The Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (MW CASC) has grown since our launch in September 2021, and so has our team! As a federal-university partnership, we are supported by personnel from the University of Minnesota and the U.S. Geological Society (USGS). Here are the people behind the MW CASC: 

	Jessica Hellmann, Consortium Director. Hellmann oversees all consortium functions of the MW CASC, from chairing the Leadership Team to mentoring postdocs and students to supervising University of Minnesota-based staff.
	Olivia LeDee, Acting Federal Director. LeDee leads the development of the MW CASC regional research plan and organizational development. She also establishes and maintains partnerships with resource management and science communities in the Midwest.
	Jessica Del Fiacco, Communications Manager. Del Fiacco is responsible for building and maintaining the MW CASC website, facilitating communication among members and partners, and overseeing and executing strategic communication priorities.
	Holly Embke, USGS Research Fish Biologist. Embke conducts applied research investigations on the effects of global change on anadromous and inland US fish species. She also researches the integration of climate change science with more traditional conservation assessments to identify approaches for prioritizing conservation action (mitigation, restoration, and adaptation) specific to fish species.
	Marta Lyons, USGS Climate Impacts Ecologist. Lyons engages with federal, state, and tribal species working groups and develops methods for quantifying the impacts of climate change on non-game wildlife.
	Owen McKenna, USGS Research Ecologist, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. McKenna is a Research Ecologist at Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center in Jamestown, ND and a Visiting Scientist with MW CASC. His research is focused on applying a mechanistic understanding of how wetland ecosystems respond to changes in climate and land use in support of both migratory-bird habitat management and water quality and water quantity issues in agricultural and grassland landscapes of the Northern Great Plains, Midwestern United States, and Southcentral Canada.
	Sara Smith, Midwest Tribal Resilience Liaison. Smith, based at the College of Menominee Nation, works on facilitating stronger relationships between Tribes, climate researchers, State and Federal organizations, academic institutions, and the MW CASC. In addition, she works with Tribes to build capacity and provides support by helping identify gaps and assisting with climate resilience efforts.
	Kristen Voorhies, USGS Science Coordinator. Voorhies coordinates management of the MW CASC science portfolio, helping to identify the best, most relevant science in the region for support.
	Elissa Welch, Program Manager. Welch manages the administrative functions and awards of the MW CASC, oversees the conduct of events and workshops, and serves as a point of contact and to build capacity across internal and external MW CASC participants, students, and stakeholders.

In addition, there are several staff members based at the MW CASC host institution, the University of Minnesota, who lead program areas, including: Sue Galatowitsch, Graduate Student Program Lead; Heidi Roop, Program Lead for Capacity-Building; Michael Dockry, Program Lead for Tribal Relations; and Lucinda Johnson, Postdoctoral Research Scholar Program Lead. 

The MW CASC is led by a Consortium Leadership Team made up of representatives from all nine member institutions. An Advisory Committee also provides strategic guidance on regional management challenges and climate science needs relevant to natural and cultural resources.