The Power of Information

5 Years in a Row

Top rated, 2003-2007

Link to Charity Navigator

At EWG, our team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers pores over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and our own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions. Our research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know.

About: Staff

Management Team

Ken Cook

President. Ken co-founded EWG in 1993. He is the author of dozens of articles, opinion pieces and reports on environmental, public health and agricultural topics. Cook earned B.A., B.S., and M.S. degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is married to Deb Callahan and lives in Washington, D.C.

Richard Wiles

Executive Director. Richard co-founded EWG with Ken Cook, and now directs EWG's programs. He is a former senior staff officer at the National Academy of Sciences’ Board on Agriculture. Richard holds a BA from Colgate University and an MA from California State University at Sacramento. He is also an avid outdoorsman and skier.

Chris Campbell

Vice President for Information Technology. Chris has led EWG's database operations since its founding in 1993 and is responsible for many successful reports, including the Farm Subsidy Database. He graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Computer Information Sciences. A Delaware native and an expert beer brewer, Chris lives with his wife and four children in Northern Virginia.

Craig Cox

Midwest Vice President. Craig began his career in conservation by joining the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 1977 as a field biologist. Since then, he has worked for the National Academy of Sciences, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and as Executive Director of the Soil and Water Conservation Society. He joined EWG as Midwest Vice President of EWG in 2008 and directs the organization’s research and advocacy work in agriculture, renewable energy, and climate change. He has degrees in Wildlife Ecology and Agricultural Economics from the University of Minnesota. He is an avid fly fisherman, hunter, and hiker.

Alex Formuzis

Director of Communications. Alex came to EWG after 8 years on Capitol Hill. Prior to his time in the Senate he worked in the Clinton administration. Alex was born and raised in the Northwest, and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Montana.

Jane Houlihan

Vice President for Research. Jane directs EWG’s research operations, specializing in toxics and health research. She serves as a spokesperson on environmental health in the national media and at conferences across the country. Jane holds Masters and Bachelors degrees in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech and postgraduate studies at Stanford. Before joining she EWG practiced environmental engineering at national research and consulting organizations.

Scott Mallan

Director of Finance & Administration. Scott moved over to the non-profit sector 15 years ago. After several years working in outsourced accounting for state governments, he switched over to accounting for the food service industry before making the move to non-profits. He earned his degree in Business Management from the University of South Carolina-Columbia.

Sandra Schubert, J.D.

Director of Government Affairs. Sandy has worked in the environmental, energy, and agricultural fields, for nearly two decades. Sandy holds an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and holds masters and law degrees from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Sandy previously served as counsel for Majority Leader Harry Reid and legislative assistant for Senator Barbara Boxer.

Renée Sharp

Director, California Office. Renée holds Masters and Bachelors degrees in Biology from Pennsylvania State University and Rice University, where she worked on the environmental and human health impacts of electricity production, conservation planning, and forest ecology. Once also a professional wilderness guide, Renée still most of her time hiking, climbing, skiing and rafting when not sitting in front of her EWG computer.

 

Katherine Watier

Director of Online Marketing. Katherine is an online marketing professional and trainer with expertise in SEO, PPC, email, social media and web analytics. She started using the Internet to help save the tropical rainforest in 1994 and since then has helped a variety of nonprofits successfully utilize online communications to engage supporters, volunteers and donors. Katherine has a BA in Social Psychology from Hampshire College and a graduate degree in Technology Marketing & Business from Georgetown University.

 

Bill Allayaud

California Director of Governmental Affairs. Bill joins EWG as part of a career spent in environmental planning, resource management, and politics. He has worked for the California Coastal Commission, two cities as a planner, as director of Sierra Club California, and as a consultant in the California State Assembly, developing particular expertise in water quality, land use planning, and conservation of forests, farmland, and habitat. He holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Politics from U.C. Santa Cruz and a Masters in Regional Planning from Cornell University. Bill cannot wait to teach his young daughter how to play basketball and ski.

EWG Staff

Dave Andrews, PH.D.

Senior Scientist. David is using his chemistry background to investigate environmental health issues. He holds a B.A. in chemistry from Wesleyan University and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Northwestern University, and has authored over 10 peer-reviewed publications and currently has 1 patent pending on quantum interference devices. He lives in Alexandria with his wife Lena and son Wyeth, who likes to jump. David enjoys designing and building audio equipment, traveling, camping, fishing, volunteering, outdoor sports, swimming, and landscape painting.

Claudia Arango

Administrative Assistant. Claudia was born in Alexandria, VA, but she spent her youth in Colombia. She studied international affairs at la Universidad del Rosario in Bogota, where her thesis analyzed the strategy of coca plant eradication as a basis of international cooperation. Claudia is a certified diver who loves to travel, and in her free time she's an avid horseback rider.

Leeann Brown

Administrative Assistant. Leeann came to EWG after attending Rutgers University where she double majored in Journalism & Media Studies and Music. Environmental and public health issues have always been key interests of the DC-area native. Leeann enjoys exploring new places, cultures, and music in her spare time.
 

Chris Cameron

System Admin. After starting his career building out nationwide Internet backbone companies, chris went on to direct information technology for a Fortune 500 firm before starting, directing and building infrastructure for several Internet and data center start-ups. He also has spent time teaching Internet development as an adjunct professor. Chris loves the outdoors and enjoys mountain biking, fly fishing and camping.

Don Carr

Press Secretary. Don comes to EWG from the Democratic National Committee where he served as a Communications Director in his home state of South Dakota. Previously, he worked in the SD state legislature and on former Senate Leader Tom Daschle's 2004 reelection campaign. Don enjoys fly-fishing, home-brewing, and searching for additional hyphenated pastimes.

