PROFILE
OVER 6 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING ON SCIENCE-BASED, INTERGENERATIONAL CLIMATE JUSTICE, STAKEHOLDER-DRIVEN RESEARCH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND APPLICATION OF LAW AND ETHICS TO DECISION-MAKING. PASSIONATE ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PRESENT GENERATIONS TO ENSURE A LIVABLE FUTURE. COMMITTED TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, COLLECTIVE IMPACT, AND EVOCATIVE STORYTELLING TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THEN TRANSLATING THOSE WORKING IDEAS INTO CONCRETE ACTION. BRING AN ENTHUSIASTIC WORK ETHIC, ANALYTICAL AND COMMUNICATION ABILITIES, PROFESSIONALISM, TENACITY, AND (I’M TOLD) SOME “GRIT AND GRACE" .
SKILLS
LEADERSHIP; COMMUNICATION; BLOGGING, WRITING; STRATEGIC PLANNING; PRESENTATIONS; PUBLIC SPEAKING; ADOBE CREATIVE SUITE (INDESIGN); DESIGN LAYOUT (CANVA); MICROSOFT OFFICE AND GOOGLE DRIVE; ONLINE SEARCH TOOLS (LEGAL, ACADEMIC, GOVERNMENT DATABASES); QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS; RESEARCH METHODOLOGY (SURVEYS, INTERVIEWS); SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS (FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, MAILCHIMP); WEBSITE EDITING AND MANAGEMENT (WORDPRESS); DIVERSE PARTNERSHIP CULTIVATION; STAKEHOLDER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT ; SMALL GRASSROOTS COLLABORATION IN FAST-PACED ADVOCACY SETTINGS; WORK BOTH INDEPENDENTLY AND COLLABORATIVELY; WILLINGNESS TO LEARN NEW THINGS.
EDUCATION
M.A., Climate and Society, Columbia University (2011)
Master's Research: Trends in public perceptions of individual, unspecialized climate change mitigation behaviors, Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, with Seth Baum, PhD and Peter Howe, PhD
Advisor: Professor Benjamin Orlove, C&S Co-Director
B.A., Sociology, Vassar College (2007)
Correlate in Africana Studies
Thesis Title: The ‘Culture of Fear’ as it Applies to the Bush Administration’s ‘War on Terror’
Advisor: Professor Marque-Luisa Miringoff, Director of the Institute for Innovation in Social Policy
Junior semester abroad: Rabat, Morocco (2006)
Independent study project: The social taboo of children born out of wedlock
AFFILIATIONS
Global Catastrophic Risk Institute - writing and other collaborations
Affiliate (2013 to Present); Research Assistant (Dec 2012 to 2013)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Program Director and Climate Change Portfolio Lead
Science & Environmental Health Network (SEHN), Salt Lake City, UT (2015-2017)
Writer, Editor—SEHN publications, newsletters, and blogs (20 authored), mass media (8 articles; 11 interviews –radio, video, written, 12 In-the-News quotes), annual reports, copy and materials for Women’s Congress;
Programmatic—climate change, Keep It in the Ground campaign, western fossil fuel campaigns, community resilience— In close coordination with other groups, represented SEHN in relevant national climate and policy discussions;
Communications— Brought design element to external communications and reporting;
Scaled up work and impact of SEHN’s social media through designed outreach materials and community tools;
Women’s Congress Briefing Series (11 total) created and spearheaded forum for communal discussion with thought leaders in climate justice, covering range of topics, including principles in Declaration of Rights of Future Generations, collective liberation, interconnectedness in climate justice, and examples of women leading direct action for climate justice. Fundraising—foundations, mass fund appeals, LOIs, grant reports;
Tech support—managed SEHN’s websites
Project Coordinator
Women's Congress for Future Generations, a project of SEHN's (2013-2015)
Declaration [of the Rights Held by Future Generations and Bill of Responsibilities for Present Generations] Briefing Series, (2013-2014). A forum for discussion and sourcing concepts and activities underpinning the emerging civil rights movement for future generations. Covered a range of topics, including principles underpinning the Rights of Future Generations, collective liberation, interconnectedness in the climate justice movement, and examples of women leading direct action for climate justice. Invited speakers representatives from Our Children’s Trust, Idle No More and the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network.
