Welcome to the GLISA ELF team! We’re a passionate group of educators, researchers, and community advocates dedicated to empowering youth in West Michigan's lakeshore frontline communities. Over the next two years, we’re committed to fostering youth leadership and peer-learning to tackle the urgent challenges posed by climate change.

Our project, supported by the NOAA GLISA Program, aims to create a robust climate change education system that integrates scientific knowledge with local community needs. By focusing on high school and college students in Muskegon County, we’re developing a transdisciplinary curriculum and a network of mentorship and experiential learning opportunities.

Meet the individuals driving this initiative forward—each bringing unique skills and perspectives to ensure that our young leaders are equipped to adapt and thrive in a changing climate. Together, we're working toward a sustainable future for all! 

Elena Lioubimtseva, Ph.D.

GVSU Geography and Sustainable Planning Department, Professor

Dr. Lioubimtseva's research interests include human vulnerability and adaptations to climate change, food security, climate change scenarios, and applications of geospatial technologies for understanding climate change impacts. Elena has extensive field research experience in Russia, France, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. She is currently conducting research on the climate change adaptation planning by the local governments in the United States and in France and is actively involved in collaboration with the University of Versailles in France. Locally, she is active in her research on adaptation and resiliency planning in West Michigan. She was a special contributor to Grand Rapids Climate Resiliency Report and is a member of the West Michigan Climate Adaptation Council.

Email: [email protected]

Kin Ma, Ph.D.

GVSU Geography and Sustainable Planning Department, Associate Professor

Dr. Kin Ma holds a Ph.D. in Geography and an M.S. in Resource Development from Michigan State University, as well as a B.A. from Williams College. His areas of interest include Geographic Information Systems (GIS), civic and community engagement, and remote sensing of forests and water resources. Dr. Ma is passionate about natural resource management, with a focus on the Great Lakes, U.S./Canadian geography, Taiwan, and East Asia. He also serves as the advisor to the Association of Student Geographers and Planners (ASGP) and co-advises the GVSU chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU). Through his research and teaching, he aims to foster understanding of these critical geographic issues.

Email: [email protected]

Eric Carballido

Muskegon Community College Life Science Department, Instructor

Eric Carballido is a Geography Instructor at Muskegon Community College. His past research has focused on estimating historical water level fluctuations in small lakes using GIS and remote sensing. As a co-investigator on the current project, he serves as a liaison to the Muskegon community. Eric will work closely with the grant team to integrate GLISA tools into his courses and to develop new climate change courses modeled after those offered at Grand Valley State University.

Email: [email protected]

Diane Miller

GVSU Regional Math and Science Center (RMSC), Business and Community Outreach Coordinator

MiSTEM Network Greater West Michigan Region

Diane Miller is the Business and Community Outreach Specialist for the Regional Math & Science Center (RMSC). Diane has served the RMSC in different capacities for twelve years and for the MiSTEM Network’s Greater West Michigan Region as the Business, Community and Education Liaison – connecting K-12 education to community and business partners for seven years. Prior to GVSU, Diane worked in a family-owned manufacturing business in Muskegon for 15 years as the Director of Marketing. Her undergraduate degree is in Geography/Environmental Studies, and she received an MPA | Urban Planning & Management, both from GVSU. Diane has extensive experience in building community and business partnerships, grant writing and fundraising. In addition to her business and community partnership work, Diane developed a GIS Career Exploration StoryMap tool to help K-12 students discover local careers/employers and build talent for strengthening the Michigan workforce. Three years ago, Diane partnered with Women in Manufacturing to create a middle school camp devoted to Advanced Manufacturing. The camp is running successfully through generous sponsors and the support of the Regional Math & Science Center and GVSU's College of Engineering. 

Email: [email protected]

Rylie Dietz

GVSU Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program, Student

Rylie Dietz is a third year at Grand Valley pursuing both a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management with a certificate in Geographic Information Science and Technology. She is also a current Michigan substitute teacher. On campus, she is involved in the Frederik Meijer Honors College, and Seidman College of Business mentorship program, and a fellow candidate in the Cook Leadership Academy. Rylie loves to share her love for planet with others in the community.

