Earth Commons Staff

Institute Staff

Peter P. Marra

Dean, The Earth Commons
Laudato Si’ Professor of Biology and the Environment
Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy
Regents Hall, Room 391
Email: peter.marra@georgetown.edu

Peter Marra uses birds to help us define and understand broad environmental issues, tackling contemporary conservation challenges by addressing fundamental knowledge gaps at the intersection of ornithology, ecology and conservation biology. His transformative work—including quantifying the loss of 3 billion birds from North America, the impacts of climate change, the astounding ecological destruction of outdoor cats and emerging diseases such as West Nile virus—explores the interaction between humans and our environment and poses critical questions to humanity about the environmental costs of urbanization and globalization. His work spans biology, engineering, physiology, and biogeochemistry, and has helped ignite new research into the study of full life cycles of migratory animals while furthering technological advances, including the use of genetics, stable isotopes and remote tracking technologies. Marra uses integrative techniques and rigorous quantitative approaches, leveraging data to link fundamental ecological advances to address conservation problems and reimagine approaches that inform policy. 55 current and former students and his position as founding director of the Earth Commons—Georgetown University’s new institute for environment and sustainability—demonstrate Marra’s dedication to moving research to implementation and educating the next generation of diverse scientists.

Pete comes to Georgetown University after a 20-year career at the Smithsonian Institution, most recently as Director of the Migratory Bird Center. He has a Ph.D. from Dartmouth College and has authored over 260 peer-reviewed papers published in journals such as Science, Nature and Conservation Biology on various aspects of the biology and conservation of birds and other animals, as well as on topics as broad as urban disease ecology. He co-edited the frequently cited book, Birds of Two Worlds, and recently published a second book, Cat Wars: The Devastating Consequences of Cuddly Killer. Pete lives in Takoma Park with his wife and two kids, is an avid fisherman, a gardener and cook.

Priscila Baez

Associate Director of Events and Outreach
Email: pcb59@georgetown.edu

Priscila coordinates, promotes, and hosts the different events organized by the Earth Commons. She believes that impactful events can enrich our understanding of sustainability and our role in taking care of the environment. Priscila holds a Master’s degree in Project Management from Georgetown University and a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from USFQ in her home country of Ecuador.

Priscila has managed several study-abroad programs, grants and special projects sponsored by different federal agencies and universities in the US and South America. Her expertise in project management and communications has broadened her understanding of the complex interactions that must be considered in the successful execution of projects. A global citizen, she loves animals, traveling and being outdoors.

Justine Bowe

Director of Communications
Email: Justine.Bowe@Georgetown.edu

Justine Bowe is a creative communicator, musician and multi-media artist. She joined the Earth Commons team to communicate the initiative’s work to broad audiences in order to expand its impact. She brings a strategic, creative and open mind to the university in hopes of creating a more sustainable, vibrant future.

Bowe brings a background in communications, strategy, and program development from over 4 years at the Smithsonian Institution and previously at start-up social enterprises and non-profits. After years of touring the country playing music, she continues to produce, record and perform from Boston, MA.

Brianna Butler

Operations Manager
Email: Brianna.Butler@Georgetown.edu

Brianna is a Washington, DC, native. She received her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Delaware State University and is currently studying to receive her Master’s in Higher Education Administration at Georgetown University. Brianna strives to make higher education more affordable and accessible to marginalized communities. She loves hanging out with family and friends, cooking and baking, and binge-watching series in her free time.

Jennifer Eagleton

Special Advisor to the Dean
Email: Jennifer.Eagleton@Georgetown.edu

Jennifer works closely with the GEJP director to initiate, implement, expand, and evaluate GEJP’s international programs with governments, businesses, and communities, and as such, her responsibilities include working closely with the GEJP director to build, support, and deepen collaborations with faculty and other campus partners across the University as well as international partners and collaborators who are integral to advancing the GEJP mission.  Jennifer also works closely with the GEJP director and other team members on sponsored research proposals and awards; philanthropic partnerships; long-term financial planning and annual budgets; communication strategy, narratives, and materials; and conferences and convenings. In addition, Jennifer serves on the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities’ Laudato Si’ Commission, which is tasked with developing transformative proposals with the 28 affiliated AJCU members to advance justice, sustainability, and integral ecology.  

