Staff

Professor Phillip Thompson serves as Director of the Seattle University Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability and served as Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Chair from 2006-2013. He received the 2015 Seattle University Alumni Association's  Distinguished Faculty Award and the 2011-2012 Father James McGoldrick Fellowship, Seattle University's highest faculty honor. He was also awarded the 2009-2010 Thomas J. Bannan endowed chair of engineering. Dr. Thompson joined Seattle University after receiving his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Iowa in 1997. He also earned an M.S. in Environmental Engineering and a B.A. in Biology from the University of Iowa and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Washington.

Yolanda is a graduate of the "Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)" (Brussels, Belgium) with a Masters in Contemporary History, specializing in Immigration studies, and a Masters in International Humanitarian Aid from the "Université Catholique de Louvain" (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium). She also holds a post-masters degree in Teaching. She is the author of "Chileans in Exile: Their Immigration, Reception and Integration" (2004), published by the "Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)" Press, and worked for the Regional Integration Center of Brussels, providing social orientation programs to newcomers. After relocating to Seattle, she worked at the World Affairs Council and Pacific Village Institute promoting international exchange for professionals and developing cross-cultural and global issues curriculum for high school students and educators. Yolanda also worked several years in documentary production. She assisted in the production of feature-length documentaries on topics such as Fair Trade, Motherhood, and The Ecological Footprint; and edited over forty short films for Longhouse Media, a non-profit organization seeking to catalyze Indigenous people and communities to use media as a tool for self-expression, cultural preservation, and social change.

Yolanda joined Seattle University in 2015 where she manages the institution’s sustainability initiatives. In this role, she collaborates with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders to plan, assess, and improve SU’s climate action and sustainability performance. She is the recipient of the 2018 Seattle University Lee Thurber Outstanding Staff Award. Since 2022, Yolanda serves as co-chair of Seattle University's Laudato Si Action Platform (LSAP). Outside SU, Yolanda teaches at the “Oranjeschool,” supporting elementary school students in maintaining and nurturing their Dutch heritage language.

Nikki is a junior from Naperville IL, pursuing a major in Environmental Studies with a specialization in Urban Sustainability. Working on a produce farm at a young age, she developed an appreciation for sustainability and the natural environment. At Seattle University, her time with the Grounds Department and Outdoor Recreation Program amplified her desire to engage with urban sustainability. Nikki hopes to combine her outdoor and agricultural experience with environmental education to serve as a steward within the local community. Besides her CEJS internship, Nikki will this year also serve as a SUstainability delegate on SGSU (student government), and focus on advocating for sustainable advancements on campus and supporting initiatives that encourage action for environmental justice.

Alice is a junior Environmental Studies major and biology minor. Growing up in Washington, she has always been close to nature, and draws inspiration from the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She is passionate about conservation, sustainably, and social justice. On campus, Alice is a member of SSA, where she works with students to promote sustainability, environmental education, and justice on campus through numerous projects. With a love for the arts, she also is a part of the SU choir community, where she sings in chamber singers. Alice is glad to be a part of the CEJS team! 

Brooke is a Junior from Apple Valley, MN majoring in Civil Engineering. Her love of the natural world bloomed by spending endless amounts of time by the lakes in northern Minnesota. This love and admiration for freshwater ecosystems is what made her purse a major in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. If Brooke is not around the Seattle University campus, you can often find her at Volunteer Park, the Washington Park Arboretum or at the Capitol Hill Farmers Market. She hopes to blend her passion of environmental conservation with her technical education in engineering.

Anna is a senior from Houston, Texas majoring in Environmental Studies with a specialization in Urban Sustainability with a minor in Latinx Studies. Her appreciation for nature began by swimming in local rivers and lakes from a young age and grew as she travelled across the US along with different countries, being able to see all the different beauty the world has to offer. After graduation, she wants to improve the way people live in the natural world and strive for a new sustainable future.