Our Team

John has been a guest lecturer at more than 80 colleges and has spoken to numerous environmental, religious, and community groups all across the U.S. on the environmental and human costs of rapid population growth. He was appointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by the Clinton Administration and also served as Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative Peter H. Kostmayer (D-PA), a senior member of the House Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee. A veteran of more than 50 political campaigns, John has authored numerous op-eds and articles on various aspects of population growth. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.

Lee liaises with the Board of Directors, organizes events, and oversees the Global Partner Program. Prior to joining Population Connection, Lee had an eclectic range of jobs including scheduler for a (losing) Massachusetts congressional campaign; Carter Center researcher; co-editor, The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Volume IV; and U.S. Treasury historian.

Lee has a B.A. from Brandeis University, an MPIA from University of Pittsburgh, and an MA and Ph.D. in American History from Emory University, where she was an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellow. Hailing from Beverly, Massachusetts, Lee lives on the Capitol Hill/H St. Corridor in DC with the Siamese Flame Point brothers, Grant Mitchell and Charlie Slater.

Pam has been leading Population Education’s team for over 20 years and has been working on population issues since 1987 (when world population was only 5 billion!). Over the years, she’s had the pleasure of engaging with so many fantastic educators from around the country and wonderful colleagues here in D.C. In addition to curriculum development, workshop facilitation, event planning, fundraising, and program outreach, Pam is responsible for the strategic planning of the program’s future. Pam also serves as one of Population Connection’s senior managers. Outside of the office, she enjoys traveling and skiing with her husband and son, pastel drawing and challenging crossword puzzles.

Brian Dixon is the Sr. Vice President for Media and Government Relations at Population Connection Action. He oversees the organization’s advocacy and political work including the #Fight4HER campaign. He also serves as a public spokesperson for the organization with the press and public. Prior to joining Population Connection, he worked on several congressional campaigns and served as a Legislative Aide on Capitol Hill for a progressive Democratic member of the House.

Maria was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala. She immigrated to the U.S. in April 1984 and joined Population Connection in January 1997. As the V.P. for Administration/CFO, Maria oversees Population Connection’s Human Resources, accounting, and IT services. She graduated from TESST College of Technology in 2001 where she studied Network Information Technology.

A Certified Fundraising Executive, Shauna oversees all fundraising initiatives to support Population Connection and Population Connection Action Fund. She’s been with Population Connection since 2009. She loves the outdoors and regularly travels the U.S. with her family and dogs, visiting roadside attractions as well as National Parks and historic sites. She resides in San Diego County.

Marian joined Population Connection as a Field Fellow in 2007. She has an MSc in Population and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA in Psychology (with a minor in Child Development and Family Relations) from the University of Maine.

She is originally from Maine, where she currently lives with her husband and their dog, Penny, a feisty little chihuahua-Yorkie mix. Her two late beagles are never far from her thoughts—they were terribly behaved, but she misses them dearly!

Marian has been a clinic escort since 2007, first at an independent clinic in Alexandria, Virginia, and, since 2012, at Planned Parenthood in Portland, Maine. She also served on the Board of Directors of SAFE, Maine’s abortion fund, for five years, most of that time in executive roles.

Marian’s hobbies include attending concerts and music festivals, hiking with her dog, reading fiction, and volunteering for her local wildlife rehab.

Nicole leads the direct marketing fundraising programs at Population Connection and Population Connection Action Fund. Prior to starting at Population Connection in 2014, Nicole worked in the for-profit marketing sector. She feels fortunate that she can create positive change in our world through inspired marketing campaigns. Nicole holds an MBA from San Diego State University.

Carol is PopEd’s Director of Teacher Programs, overseeing the day to day functioning of the workshop program. She facilitates teacher training workshops throughout the U.S. and Canada, and has led over 700 workshops in her 10+ years with the program. Additionally, she is involved with curriculum development, manages the program website and blog, and is part of the World of 8 Billion annual student contest strategic team. Being from Wisconsin, Carol is an avid Green Bay Packers fan and enjoys playing board games and volleyball in her spare time.

As the Education Network Director, Lindsey oversees all aspects of Population Education’s network of volunteer trainers and facilitators. She also coordinates Population Education workshops, staff trips, and program outreach in the northern U.S. states and Canada. Lindsey has been with the PopEd team since 2011, facilitating over 350 teacher workshops and webinars. She also assists with developing new teacher resources and curricula, oversees aspects of PopEd’s marketing, and conducts the program’s biennial evaluation. Lindsey enjoys being able to use her teaching background to inspire educators to teach about the many global challenges ahead. When not working with teachers, you can find Lindsey relaxing at home with her husband and spoiled pets, or traveling, camping, or attempting to tame her vegetable garden!

Abby is an Education Program Associate and coordinates the Population Education workshops, staff trips, and program outreach in the southeastern part of the U.S. She leads workshops throughout the States and Canada, and is develops teaching materials for secondary classes and ELL. Abby previously served as the Population Education Fellow. Outside the office, Abby enjoys listening to podcasts, traveling, and hiking through national parks.

