Our People

Michael Greenstone

Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics, the College and the Harris School; Director, EPIC and Becker-Friedman Institute

Michael Greenstone is the Milton Friedman Professor in Economics, the College, and the Harris School, as well as the Director of the Becker Friedman Institute and the interdisciplinary Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. He previously served as the Chief Economist for President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, where he co-led the development of the United States Government’s social cost of carbon. Greenstone also directed The Hamilton Project, which studies policies to promote economic growth, and has since joined its Advisory Council. He is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a fellow of the Econometric Society, and a former editor of the Journal of Political Economy. Before coming to the University of Chicago, Greenstone was the 3M Professor of Environmental Economics at MIT.

Greenstone’s research, which has influenced policy globally, is largely focused on uncovering the benefits and costs of environmental quality and society’s energy choices. His current work is particularly focused on testing innovative ways to increase energy access and improve the efficiency of environmental regulations around the world. Additionally, he is producing empirically grounded estimates of the local and global impacts of climate change as a co-director of the Climate Impact Lab. He also created the Air Quality Life Index™ that provides a measure of the gain in life expectancy communities would experience if their particulates air pollution concentrations are brought into compliance with global or national standards.

Greenstone received a Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University and a BA in economics with High Honors from Swarthmore College.

Sam Ori

Executive Director (EPIC)

Sam Ori is the Executive Director at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC). From 2013 to 2015, he served as Executive Vice President at Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE), a Washington, DC-based organization dedicated to reducing American oil dependence in order to enhance economic and national security. From 2007 to 2013, Sam led SAFE’s policy work on a variety of topics, ranging from global oil and natural gas markets to transportation technology. Prior to joining SAFE, Sam spent four years working in the federal government at the Broadcasting Board of Governors and Department of State, including at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India.

Christa Hasenkopf

Director, Clean Air Programs

Christa Hasenkopf is the Director of Clean Air Programs at EPIC. Her career focuses on efforts that open up information, resources, and networks so that more people in more places can help make the air they breathe healthier. Previously, she co-founded and was the CEO of OpenAQ, an environmental tech non-profit, which fosters a global community around the world’s largest open database of air quality information. She has also served as the Chief Air Pollution Advisor to the Office of Medical Services at the US Department of State and in multiple positions at the US Agency for International Development. Hasenkopf received a PhD in Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences from the University of Colorado and a BS in Astronomy & Astrophysics from The Pennsylvania State University.

Tanushree Ganguly

Director, AQLI

Tanushree’s career efforts focus on strengthening data-driven air quality decision making, and unpacking challenges in implementing national-level policies at local levels. She started her career in technical consulting as a consultant with  Illingworth and Rodkin Inc, an air quality and acoustic consulting firm. Following which, she worked as a researcher with New-Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment, exploring the foundations of India’s National Clean Air Programme and clean air planning in multiple Indian cities. Prior to joining AQLI, Tanushree led the Clean Air Programme at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, and supported multiple states and municipalities in charting pathways towards meeting their clean air ambitions. Tanushree  has a graduate degree in Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, and an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Nirma University, Ahmedabad.

Vicki Ekstrom High

Senior Director, Communications & External Engagement (EPIC)

Vicki Ekstrom High is the Senior Director for Communications and External Engagement for EPIC. Prior to coming to the University of Chicago, Vicki created and led the media and public relations efforts for the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) and the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. She was also a speechwriter for the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lisa Jackson, and a Press Secretary for the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship under the chairmanships of Senators Mary Landrieu and John Kerry. Vicki started her career in Washington D.C. as the national beat reporter for the Bangor Daily News.

Ashirbad S. Raha

Regional Director of Communications, EPIC India

As the Regional Director of Communications, Ashirbad is EPIC India’s senior communications leader, managing a comprehensive strategy to strengthen institutional reputation in India and the region. With more than 16 years of experience in strategic communication on issues related to energy and environment, climate change, and humanitarian response, he leads a team of communication specialists and consultants with expertise in digital communications, web, and social media, video production, and internal communications.

Ashirbad was the inaugural communications hire for EPIC India in early 2017 and since then has built a team that has strengthened the organization’s media outreach, messaging, and brand building and worked with EPIC’s senior management to position EPIC India as a trusted, efficient, effective, and innovative partner institution in solving the global energy challenge.

Under his leadership, EPIC India initiated its video storytelling initiatives by launching a YouTube channel, anchored the launch of institutional social media channels including LinkedIn and Instagram, and engineered the publishing of a multimedia monthly e-newsletter. Ashirbad was also instrumental in the brand building of AQLI – an environmental data research tool of the University of Chicago – in India and the region. Strategic outreach has ensured that over the years, AQLI findings have been mentioned in books, films, TV shows, Newspapers, and even the Indian parliament.

Nishka Sharma

Research & Policy Manager, AQLI

Nishka Sharma is the Research & Policy Manager of Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) and Air Quality Programs at EPIC. Prior to joining AQLI, Nishka was a Predoctoral Fellow at the Climate Impact Lab where she worked at the intersection of climate change and economic development. She graduated with a Master’s in International and Development Economics from Yale University and a Bachelor’s in Economics from Shiv Nadar University. She enjoys going on hikes, painting and reading in her leisure time.

Hrishikesh Chandra Gautam

Data Specialist, AQLI

Hrishikesh Chandra Gautam is a Data Specialist of Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) at EPIC. Prior to joining EPIC, he worked as a senior associate at Center for study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) where he worked on statistical model development for satellite data analysis, calibration of low-cost sensors, reduced complexity model and Emission Inventory development. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) where he worked on ANN-based air quality forecasting, and Fuzzy AQI development. He has a master’s in environmental engineering from National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK). During his leisure time, he likes to indulge in reading and philately.

Mollie Freeman

Communications and Digital Marketing Manager (EPIC)

Mollie is the Communications and Digital Marketing Manager for EPIC. Prior to coming to the University of Chicago, Mollie led digital marketing efforts at the World Resources Institute’s climate, forests, and food programs. As a student, Mollie supported several communications teams including the Robert R. McCormick Foundation at Cantigny Park, HAVI, and the University of Galway’s press office. She earned her B.A. in Journalism, Spanish, and Political Science & Sociology at the University of Galway. She also holds an M.S. in Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science.