Our Team

Dr. Johnson is an engaged scholar of human-environment interactions committed to conducting collaborative research across disciplines and alongside communities to transform policy and improve lives. Johnson is an environmental anthropologist, the Principal Investigator (PI) of The Otsego Story Project, Associate Professor of Community Sustainability, and Director of the Toxic Action Lab (TAL) at Michigan State University. Johnson brings two decades of experience conducting community-led, mixed-methods environmental research designed to make a difference to this project. She is a recent graduate of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundations Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Program – a three-year national leadership development program focused on community change leadership; collaboration and community engagement; policy and communication; and the conduct of rigorous interdisciplinary research. She's also a new mom!  

Ash is a lifelong resident of Grand Rapids with experience supporting Michigan communities through hands-on work as a researcher, project manager, and sustainability practitioner. She joined Michigan State University after leading community engagement and environmental quality initiatives across various sectors. Now a second-year Ph.D. student in Community Sustainability, Ash emphasizes practical, community-guided approaches to environmental quality, resilience, and local capacity building. Her expertise is strengthened by a Master of Management in Organizational Development & Sustainability Leadership, community sustainability leadership training from Harvard University, and undergraduate degrees in Sustainable Business, Business Administration, and Communications.

Karleigh is from Waterford, Michigan and is a first year Graduate Student in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University. Karleigh graduated with her degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability (B.S.) and minors in Business and Science, Technology, Environment, and Public Policy (STEPP) from Michigan State in 2025. She operates as Field Coordinator for the Otsego Story Project.  

Delaney is a third-year undergraduate student at Michigan State University majoring in Environmental Studies and Sustainability and minoring in Science, Technology, the Environment, and Public Policy (STEPP). She assists in sharing the history of the area and data visualization through community outreach and historical analysis.

Calisto is a third-year undergraduate from Ann Arbor, Michigan at Michigan State University, majoring in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. In their role, Calisto leads community-led environmental sampling and supports data visualization and communication efforts. They also assist with community outreach and a range of additional tasks that support the lab’s research and engagement goals. 

Tri is from Jakarta, Indonesia, and is currently a PhD student in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University. Tri assists the team in developing academic publication materials and related works.

Shno is currently a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University and a dual Ph.D. student in Environmental Science and Policy. She works with the Toxic Action Lab alongside communities affected by environmental contamination and assists the team in developing and analyzing evidence, GIS data, and related research materials.

Heidi lives in Lansing, Michigan and is a writer and independent researcher. She has a master's degree in history from the University of Michigan. Heidi helps transform conversations between community members and researchers into shareable stories that preserve the unique voices of the storytellers.

Cora is an undergraduate Environmental Studies and Sustainability major at Michigan State University from Dowagiac, Michigan. She creates and edits engaging video content that connects audiences with important stories. Cora is passionate about using digital media as a tool for impact. 

Mars is from Bozeman, Montana, and is a second-year undergraduate at Michigan State University, majoring in Wildlife Ecology and Management with a minor in Digital Storytelling. He has worked on multiple past conservation projects and is passionate about the health of the natural world. He has a background in journalism and assists the Toxic Action Lab’s writing team.