Staff


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Angela Crowley-Koch (she/her)

Executive Director
‭(503) 867-3378‬

Angela Crowley-Koch has spent the last two decades in public policy and advocacy.  Previously the Legislative Director at Oregon Environmental Council, her work was instrumental in passing the Toxic-Free Kids Act, renewing the Clean Fuels Program and getting coal out of Oregon's electricity mix, among other bills. She worked for Senator Jeff Merkley as part of his Blue Wave Project in 2018, as a Legislative Assistant in D.C., and as the call room manager on his 2008 campaign.  While in D.C. she negotiated policy for Oregon in the Food Safety Modernization Act and the MAP-21 transportation package, including closing a loophole in the Buy America rules, among other policies. Angela previously served as Executive Director of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and is enjoying her second time in the role. Angela moved to Portland from the Chicago area in 2000 and now lives in North Portland.


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Dr. Michelle Maher (she/them)

Program Director, Workforce Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Dr. Michelle Maher is an international public speaker, faculty, activist, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) workshop facilitator. She is a Syracuse University Fellow and holds a Ph.D. in the Cultural Foundations of Education and a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies both from Syracuse University. Dr. Maher carries the torch of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in sustainable, social and environmental justice work in whatever she does. She has taught DEI coursework in the Graduate School of Education at Lewis & Clark College and Oregon State University, and in the Women's Program at Lane Community College. Michelle authored two resolutions that were approved by the National Congress of American Indians.


Jack Watson (he/him)

Policy and Regulatory Affairs Director

Jack grew up in Reno, Nevada, and received a dual B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy, and a minor in Renewable Energy from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2017. Jack developed an interest in energy law while clerking for the Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board during 2018. Subsequently, Jack was a Bowerman fellow with the Energy Law and Policy Project at the Environment and Natural Resources Law Center in Eugene, Oregon. He also worked as an extern for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division. In 2020, Jack received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Oregon School of Law and joined the Oregon State Bar in 2020.

After law school, Jack worked as a legal research assistant to the University of Oregon School of Law Dean, Marcilynn Burke, working on research for various federal environmental policies from the Department of the Interior. Then, Jack started working as a contract attorney for Sanger Law, primarily working on interconnection disputes between qualifying facilities and investor-owned utilities. 

In his spare time, Jack loves travelling, skiing, cooking, whitewater rafting, and playing tennis.


Kristi DeGroat (she/her)

Development Director

Kristi DeGroat was born and raised in West Linn, Oregon. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon in 2008. Throughout her career, she has worked with mainly non-profits focusing on community building, fundraising, and events. She loves meeting new people and building lasting relationships. She lives with her family in Tualatin, OR. Her hobbies are hiking, climbing, snowboarding, and playing all sorts of sports.


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