THE PRA PEOPLE
The Plastic Reduction Alliance is more than an organization—it is a collective of individuals united by a shared commitment to reducing plastic pollution and protecting environmental and human health. From scientists and educators to advocates, community leaders, and concerned citizens, our members bring diverse expertise and perspectives to a common mission: creating meaningful, lasting change.
NORTHWEST INDIANA PRA TEAM
CHRISTINA BROWN
Human Resources, PRA Director of Communications, Events and Programs
KAREN DARNELL
Lake County Solid Waste Management, Educator
NATALIE KRIVAS, PHD
Northwest Indiana Food Pantry, VU Adjunct Faculty
TYLER KUSS
Valparaiso University Sustainability/Facilities Management
DR. JULIE PELLER, PHD
Valparaiso University Professor of Chemistry, PRA Executive Director
TOM PELLER
Retired High School Teacher and Coach, PRA Treasurer
SARAH TUBBS
Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction, Public Relations Coordinator
ERIN URSCHEL
Family Business, Graphic Artist
MARISA VALDEZ
NIPSCO, Senior Financial Analyst
CHRISTINA DAVIS, PHD
Valparaiso University, Chemistry Department Lecturer, PRA Director of Education
EMILY BRONIEWICZ
Dunes Learning Center, Educator
FOUNDING EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS
DR. JULIE PELLER, PHD
Professor of Chemistry, Valparaiso University, PRA Executive Director, Valparaiso, IN
ANN M STACK
PRA Chair, Advocacy & Policy Committee, Women on a Mission, PRA Executive Council President, Indianapolis, IN
MICHAEL SCHAEFER
Collaborating Resources, LLC, Indianapolis, IN
JOANNA TAFT
Executive Director of Harrison Center, Indianapolis, IN
RITA VENABLE
PRA Executive Council Treasurer,
Community Activist, 100 Black Women, Indianapolis, IN
LISA WALTON
Director of Marketing and Community Outreach, Green with Indy, Indianapolis, IN
WILL HOFFMAN
PRA Executive Council Secretary,
Managing Principal, HPG, LLC, Indianapolis, IN
MELODY HENCE
PRA Executive Council President,
Community Activist, Indianapolis, IN
DR. THOMAS ZOELLER
Emeritus Professor of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Indianapolis, IN
JIM WALKER
Co-founder and Executive Director, Big Car Collaborative, Indianapolis IN
FOUNDING STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL
KERI MARRS-BARRON
Executive Director, Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction, Valparaiso, IN
JULIE LINDEMAN
Butler University, Office of Sustainability, Indianapolis, IN
RACHAEL MORGAN-CEASER
Director of Public Works, City of Gary, Gary, IN
DR. LINDA WANG
Professor, Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
SAM CARPENTER
Executive Director, Hoosier Environmental Council, Indianapolis, IN
DR. SHIKHA BHATTACHARYYA
Founder and Executive Director. RETHINK, Inc., Terre Haute, IN
FOUNDING NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
DR. ERIC BAN, EDD
Executive Director, Economic Mobility Systems, Dallas, TX
HEATHER BARNES
Founder and Director, Improv@Work, LLC, Michigan City, IN
ADDIE JOHNSON TALBOTT, M.S.
Author, Producer, Researcher, Los Angeles, CA
MATT LEACHMAN
Former Director for Electronics Recycling, Miami, FL
DR. OZIOMA NWACHUKWU
Environmental Engineer, Langan Engineering Environmental Services, Syracuse, NY
DR. SOPHIA PERDIKARIS
Environmental Archeologist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
DR. RICHARD WHITMAN
Retired USGS Station Chief, Heal our Harbors, Port Charlotte, FL
JESSICA PELLER
Business Logistics, Wyoming, MI
CHRISTOPHER STACKS
Actor, New York City, NY
DR. CASSIE NELSON
Assistant Professor, Franklin Pierce University, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, Lebanon, NH
ERIN NESS
Designer, New York City, NY
FOUNDING INERNATIONAL ADIVOSRY COUNCIL
DR. DROR ANGEL
Marine Ecologist, Professor, University of Haifa, Israel
THI BICH (B) CAP
Environmentalist, Vietnam
DR. BRUCE LANPHEAR
Professor of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
ELIZABETH DAOUST
Former Senior Development Officer, Smithsonian American Art Museum, England
CARLOS CURTO ALMARAZ
Educator, Spain