Staff
Our Multidisciplinary Team
The multidisciplinary team offers experience and expertise across a diverse range of areas. We are formally trained as public administrators, planners, finance/business specialists, economists, policy specialists, information and data scientists, environmental scientists, and more.
Staff
Ahmed Rachid El-Khattabi
Interim Executive Director
Dr. Ahmed Rachid (AR) El-Khattabi is the (Interim Executive Director) and Associate Director for research and data at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). In this role, he oversees the production of financial sustainability … Read more
Christy Ihlo
Deputy Director
Christy Ihlo joined the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC) as the Deputy Director in 2021, overseeing the daily operations of the Center. She brings a diverse background, including program management, monitoring and evaluation, technical … Read more
Tenika McMillan
Acting Assistant Director
Tenika McMillan is the Acting Assistant Director at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). Tenika Assists in developing and implementing departmental plans and goals as well as overseeing staffing responsibilities and management of projects. … Read more
Miguel Jackson
Strategic Outreach Director
Miguel Jackson is the Strategic Outreach Director at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). In this role, he helps the UNC EFC by overseeing efforts to engage and build relationships with key stakeholders, communities, … Read more
Alicea Easthope-Frazer
Project Director
Alicea Easthope-Frazer is a Project Director at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). In this role, she supports utilities to become financially sustainable and communities to achieve water and wastewater access. Alicea believes championing … Read more
Anna Patterson
Project Director
Anna Patterson is a Project Director at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). In this role, she focuses on helping communities and utilities improve their environmental health and financial resilience. Anna believes that access … Read more
Hope Thomson
Project Director
Hope Thomson is a Project Director at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). In this role, she works with communities to improve their utility’s financial capacity and plan for capital improvements. Hope believes that … Read more
Melanie Sanchez
Project Director
Melanie Sanchez is a Project Director at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). In this role, she helps manage multiple projects, including Pollution Prevention, Lumber River Council of Government (LRCOG), and Community work (BIL), … Read more
Justin Nolan
Project Director
Justin Nolan is a Project Director at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). In this role, He works for communities to help them find funding for water and sewer infrastructure, gives training and conducts … Read more
Alicia James
Project Manager
Alicia James is a Project Manager at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). In this role, she utilizes her expertise in public policy, state and local government management, and public finance to provide infrastructure … Read more
Eva Ramirez-Flores
Data Specialist
Eva Ramirez-Flores is the Data Specialist at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). In this role, she develops web applications and dashboards that streamline utility financial assessments. Eva believes that leveraging data science is … Read more
Megan Doherty
Project Analyst
Megan Doherty is a Project Analyst at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). In this role, she does applied research into various funding streams available to water and wastewater utilities and helps communities access … Read more
Emma Copenhaver
Project Analyst
Emma Copenhaver is a Project Analyst at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). In this role, she does applied research into various funding streams available to water and wastewater utilities and helps communities access … Read more
Amanda Peele
Project Analyst
Amanda Peele is a Project Analyst at the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before working at the EFC, she studied public policy and environmental sustainability at UNC-Chapel … Read more
Kaden Graham
Project Analyst
Kaden Graham is a Project Analyst at the UNC Environmental Finance Center (UNC EFC). In this role, he conducts data analyses and creates data visualizations with financial information from various sources utilizing RStudio and Microsoft … Read more