A Women's Congress (2012 & 2014), event and workshops coordinator, materials, design layout
Assistant Paralegal I, II
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy (FDBL), LLP, NYC (2008 to 2010)
Prepared and managed casework in connection with nonimmigrant/immigrant visa petitions and maintenance of status in the U.S. under fast paced, rolling deadlines. Assigned largest marketing, advertising and communications company in the world, working on multiple case loads for numerous types of professionals, while meeting time sensitive deadlines; Corresponded and held teleconferences with over fifty different HR professionals; Post-recession, only Paralegal that was asked to split time between two large clients and caseload, requiring different client policies and procedures; adjusted quickly and excelled; established innovative methods to streamline processes, structured complex cases in a very organized and logical manner, while keeping Attorney and senior staff aware of all matters; Only Assistant Paralegal that received a promotion in New York office post-recession.
Work exchange intern, Ahu Lani Sanctuary, Big Island, HI (2010)
Reforestation project on former pastureland as part of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Experienced “off the grid” living and organic farming.
Legal Intern, State Attorney’s Office, Burlington, VT (2007)
PROJECTS, EVENTS, COLLABORATIONS FOR GOOD
Our Energy Future, February 25, 2016, with Rowland Hall Sustainability, for Utah students, grades 6th-12th, to learn about Utah's varied energy resources, how energy policy decisions are made, who makes them, and how students can get engaged in the decision making process and how they can help shape Utah's energy future.
#Earth2Trump Roadshow of Resistance, January 8, 2017, local lead for national tour hosted by Center for Biological Diversity
#BareItShareIt, March 4, 2017, charity event to raise funds (and awareness) for the Youth Homeless Resource Center
#RevolutionConcertSeries, May 25, 2017, "Know Your Rights!"
#UglyFacts, forthcoming, a collaboration with Ugly Magazine
PUBLICATIONS, APPEARANCES, IN-THE-NEWS
please visit muse(ing)s page for full list of published articles, OpEds, blogs, press release/media advisories, interviews, and public speaking.
JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS:
Baum, Seth D., Kaitlin A. Butler, and Peter D. Howe (pending submission). "Analyzing Trends in Perceptions of Unspecialized Mitigation Behavior: A New Coding Scheme."
CONFERENCE PAPERS:
Butler, Kaitlin and Erin Coughlan (2011),“Adapting to Variability Before Change: An analysis of preexisting adaptation strategies for climate variability through a socio-ecological resilience framework – the case of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.” Initiative on Climate Adaptation Research and Understanding through Social Sciences (ICARUS) Conference, May 2011, Ann Arbor, MI.
REPORTS
Butler, Kaitlin (2014), "Perceptions of FEMA's Recovery Response: A Content Analysis of news covering the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s recovery response to Hurricane Sandy"
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS
Invited peer-reviewer (2014), Futures journal, special issue.
Butler, Kaitlin (2013), "West Virginia University Listening Session". Climate Change in the Northeast - A Source Book. Draft Technical Input Report Prepared for the U.S. National Climate Assessment, Box 5.5. pg. 205-207.
Program Director and Climate Change Portfolio Lead
Science & Environmental Health Network (SEHN), Salt Lake City, UT (2015-2017)
Writer, Editor—SEHN publications, newsletters, and blogs (20 authored), mass media (8 articles; 11 interviews –radio, video, written, 12 In-the-News quotes), annual reports, copy and materials for Women’s Congress;
Programmatic—climate change, Keep It in the Ground campaign, western fossil fuel campaigns, community resilience— In close coordination with other groups, represented SEHN in relevant national climate and policy discussions;
Communications— Brought design element to external communications and reporting;
Scaled up work and impact of SEHN’s social media through designed outreach materials and community tools;
Women’s Congress Briefing Series (11 total) created and spearheaded forum for communal discussion with thought leaders in climate justice, covering range of topics, including principles in Declaration of Rights of Future Generations, collective liberation, interconnectedness in climate justice, and examples of women leading direct action for climate justice. Fundraising—foundations, mass fund appeals, LOIs, grant reports;
Tech support—managed SEHN’s websites
Project Coordinator
Women's Congress for Future Generations, a project of SEHN's (2013-2015)
Declaration [of the Rights Held by Future Generations and Bill of Responsibilities for Present Generations] Briefing Series, (2013-2014). A forum for discussion and sourcing concepts and activities underpinning the emerging civil rights movement for future generations. Covered a range of topics, including principles underpinning the Rights of Future Generations, collective liberation, interconnectedness in the climate justice movement, and examples of women leading direct action for climate justice. Invited speakers representatives from Our Children’s Trust, Idle No More and the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network.