Lisa Frack

Online Parent Organizer. Lisa connects with parents online to share EWG's research and activism opportunities on kid safe products, environmental health and toxics. She holds a BA in history from Princeton and a Masters in Public Policy from Duke. Lisa's two young children inspire her to make choosing safe products a simple task for even the busiest of parents. When offline, Lisa enjoys gardening, the amazingly beautiful Oregon coast, and reading book after book (after book) with her kids.

Sean Gray

Senior Analyst. Sean compiles, maps, and analyzes data on public lands, food consumption, and public water contamination. Sean holds a Bachelor’s degree from Bucknell, a Master's from the University of Maryland, and postgraduate studies at Yale. He lives with his wife and son in Clinton, CT.
 

Kari Hamerschlag

Senior Analyst. Kari is working on agriculture and climate change. Kari started her career twenty years ago as an organizer, researcher and advocate for socially and environmentally sound development policy, mostly focused in Latin America. For the past eight years, she has worked for a number of non-profits on fair trade, sustainable food and ag policy issues. Kari has a Masters from UC Berkeley in Latin American Studies and City and Regional Planning. She is an avid telemark skier and loves hiking with her dog Shoki in the East Bay Hills.

Dusty Horwitt, J.D.

Analyst. Dusty focuses on public lands, energy and transportation. He previously worked as a lawyer and as Deputy Press Secretary to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Dusty holds a BA in History from Brown and a J.D. from Georgetown. He enjoys biking, playing basketball and strumming his guitar.
 

Anila Jacob, M.D.

Senior Scientist. Anila uses her medical and public health background to analyze environmental risk factors. She completed her M.P.H. in Global Environmental Health from Emory University, where her thesis focused on environmental risk factors for cancer in state Comprehensive Cancer Control Plans. Anila enjoys reading and travel.
 

Sarah Jones

Legislative Analyst. Sarah is an attorney with an undergraduate degree from Boston College, a law degree from University of Miami, and a Masters degree in marine policy from UM’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, where she focused on international fisheries, coastal zone management, and aquaculture. Born and raised in the mountains of Los Angeles, Sarah lived in San Francisco, Maui, Massachusetts, and Miami, before coming to our nation's capital. And while she loves exploring her new city, rest assured, she would rather be surfing.

Mi-Young Kim

Web Designer. Mi-Young grew up in Korea and holds a BFA from Hong-Ik University in Seoul, Korea, where she worked at an advertising agency. She has over 3 years experience as a web and print designer. She loves volunteering with other NGO's and learning about American culture.

Nneka Leiba, M.Phil., MPH

Environmental Health Researcher. Nneka has a passion for the environment and environmental issues. This passion has led her to earn several related degrees, the most recent being a Masters in Public Health from The Johns Hopkins University. In 2006, she started at EWG where she works primarily on water-related projects.

Sonya Lunder

Senior Analyst. Sonya holds a Masters of Public Health from UC-Berkeley in Environmental Health Sciences. Prior to joining EWG in 2002, Sonya managed a community health intervention at a Superfund site, and worked for California's Environmental Health Investigations Branch. Sonya likes to bake bread and play legos with her son.

Jocelyn Lyle

Development Associate. Jocelyn started her non profit work with an environmental law firm in Montgomery, AL. She joins EWG as part of the operations team and will be working with our various vehicles of funding. She has a BA from Allegheny College in Political Science and Communication arts. Jocelyn hails from Pittsburgh, PA and is probably the only Bucco's fan in DC.

 

Bobbie Manning

Environmental Health Outreach Coordinator. Bobbie is a grass roots and community outreach organizer. As an advocate for children with neurodevelopmental disorders for 15 years, Bobbie's successful coalition building and grass roots activities has lead to the passage of legislation in multiple states including New York, Iowa, and California. Prior to her political advocacy work, Bobbie was an applied behavior analysis therapist for children with developmental disorders and attended the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Olga Naidenko, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist. Olga holds a PhD degree in immunology from the UCLA Molecular Biology Institute. Prior to joining EWG, she worked in Los Angeles, San Diego, and St. Louis, publishing 30 peer-reviewed papers in molecular and structural immunology. At EWG, Olga focuses on human health effects of chemical pollution. Olga enjoys yoga, dance, and learning new languages.

Michelle Perez

Senior Analyst. Michelle does research on farm subsidies, agricultural-environmental issues and biofuels and shares her findings with policy-makers and the public. Michelle has a BA in Biology from Occidental, a Masters from the University of Maryland (UMD) and is finishing up a PhD in agricultural-environmental policy at UMD. Michelle enjoys British TV mysteries, touch football with her husband and teenage step-daughter, and salsa dancing.

Jason Rano

Legislative Analyst Jason joins the EWG government affairs staff after working in Baltimore City government and on Capitol Hill. Jason holds an undergraduate degree from American University and a Masters in Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University. When not at work you can find Jason reading, cooking, enjoying a new restaurant, or cheering on his hometown New York Mets.

Amy Rosenthal

Development Associate. Amy attended Stanford University, graduating with a BA in History. After working as a paralegal, an interest in agriculture policy led her to the Environmental Working Group. She also likes to cook, eat and play outside.

Elaine Shannon

Editor-in-Chief. Elaine is a former correspondent for TIME and Newsweek magazines, a Neiman fellow at Harvard University and author of three books about terrorism, espionage and the global drug trade. She and husband Dan Morgan, a Washington Post correspondent, hike, ski, kayak and serve as pit crew for son Shannon Morgan, a Colorado College environmental science student and cycle racer.

Rebecca Sutton, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist. Rebecca is an environmental chemist and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining EWG, her research focused on computational studies of contaminant fate and transport, and soil carbon storage to moderate global warming. She has authored 10 publications in peer-reviewed journals.