Welcome 2018-19 Green Iowa AmeriCorps members!
Every September the WED office welcomes a new Green Iowa AmeriCorps team.
This year four amazing women join the WED office for 11 months of home energy saving, community engagement, and helping northeast Iowans reduce their energy use. We are grateful to have such a positive, hardworking, dedicated members who come from diverse backgrounds. Throughout the year you’ll hear about their experiences here in the monthly newsletter.
Read below to learn more about our members. If you see them out and about in the region (identifiable by that AmeriCorps logo on a green t-shirt), extend a “hello” and “thanks for your service”!
Katherine Hannigan, Audit Coordinator
Katherine Hannigan grew up in western New York, but has lived in northeast Iowa for 18 years. She has degrees in Mathematics and Education, and Painting, and an M.F.A. in Studio Art. She’s taught at Iowa State University, worked as an administrator for Head Start, written and illustrated some books, and now hopes to spend the rest of her life doing work that supports sustainability and the connectedness of all things. She’s serving as the Audit Coordinator for Green Iowa AmeriCorps at W.E.D this year.
Maddy Knutson
Maddy is from Monroe, Wisconsin, and recently graduated from Luther College in May 2018. With a degree in Anthropology and minor in Environmental Studies, she wanted to find a way to bring her ideas to a community she loves and looks forward to knowing the community better through engaging in projects and opportunities with other local organizations. Green Iowa AmeriCorps was the perfect outlet for her to put her passion for clean energy and sustainability to work as the Outreach Coordinator. She enjoys hiking, playing guitar, hanging out with her grandma, and is super excited to be back in Decorah.
Gracie Engle
I grew up in Dayton, Ohio and just graduated from the University of Alabama with a double major in History and Anthropology with a focus in Southeastern Archaeology. I enjoy working outside and doing outdoor activities like camping and whitewater rafting. I’m really excited to work here in Decorah and help as well as educate people about energy efficiency and sustainability.
Briana Burke, Logistics Coordinator
I am so grateful to be able to call Decorah my hometown. Growing up here surrounded by such a beautiful landscape and involved community is largely what has brought me to where I am today. This past spring, I graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with dual BS degrees in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, as well as Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. My undergraduate career was highlighted by study abroad experiences in Norway, Peru, Malaysia, and a summer spent in Panama working for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. I am currently studying for the LSAT and am hoping to pursue an environmental law degree next fall. In the meantime, I am looking forward to a year of serving our county and neighbors!