A Women's Congress (2012 & 2014), event and workshops coordinator, materials, design layout
Assistant Paralegal I, II
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy (FDBL), LLP, NYC (2008 to 2010)
Prepared and managed casework in connection with nonimmigrant/immigrant visa petitions and maintenance of status in the U.S. under fast paced, rolling deadlines. Assigned largest marketing, advertising and communications company in the world, working on multiple case loads for numerous types of professionals, while meeting time sensitive deadlines; Corresponded and held teleconferences with over fifty different HR professionals; Post-recession, only Paralegal that was asked to split time between two large clients and caseload, requiring different client policies and procedures; adjusted quickly and excelled; established innovative methods to streamline processes, structured complex cases in a very organized and logical manner, while keeping Attorney and senior staff aware of all matters; Only Assistant Paralegal that received a promotion in New York office post-recession.
Work exchange intern, Ahu Lani Sanctuary, Big Island, HI (2010)
Reforestation project on former pastureland as part of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Experienced “off the grid” living and organic farming.
Legal Intern, State Attorney’s Office, Burlington, VT (2007)
PROJECTS, EVENTS, COLLABORATIONS FOR GOOD
Our Energy Future, February 25, 2016, with Rowland Hall Sustainability, for Utah students, grades 6th-12th, to learn about Utah's varied energy resources, how energy policy decisions are made, who makes them, and how students can get engaged in the decision making process and how they can help shape Utah's energy future.
#Earth2Trump Roadshow of Resistance, January 8, 2017, local lead for national tour hosted by Center for Biological Diversity
#BareItShareIt, March 4, 2017, charity event to raise funds (and awareness) for the Youth Homeless Resource Center
#RevolutionConcertSeries, May 25, 2017, "Know Your Rights!"
#UglyFacts, forthcoming, a collaboration with Ugly Magazine
PUBLICATIONS, APPEARANCES, IN-THE-NEWS
please visit muse(ing)s page for full list of published articles, OpEds, blogs, press release/media advisories, interviews, and public speaking.
JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS:
Baum, Seth D., Kaitlin A. Butler, and Peter D. Howe (pending submission). "Analyzing Trends in Perceptions of Unspecialized Mitigation Behavior: A New Coding Scheme."
CONFERENCE PAPERS:
Butler, Kaitlin and Erin Coughlan (2011),“Adapting to Variability Before Change: An analysis of preexisting adaptation strategies for climate variability through a socio-ecological resilience framework – the case of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.” Initiative on Climate Adaptation Research and Understanding through Social Sciences (ICARUS) Conference, May 2011, Ann Arbor, MI.
REPORTS
Butler, Kaitlin (2014), "Perceptions of FEMA's Recovery Response: A Content Analysis of news covering the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s recovery response to Hurricane Sandy"
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS
Invited peer-reviewer (2014), Futures journal, special issue.
Butler, Kaitlin (2013), "West Virginia University Listening Session". Climate Change in the Northeast - A Source Book. Draft Technical Input Report Prepared for the U.S. National Climate Assessment, Box 5.5. pg. 205-207.
World Bank (2014), "Combating water insecurity in the Maldives."
Consultation editing support. Report outlines the current water supply and demand gap that exists on islands, and includes a climate change impact assessment on the rainfall and groundwater lens, recommendations for interventions and institutional rearrangements.
