Meet Our 2024 Summer Associates

Grant Alexander is a rising junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he is pursuing a dual degree in International Politics and Public Policy with business-oriented coursework in Sustainable Enterprise. He is motivated by the opportunity to center sustainability and equity in for marginalized communities on local and global scales, specifically through roles that engage with sustainable and socially responsible corporate practice, land use, and environmental planning and law. Grant hopes to continue his education through graduate studies after graduating in 2026. 

At CleanAIRE NC, Grant will primarily work with the Community Science and Advocacy Programs. His projects this summer include producing reports with air monitor data from communities around NC, drafting a case study on CleanAIRE NC’s work in the Historic West End of Charlotte, contributing to an advocacy manual outlining how the public can engage with local environmental policy, and compiling information on data collection methods for different kinds of air monitors. Through his work, Grant hopes to gain a better understanding of how to work with communities of color fighting for environmental justice.

Chad Hartless is pursuing his Masters in Public Health at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, with a concentration in Environment, Climate, and Health. He earned his bachelors in Environmental Management and Policy from UNC–Asheville and holds a Certificate in GIS Fundamentals from Asheville-Buncombe Community College. This summer, he will be working with CleanAIRE NC’s Environmental Justice Program to develop a community mapping protocol. 

When he is not thinking about how to help make the world a better place through his work, Chad enjoys spending time outside, playing music, cooking, or harassing his very temperamental and semi-feral cat, Squirrel.

Zach Roberts is student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, pursuing his Master’s in Environmental Management with a concentration in energy and policy. He hails from rural central Virginia, where he quickly grew to love the outdoors and local community work. Zach’s fervent interest in environmental issues led him to study Government and Environmental Policy at the College of William and Mary, followed by a continued focus on community work: from solar advocacy, to clean water planning in AmeriCorps, and now to advocating for clean and healthy air for communities across North Carolina. During his summer with CleanAIRE NC, Zach is excited to continue building on his previous experience and engage with issues directly facing local communities, while keeping environmental justice and equity at the forefront of his work.

In his free time, you can expect to find Zach exploring nature, creating something new in the kitchen, honing his art skills, or reading dense fantasy novels, among other things.

Tori Teague is a second-year Levine Scholar at UNC–Charlotte double majoring in Biology and Communication Studies with a concentration in Public Relations. With her degrees, she hopes to pursue a career in environmentalism, sustainability, and scientific communication. Tori will work closely with the Education Program during her time with CleanAIRE NC, researching and developing the content and composing the learning management system for the AirKeeper Academy.

Outside of work, Tori likes to get outdoors, hike, run, kayak, and take road trips to see new places.

Zijin (Jim) Wang is from Guangzhou, China, and is currently a rising sophomore at Davidson College, majoring in Environmental Science and Economics. From a young age, Jim has been passionate about the environment. The visible impacts of climate change and environmental damage in his hometown—including air pollution and extreme rain seasons—motivated him to pursue a career in environmental science and contribute to efforts preventing further environmental deterioration.

Jim is excited to join CleanAIRE NC this summer, where his work includes conducting case studies on Sampson County and gathering information about the new air monitors. He is eager to contribute to CleanAIRE NC’s mission while gaining a deeper understanding of North Carolina’s environmental challenges.

When not immersed in environmental science, you can often find Jim sailing on Lake Norman or capturing moments through his camera lens.

Leah Wildermann is a student at Duke Kunshan University in China studying environmental and climate science, where she has done research in climate misinformation and social media. She is passionate about the effects of climate change on mental health, particularly the phenomenon of apocalypse fatigue, which she believes is one of the greatest barriers to youth climate advocacy. This summer she will be working as a Health Associate under the Health Program Manager. 

Outside of environmental science, Leah enjoys walking, listening to music, and undertaking just about any creative task—from crocheting, to painting, to music composition.