Staff
Communications Manager
H. Dominique Abed
Dominique Abed is responsible for assessing major marketing and communications needs, developing appropriate initiatives for print and web based projects and seeing these through to completion. She is a liason with the marketing communications offices at the Ross School of Business, School of Natural Resources and Environment, and University of Michigan. Dominique has more than nine years of advertising and graphic design experience, and completed the Washtenaw Community College Web Technology Certification Program in July 2004. Dominique holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Michigan.
Executive-in-Residence
Thomas F. Catania, Jr.
Thomas F. Catania, Jr., former Vice President of Government Relations at Whirlpool Corporation, works to enhance the Institute’s visibility in the business community and among policymakers through written communications and by organizing meetings for executives on corporate strategies on energy and environmental issues. He also works with Erb Institute directors and faculty to create and strengthen the Institute’s ties with corporate executives, donors and industry organizations. Tom, a leader in identifying and implementing solutions to public policy problems, has spent his career operating in the complex intersection of business, government, nongovernmental organizations and public policy. Serving as Whirlpool’s Vice President for Government Relations since 1997, Tom managed the firm’s government relations, which he transformed from a United States-centric, primarily reactive activity into a global public policy one that produced a substantial percentage of Whirlpool’s annual earnings per share for several consecutive years. Before joining Whirlpool, Tom was Special Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust and Consumer Protection Divisions of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office from 1982 to 1986.
Administration and Financial Affairs Manager
Dawn Evans
Dawn Evans is responsible for administration, finance, HR, and event management. She comes to Erb with more than 15 years of progressive business operations and administrative support experience both at UM and in the for-profit sector. Her previous positions include Sr. Major Gifts Assistant for the Office of Advancement for the University of Michigan, Director of Business Operations for a division of Pfizer, Director of Administration/Office Management for Esperion Therapeutics, and Executive Assistant for Warner-Lamber/Parke-Davis. Dawn holds an Associates Degree in Business Management.
Marketing and Student Affairs Assistant
Jackie Ganfield
Jackie is responsible for assisting the marketing and communication department with administrative tasks and projects. She comes to Erb with experience in administrative assistance, event coordination, marketing, and campus relations. Before moving to Ann Arbor, Jackie was the Director of Sustainability at Regis University. Jackie is a 2012 graduate of Regis University with a B.A. in Sociology and minors in Environmental Studies and Marketing. She is particularly interested in the field of environmental sociology and the world water crisis. In addition, Jackie is passionate about environmental and social justice, education disparities, and economic inequality.
Administrative Assistant and Events Coordinator
Michele Thomas
Michele will work on research and outreach-oriented events and support. Students will interact with Michele largely regarding reimbursements and financial aid. Her previous positions include Admissions Recruiter for Washtenaw Community College and more recently she provided administrative support in the Office of Academic Affairs at UM School of Public Health and was a member of the Admissions team.
Student Affairs Program Manager
Emma Wendt
Emma supports Erb applicants, students and alumni, focusing on building a strong community and generating thought leadership and real-world impact. Before Erb, Emma served as an Entrepreneurial Services Coordinator at Ann Arbor Spark where she coached dozens of local entrepreneurs on business planning and connecting them with resources. In the Ann Arbor community, Emma is Vice Chair of the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition. Emma is a 2009 graduate of Stanford University Graduate School of Business (MBA) and the School of Earth Sciences (MS), where she was also co-president of the Environmentally Sustainable Business Club. She also holds an AB in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard University. Before moving to Ann Arbor, Emma was a senior analyst in emerging clean technologies with Pacific Gas and Electric in San Francisco. Between undergrad and graduate school, Emma worked in Washington DC at the International Finance Corporation and as environmental and social footprint officer and at the World Bank as a consultant to the Environmental and Social Sustainability Secretariat.
Research Management Fellow
Kim Wolske
Kim Wolske works with external stakeholders to communicate research on climate change, and other sustainability topics, to non‐academics, including businesses, nonprofit and public organizations, and policy makers. She works to create active collaborations with practitioners in which the development and execution of research projects is carried out as a partnership. Kim completed her PhD in environmental psychology at the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment. She is particularly interested in investigating the drivers of resource consumption, identifying motivations that may lead people to behave in environmentally friendly ways, and evaluating different behavior change strategies and tools. Kim has served as a consultant to Opower, a firm that use insights from psychology to help utility customers reduce their energy use.