ISGP Staff
George H. Atkinson, Ph.D
Executive Director and Founder
Dr. Atkinson is an Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Optical Science at the University of Arizona. His professional career includes academic teaching, research, administration, roles as a corporate founder and executive, and public service at the federal level. He is former Head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Arizona, the founder of a laser sensor company serving the semiconductor industry, and Science and Technology Advisor (STAS) to U.S. Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice. In 2014, Dr. Atkinson was named president of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. Based on principles derived from his personal experiences, he launched the ISGP in 2008 as a new type of international forum in which credible experts provide governmental and societal leaders with the objective understanding of the science and technology that can be reasonably anticipated to help shape the increasingly global societies of the 21st century.
Jennifer Boice, M.B.A
Program Administrator
Ms. Boice worked for 25 years in the newspaper industry, primarily at the Tucson Citizen and briefly at USA Today. She was the Editor of the Tucson Citizen when it was closed in 2009. Additional appointments at the Tucson Citizen included Business News Editor, Editor of the Online Department, and Senior Editor. She also was a business columnist. Ms. Boice received her M.B.A. from the University of Arizona and graduated from Pomona College in California with a degree in economics.
Ciaran Fitzpatrick, B.S.
Senior Fellow, Program Manager
Mr. Fitzpatrick recently graduated with Honors from Eckerd College, where he received a B.S. in Biology, as well as a second major in International Relations & Global Affairs. At Eckerd, he was a Ford Apprentice Scholar, and investigated the efficacy of intercropping in agriculture. He also worked as a cell biology research assistant, studying C. elegans as model genetic organisms for Parkinson’s disease. In the Summer of 2018, he completed an internship with Heart to Heart International, an organization that provides health access, humanitarian development, and crisis relief locally and abroad. He hopes to become a biological researcher, using scientific communication to bridge the gap between research and policy. He takes special interest in the fields of food security and sustainability, global health, climate change, ecology, biodiversity, and genomics.
Euphemia Anderson, B.S.
Senior Fellow, Program Manager
Euphemia is a recent graduate of the College of Agricultural Life Science at The University of Vermont, where she received a B.S. in Environmental Studies with a focus on Sustainability. Her interests for sustainable development and the intersection of science and business ignited during her internship with the Sustainable Economies Program at Manomet, a non-profit headquartered in Massachusetts, where she worked directly with businesses and communities on practices that enhanced their economic viability and quality of life while also reducing their environmental footprint. She also held an internship with ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont, where she facilitated broad scale access to science education within the Burlington community. She holds special interest in climate change mitigation, renewable energy, and small business sustainability.
Katie Durante, B.A.
Senior Fellow
Katie is a recent graduate of Eckerd College, where she received a double B.A. in Biology, with a focus in Ecology, and Environmental Studies. Her interests in land management and environmental education stems from her internship at Boyd Hill, a nature preserve in Saint Petersburg, Florida. There she was able to effectively remove invasive species and become well-versed in plant identification. Katie’s interest in education was also formed through her co-presidency of the beekeeping club at Eckerd College, where she collaborated with the school to create more favorable conditions for the hive. She hopes to work at national parks through environmental education programs to spread knowledge of the importance of environmental sustainability.
Camelia Bou, M.S.
Senior Fellow
Camelia Bou graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor’s in International Affairs and Economics, and continued her studies in the Environmental Science and Policy Master’s Program. During her time at Northeastern University, she participated in Genocide and its Aftermath Dialogue of Civilizations Program, a faculty-led study focused on the effects of genocide in Greek society. As part of one of her graduate courses, she was able to attend COP 26 Glasgow virtually as an observer, where she had the opportunity to explore her interest in international climate policy. Camelia worked at the Rian Immigrant Center in the Learning Exchange Program as a program assistant, helping students and recent graduates from Ireland on the J-1 visa on their job search in the United States. She is fluent in English and Spanish, and is at a beginner level French. Camelia hopes to continue to work in the environmental justice and policy field.
Manuel de la Puerta, B.A.
Senior Fellow
Mr. de la Puerta graduated from Eckerd College in 2019 and received a B.A. in French Language as well as a second major in Biochemistry. During his time at Eckerd, he worked as a research assistant on two projects in the chemistry department; the synthesis of potential dopamine transporter inhibitors and the synthesis of novel tridentate ligands to model the active sites of zinc metalloproteases. Upon graduating from Eckerd, he worked for two years as an English teaching assistant in Les Mureaux, France through the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF). Mr. de la Puerta is interested in the fields of International Relations, Climate Change, and particularly the areas where the Natural Sciences and International Affairs converge. Mr. de la Puerta is fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Italian, and has reached intermediate-level fluency in Arabic. Mr. de la Puerta is currently based in Bologna, Italy where he is completing his master’s in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and interning at the Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development (CCSDD).
Mattia Anfosso Lembo
Fellow
Mr. Mattia Anfosso Lembo is a former employee of the Embassy of Italy in Accra, Ghana. He graduated with honors from the University of Trieste in 2019 where he earned a Master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Cooperation. He also holds a Master’s course in Diplomatic Studies from the Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI) based in Rome, Italy. During his time at the Embassy of Italy in Accra, Mattia had the chance to fully immerse himself in an international environment. Through daily analysis and the preparation of reports on West African politics and economy, he acquired a great knowledge on how African countries, with the help of Western and Asian countries, are working to overcome major problems that afflict their population such as terrorism, famine, drought. Mr. Anfosso Lembo ultimately hopes to work at the United Nations in order to foster positive relations with various audiences from different political and economic organizations as well as with national and international institutions. He is passionate about science, history, geopolitics, international relations and philosophy. Mr. Anfosso Lembo is fluent in Italian, English and has a good working knowledge of French.
