Board of Directors

In February 2017, our kids and grand-kids asked, “Why are we having Summer in the middle of Winter?”  It’s just weather today, but over the long term, the temperatures are rising. It’s getting hotter and drier in New Mexico. We need to do something about it.

 

Mieka Ritsema, Founder and Executive Director

Mieka loves wandering around New Mexico with her family. She has taught and lived in several countries around the world, including Botswana where she was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study urban development. Mieka has a B.A. in Anthropology from Dartmouth College, and a M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Anthropology from Yale University.

 

Diane Roussel-Dupré, Founder and Board Secretary

Diane has been investigating the stars since she was a child, and she has a passion for archaeoastronomy. Diane worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Astrophysics and Aerospace Engineering for 31 years. She has a B.S. in Physics from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. in Astrogeophysics from University of Colorado.

 

Allena Satpathi, Founder and Board Treasurer

Allena grew up in New Mexico enjoying the Summer monsoons, swimming in the Rio Grande, and playing in the Bosque.  Allena has worked at Sandia National Laboratories for over a decade.  Allena served as the Executive Director of Urban Options, a Chicago, IL non-profit focused on youth entrepreneurship.  Allena also served as the Board Secretary for La Montanita Cooperative.  Allena has a B.U.S. from the University of New Mexico and a M.S.C.S. from the University of Chicago.