INDIANA — Indiana is honoring a new cohort of environmental leaders as the 2026 Hoosier Resilience Heroes. This year’s list celebrates a diverse group of professionals, students, and volunteers who are at the forefront of climate policy, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture across the state.
From the statehouse to local farms, these heroes are being recognized for their tireless work in building more resilient Indiana communities.
Leading the Charge in Public Policy and Advocacy
Several of this year’s heroes have dedicated their careers to shaping the laws and regulations that protect Indiana’s natural resources.
- Indra Frank (Indianapolis): A physician and former director at the Hoosier Environmental Council, Frank has spent two decades bridging the gap between medical expertise and environmental policy, specifically defending Indiana’s wetlands and lead poisoning prevention.
- Bryce Gustafson (Indianapolis): As a lead organizer for the Citizens Action Coalition, Gustafson has empowered over 40 communities to challenge the environmental impacts of hyperscale data centers, resulting in over a dozen withdrawn proposals.
- Nancy Moldenhauer (Michigan City): After years of advocacy with the Michigan City Sustainability Commission, Moldenhauer successfully ran for City Council in 2023, where she has already passed ordinances favoring native pollinator gardens over traditional turf.
Municipal Leaders Driving Local Innovation
Local government officials are proving that cities can be laboratories for sustainable change.
- Halee Griffey (Lafayette): Serving as the first climate manager for Lafayette and West Lafayette, Griffey has pioneered a regional approach to climate action, simplifying solar installation for residents and expanding electric vehicle infrastructure.
- Thomas Hill (Richmond): A GIS expert, Hill has used geospatial data to secure over $350,000 in grants for Richmond’s urban forestry and green infrastructure projects.
Education and Research: Cultivating the Next Generation
Resilience begins with knowledge, and these educators are ensuring Indiana’s youth and researchers are equipped for the future.
- Ellen Ketterson (Bloomington): The founding director of IU’s Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI), Ketterson created a transdisciplinary hub that connects academic research to practical community solutions across the Midwest.
- Theri Niemier (South Bend): For over 25 years, Niemier has used her farm as an “outdoor classroom” to teach South Bend students the principles of regenerative agriculture and permaculture.
- Tatjana Rebelle (Indianapolis): Through Earth Charter Indiana, Rebelle has secured half a million dollars for student-led sustainability projects, reaching over 300,000 K-12 students.
- Andy Tuholski (Kokomo): At IU Kokomo, Tuholski leads campus-wide sustainability efforts, including habitat restoration and environmental literacy initiatives.
Innovation in Energy and Land Use
Finding common ground between Indiana’s traditional industries and new energy solutions is a key theme for the 2026 honorees.
- Chris Kline (Culver): A manager for Doral Renewables, Kline is a leading advocate for agrivoltaics—the practice of using land for both solar energy production and agriculture simultaneously.
- Christopher Norrick (Evansville): Working in the heart of Indiana’s coal country, Norrick helps residents navigate the transition to clean energy through grassroots organizing and climate literacy.
Conservation on the Front Lines
Ray McCormick (Vincennes): A lifelong farmer, McCormick has turned thousands of acres into a national model for no-till and cover-crop conservation. He was instrumental in the creation of the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and the 9,000-acre Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area.
This class of heroes represents every corner of the state, from Vincennes to Michigan City.
