NAU Green Fund Committee
Kayla Tallmadge,
Co-Chair
Kayla is a sophomore at NAU majoring in Environmental & Sustainability Studies with a minor in Urban Planning & Design. She is from southwest Colorado and is passionate about connecting sustainability with community planning. In her free time, Kayla enjoys hiking, camping, rafting, traveling, and seeing live music!
Connier Gilliam,
Co-Chair
Connier is a sophomore at NAU majoring in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Chemistry. He is from Phoenix, Arizona. Connier enjoys spending time outside, rock climbing, reading, hanging out with friends, and exploring new things.
Jayda Schmerfeld, Secretary
Ashley Gehrmann, Public Relations Specialist
Ashley is a senior at NAU majoring in Visual Communications with an emphasis in Graphic Design and minoring in Psychology. She brings a creative perspective to the Green Fund and, outside of design, enjoys working at a San Diego coffee shop and exploring new places with her camera.
Makayla Harmon-McIntosh, Treasurer
Makayla is a sophomore at NAU studying Environmental Studies and Sustainability, and she is also working toward a certificate in River Studies and Leadership. She is from Surprise, Arizona, and is passionate about protecting the environment and creating a sustainable future for her three younger siblings and marginalized communities affected by climate change. Outside of the Green Fund, Makayla enjoys painting and completing brightly colored puzzles.
Laynie Madden, Community Outreach Specialist I
Laynie is a sophomore at NAU majoring in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a minor in Law, Rights, and Justice. She is from Winterset, Iowa, and serves as the Community Outreach Specialist I for the Green Fund. Laynie enjoys running, hiking, playing the piano, and bullet journaling, and she has been playing piano for 12 years.
Ani Johnson, Community Outreach Specialist II
Annalise (Ani) is a sophomore at NAU double majoring in Sustainability and Environmental Studies and Comparative Cultural Studies. She grew up mainly in Colorado and now lives in North Carolina. Ani serves as the Community Outreach II for the 2025 NAU Green Fund and enjoys rock climbing, mountain biking, playing guitar, pottery, and traveling.
Jolie LoBrutto, Graduate Student Representative
Jolie is a third-year PhD student at NAU studying how climate change factors like warming and precipitation impact soil microbial communities in Northern Arizona. Originally studying seagrass meadows during undergrad, she developed a deep appreciation for ecosystems that store carbon and support biodiversity. Growing up in a household that prioritized composting and reusing, Jolie is passionate about sustainability and excited to help advance campus initiatives through the Green Fund.
Dr. Kent Linthicum, Faculty Advisor
Kent Linthicum is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies at NAU, specializing in environmental humanities. He earned his Ph.D. from Arizona State University and was a postdoctoral fellow at Georgia Tech. His research focuses on energy and culture, with work published in Environmental Humanities, Studies in English Literature, The Atlantic, and Slate.
Avi Henn, Staff & Green Fund Business Manager
Avi was born and raised in Israel, where he became passionate about sustainability, climate mitigation, and wildland preservation. He earned his most recent degree from NAU’s Climate Science and Solutions program and has over 20 years of experience, including more than ten years working on sustainability initiatives in Flagstaff. Avi is excited to help NAU advance its carbon neutrality and become a leader in sustainability.
Martin Yepiz, Facility Services Representative
Martin was born and raised in Sonora, Mexico, and grew up fascinated by architecture and construction. He joined NAU’s Building Science Master’s program to focus on energy efficiency and building performance. He works as a Project Manager for NAU’s Planning, Design, and Construction department and teaches as an adjunct professor in Construction Management.