Thriving within entrepreneurial ventures at research institutions, Jennifer has worked to accelerate transdisciplinary research, drive science-based conservation action, and strengthen science education.

Before joining GEJP, she was the Director of Interdisciplinary Initiatives at the Georgetown Environment Initiative, a cross-campus effort to advance the University’s contribution to global environmental and sustainability efforts.  Before Georgetown, Jennifer worked to launch the programs and partnerships of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, the new transdisciplinary institute at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, as its Associate Director for Partnership Programs.

In addition, Jennifer worked for seven years at the Field Museum in Chicago where she worked with the biologists, anthropologists, and educators of the Environmental and Conservation Programs to support science-based action in the creation and management of national parks and other protected areas in South America. Jennifer also directed online programs connecting the public to the behind-the-scenes science of the Museum, and she started the Museum’s Educational Media Division, where she led the team of scientists and educators who sent Museum scientists and collections into classrooms nationwide through television broadcasts, webcasts, online curricula, print educator guides, and portable exhibit cases. 

Jennifer began her career as an employment relations attorney at Winston & Strawn. She has an MBA from Georgetown University and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and she graduated with honors from Princeton University.

Svetlana Gureyeva

Executive Assistant
Email: svetlana.gureyeva@georgetown.edu

Svetlana is an Executive Assistant at the Earth Commons, where she assists with scheduling and office operations. She studied History and Gender Studies at Christopher Newport University.

Prior to joining The Earth Commons Svetlana helped manage day-to-day operations at a clean energy focused lobbying and communications firm. On weekends she enjoys watching soccer and taking her dog on the W&OD trail.

Treasa McDonald

Manager of Research and Special Projects
Email: Treasa.McDonald@georgetown.edu

Treasa facilitates the multidisciplinary research initiatives and activities for the Earth Commons. She provides proposal development and grant management support, and also manages the award cycles for the institute’s seed funding grants, such the ECo Impact and Green Commons awards. Treasa also functions as the research manager for the Marra lab team. Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, she has a BA in Irish Studies and an MA in American History.

With extensive experience in higher education administration both in the US and abroad, Treasa came to the Earth Commons from American University, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland before that. An avid music fan, she enjoys seeing and playing music, wildlife photography, and anything outdoors.

Michael Tschiderer

Chief of Staff
Email: Michael.Tschiderer@georgetown.edu

Michael Tschiderer is the Chief of Staff at the Earth Commons, where he oversees the execution of our strategic plan and directs operations, finances, and planning through a senior leadership role. Tschiderer holds an M.Ed in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with a focus on Higher Education from Boston University.

Tschiderer has been working with Interdisciplinary research organizations for over 10 years. Prior to joining The Earth Commons, he served as Associate Campus Director for Financial Planning and Analysis in the Office of the Provost: Financial & Business Services, and as Director of Finance and Operations at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown. He was previously a Manager of Finance and Administration at Boston University.

Graduate programs

Shannen Holback

Assistant Director of Marketing and Admissions, MS-EIA
Email: sh1991@georgetown.edu

Shannen Holback is Assistant Director of Admissions and Marketing for the M.S. in Environment and International Affairs (MS-EIA) program. Shannen is passionate about supporting students and staff and the various sustainability and environmental programs taking place. She creates and implements recruitment and marketing events and initiatives, as well as assisting with the admissions process. She has a background in Legal Studies and is completing an M.A. in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida.

Lindsey Jamieson

Associate Director of Marketing and Recruitment, MS-ESM
Email: lindsey.jamieson@georgetown.edu

Lindsey Jamieson is the Associate Director of Marketing and Recruitment for the MS-ESM program. She manages all marketing and outreach initiatives to connect with prospective students and promote awareness for the program on a domestic and international scale. Prior to starting her role at Georgetown University, Jamieson worked as the Assistant Director of the Portuguese Flagship Program (PFP) at the University of Texas at Austin where she managed study abroad programs to Brazil through the Language Flagship Initiative. Before pursuing a career in academia, she worked in Public Relations and the Entertainment/Advertising industry in NYC. She received a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish with a Certificate in Portuguese from the University of Pittsburgh (2014) and an M.A. in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin (2022).

