Our Team

Claire Hurst, MCC Climate Intern

Claire, a third year Environmental Science and Public Health student, serves this summer with the Eastern Mennonite University Washington Community Scholars Program. During her time at EMU, Claire has developed a strong passion for environmental health, peacebuilding, and justice-oriented advocacy. From a young age, she has been involved in local advocacy work, both independently and through community actions. At EMU, Claire is a manager for the Common Grounds coffee shop, sings in the University Choir, and enjoys weekly ultimate frisbee. She often spends her free time running, hiking, traveling with friends and family, and creating simple art projects. In the fall, she will continue her environmental studies and participate in local initiatives.

Doug Kaufman, Executive Director

Doug first became passionate about creation care during his 23 years as a pastor at Benton Mennonite Church, Goshen, IN. As they were preparing to baptize new members in the Elkhart River, they discovered that the health department did not recommend contact with the water, because it would become compromised with too much manure. This began a journey for him and the congregation. He started a Hoosier Riverwatch group in the congregation and discovered just how much the Bible talks about God’s care for rivers and all the more-than-human creation. In their pursuit of watershed discipleship, they began a green group, organized river cleanups, installed solar panels, added recycling, and became a Green Patchwork congregation with Mennonite Creation Care Network. The congregational vision includes “pursuing God’s peace at the river.” As Doug pursued a Th.M. in theology and ecology at the University of Toronto, he was invited to become director of pastoral ecology at ACC’s predecessor. In this role he developed pastoral retreats on climate change, and has engaged the broader Anabaptist community, ecumenical churches, and interfaith groups. There he advocates for pastoral approaches to climate change that includes pastoral care, worship, practical and political action. He studied at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, and Goshen College. He is also trained as an Indiana Master Naturalist. He previously served as a conference minister with the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. Oh, and during covid he converted his backyard from a church parking lot to a native rain garden, lawn, and vegetable garden.

Hannah Stutzman, Advancement Advisor

Hannah brings extensive experience in environmental conservation, sustainable community development initiatives, non-profit management, and fundraising. Hannah is currently the Board Chair for Equitable Origin, a nonprofit focused on a more just and equitable energy sector and indigenous rights. She previously served as the Executive Director of Amazon Conservation Association, which seeks to unite people, science, and innovation to save some of Earth’s greatest wild places. Hannah loves to help purpose-driven organizations thrive and fostering deeper connections between people and the causes they care most about. She looks forward to engaging with the ACC community to advance climate action rooted in faith and justice.
Hannah has a Master’s of Environmental Management from Yale University and a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Bryn Mawr College. She’s originally from Goshen, Indiana and currently lives in Washington, DC where she likes to bike and hike in her neighborhood National Park (Rock Creek Park!) with her husband and two young daughters.