she translates complex data into strategies for national resilience.

Patricia serves as Kenya’s Focal Point for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a role that places her at the heart of global climate science and diplomacy. Her leadership in championing evidence-based policy was recognized with a prestigious Head of State Commendation (HSC). Her recent scientific work focuses on documenting the tangible impacts of climate change on key sectors in Kenya and pioneering research into the ethics of adaptation research including by championing codesign of research, funding and development of interventions.

To the Empowered Earth Alliance, she brings a unique, dual-capacity as both a leading researcher and a high-level policy architect. Her passion lies in ensuring that global and local climate action is not only scientifically sound but also socially just, directly aligning with EEA's mission to empower equitable solutions.

Patricia's academic foundation includes a Master of Science in Climate Change and a BSc in Meteorology, complementing a lifelong connection to the environmental landscapes of Kenya that first inspired her commitment to safeguarding our shared planet.

Dr. Kim Scott is a visionary leader at the forefront of artificial intelligence and geospatial data, co-founding Astraea, Inc. in 2016. As VP of Data Science, she spearheads a team dedicated to building an integrated AI platform for big geospatial data, driving strategic roadmaps, and fostering client and partner engagement to identify critical business opportunities. With 16 years of expertise, Kim excels in leveraging data, machine learning, and scientific methodologies to solve complex problems.

Her career journey includes impactful roles as a data scientist at the UVA Medical Center and Elder Research, where she developed innovative data science solutions across diverse industries. Before her focus on Earth-bound challenges, Kim was a distinguished astrophysicist, utilizing multi-spectral data to unravel the 13-billion-year evolution of galaxies. This rich background in cosmic exploration now fuels her passion for present-day problems, which she finds equally captivating.

Kim holds a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Evansville and a Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her prior employers include the University of Virginia Medical Center, Elder Research, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, reflecting a career marked by intellectual curiosity and a commitment to scientific advancement.

Holly Collins Storck is a supervising land use and transportation planner at WSP, a large international planning and engineering consulting firm. She has more than 20 years of experience providing land use, transportation, and zoning policy consultant services to a wide variety of clients as an urban planner and project manager. She is an analyst of the transportation-land use interface and is well-versed in the application of transit-oriented development principles. Her broad-based background utilizes best practices of smart growth and sustainable design to develop strategies and policies that successfully maximize transportation investments. 

Engaging diverse stakeholders in the planning process is also an important element of Holly’s project work. Her diverse experience and broad skill base allow her to educate stakeholders, facilitate critical dialogue, and bring together decision makers to consider complex ideas, select appropriate policies to address issues, and implement actions. She translates complicated technical concepts into language that can be readily understood by everyone so they can comprehend the implications of issues and potential policy actions. Holly’s project portfolio includes feasibility studies, alternatives analyses, master plans, and strategic plans.

Holly earned a Masters of Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and a BA in Political Science from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa.  Holly grew up in the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts and currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Pamitha Weerasinghe is a science and earth system science policy expert with more than a decade of experience leading legislative advocacy, strategic policy development, and stakeholder engagement across federal, state, and private sectors. He proudly served on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with a primary focus on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), earth sciences at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and research at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In his capacity as Professional Staff, Pamitha was responsible for authorizing and evaluating programmatic efforts at these agencies as well as stewarding the legislative priorities of both the Committee ranking member and caucus, including the bi-partisan passage of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, a landmark piece of legislation supporting the critical functions of NOAA, the National Weather Service, and the robust weather enterprise.

After leaving Congress, Pamitha has worked for national non-profits leading government relations strategies at both state and federal levels. He has also leveraged his subject matter expertise to support business development efforts in the aerospace industry. He continues to work with non-governmental entities and trade associations providing strategic guidance and thought leadership on a variety of projects.

At Knowledge for a Competitive America, he continues to work at the intersection of science and policy, leading partnership engagement across industry sectors and directing the execution of advocacy and communications strategies designed to elevate the importance of federal science programs.

Theresa Duncan joined Wildlife Conservation Society in 2019 as the Director of Individual Giving, Western Region. With more than 15 years of experience in nonprofits, Theresa previously served as Director of Philanthropic Engagement at Burning Man Project and as Vice President of Development at the Aquarium of the Pacific. 

Theresa’s expertise includes nonprofit strategic planning, major gifts, capital campaigns, board development, foundation grants, corporate sponsorship, annual fund, donor communications and events, and planned giving. As a consultant, Theresa partnered with a colleague to teach an interactive online fundraising bootcamp for grassroots environmental organizations around the world. 

She earned an MBA and a BA in Philosophy from California State University, Long Beach. A pragmatic optimist and lifelong advocate for the environment and social justice, Theresa volunteers in the community, serves on the board of the Grinnell Art Museum, and is author of a book of poetry entitled "tell me more, but don't use any words." Theresa is currently based in San Francisco and has lived and worked previously in Southern California, Iowa, Mexico, and Illinois.

Lea has been with AREA 23, an FCB Health agency and part of the IPG network, for over 6 years, but working in the pharmaceutical marketing and communications industry for almost 20 years. She brings extensive account management, project management, brand development, and global communications to the team.

Over the course of her career, Lea has held roles in medical education, direct-to-physician advertising, and direct-to-patient marketing. Her most recent assignments included overseeing the prelaunch planning efforts for ViiV Healthcare’s HIV portfolio including Rukobia and cabotegravir. Additional category experience includes oncology (prostate cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, GIST, multiple myeloma, soft tissue sarcoma), immunology (rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis, gout), ophthalmology, and cancer supportive care.

Having worked on several blockbuster product launches such Avastin, Rituxan, and Humira, Lea is well-versed in the art of managing people and teams – both internally and cross-agency. She is quick to adapt to various environments, as proven in her global work assignments in the UK and Chinese markets. Learning the language of communications business is as important to Lea as delivering the results. She firmly believes that a calm, organized approach yields happier, and more productive people.

Lea earned her BA in Communications from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland. After 16 years in New York City, she relocated to Denver, Colorado. Regardless of where she lives, Lea considers the globe her home and tries to fulfill her passion for travel as often as possible.

Dr. Kartik Sheth, CEO and Founder of Empowered Earth Alliance, is a distinguished astrophysicist and strategic leader. His career reflects a deep commitment to public service and social justice, spanning influential roles in government, academia, and nonprofits.

At the White House, Dr. Sheth served as Program Examiner in the Office of Management and Budget, overseeing an $8.5 billion budget for the Department of Energy's Office of Science. He also held the position of Assistant Director for Research Infrastructures and Science Equity at the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, where he advanced initiatives in advanced manufacturing, physical science, and clean energy.

His NASA tenure included roles as Associate Chief Scientist and Program Scientist in the Astrophysics Division, managing missions like SphereX, Spitzer, SOFIA, and Webb. He also contributed to the Earth Science Division, assessing the socioeconomic benefits of Earth observations and promoting UN Sustainable Development Goals.

As CEO and Founder of Empowered Earth Alliance, Dr. Sheth leads a nonprofit dedicated to empowering local leaders to develop sustainable climate resilience solutions. His dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion earned him the NASA 2021 Medal. He founded the National Astronomy Consortium and the National International Exchange program, fostering STEM opportunities for underrepresented groups globally.

Originally from Mumbai, India, Dr. Sheth holds degrees from Grinnell College, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Maryland. He was a postdoctoral fellow and staff member at Caltech and a tenured astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. With over 180 refereed papers and 25,000+ citations, he is a respected thought leader. In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling, golfing, gardening, and cooking vegan dishes, and is actively involved in volunteer work, including sexual harassment and violence prevention.