Our Board
Liz Luc Clowes, ASLA
Board ChairLiz is Owner/Designer, Luc Clowes Landscape Design
Andrew Droste
Member & Chair of Nominating and Governance CommitteeAndrew is VP, ESG Engagement, Stewardship & Proxy Voting (Co-Head North America), Columbia Threadneedle Investments
Amanda Rich
Co-Founder, Clerk, & Board MemberAmanda is an independent sustainability consultant with a Master’s in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard University.
Tracy Sopchak
Interim Treasurer and Chair of Finance CommitteeTracy Sopchak is Director of Development and Engagement at the Ipswich River Watershed Association.
Danielle Kaplan
Board MemberDanielle Kaplan is the Director of Operations & Finance at InnerCity Weightlifting and founder and maker of DaniJayne.
Grey Lee
Board MemberGrey Lee is a sustainability subject matter expert and manages S&P Global's ESG service offerings for the northeast US.
Christine Araujo
Board MemberChristine Araujo is a consultant at Zuaria Partners and is the former Executive Director of the American City Coalition in Roxbury.
Our Staff
David Meshoulam, PhD (he/him)
Co-Founder & Executive DirectorDavid (pronounced Dah-veed) co-founded Speak for the Trees in 2018. Trained as a science educator, his work has focused on ways to increase understanding of the connections between science, culture, and history and to empower people to be change agents. He holds a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a Senior Fellow at the Environmental Leadership Program, and is co-chair of the Urban Ecology Collaborative. When he's not tending to trees, his 2 children, or his 1 mini Australian Shepherd, you can reach him at [email protected].
Jerel Ferguson (he/him)
Community Outreach ManagerJerel has a profound love of nature, trees, and the Great Outdoors. A true tree hugger, he encourages urban youth and families to participate in and experience an active life in the outdoors by hiking, camping, and more. Jerel is an herbalist, a forager, and an established outdoor leader. He has a passion for growing and cooking food, he's also an urban farmer and gardener. Jerel has three boys and a cat named Oscar.
Victoria Frothingham (she/her)
Development ManagerVictoria has made her career in the nonprofit sector in Boston, working in a range of positions from ESOL Teacher, to Volunteer Coordinator, to Associate Director of Grant Programs in human services and education organizations. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Paris III.
Claire Corcoran (she/her)
Community Tree SpecialistClaire is a Massachusetts Certified Arborist and has a Master of Forestry from Yale School of the Environment as well as an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from Barnard College. She has worked for the MA Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program as a Plant Community Ecologist as well as at the Arnold Arboretum as a Horticulturalist. She has volunteered for the Gas Leaks Allies since their inception in 2015, and is on the Board of Directors of Eastie Farm. A lover of trees and cities, she has lived in Boston’s South End for the past twenty years with her husband, three kids, and two dogs.
Joshua Reed (he/him)
Education CoordinatorJoshua is interested in environmental and economic justice policy issues and passionate about volunteerism. He believes strongly in educating youth on environmental justice and sustainable development. He served in the Peace Corps in Comoros as a TEFL Volunteer where he also joined local Comorians in various sustainable environmental projects. In AmeriCorps he served as a Volunteer Manager for the nonprofit Opportunity Living. He is a lover of nature and explores new hiking and camping spots throughout New England. He is currently finishing his MA in Applied Politics at Suffolk University.
Mekhi Edge Wallace (he/him)
Tree Care AssociateMekhi is a graduate of the first PowerCorps Boston cohort. He enjoys the outdoors whether it be working, walking, or hanging out. He believes working in the green industry is the most satisfying job because you get to watch the fruits of your labor blossom in real time. His hobbies include soccer, writing, and listening to music. He hopes to continue making an effort to fight climate change in the future.
Hannah Axtell (she/her)
MassCEC InternHannah is originally from a small island off of the coast of South Carolina and has always been especially interested in community building, mutual aid, and sustainability. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with minors in Spanish and Marketing and is enrolled in the PlusOne program for a Master's degree in Environmental Science and Policy at Northeastern University. She is passionate about climate justice and endangered species conservation and is excited to be a part of a team with the mission to enrich local communities and advocate for increased tree coverage and access to green spaces in the Greater Boston area.
Nora Kelly (she/her)
MassCEC InternNora is entering her senior year at Boston University, majoring in Earth and Environment, with a minor in Remote Sensing and GIS. She is interested in urban ecology and passionate about environmental justice. She hopes to not only support the Speak for the Trees team this summer but learn from them as well. Between classes and working as an RA at BU, Nora enjoys cooking, and weightlifting and is attempting to master the art of sourdough bread making.
Chad Fisher (he/him)
NeighborWoods Research FellowChad is excited to serve as Speak for the Trees, Boston's NeighborWoods Research Fellow through the Tufts University Tisch Summer Fellowship. He is finishing the first year of his master's degree in Agriculture, Food, and Environment and is as passionate about using data to improve climate resilience. In his free time, Chad likes to explore Boston parks, play ultimate frisbee, and play ukulele. His favorite tree is the Madrona tree. The Speak for the Trees mission resonates strongly with him and he can't wait to help his city this summer!