Seneca Lee

Program Coordinator, MS-ESM
Email: sl2039@georgetown.edu

Seneca Lee plays an active role in fulfilling all academic and administrative responsibilities to support students, applicants, and faculty within the MS-ESM program. She helps administer all day-to-day and on-the-ground activities by working closely with graduate students, collaborating with the program co-directors, and acting as a liaison in connecting MS-ESM students with a wide variety of University resources. Prior to Georgetown, Seneca worked in a variety of sectors maintaining her passions for education, the environment, and justice. Seneca received her Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability from the University of Michigan where she studied urban agriculture and soil remediation.

Kristen Nieves

Program Coordinator, MS-EIA
Email: kn589@georgetown.edu

Kristen plays an active role in fulfilling all academic and administrative responsibilities to support students, applicants, and faculty within the MS-EIA program. She helps administer all day-to-day and on-the-ground activities by working closely with graduate students, collaborating with the program directors, and acting as a liaison in connecting MS-EIA students with a wide variety of University resources. Kristen is passionate about advancing sustainability efforts locally and internationally. Kristen has several years of experience in the higher education and environmental nonprofit sectors. She has a background in international studies, sustainability, and sociology after attending the University of Florida and the Honors College at Miami Dade College.  

International Sites

Katerina Downward

Managing Director, Greece
Email: khd9@georgetown.edu

Katerina Downward has committed her professional life to defending human rights, with leadership experience in the fields of humanitarian response, project and program management in NGO settings and a longstanding commitment to social justice. She joins the Earth Commons Institute as Managing Director for Greece, where she previously headed the Department of Education & Integration at an award-winning Greek non-governmental organization at the forefront of efforts to protect and support refugees. Over the six years she served METAdrasi – Action for Migration and Development, she set up several schools for refugee children on the Greek frontier islands where most refugee arrivals through the nation’s sea borders occur, and as their department head, led a team of more than 60 educators overseeing the implementation of 17 education programs across the country, serving more than 3000 refugees and migrants annually. Additionally, she helmed METAdrasi’s program supporting survivors of torture, through certification and training of frontline workers in identification of survivors. Previously, she worked at an education nonprofit in New York partnering with under-resourced schools to implement curricular materials on social and environmental justice issues. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and obtained a Master’s degree in Human Rights, with distinction, from the London School of Economics. During her formative and academic years, she supported human rights and civil society organizations across four continents and interned at the Washington Peace Centre and Amnesty International.

Peter Poulos

Director of Partner Relations, Greece

Peter Poulos has worked with over 100 international, national and local non-profit organizations and political candidates. His work with non-profits has raised millions of dollars for U.S. senate and congressional candidates, HIV/AIDS research, breast cancer research, civil rights, homelessness, and the environment.

Mr. Poulos is the founder and president of Poulos Brothers Inc., a fundraising and non-profit strategy firm. Mr. Poulos recently served at the Executive Director of The Hellenic Initiative (THI), a global not for profit organization that raises funds to support Greek NGOs and entrepreneurs. He is also a partner in the gourmet Greek food company Greka Icons that produces Navarino Icons and TREA food lines.

A third generation Greek American, Mr. Poulos is an active member of the Greek Diaspora community. While living in San Francisco he established and served as the Founding Director of the San Francisco Greek Film Festival. Currently, he serves on the board of directors of the American Hellenic University, the board of advisors of TAVROS and BREATHE Hellas and co-chair of The Hellenic Initiative’s International Ambassador’s program.

Mr. Poulos is a graduate of the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University where he received his degree in International Relations with a concentration in Modern Greek History.

Since 2007, Mr. Poulos has been living and working in Athens, Greece and New York.