PREVIOUS RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant, Evaluation Team + Project Manager
Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast (CCRUN), a NOAA Regional Sciences Assessment project, (Aug 2011 to December 2014)
Research and analysis of vulnerability of individuals, households, communities and administrative entities to coastal, health, and water sector-related climate risks specific to the urban Northeast; Conducted literature reviews covering range of climate related topics, including coastal vulnerability and adaptation, green infrastructure co-benefits, heat-health warning systems, and climate decision support services; Drafted community questionnaires and surveys; Preliminary qualitative analysis; Writing included literature review summaries, IRB proposals, and contribution to National Climate Assessment (2013); Identified preexisting socioeconomic and demographic variables, and other underlying drivers, of vulnerability, coping capacity, and resilience; Assisted in evaluations of specific approaches to decision support within coastal, health, and water sectors: storm flooding predictions to reduce vulnerability to flooding from coastal storm surges, early heat health warning systems for heat waves, and street level green infrastructure. All research was driven by stakeholder interactions with government agencies, community organizations and other decision makers to create usable, useful results and products; Designed and launched CCRUN bibliography database of conducted literature reviews specific to the Northeast US on vulnerability, adaptation, and evaluation of adaptation strategies and other decision support services; Designed and conducted content analysis of people’s perceptions of FEMA after Hurricane Sandy, including development of qualitative analysis using coding scheme and descriptive statistics, and summary of findings.
Research Assistant
Center for Research on Environmental Decisions (May to Aug 2011)
Analyzing trends in perceptions of unspecialized mitigation behavior (see publications).
Findings of research also presented by Baum at Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference, November, Washington, DC, and American Association of Geographers Conference, March 2012, New York, NY.
Contributed to research on analyzing trends in perceptions of unspecialized mitigation behavior; Conducted an interdisciplinary literature review of surveyed mitigation behavior; Analyzed trends in perceptions of mitigation behavior. Coded qualitative survey data, data obtained via Internet searches, and data obtained via searches of news media databases, using our novel coding scheme. Contributed extensively to revised iterations of coding scheme. Conducted some data analysis; Co-authored journal article on research results: Baum, Seth, Kaitlin Butler, Peter Howe (n.d.), “Analyzing Trends in Public Perceptions of Unspecialized Mitigation Behavior” (currently unpublished); Findings of research also presented by Baum at Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference, November, Washington, DC, and American Association of Geographers Conference, March 2012, New York, NY.
Research Assistant
Work Study (Oct 2010 to May 2011)
Professor Benjamin Orlove, Columbia University Professor, Climate and Society Co-Director.
Research support for comparative impacts project. See: Orlove, Benjamin, et al. (submitted August 2012), “Recognitions and Responsibilities: How Climate Change Has Led the World to Care about Some Distant Places”, Current Anthropology.
Research Volunteer, Climate Change Law
Drowning Island Nations: Legal Implications and Remedies Conference, Columbia University (Oct 2010 to May 2011).
Conducted research on conceptual strategies for soft adaptation, disaster preparedness, and the role of traditional ecological knowledge in adaptive co-management in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Conference presentation: Coughlan, Erin, Kaitlin Butler, and Maryam Hariri, “Adaptation Strategies: Republic of the Marshall Islands”, Drowning Island Nations: Legal Implications and Remedies Conference, May 2011, New York, NY. Research also presented at the ICARUS conference (see publications).
Research Assistant, Sociology
Work Study (Aug 2006 to May 2007)
Professor Robert McAulay, Sociology Department, Vassar College
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Event Coordinator, for Climate and Society alumni event, NYC (2011)
Event Coordinator, High Road for Human Rights fundraising event, NYC (2009)
Pro Bono Volunteer, FDBL, LLP immigration consultation clinics, NYC (2009)
Volunteer, Exodus - transitional facility for previously incarcerated persons, NYC (2006)
AWARDS:
Letter of Distinction, Senior Thesis (2007)
Departmental Honors, Sociology (2007)
General Scholastic Honors (2007)
ADDITIONAL SKILLS and EXPERIENCE
Computer / Design skills:
InDesign (medium), Canva (proficient)
Website editing and content management (WordPress)
MS Office products, e.g. Word, Excel and PowerPoint (proficient)
MatLab - a quantitative data analysis software (beginner)
Atlas.ti - a qualitative data analysis software (beginner)
Online literature, legal, and government database, e.g. ISI Web of Knowledge, Lexis Nexis, etc.
Online sharing (Google Drive, DropBox) / Social Media tools (e.g. Instagram, FaceBook, Twitter, MailChimp)
Language skills: elementary Spanish
Other:
Vassar Repertory Dance Theater (VRDT), 2003-2007. Choreography selected for VRDT Final Production.
Competitive Figure Skater, 1992-2002. Participated in regional and national competitions, including Junior Olympics.
The Great Outdoors!