Meet the experts behind the communication program:

Lisa Leombruni, PHD

Lisa brings experience in broadcast science media, communication research, and environmental policy to the Bren School. Previously, Lisa worked for NOVA/WGBH Boston, where she co-developed proposals for new television programs, oversaw media evaluation and impact studies, and conducted editorial research. She has consulted for a variety of clients, including the United Nations, Oxfam America, and Climate Nexus.

Heather Hodges, PHD

Heather is a postdoctoral scholar at the Bren School, interested in how public and politics influence policy design and implementation. Using theories from communication and social psychology to analyze the public's relationship to policy through information streams, she uses these findings to explain this relationship via their interactions with agencies and managers.

Michael Hanrahan

Michael is Video Producer at the Earth Media Lab and brings more than two decades of experience in environmental media storytelling to UCSB. In collaboration with UCSB’s Carsey-Wolf Center, Michael co-founded Blue Horizons, a summer environmental filmmaking program. He has spent 20 years in natural history film and media production for clients such as Discovery Channel, The Nature Conservancy, and NOAA.

Allison Horst

Allison is a lecturer (statistics, data science, and presentation skills) at the Bren School. She brings experience in data visualization and communication, and also leads courses and workshops on public presentation and interview skills, research storytelling, and poster design. As a graphic designer and artist, she also creates educational materials to make complex science and data analysis concepts accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.

Richard Hutton

Richard is Executive Director of the Center for Environmental Communication and Education, and has served as Executive Director of UCSB’s Carsey-Wolf Center. Previously, Richard ran Vulcan Productions, where he co-produced numerous documentaries and mini-series for organizations such as PBS. Richard was Senior Vice President of Creative Development at Walt Disney Imagineering and has been published widely, including in the New York Times Magazine.

JOHN

Jostes, MPA

John Jostes is a seasoned environmental entrepreneur and nationally recognized mediator of complex policy disputes. He specializes in resolving science-intensive and intractable disputes over water, land use, and endangered species. His clients include the President’s Council on Environmental Quality, water users along the Lower Colorado River, and the State Coastal Conservancy. He recently started a new fund at Bren to support students interesting in building leadership and communication skills.