Cara coordinates workshops, staff trips, and program outreach in the Mid-Atlantic and in New England. Her prior work experience includes scientific research, non-profit development, and K-12 education. She is thrilled to be a part of the Population Education team!

Barbara is the Online Learning Coordinator for Population Education (PopEd). Barbara supports all online workshop facilitation, oversees an online graduate level course, and coordinates the program’s annual World of 7 Billion student video contest. Barbara brings extensive classroom experience, having spent 10 years as a teacher, and also earned her National Board Certification in Teaching for Earth & Space Sciences. Barbara has a BS in Integrated Health Studies from Kent State University, a MA in Secondary Comprehensive Science Teaching from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and is currently an online student herself, working on a MA in Character Education at the University of Birmingham.

As the Education Program Assistant, Ava oversees the administrative side of the PopEd program. She is responsible for ensuring tailored sets of workshop materials are provided to our hundreds of annual workshops, writing the Population Educator newsletter, and managing the online PopEd store. Ava also serves as PopEd’s in-house designer, creating lesson PDFs, program flyers, and other visual content for the program. Outside the office, Ava enjoys hanging out with her (celebrity) dog Pascal, doing jigsaw puzzles, making crafts, and reading mystery novels.

Bennett is an Education Program Associate for PopEd and coordinates workshops, program outreach, and staff trips in the southeastern part of the U.S. and Canada. She also conducts online and in-person workshops for educators across the country. Prior to this role, Bennett worked as a Curriculum Development Fellow for Population Education. She continues to use her experience as a middle school science teacher to assist in updating and developing resources for teachers. Outside of the office, Bennett enjoys reading, traveling, and crafting.

Sally is the Student Engagement Fellow for PopEd. She helps coordinate all aspects of the World of 8 Billion student video contest, and also oversees PopEd’s social media accounts and contributes to the PopEd blog. Sally is a talented musician, loves outdoor activities like hiking, camping and skateboarding, and is passionate about gardening and farming.

Rebecca Harrington is the Senior Director of Advocacy and Outreach at Population Connection and Population Connection Action Fund, where she manages the grassroots field program, including the #Fight4HER (Health, Empowerment, and Rights) campaign. In her role, she works to develop campaigns and messages that seek to defend reproductive freedom for everyone, everywhere. She has spent over a decade working in progressive organizing around reproductive health and rights. She lives with her family in Washington, D.C.

Grace Long is the Field Coordinator for Population Connection Action Fund, where he’s building grassroots power and fighting for global reproductive rights. Grace has been a progressive organizer for over seven years and a passionate advocate for over a decade. He’s using his experience to support the #Fight4HER campaign, inspire activists to join the organization and win reproductive rights and freedom for all. He currently lives in Maryland on unceded Piscataway land.

YoVanna Solomon is a proud graduate of NC Agricultural and Technical State University. She recently earned a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies after earning a Fulbright Fellowship. YoVanna has eight years of experience in issue-based and political organizing. In 2018, she attended Capitol Hill Days as a student activist and has been engaged with the #Fight4HER in various capacities since then. She is now the Population Connection Action Fund Field Assistant.

Hannah is interested in working with students, professors, and activists to promote positive social and environmental change. Hannah’s work investigates the ways in population dynamics intersect with global social, political, economic, and environmental systems and advocates for integrated developmental solutions that simultaneously combat climate change and societal injustices. She develops and gives comprehensive, solution-oriented presentations focused on the connections between global population growth, access to health care and education, women’s empowerment, and climate adaptation. Through an examination of some of the root causes of high fertility, her work seeks to highlight the interconnections between poverty, resource use and consumption, population pressures, women’s rights, and environmental challenges made worse by climate change.

Hannah works as a Senior Analyst at Population Connection, where she focuses on public speaking and the development of open-source, academic-style resources. She also cultivates partnerships between Population Connection and international NGOs. Before joining Population Connection’s staff, Hannah worked as an adjunct professor of Women’s Studies and taught classes on gender, science, and feminist theory. She has non-profit experience working as a program developer for sustainable agriculture and public health programs in Honduras and Panama and has worked as a researcher studying food security issues throughout Southern California. Hannah holds a BA in Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Conservation and Political Science and a Master’s in Political Ecology from San Diego State University, where her research focused on sustainability labeling and ethical consumption between the United States and Nicaragua.

Olivia joined Population Connection in 2022. She holds an MSc and a BSc in Zoology and has been working in environmental communications since she graduated in 2014. Olivia enjoys working for the population cause as it combines her two greatest passions: conservation and women’s rights.

Florence is a multifaceted activist, focusing on population issues, girls’ rights, and environmental protection. She previously worked with Population Matters, a UK-based charity advocating internationally for a sustainable human population through ethical, choice-based methods. This work aims to protect the environment and improve quality of life globally. Florence also worked with Global Footprint Network, where she communicated critical messages about Earth Overshoot Day and ecological sustainability through newsletters and social media, amplifying awareness of humanity’s impact on planetary resources. Her advocacy has reached global platforms, including speaking at the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD). Florence has co-authored and presented powerful statements in partnership with other organizations, highlighting the need for action on population, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and environmental issues.

