Edson Severnini (he/him/his) is an Associate Professor of Economics (with tenure) and Core Faculty of the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society at Boston College, a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA). His research interests lie at the intersection of Energy and Environmental Economics, Economic History, and Labor Economics. His work examines the impacts of the expansion of energy access, pollution, and environmental policy on local development, health outcomes, and firm behavior since the age of electrification. He is also interested in the impacts of climate change on air pollution, electricity generation, infectious disease, and inequality, the effects of economic activity on environmental outcomes, and on racial issues in local labor markets and in higher education. Edson is a proud first-generation college student, immigrant, and queer.

Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis has worked in the non-profit field for over 25 years gaining expertise in non-profit management, strategic planning, program development, fundraising, communications coalition building and advocacy. As executive director of WHE, she leads the organization’s initiatives, focusing on prevention of environmental exposures that impact public health, with an emphasis on working in environmental justice areas. Ms. Naccarati-Chapkis’ experience includes working closely with communities; local, state and federal governments; non-profit organizations; foundations and corporations. She has spoken at national, state, and local conferences and has been featured in regional media outlets. Ms. Naccarati-Chapkis holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh’s Class of XXVIII. She serves on several non-profit and government boards and committees. She is the mom of three young adults and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family. Her dream for WHE is that children can live, learn and play in a world free of environmental harms.