The Dogwood Alliance Board of Directors is full of visionary leaders. They hail from diverse backgrounds and experiences. They share a common commitment to the future of Southern forests and communities. Our Board members have worked in healthcare, climate justice, forestry, community organizing, and nonprofit management. And that’s just to name a few! We vet and select new members annually. Members commit to a minimum of two year terms and rotate leadership responsibilities. Their unique talents and insights help us create a more equitable and sustainable future.

Florence Anoruo

Dr. Florence Anoruo is an Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Science, a UNCF/Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Mentor, and Faculty Residency Program fellow. She became acquainted with Dogwood Alliance through her volunteer work with Wood Pellets NC (Southern Forests Conservation Coalition). She is known for her exemplary teaching, research, mentoring, and leadership in many university capacity building initiatives, especially in the areas of plant and environmental sciences, sustainability, wellness and nutrition. She received the National Society of Leadership and Success Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring award in 2015 and 2016.

John “The Baker” Beal

John grew up in rural New England, wandering the woods, climbing trees, tracking animals, and spying on copperheads sunning on rocks. In his first activist experiences with the Civil Rights and Peace movements, he saw the destructive forces of poverty and racism while learning there is tremendous power in joining together to take action. People are not powerless to affect major change. He later discovered Dogwood Alliance hosting a booth at a music festival in Atlanta. For many years, John has organized events supporting the work of Dogwood. John is returning to the board, and he’s excited to be working with the “brilliant staff and dynamic board.”

Jacob Blass

Jacob Blass is the president and co-principal of Ethical Advocate, a leading edge ethics and compliance company. Initially a psychologist, he subsequently led four healthcare organizations for 23 years. Jacob specializes in strategy development, management, and executive mentoring. He has worked nationally and internationally with organizations and governments, facilitating processes he developed on the integration of deeply embedded ethical cultures, values, purpose, and goals. Thousands of people have attended his seminars. Jacob has served on numerous boards, including an international hunger-relief organization, a national think-tank devoted to end of life care, and a planning committee for the city of Boulder, CO.

Dr. Thomas RaShad Easley

RaShad is the former Director of Community for Diversity at NC State School of Natural Resources and is now the Assistant Dean of Diversity at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. He brings a quantitative and qualitative understanding of diversity to Dogwood’s Board. He’s a forester, a professor, and a hip hop artist. He is skilled at spontaneous performance, talent development, and is great with people and working on teams. Being a diversity professional, he is adept at communicating cross-culturally and advocating for marginalized populations.

Sami Grover

Sami is an environmental writer, branding specialist, and author of We’re All Climate Hypocrites Now: How Embracing Our Limitations Can Unlock the Power of a Movement. He’s written about everything from composting to e-bikes to international climate politics. Sami is active in the sphere of good-for-the-world business. He’s developed branding projects for clients, including Burt’s Bees, Rainforest Action Network, and Jada Pinkett Smith. Sami currently serves as brand development manager for The Redwoods Group. He lives in Durham, NC, has three compost bins, and also still occasionally eats steak.

Richie Harding

Richie majored in computer programming at Hardbarger Junior College of Business. He’s the pastor for New Vision Christian Center. He’s also the CEO of Visionware Recordings and the Executive Director of Gaston Youth. Gaston Youth teaches kids to grow vegetables and appreciate the earth. Richie and his community face pollution from hog farms and wood pellets facilities. His mother worked to protect their community’s water 20 years ago. Richie is proud to follow in her footsteps.

Joe Jackson

Joe has been in the natural resource management business for over 30 years. He has worked in both public and private sectors and is currently providing consultation services for several “green industry” organizations through his company, EcoGrounds Management Systems. For 18 years, Joe was a Facilities Management Director at Duke University’s 900 acre campus, which included the management of its grounds and sanitation program, recycling program, fleet operations, stone quarry production, as well as buildings and grounds at the school’s Marine Laboratory facility located in Beaufort, North Carolina. Joe has a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Wisconsin and a Masters in Environmental Management from Duke University.

Judy Kinney

Judy is the Executive Director at the Durham Center for Senior Life in Durham, NC. She’s a community builder and a nonprofit executive, who loves to rouse, rally, and connect people for good. She creates connections within the Durham area and the LGBTQ community. She likes raising money, fostering a movement, having a good time in the process. She also plays well in the proverbial sandbox and in the forest.

Jonathan Phillips

Jonathan is the Director of the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke University, with an appointment at Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, & Sustainability. His work focuses on policy, regulatory, and economic issues related to rural electrification, grid de-carbonization, off-grid energy systems, and energy for productivity, especially in the Global South. He’s held a variety of roles in US Congress, including the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming as well as the House Natural Resources Committee. Jonathan volunteered with the Peace Corps in Mongolia. He received a bachelor’s degree from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Abigail Rome

Abi is a conservationist and environmental advocate who worked in the Eastern US and Latin America to establish and manage nature reserves, fight climate change, support healthy communities, and raise awareness about assaults on the environment. She founded an ecotourism business, consulting on projects and programs throughout the world and offering ecotours to sites in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. She serves on the Boards of American Rivers and As You Sow. She is active in funder networks addressing climate change and environmental protection. Abi is also a climate activist and proponent of racial justice, helping to overcome bias within environmental organizations. Abi loves bicycling, hiking, paddling, and pickleball!

Damie A. Sesay

Damie is an experienced attorney dedicated to serving her community. She currently serves as in-house counsel at GLG. Her vast legal experience has led to several speaking engagements and publications. Damie is passionate about Dogwood’s mission of advancing environmental justice and climate action. Damie obtained her BA in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma. She received her law degree from American University Washington College of Law. While in law school, she held a leadership role in several organizations. But she’s most proud of receiving the Pro Bono Honors Pledge Award for her commitment to community service.

Loretta A. Slater

Loretta is the Executive Director of The Whitney M. Slater Foundation, which she and her mother founded in 2012 in memory of her daughter. Inspired by Whitney’s dream of providing better educational opportunities for African American women especially around health, the foundation educates frontline communities and communities of color on environmental health issues, supports early detection of cancer, and encourages second medical opinions. Loretta also works closely with Reverend Leo Woodberry on multiple initiatives, is an active member of Southeast Climate & Energy Network, and was a key organizer of the Justice First Tour, a solidarity movement for justice issues that convened in more than 27 cities and 12 states throughout the Southeast US.

Amanda Starbuck

Amanda has extensive experience in campaigning, network building, and organizational change. She is the former program director for Greenpeace in South America. There Amanda set the strategic direction and priority campaigns across the region. She also led the global finance team at Rainforest Action Network. There she pressured the largest US and European banks to address their role in the climate crisis. She challenged them to reduce their financing of destructive fossil fuel extraction. She holds a MA in Environmental Policy and has lectured at Yale, Berkeley, and Leeds Universities. Now she works with the Sunrise Project.

Reverend Leo Woodberry

Reverend Woodberry has a long history as an activist and community organizer. He is Executive Director of New Alpha Development Corporation and serves as the pastor of Kingdom Living Temple in Florence, South Carolina. Throughout his work, Reverend Woodberry has exhibited remarkable leadership in combatting racism and promoting justice. He also works hard to advance the understanding of environmental racism and climate justice.