Environmental Leadership Initiative
Our Team
Who We Are
Corey Dehner
LEAF Initiative Co-director
Previously a public interest lawyer, I transitioned to academia to inspire ethically minded leadership and deepen student engagement with environmental issues. I created and piloted a Wilderness Ethics Certificate program in 2023 to promote environmental stewardship, mental health, and Indigenous perspectives. My teaching and advising focus on environmental justice, policy, and ethical community engagement, and I collaborate with local, state, and national organizations on water policy, stormwater management, and sustainability.
(508) 8315000 x4959
Marja Bakermans
LEAF Initiative Co-director
I am dedicated to fostering critical thinking and inclusive, interdisciplinary learning by engaging students as co-authors of open educational resources on topics like extinction, climate, and biodiversity. My research focuses on wildlife conservation and the impacts of human activity on ecosystems, with the goal of connecting students to real-world science and promoting lifelong learning through an inclusive, collaborative environment.
(508) 8315000 x4910
Associated Faculty, Staff and Students
Kathy Chen
Executive Director, STEM Education Center
I bring over 15 years of experience as a materials engineering professor and department chair at Cal Poly, where I led numerous K–12 and community STEM outreach initiatives. At WPI’s STEM Education Center, I support PreK–12 educators by advancing equity and broadening participation in STEM, especially for underrepresented students. My work focuses on empowering teachers through inclusive pedagogy, leadership development, and community-based STEM education networks.
+1 (508) 8315000 x6221
Paul Mathisen
Associate Professor and Dir. of Sustainability
Professor Mathisen is the Director of Sustainability at WPI and is also a faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. As Director of Sustainability, Professor Mathisen works to promote sustainability and engage the community in WPI’s academic programs, research, operations and facilities, with consideration to areas such as water, energy, transportation, and waste management. His research emphasizes the analysis and modeling of environmental systems, with an emphasis on areas such as water resources protection, resilience and climate change adaptation, infrastructure, and the food-water-energy nexus. Recent research areas include adaptation to climate change, water quality protection for groundwater and surface water, water resources management, and transportation systems.
+1 (508) 8315000 x5343
William San Martín
Assistant Professor
I am an Assistant Professor of Global Environmental Science, Technology, and Governance at WPI, where I also collaborate with the Climate Social Science Network and the Earth Systems Governance Project. My work explores the intersections of nitrogen science, environmental policy, and sustainable development in the Global South, using historical and participatory approaches. I’ve advised student research at WPI’s Costa Rica and Ecuador Project Centers and serve as Co-PI on NSF-funded projects focused on nitrogen governance and sustainable agriculture. Through teaching, research, and global collaboration, I aim to bridge science and policy for more just and sustainable futures.
+1 (508) 8315000 x4928
Lisa Stoddard
Associate Professor of Teaching
I am a human-environment geographer focused on the intersection of climate resilience, food systems, and social justice. My research explores how infrastructure, policy, and community practices can support more just and resilient systems, particularly in the face of climate change and disasters. In the classroom, I emphasize inclusive and critical pedagogy, and I’ve co-developed tools to support equitable teamwork among students. Teaching, advising, and learning with students is truly the best part of my work, and I aim to equip them with the skills and perspective to create meaningful change in the world.
+1 (508) 8315000 x4871
Utku Yakar
Web Designer & Full-Stack Developer
(expected graduation date- May 2026)
I’m a computer and data science student at WPI with a passion for applying technology to real-world problems through research, collaboration, and community impact. My interests span machine learning, human-computer interaction, and environmental data, with projects ranging from speech recognition systems to sustainable design analysis. My IQP experience in the White Mountains, working with Prof. Dehner, had a lasting impact on me, it not only deepened my appreciation for nature but also helped me understand how environmental connection can enhance well-being and leadership. I’m especially drawn to projects that bridge technical innovation with human-centered and ecological outcomes.
