Building community through science, education, and the arts.
Advocates, creatives, and community builders working toward a safer future.
In 2010, Bart founded the Samuel Lawrence Foundation, drawing on his passion for the arts, background in science, and belief in education as a tool to build community. He holds a PhD in Community and Environmental Medicine. On Earthquake Preparedness Day 2011, Ziegler and a group of friends at a backyard barbecue identified the San Onofre nuclear power plant as the most existential threat to Southern California. While the plant has since been decommissioned, the current concern is the 3.6 million pounds of nuclear waste stored on the site. Ziegler is on the Advisory Board of Mothers for Peace and Learning Equality. He is also a member of the Nuclear Consulting Group, a global organization comprising leading academics and experts in fields related to nuclear energy.
Heather brings nearly 20 years of policy and communications leadership experience across humanitarian aid, global health, international business, sustainability, and food security. For nearly a decade, she led USAID's communications for international disaster response - guiding strategy, crafting messages for $8 billion in humanitarian assistance, and serving on response teams for the largest and most pressing disasters in the world. Heather started her career working for a member of Congress from her home state (Minnesota) and spent more than 15 years working in Washington, DC. In 2025, she joined the Samuel Lawrence Foundation, drawn by the breadth of its work across science, the arts, and education. She leads SLF's communications strategy, focusing on public messaging, media engagement, and executive communications to tell the story of nuclear waste safety at San Onofre.
Drawing on her background in advocacy for immigrant and refugee communities and a commitment to equity-driven, science-based solutions, Nadia leads SLF's environmental justice, education, and community engagement initiatives. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from DePaul University, and her earlier work at the National Immigrant Justice Center shaped her focus on serving communities most affected by systemic inequities. As Director of Programs, she drives research and policy efforts to safely relocate nuclear waste from coastal sites, coordinating advocacy strategies with scientists, public officials, and community partners. She also oversees SLF's partnership programs and guides grant-writing efforts for the Foundation.
Peter advances SLF's nuclear waste policy work with a practical focus on climate, affordability, and safety. He holds a JD from the University of Pennsylvania and has built his career at the intersection of energy and environmental law. He has worked as a law clerk in the EPA's Civil Air Enforcement Division, as a Legal Fellow at the Environmental Defense Center, and as Associate Counsel at the American Clean Power Association, where he advanced clean energy through rulemaking and legislative engagement. As a Regulatory and Policy Attorney for Fusion Energy at the Clean Air Task Force, he led legal research on safety, environmental compliance, and counseled federal agencies and U.S. Senate staff. At the Samuel Lawrence Foundation, he leads our policy efforts to draft legislation and champions responsible oversight and open dialogue about the future of power generation and grid technologies.
Stephanie leads SLF's creative strategy, bringing more than 15 years of experience shaping public-facing narratives for global brands. She has built creative and video content for some of the most recognizable names in media and consumer brands, including Netflix, Yahoo, Smashbox, Beautycounter, the Lee Andrews Group, and was an Executive Producer of Creative Editorial at Omnicom Production. At SLF, her work sits at the intersection of science, storytelling, and public engagement. Stephanie brings a blend of creative leadership and data fluency to make technical issues, like nuclear waste, feel human without oversimplifying them. She currently runs all social media channels and leads creative strategy efforts.
Since joining the Foundation earlier this year, Kaolyn has led SLF's internship and volunteer program development, represented the Foundation at major environmental events, and supported the team's coalition-building, policy research, and advocacy across San Diego County. She holds a B.A. with honors in International Relations & Global Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, where her interdisciplinary coursework centered on sustainable development, global environmental policy, and public policy. Before joining SLF, she interned at Women Forward, where she researched, designed, and wrote a Climate Change Toolkit that translated complex science into accessible language for volunteers and voters. She brought that communications background to SLF, where she now supports policy and outreach efforts.
Leaders from science, mediation, design, film, entrepreneurship, and advocacy helping guide the foundation's direction.
Peter Andersen is a Professor Emeritus at San Diego State University and a distinguished scholar in innovation and communication. His environmental leadership includes service with the Sierra Club's Nuclear Waste Task Force, Sierra Club San Diego, the Sierra Club Legal Committee, and San Diego Community Power.
Alexis Dixon is an international mediator and facilitator who specializes in complex interpersonal, organizational, and cross-cultural conflicts. His practice centers relational clarity, institutional coherence, and high-stakes dialogue across academic and global settings.
Charles Ziegler has helped guide startup finance and strategy for technology companies including Zeta, Verseon, and Oolu Solar. His background spans chemistry, derivatives, hedge fund management, and internet companies.
Chris Hoover is a technology entrepreneur whose work spans genomics, digital health, and energy innovation. He focuses on startup ideation, marketing, and business development and has held leadership roles across biocomputing, drug discovery, and controlled-release therapeutics.
Farley Ziegler is an acclaimed documentary producer whose films include Troublemakers: The Story of Land Art and Tim's Vermeer. Her work spans art, film, and cultural storytelling, including collaborations with Penn & Teller.
Holly Pickerel is Design Director for Corporativo Atelier, where she leads design development and sustainable fabric execution for major residential and hospitality clients. Her background also includes apparel design, merchandising, teaching, and journalism.
Samuel Lawrence distinguished himself through community enrichment, music, and service. The Samuel Lawrence Foundation builds on that legacy by fostering strategic partnerships and public-facing programs that address environmental risk, long-term safety, and human connection.
SLF connects local and international environmental groups to address the most pressing issues facing our nation and the world. Whether advocating for safer storage of nuclear waste, teaching about environmental hazards, or promoting environmental justice, we encourage collaboration and innovation.
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