USC Annenberg’s Center for Climate Journalism and Communication was established to leverage the expertise of the school’s renowned journalism and communication faculty to train journalists, communication professionals, and students to tackle the biggest story of our time.
Photo by Giacomo d’Orlando / Climate Visuals
Team
Tess Branker Photo
Allison Agsten
Director
agsten@usc.edu
Allison Agsten is the inaugural director of USC Annenberg’s Center for Climate Journalism and Communication. In her role, she develops strategic priorities and conceptualizes initiatives to bolster public understanding of climate change. Current projects include the energy transition podcast series, Electric Futures, of which she serves as executive producer, and a report on the state of climate communications in the U.S., of which she is the primary author. She was recently named one of COP28 UAE’s 50 inaugural global Actionists in recognition of her contributions to the field of climate communication.
In addition to her appointment at the Annenberg School, Agsten serves as the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability’s first curator. In that position, she facilitates expression at the intersection of art and climate, including a series of Getty Pacific Standard Time convenings conceived by artist Carolina Caycedo to bring together Latin American community leaders to exchange organizing principles and practices related to the energy transition.
Previously, Agsten has worked in journalism, communications, and public engagement capacities including as a producer at CNN, Director of Communications at LACMA, and Curator of Public Engagement at the Hammer Museum.
Agsten holds a BA from UCLA and an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Pawan Ahuja
Academic Program Administrator
pawanahu@usc.edu
Pawan Ahuja serves as an Academic Program Administrator for USC Annenberg’s Center for Climate Journalism and Communication. She works closely with Allison Agsten in developing partnerships and programs for the center.
One of her interests of study is understanding the warming planet as one of the biggest challenges facing the global food system and the importance to develop solutions to disruptions in the food system associated with climate change.
Pawan has been a part of the Trojan team for over 8 years, working at Financial Business Services and Dornsife’s Center for Economic and Social Research. Prior to USC, she worked for the non-profit organization, Cure Huntington’s Disease Initiative (CHDI).
Pawan obtained her BA and MA in Comparative Religion from California State University.
Rhysea Agrawal
Engagement Coordinator
shreyaag@usc.edu
Rhysea Agrawal is a climate journalist and communicator who reports on the environment, health, politics and social issues. She is currently working as the Climate Center’s Engagement Coordinator and was previously the Center’s first rural climate reporting fellow at Malheur Enterprise in Vale, Oregon. She also works as a newsroom fellow for The Xylom, an award-winning science publication, as well as a news reporting cohort fellow for Sojourners Magazine.
Her work has been published in several outlets including Los Angeles Times, CalMatters and Planet Forward, and she has appeared on radio stations like CapRadio, LAist, KCBS and KQED to talk about her reporting. She graduated from USC in 2023 with bachelor’s degrees in Geological Sciences and English, and a master’s degree in Journalism. She also founded and was formerly the inaugural editor of Annenberg Media Earth. She hopes to bridge gaps in climate communication and education and help save the planet with her work.
Megan Donis
Lead Producer
megandon@usc.edu
Megan Donis is an Emmy-award winning producer and media strategist working at the intersection of audio, video and social change. After graduating from New York’s Columbia School of Journalism, she began her career at PBS, going on to produce for HBO, CBS and eventually landing at BRIC Arts Media Brooklyn, Brooklyn’s premiere media outlet. In 2014, in the wake of the police killing of Michael Brown and the Black Lives Matter uprising, Megan helped create #BHeard, BRIC’s social justice strand of documentaries, podcasts and live impact events. Her work on #BHeard earned her several awards for covering police brutality, school segregation and climate justice. Megan now lives in Los Angeles where she continues her dedication to social issue work, creating and producing narrative podcasts for companies like Crooked Media, iHeart, Gimlet, Spotify, Campside Media and LAist Studios on topics ranging from the history of Black Panther Party, the 70’s sexual revolution and the dark ways the CIA influences Hollywood films. Her podcast Stiffed: The True Story Of Bob Guccione, Viva Magazine And 70’s Feminist Erotica was named one of the best podcasts of 2023 by New York Magazine and her most recent podcast Fade to Black: The Mysterious Disappearance Of Screenwriter Gary Devore And The Rise Of The CiA In Hollywood charted in the top 15 podcasts nationwide on Apple Podcasts. Megan teaches undergraduate and graduate classes in narrative podcasting at USC’s Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism.
