meet our team
Max Frankel
Max Frankel is the Executive Director of SEEC Institute. Max brings a decade of experience in energy and environmental policy to SEEC Institute, working both within and outside of government to advance climate solutions that meet the scale of the challenges we face.
Prior to leading SEEC Institute, Max was the Deputy Director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid, a broad-based interest organization working on expanding, improving, and modernizing America’s high-voltage energy system. Before joining ACEG, Max served as a Director in the Energy practice at Invariant, where he leveraged his policy expertise to help businesses and policymakers understand one another at the intersection of the environment and economy. Prior to Invariant, he spent more than five years in Rep. Mike Quigley’s (D-IL) office, where he served as policy advisor and legislative director, working on energy, environment, transportation, housing, infrastructure, and appropriations issues. Before working on Capitol Hill, Max was part of the climate and energy team at the World Resources Institute and was also a fifth and sixth grade science and social studies teacher with the Teach for America program in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Max received his BA from Vassar College in New York and lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Karla, and their two cats, Sunny and Cleo.
Pearson Croney-Clark
Pearson Croney-Clark is the Director of External Affairs at SEEC Institute. Her career spans work in France, Canada, and the United States, focusing on critical issues such as climate change, food systems and agriculture, foreign affairs, and global business policy.
Before joining SEEC Institute, Pearson was Public Affairs Manager at Oatly, the oatmilk company, where she developed strategies at the nexus of food systems and climate policy. Previously, she was a Policy Advisor to Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, spearheading initiatives on food security, sustainable agriculture, and equitable food systems. In France, Pearson was part of the Government Relations team at the American Chamber of Commerce, where she facilitated dialogue on key business and trade issues with French, EU, and US government representatives.
Pearson holds a Master’s degree in European Affairs from Sciences Po’s School of Public Affairs and an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and American Studies from the University of Toronto.
A native of Paris, Kentucky, Pearson now lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband, Pierre.
Julia Greensfelder
Julia Greensfelder is the Director of Policy and International Programming at SEEC Institute. Julia's career spans work at all levels of government, from serving on her local school board to representing the United States at various UN climate conferences.
Before joining SEEC Institute, Julia worked as Government Affairs Manager at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace where she advised Carnegie scholars on best practices for engaging Congress and the Executive Branch to maximize the impact of their work. Before joining the NGO community, Julia served as Director of Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate at the Department of State, as Congressional Liaison Officer in the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs at USAID, and as a Legislative and Policy Analyst on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democratic staff.
Prior to leaving government, Julia completed the Gordon R. Sullivan Fellowship Program with the Center for Climate and Security and the Biden-Harris White House Emerging Leaders Program. Julia graduated with her BA in International Relations from Washington University in St. Louis, completed the Fleet Seminar Program at the Naval War College, and is a part-time graduate student at the Naval War College working towards a MA in Defense and Strategic Studies.
A native of Berkeley, California, Julia now lives in Washington, DC with her partner, Dave, and her dog, Cleo.
Arianna Soresi
Arianna Soresi is the Senior Development Associate at SEEC Institute, where she drives philanthropic strategy and cultivates partnerships to advance large-scale climate and clean energy solutions. She brings a strong foundation in scientific analysis and a proven record of fundraising success to advance SEEC’s mission.
Before joining SEEC Institute, Arianna served as Director of Grants & Development at the youth-led nonprofit Change the Chamber, designing multi-year fundraising strategies, securing major foundation support, and building cross-sector coalitions that significantly expanded the organization’s impact. She also led and mentored an international team of volunteers, creating training materials and building systems that empowered them to take on fundraising and advocacy roles with confidence.
Arianna earned her B.S. in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Miami. While a student, she conducted polarization-optics research that was later published in Applied Optics, a peer-reviewed journal of the Optical Society of America. Her experience in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing continues to inform her analytical approach to her nonprofit development.
Arianna now lives in Washington, D.C., where she enjoys throwing ceramics on the wheel and visiting local art museums in her free time.
Sarah Voegtlin
Sarah Voegtlin is an Executive Assistant with Squared Away, where she supports Max with high-level administrative and organizational needs. She served six years in the United States Air Force, developing expertise in leadership, operations, and emergency response. As a dedicated military spouse, Sarah combines resilience, adaptability, and a strong sense of service in both her professional and personal life.
Jasmine Thompson
Jasmine Thompson is the Events and Communications Intern at SEEC Institute. Her background bridges public health, environmental policy, and communications, with a particular focus on the intersection of environmental health and sustainable energy policy.
Before joining SEEC Institute, Jasmine earned her Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Science and Policy from The George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health. Her graduate capstone project explored chemical exposure risks facing underserved communities living near uranium mining activities, highlighting the health and equity implications of the rising energy burden. She also holds a BA in Public Health from Agnes Scott College.
During her time at GW, Jasmine worked as a research trainee on a project investigating how environmental health factors influenced parental vaccination attitudes. Her broader professional experience includes supporting environmental health education efforts, conducting policy-focused data analysis, and assisting in the development and implementation of community outreach initiatives. She is passionate about advancing equitable energy and climate solutions through policy, communication, and engagement.
Originally from Chicago, Jasmine now lives in Washington, D.C. with her cat, Cleo. In her free time, she enjoys visiting art museums, basketball, hiking, and knitting.