The Board of Directors
Matt Dernoga
Campaign Director
Matt Dernoga is a Senior Government major at UMD. He has been a member of UMD for Clean Energy since the spring of 2007 and is currently serving his second semester as Campaign Director. Besides activism and hounding politicians, he enjoys running marathons, playing poker, watching sports, movies, and writing. One fun fact is that he's training for the Boston Marathon next April where he's trying to break 3 hours.
Matt was most inspired to take environmentally conscious action when he worked on a research project his senior year testing the fuel economy a vehicle gets running on biodiesel versus regular diesel. One of his proudest accomplishments was coordinating a Sierra Club political campaign to help elect a pro-environment Congressman in a district he was expected to lose by 15 points.
Matt was most inspired to take environmentally conscious action when he worked on a research project his senior year testing the fuel economy a vehicle gets running on biodiesel versus regular diesel. One of his proudest accomplishments was coordinating a Sierra Club political campaign to help elect a pro-environment Congressman in a district he was expected to lose by 15 points.
Lisa Piccinini
Media Director
Lisa Piccinini is a Junior Environmental Science and Policy major at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is the Media Director for UMD for Clean Energy this spring semester. In her free time throughout the semester she enjoys yoga, reading, and writing. Her interest in environmental activism began in a geology class which taught her of the devastation environmental disasters can create.
Eric Marshall-Main
Membership Director
Laura Calabrese
Organizational Director
Laura Calabrese is a Senior Sociology major who is serving her third semester as UMD for Clean Energy's Organizational Director. Her interest in environmental activism began in middle school when her Girl Scout troop leader introduced her to the many problems caused by ground water runoff into the Chesapeake Bay. It is her hope that by creating a culture of sustainability and transitioning to a clean energy economy, we can protect and improve the quality of life for people everywhere.
Outside of her work as a student and climate activist, Laura procrastinates by cooking, having long philosophical conversations, and meticulously organizing her belongings and the belongings of others.
Outside of her work as a student and climate activist, Laura procrastinates by cooking, having long philosophical conversations, and meticulously organizing her belongings and the belongings of others.
Brian Lentz
Outreach Director
Brian Lentz is a Junior Environmental Science and Policy major who is the Outreach Director for UMD for Clean Energy. He is also an Outlying Commuter Legislator for the Student Government Association and a member of the Student Sustainability Committee. During his time at UMD he is working hard to improve biking infrastructure and promote bike sharing in College Park.
Hilary Staver
Political Liaison
Hilary Staver is a Sophomore Environmental Science and Policy major at the University of Maryland. She is currently serving ther second semester as UMD for Clean Energy's political liaison, which involves maintaining the group's correspondence with elected officials on the local, state and federal levels. She was active last semester meeting with College Park city council candidates as part of UMD for Clean Energy's Green for College Park campaign, and is looking forward to continuing to work with the council and on the state and federal environmental issues as well.
She attributes her interest in the environment and the natural world to her time spent outdoors while growing up on her family's farm. Her resulting involvement in environmental advocacy stems from a desire to pass these opportunities on by helping to encourage sustainability and preserve the incredible biodiversity that exists on our planet. In between schoolwork and arranging meetings with elected officials, she enjoys distance running, classical fiction, cooking, birdwatching, studying Spanish and learning in general.
She attributes her interest in the environment and the natural world to her time spent outdoors while growing up on her family's farm. Her resulting involvement in environmental advocacy stems from a desire to pass these opportunities on by helping to encourage sustainability and preserve the incredible biodiversity that exists on our planet. In between schoolwork and arranging meetings with elected officials, she enjoys distance running, classical fiction, cooking, birdwatching, studying Spanish and learning in general.