SEI Champion Award
Each year, SEI honors an esteemed individual who has dedicated their time and efforts to further SEI's mission of building leaders to accelerate climate solutions for a more equitable and resilient world.
2025 — Monica Brummer
Monica Brummer - Director of the Pacific Northwest Center of Excellence for Clean Energy
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SEI is proud to recognize Monica Brummer, Director of the Pacific Northwest Center of Excellence for Clean Energy (CoE), as a 2025 SEI Champion Award recipient for her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing clean energy solutions in Washington state.
With over 20 years in higher education and 35 years in marketing and communications, Monica leads CoE as a hub connecting the energy industry, labor, and Washington’s community and technical colleges. The Center works to narrow the gap between employer demands for a highly skilled workforce and the colleges' ability to supply work-ready graduates. Over the last few years, Monica has supported unifying SEI’s K-12, higher education, and Climate Corps programs under a single vision for clean energy workforce development. She helped SEI secure critical funding through Transalta to support SEI’s development of pathways in energy studies, spanning instruction, internships, course development, and fellowships. |
Her expertise and network were crucial to the success of Energize Colleges’ spring 2025 Energy & Climate Community of Practice, connecting higher education faculty and staff to expand climate and sustainability education across college curricula.
Through Monica’s mentorship, the Climate Corps Fellow placed at CoE introduced over 1,000 students to Centralia College’s energy programs and careers, as well as energy and utility jobs through virtual reality experiences. They also collaborated with SEI’s Energize Schools team on an Energy Conservation Challenge for K-12 teachers and hosted 28 high school students for a STEM academy. Students participated in hands-on workshops, career networking, and industry site visits, inspiring the next generation of clean energy professionals.
Thank you, Monica, for being SEI’s Champion in Washington!
Through Monica’s mentorship, the Climate Corps Fellow placed at CoE introduced over 1,000 students to Centralia College’s energy programs and careers, as well as energy and utility jobs through virtual reality experiences. They also collaborated with SEI’s Energize Schools team on an Energy Conservation Challenge for K-12 teachers and hosted 28 high school students for a STEM academy. Students participated in hands-on workshops, career networking, and industry site visits, inspiring the next generation of clean energy professionals.
Thank you, Monica, for being SEI’s Champion in Washington!
2024 — Professor Timothy Volk
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Professor Volk’s commitment to environmental education and creating a sustainable economy has guided his professional and personal path. When his former student and SUNY ESF graduate enrolled in the SEI’s Climate Corps program, Volk saw “a real need for the program in New York,” Volk shared, and “for more people to work in the sustainability, climate, and energy fields."
Since connecting with SEI in 2020, Volk has become an invaluable strategic partner. He brought SEI into SUNY at a systems level, which has vastly expanded SEI’s ability to support experiential learning and career pathways for SUNY students. "I’m excited for Climate Corps Fellows to get both real-world experience as well as focused leadership and professional development training in New York,” Volk said. “This will set them on a track to make significant impacts in their communities and organizations for decades to come.” |
Timothy Volk, Ph.D. — Professor and Associate Chair, The Sustainable Resources Management Department at The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
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As a byproduct of our work with Professor Volk, our Energize Colleges team has developed a Community of Practice for SUNY faculty and staff. This virtual learning community will support climate curriculum integration across disciplines.
With Volk’s support, our work across SUNY will help build the workforce needed to address New York state’s ambitious goals codified under the Climate Leadership & Communities Protection Act. Thank you, Professor Volk, for being SEI’s champion in New York.
With Volk’s support, our work across SUNY will help build the workforce needed to address New York state’s ambitious goals codified under the Climate Leadership & Communities Protection Act. Thank you, Professor Volk, for being SEI’s champion in New York.
