Sustainable CT Staff Bio's
Jim Hunt
Communications Manager
860-259-4732
Jim is a 30-year professional in marketing, public relations, non-profit development, and collegiate communications. He's been a successful entrepreneur in web site and graphic design, a pioneer in the development of new media and cross-channel integration, and has worked on fundraising, member/donor, and circulation management campaigns for numerous progressive organizations including the World Wildlife Fund, Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting, and Harper's Magazine. Prior to joining Sustainable CT, Jim served as the communications manager for a five-division facilities department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for nearly 17 years, leading strategic communications efforts in support of a multi-billion-dollar capital construction plan that included waste reduction, sustainable energy, and cutting-edge green building design. Jim is an artist and writer, a husband, a father of two, and a brother. He's a graduate of the George Washington University School of Public Affairs.
Jessica LeClair
Executive Director
860-259-4767
Jessica is the Executive Director of Sustainable CT. She has been with Sustainable CT since its launch in 2017, helping develop the program with municipalities and partners. In her early roles with Sustainable CT, Jessica developed and implemented the organization’s municipal engagement and support programming. She also oversaw the Sustainable CT Fellowship and identified and cultivated strategic partnerships with outside organizations. Prior to joining the Sustainable CT, Jessica was highly engaged in the State of Connecticut’s climate change efforts, serving as a program manager at the CT Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), and as an environmental analyst at the State of Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). In these roles, Jessica supported efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and prepare municipalities of the state for the impacts of climate change. Jessica holds a BA from Connecticut College in Environmental Studies and International Relations and an MSc from Bard College in Climate Science and Politics.
Summer Mitchell
Sustainable Communities Fellow
860-259-4729
Summer graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in sustainable systems. During her time at UConn, she participated in the Climate Corps program where she worked on a climate adaptation project for Latimer Point, Stonington. Summer was a Sustainable CT Fellow during the summer of 2023, and worked as an environmental health and safety intern for the University of Connecticut while she was a student there. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Data Science at Central Connecticut State University.
Inez Ortiz
Program Coordinator
860-253-2969
Inez graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Science, majoring in environmental systems and sustainability science with a concentration in environmental policy. During her time at SCSU, Inez achieved a Sustainability Leadership Certificate, helped create and publish an interactive map of sustainable infrastructure on campus, and conducted research on the effectiveness of carbon pricing policies in reducing international greenhouse gas emissions. Her passion for sustainability science and environmental policy led her to an internship at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection from the fall of 2022 to the spring of 2023. During this time, she focused on research for policies and procedures and analyzing and organizing internal and external data.
Dorothy Piszczek
Program Coordinator
860-253-2969
Dorothy graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Psychological Sciences. During her time at UConn, she served as President of the Avery Point Eco Husky Club and conducted a sustainability review of the Avery Point Campus. Dorothy has worked and volunteered in numerous communities, including as a Site Lead at an education non-profit in Washington, DC and as an Americorps NCCC volunteer. She is an avid hiker and recently completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.
Torin Radicioni
Program Assistant, Website & Admin. Support
860-259-4744
Torin graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Communications. He worked as an intern at the Institute for Sustainable Energy starting in May of 2018 and was hired as a Sustainable CT staff member in the fall of 2019. His work mainly revolves around social media management and website development.
Kate Richard
Program Manager for Sustainability Best Practices
860-259-4734
Kate has a background in climate change resilience and adaptation, sustainability outreach, and urban planning. She comes to Sustainable CT from the NYC Department of City Planning, where she worked on flood resiliency and land use issues. Previously, she worked in the University of Maryland's Office of Sustainability on campus greenhouse gas reductions, sustainability education, and food security programs. Kate has a BS in Environmental Science and Policy and a BA in English from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and crafting.