What is Faces of Climate City?

This project was originally published from September 2020 to August 2021, with Mountain Xpress publishing the first and last of the series.

Faces of Climate City is a volunteer-led year-long project supported by the staff of The Collider. Faces’ purpose is to inform the greater Asheville community of the global climate work conducted in our city and to foster pride for living in Climate City™.

All portraits by Marc Pierre: Marc Pierre Photography

  • Science Translator - Melissa Booth, PhD

    Melissa Booth, Founder, The Science Communicator/ Adjunct Professor, Lenoir-Rhyne University Graduate Program in Sustainability Studies, Asheville, NC.

  • Climate Engagement - Jenny Parmar Dissen

    Jenny Parmar Dissen, Engagement and Partnerships North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies / North Carolina State University NOAA Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth Systems

  • Sustainable Investor - Peter Krull

    Pete Krull, Founder, CEO & Director of Investments, Earth Equity Advisors, Leader in Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Investing, Asheville, NC.

  • Policymaker for the Planet - Julie Mayfield

    Julie Mayfield, Co-Director MountainTrue and Senator, NC District 49

  • Climate Spirituality - Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri

    Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri, Director, Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina (MountainTrue), Associate Minister of Green Chalice

  • Climate Science - Otis B. Brown

    Otis B. Brown, Director North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies / North Carolina State University NOAA Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth Systems

  • Climate Advocate - Megan Odom

    Megan Odom, former Co-Director of The Collider, Asheville, North Carolina

  • Climate Security - Raymond Kiess

    Raymond Kiess, Chief Scientist, 14th Weather Squadron, Asheville, NC

  • Climate Educator - Sherry Wheat

    Sherry Wheat, Co-Ceo of Climate School Asheville. Climate School Asheville is a place for business leaders to discover ‘Climate-Smart’ opportunities.