Adam Greco
Fellow
Mr. Adam Greco is an undergraduate student at the University of Florida double majoring in International Studies and Political Science. He is also one of the founding members and former Vice President of the Florida John Quincy Adams Society, the university's largest club dedicated to International Relations. Mr. Greco studied with Sciences Po Paris in the Summer of 2022 focusing on European Union policy, and studies with them again during the Spring of 2023 with a more varied course load. In addition, He has academic publications with the Center for International Maritime Security and the Journal of Strategic Security. Mr. Greco holds a special passion for developmental economics, geopolitical affairs, and sustainability.
Ian Shotts
Fellow
Ian Shotts is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he earned a B.A. in International Relations and Diplomacy. One of Mr. Shotts’ most valuable professional experiences carried out during his time in academia was a research project in the Central Valley of Costa Rica where he measured the ecological and social impacts of climate change on local farmers. His dedication to investigation continued as he researched state and federal law in the private sector in addition to undertaking supplemental psychological research in academia. Along with research, he took particular interest in Model United Nations where he helped lead a team of fierce debaters around the country representing his university. His continued studies at the graduate level at La Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and former undergraduate institution cemented his passion for the social sciences, ultimately leading him to the ISGP. Mr. Shotts' interests primarily lie in the environment and climate change, European affairs, and political philosophy.
Rebecca Simison, B.A.
Fellow
Rebecca Simison is a graduate of the University at Albany with a B.A. in World History and American Politics. Rebecca has experience in political research, government, and advocacy work. Since graduating she has served both as a Legislative Aide in the New York State Assembly, as well as the Associate Vice President for Research and Policy at the New York State Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health. As a student, Rebecca also served as a Policy Research intern at the Rockefeller Institute of Government in Albany, NY where she conducted research and published a policy brief on the economic and structural barriers to higher education in the US. Rebecca has a passion for nuanced and well-researched policy that will improve people’s lives.
Haileyesus Brook, M.S.
Fellow
Haileyesus Brook is a graduate from Loughborough University in the UK where he earned his M.S. in Environmental Monitoring for Management. After graduating, he joined the development sector where he worked with government offices and donors on projects with a focus on livelihood improvement, watershed management, stakeholder coordination and engagement, and natural resources governance. In the past, he has participated in various research projects and has led the development of successful project proposals together with partners. Haileyesus enjoys working with communities and strives to see the coordination of policies and institutions for effective delivery of solutions to current global challenges.
Sophie Bartholomaus, B.A.
Fellow
Sophie Bartholomaus is a graduate of Roanoke College where she earned a B.A. in Public Health. Sophie has a strong desire to teach others and help communities which is rooted in her work with the Local Environmental Agriculture Program (LEAP), a nonprofit located in southwestern Virginia. Through her work with LEAP, she was able to inform the local public on the importance of local, sustainable farming along with bringing green spaces and community gardens to areas with food insecurity. Through working with various nonprofits, she has gained experience in program development, grant proposal writing, budgeting, and community outreach. As a student, she was able to not only gain these skills, but also expand on them to see what primary level implementations may be needed to promote positive impacts.
Kyaw "Joe" Khine
Fellow
Kyaw “Joe” Khine graduated from the University of Virginia, where he earned his Master’s degree in Public Policy. Upon graduating, he worked at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service as a research and policy analyst, providing demographics research and data analysis support to the Virginia Department of Education. Before joining ISGP, Joe worked remotely as a consultant for Thibi Consultancy. He worked on data journalism projects, provided research, and created data visualizations for media organizations and non-profits based in Southeast Asia. As a student, Joe has interned with WWF and Proximity Designs Social Enterprise in Myanmar, where he developed his passion for sustainability and economic development. He also holds a B.Sc. in Environmental Geosciences and is fluent in English and Burmese. Joe hopes to continue working on the intersection of sustainability, food security, and environmental policy in Southeast Asia.
Tory Brewster, B.A.
Fellow
Tory Brewster graduated from the University of Redlands, receiving a B.A. in Political Science, Public Policy, and Environmental Studies. Upon Graduating from the University of Redlands, she worked as an Americorp CivicSpark Fellow completing her first service year with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments and her second service year with the City of Beverly Hills. As a CivicSpark Fellow, she researched urban greening and created a volunteer program to map land management issues on conservation lands. Additionally, she assisted in drafting a plastic and polystyrene ban ordinance, supported local efforts to comply with a statewide food recovery initiative (SB1383), developed a local Green Business Program, and supported the development of a local Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. After completing two service years as a CivicSpark Fellow, she became a Climate Campaign Fellow for Pacific Environment. Tory supported the "Ship It Zero" Campaign and Pacific Environment's climate program legislative initiatives. Tory holds a special interest in environmental justice, sustainability, and climate mitigation.
Billy Fitzgerald-Lowry, B.S., M.S.
Adjunct Fellow
Billy Fitzgerald-Lowry is a PhD candidate at the University of Technology, Sydney, where he investigates how ocean acidification will affect silica deposition to diatom frustules. His background in biology (BSc) and oceanography (MSc) has stemmed an interest in both marine biological and terrestrial carbon sequestration.