Natalie Lopez
Associate Producer
nhlopez@usc.edu
Natalie Lopez is an Associate Producer at the Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication. She is a second-year undergraduate majoring in Environmental Studies.
Within her role at the Climate Center, she primarily works on the Imperial Valley podcast and the upcoming environmental development happening in this region. As an Imperial Valley native, she is passionate about environmental education and bringing awareness to others of her beloved hometown. She is excited to bring a voice to her community and learn more about the economic, and social implications of global environmental issues.
Michael Kittilson
Research Assistant
kittilso@usc.edu
As a first-year graduate student at USC Annenberg, Michael Kittilson is deeply engaged in the study of Public Relations and Advertising, driven by a passion to navigate and resolve some of the most challenging messaging and communication issues faced globally. His diverse five-year career has provided him with a rich tapestry of experiences at the intersection of strategic communications, technology, and policy.
Michael’s journey has been marked by his work with diverse entities such as the U.S. Department of State, Office of the Arizona Governor, and leading national media organizations, where he honed his skills in crafting impactful narratives and designing communication strategies that resonate on a wide scale. His approach blends analytical acumen with a creative spirit, aiming to foster understanding and change in the increasingly complex digital landscape.
At the Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication, Michael aims to apply his expertise to the urgent issues of climate change and environmental advocacy. Through innovative PR and Advertising methodologies, he seeks to elevate public discourse and strives to make a tangible impact on environmental challenges.
A member of USC’s Center for Public Relations, Michael has authored five professional essays on artificial intelligence’s impact on communications in the 21st century economy.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Michael enjoys exploring the convergence of technology and storytelling, often channeling this passion into screenwriting and the creation of original content. His dedication to storytelling is not just a career choice but also a personal hobby that he believes plays a pivotal role in shaping the narratives of tomorrow.
Anahita Mehra
Research Assistant
anahitam@usc.edu
Anahita Mehra is currently a first-year graduate student at USC Annenberg, focusing on Digital Communications, Media, and Marketing. She has a strong academic foundation with degrees in Law and English Literature, equipping her with a diverse skill set that she has adeptly applied to her work in strategic communication and digital marketing.
Prior to her current academic journey, Anahita founded her own communications consulting company where she led projects for prominent clients such as Ernst & Young, UN Live and the UN Global Compact, focusing on bringing global challenges around sustainability and gender equality to the forefront of discussions on international platforms like UN General Assembly, WEF Davos, COP, Forbes Summit etc. She also has three years of professional experience as a Senior Communications and Partnership Manager at India’s pioneering youth leadership and entrepreneurship foundation, where she led global campaigns promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals such as the UN-backed World’s To-Do List Campaign and significantly crafted strategies to boost female participation in entrepreneurship for good. Additionally, she served as a Senior Coordinator for the Values 20 summit, a G20 engagement group in India, where she led efforts to amplify global policy recommendations focused on the environment, entrepreneurship, and education.
She served as Secretary of the Board at Brave Souls Foundation in India, India’s only human rights NGO focused on rehabilitating gender-based violence survivors, where she supported initiatives from legal aid to full rehabilitative care, helping survivors regain their rights, dignity, and empowerment.
At USC, Anahita is committed to further enhancing her skills in digital literacy and strategic communication to not only address but also solve the world’s most pressing global challenges rooted in advancing the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals with a special focus on climate and gender.
Grace Galante
Research Assistant
ggalante@usc.edu
Spencer Cline
Associate Producer
scline@usc.edu
Donors
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Manaaki
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