An award-winning journalist, Florence began her career in 2010 with media outlets in Kenya and Uganda (where she wants to see a fertility transition). Since then, she has tirelessly campaigned and communicated about the interconnectedness of population, health, and the environment. She holds a Master of Science in Population and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She is particularly passionate about communicating issues related to SRHR, the climate crisis, and broader environmental concerns. Her love for digital media and her alignment with Population Connection’s mission make her feel she’s found her ideal role.

In her free time, Florence enjoys balancing a well-rounded life. She divides her time between house chores, attending yoga classes, spending quality moments with her family, and socializing with friends. A self-declared coffee enthusiast, she still wonders how her tea addiction disappeared! Florence is also passionately building FlowReady, a menstrual education campaign dedicated to preparing pre-menarchial girls in rural communities for their menstrual cycles. The initiative seeks to break deeply entrenched cultural beliefs that equate menstruation with readiness for marriage and childbearing.

Carrie has been with the Membership Department at Population Connection since 2017. Carrie loves to travel, take road trips, and go to concerts, movies, and other events in her free time. She also enjoys reading and spending time outdoors, hiking or camping. She is originally from Connecticut and enjoys visiting her family there.

Joining the PopConn Team in January 2020, Stephanie’s role as the Membership Relations Coordinator quickly transitioned from organizing in-person volunteer opportunities to planning a variety of Virtual Events for members and supporters. Earning a BA in Environmental Studies from CSU Monterey Bay, Stephanie is committed to helping protect the planet for future generations and strongly resonated with PopConn’s approach in addressing the issue. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, spending time outside, and exploring new places.

Natalie joined Population Connection in 2008, and has worn many “hats” as part of the Development team. She currently oversees the organization’s digital fundraising and marketing presence, as well as the membership engagement program. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College, Natalie lives in Maryland and enjoys reading, baking, binging the best streaming tv shows, and spending time with her horses Cash and Frisco.

Jennifer Lynaugh, with Population Connection since 2015, proudly serves as Director of Development. Jenn is committed to the organization’s mission and enjoys working with generous individuals like YOU who help to make Population Connection’s programs possible. In her spare time, Jenn enjoys hiking, gardening, live music and dancing, reading, and some “R&R” on the beach. A former New Yorker, Jenn lives in San Diego with her husband, Tim, and their three “kids” who all have paws: Border Collie mix, Scarlet; Silver Bengal cat, Pearl; and big boy Maine Coon cat, Moses. Reach Jenn any time at (202) 974-7710.

Victoria Wright, MPA, is the Director of Planned Giving at Population Connection. She has the privilege of working with our wonderful donors in support of our programs to help ensure a sustainable future for everyone, everywhere. Prior to joining Population Connection, Victoria worked on several congressional campaigns and on the staff for progressive U.S. House members. She lives in Upstate NY with her adorable and energetic pup, Nora.

Kimberly is a graduate of Howard University, where she played on the women’s volleyball team. She recently completed the Juris Master program at Florida State University. She has been working in nonprofit and development roles for 10 years, including at Black Women’s Health Imperative, The Arc of Southwest Georgia, and The Independence Fund.

Malissa is a graduate of St. Francis University in Pennsylvania. She also holds a Master’s degree in Pacific International Affairs from the University of California, San Diego. Malissa volunteered with the Peace Corps in El Salvador before beginning her career in nonprofit development. She has worked at American Forests, Women for Conservation, and the Rainforest Trust.

Sarah has been with Population Connection since late 2017 and was drawn to the human rights-based, cross-sectional approach to solving overpopulation and its ramifications. As the Development Manager, she leads estate administration and prospect research, as well as assisting with various fundraising initiatives. Living in sunny southern California, Sarah enjoys spending time in nature, volunteering with youth, sharing good food with friends, and exploring the world.

Sydnie eagerly supports fundraising initiatives and donor stewardship projects. She utilizes her skills and compassion to advocate for women’s rights globally. She hopes to inspire others to realize the societal benefits of gender equality and the full empowerment of women and girls. Sydnie enjoys the slow life, finding solace in her hobbies such as painting, volunteering, baking, and taking too many pictures of her dachshund, Toast. She holds a B.A. in Sociology-Law and Society from University of California, San Diego.

Deborah oversees all aspects of the employment lifecycle. She has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit and corporate HR management. Deborah is a graduate of the University of Maryland and holds senior professional certification through the Society for Human Resources Management.

Outside of work, Deborah enjoys gardening, cooking, and volunteering in the community. In 2010, she took a sabbatical to attend culinary school. After cooking professionally for four years, she returned to her HR career and still enjoys cooking for friends and family.

Peter Caggiano provides strategic oversight of organization-wide information technology activities. Peter brings 35 years of experience in the field of information technology and has a diverse background in both non-profit and corporate settings. He is responsible for information systems support of applications, data, research support, infrastructure, communications, and information security.

Ana was born in El Salvador but has resided in the state of Maryland for the last 40 years. She has been with Population Connection for around 18 years on and off. Ana loves working at Population Connection and truly believes in its cause.