Email: [email protected] 

Rebecca Lubbers

GVSU Geography and Sustainable Planning Department, Student

Rebecca Lubbers is an alumna of Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) and is currently completing a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Sustainable Planning at Grand Valley State University (GVSU), with a minor in Environmental Sustainability Studies and certificates in Sustainable Food Systems, Geographic Information Systems Technology, and Urban and Regional Planning. Her background includes serving as the Student Resources Coordinator at GRCC, where she managed basic needs support for college students as well as community engagement with local organizations. At GVSU she is the President of the Association of Student Geographers and Planners (ASGP) and has previously led both the Geography Club and the Gardening Club at GRCC. Rebecca’s academic interests lie at the intersection of climate change mitigation, community food systems, and public education on sustainability measures. She is also passionate about volunteer work, engaging with diverse age groups, particularly young adults, to foster a deeper understanding of community and environmental issues.

Email: [email protected] 

Diana Casey

Muskegon Community College Life Science Department, Instructor (Retired)

Diana L. Casey is a recently retired faculty member from the Geography Department at Muskegon Community College. Her academic background and teaching focused on physical geography, meteorology, climatology, and education. She continues to do research with colleagues, including advising the GLISA-NOAA ELF Team, but in retirement is pursuing other endeavors of which the most engaging involves her dogs. They are performing dance shows with other dogs and friends at adult care facilities. During this new creative avenue of life, she shares, "How exciting it is to have this time to be creating music, developing choreography, sewing costumes, training my dogs, and most of all bringing smiles to many faces."

Janet Vail, Ph.D.

Project Curriculum Development Adviser and Climate Change Science Education Mentor

Dr. Janet Vail will serve as a project curriculum development adviser and climate change science education mentor for the project team. Janet is a research scientist emerita at the Grand Valley State University Annis Water Resources Institute (GVSU-AWRI). She holds a Ph.D. in Science Education with a specialization in environmental education. Dr. Vail has served as the coordinator of the GVSU Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) partnership. She is a co-author on the Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support Climate Change Unit, which consists of lessons for middle through high school students. Her areas of expertise include curriculum development, educator professional development facilitation, and teaching.

Email: [email protected]

Tanya Cabala

West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), Lakeshore Outreach Organizer

Tanya Cabala is a dedicated community environmental advocate with over 30 years of experience. Her activism began in her hometown in northern Muskegon County, addressing pollution concerns as a young mother. This led to her work with a Lake Michigan environmental organization, focusing on coastal sand dune protection, water quality, and environmental stewardship. Tanya has served 12 years on the city council and is currently in another four-year term. She founded White Lake Area Nature Walks, introducing residents to local natural assets, and established a consulting business supporting Great Lakes organizations. Currently, as the lakeshore outreach organizer for the West Michigan Environmental Action Council, Tanya promotes clean energy solutions, leads a Muskegon County recycling initiative, assists with WMEAC blogs, and collaborates with Muskegon area teachers on a zero waste education curriculum.

Email: [email protected]

Elaine Sterrett Isely

West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), Interim Executive Director

Elaine Sterrett Isely joined WMEAC to lead its Water Team in 2012; she transitioned into organizational leadership as Deputy Director in 2021, and in July 2024 she was appointed as the Interim Executive Director. She has held a number of positions in the nonprofit and academic sectors focused on research,policy implementation, and collaboration; she has 20 years of experience in law, water policy, and public speaking. She holds degrees in Finance (BS) from the University of Maryland, law (JD) from Wayne State University Law School, and biology (MS) from Grand Valley State University. She serves on local and state advisory committees, and she has published academic papers on environmental and collaborative management topics.

Email: [email protected]

Rachel Kelly

University of Michigan

GLISA Climatologist

Rachel is a Climatologist for GLISA at the University of Michigan. In this role, she supports various GLISA projects and products for their partners and stakeholders throughout the Great Lakes region. Rachel is involved in GLISA’s ensemble work, is assisting with developing new extreme precipitation guidance/resources for the region, and is coordinating the next Climate Modeling Workshop. 

Email: [email protected]

Tori Field

University of Michigan

Sustained Engagement Specialist

Tori Field is a Sustained Engagement Specialist for GLISA at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. In this role, Tori helps accelerate and scale-up adaptation action in the Great Lakes in an equitable and sustainable way. As a primary coordinator between researchers, communities, and boundary organizations, Tori helps build and maintain intentional relationships that center communities most impacted by climate hazards while positioning justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the forefront of GLISA’s research and programs.

Email: [email protected]