Who are we?
Our People
SOCAN is run by a talented and passionate staff and guided by a committed Board of Directors. With support from our Trustee Council, advisors, volunteers, and community partners, the values of integrity, openness, inclusivity, collaboration, respect and excellence permeate all aspects of the organization’s work.
Board President
Hogan Sherrow
Native Southern Oregonian Dr. Hogan Sherrow is an Evolutionary Anthropologist who has worked on three continents studying everything from humans, through grizzly bears, to chimpanzees. He was a Fulbright Scholar, earned a Ph.D. from Yale University, and was trained as a Climate Leader with Vice President Al Gore and the Climate Reality Project.
Hogan currently manages and implements programs in the region for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, while also teaching courses in anthropology and the environment at Southern Oregon University. When not helping people with MS live better lives, teaching, or taking action on climate change, Hogan can be found fishing or camping with his two daughters, hiking with his dogs, or at the gym.
Co-founder & Board Treasuer
Kathy Conway
Before moving to Southern Oregon, native Oregonian Kathy Conway taught science, math, and social studies methods to pre-service elementary teachers at Southeast Missouri State University. During that period Kathy earned a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale in Mathematics Curriculum and Instruction.
She has also been a long time environmental activist with the local Sierra Club group and was instrumental in establishing the Southeast Missouri Climate Protection Initiative. After relocating to Southern Oregon in 2010, Kathy collaborated with Alan and other area residents to form Southern Oregon Climate Action Now of which she is Co-facilitator and serves as Treasurer of the Board.
Board Secretary
Dale Engle
Dale retired in 2019 from his work as a database analyst at UC Berkeley and moved to Jacksonville to be close to his sister. He had been a longtime supporter of environmental groups and was excited to take SOCAN’s Master Climate Protector course in Spring 2020.
Since his relocation he has been very active with SOCAN, particularly as a technical resource for social media and other technologies, and he has also been involved in strategic planning and joined the Board in February 2024. Dale enjoys many musical genres and loves singing with the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers. In 2025, Dale began serving as Secretary of the Board.
Co-founder & Board Member
Alan Journet
Not an Oregon native by any stretch of the imagination, Alan Journet grew up in Britain, spent several years in Canada and then several more in Australia. After two years in Texas, Alan moved to the United States in 1980. Alan has a Ph.D. in entomology and taught Biology (mainly ecology and conservation biology) and Environmental Science for thirty years at Southeast Missouri State University where he was active in the local Sierra Club group, and formed the Southeast Missouri Climate Protection Initiative with Kathy Conway.
It was the realization of how climate projections at the time would devastate natural ecosystems across the planet, along with our agriculture, forestry and fisheries, that led Alan to investigate the credibility of climate science research and projections. Having become convinced of its credibility, Alan was motivated to embark on a vocation of educating the public about the science and consequences of global warming and the climate change it is causing and stimulating individual and collective action to address it.
After relocating to Southern Oregon with wife Kathy Conway, Alan and Kathy built an energy efficient passive/active solar home in the Applegate Valley. Finding no grassroots climate activist organization in the region, with many other locally concerned residents, in 2012 Alan and Kathy established Southern Oregon Climate Action Now, of which he serves as Co-facilitator.
Board Member
Bill Gorham
After earning his PhD in marine biology, Bill spent nine years teaching and doing marine biology research at the University of the Virgin Islands and California Lutheran University. Seeking to apply science to solve real-world environmental challenges, Bill spent the next 30 years as an environmental consultant.
He assessed impacts from marine and terrestrial development projects, focusing on energy-related developments. Bill retired in 2017 and moved to Brookings where he became the founder and co-facilitator of the Coastal SOCAN Project in Curry County. Recognized as a Climate Reality Leader (Al Gore’s non-profit), has taught ocean and climate related classes at the Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC), and presented lectures and short talks to high school and college classes, community groups, Coastal SOCAN monthly meetings, and informal events at local venues. And he has recorded podcasts on climate change and marine biology topics.
Also, Bill is the Chair of the Environment Subcommittee of the Oregon Coast Energy Alliance Network (OCEAN), a community-based non-profit supporting the evaluation of responsible development of renewable energy on the Oregon coast, focusing initially on floating offshore wind.
Board Member
David Browder
A fourth generation northern Californian, David and his wife moved to Jacksonville in 2013 from northern Virginia. David has more than 30 years’ experience with very large to very small professional services firms serving the government market. He holds a B.S in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy and an M.S. in Engineering Management from the University of Dayton
As a life-long outdoor enthusiast, David became increasingly alarmed by human-induced devastation of natural ecosystems and the general lack of concern by the U.S. citizenry and politicians. He realized he needed to do more than merely donate money to organizations such as the Sierra Club and National Wildlife Federation. He began looking for a local climate activist group. Attending Living with Climate Change convinced him that he wanted to become involved with Southern Oregon Climate Action Now.
Board Member
Suzanne Marshall
Suzanne was a history professor who taught Environmental, Women’s, African American, and Native American history at universities in Georgia, Alabama, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and also did contract work for the National Park Service during those years.
She was active in environmental and social justice efforts everywhere she lived, including work with the Sierra Club and the Chemical Weapons Working Group in Alabama, the Sierra Club in Pennsylvania, the Nature Conservancy in Oregon, and Audubon in Idaho. She began volunteering with SOCAN in 2012 on projects such as the 4th of July parade and Earth Day.
She currently lives in rural central Portugal, but intends to maintain connections with Oregon through SOCAN.
Executive Director
Daniel Scotton
Born and raised in Southern Oregon, Daniel spent the past decade building pathways for leadership and equity—from coaching DECA students in public speaking and ethics to developing inclusive workforce programs. After earning dual degrees in Philosophy and International Business from Hamline University, he returned to the Rogue Valley to deepen my commitment to youth development, small business ethics, and equitable economic opportunity.
Formerly contracted with the Department of Human Services, he supported low-income families reentering the workforce, while also coordinating refugee support events with partners like the Center for Nonprofit Legal Services. His work extends through civic engagement as an active member and committee chair with the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, and as a speaker at business and industry conferences across Oregon.
Outside of the office, he is stacking wood with the Jackson County Fuel Committee or trying not to be late for yoga. His favorite quote is, “I believe everyone can teach you something—if you’re willing to listen.”
Advisory Council
SOCAN’s Advisory Council brings together local leaders and experts to help guide our climate action work with insight, accountability, and community voice.
Advisory Member
Rep. Pam Marsh
Pam Marsh has lived in Southern Oregon since 1994, when she and her husband, Diarmuid McGuire, moved their four children from Palo Alto, California, to the mountains east of Ashland.
She was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, District 5, in November 2016 after four years as a member of the Ashland City Council. Pam continues to be a representative for southern Oregon and is a member of the House Democratic Leadership Team.
Prior to joining the legislature, Pam was actively involved in management and operation of Green Springs Inn and Cabins. From 2006-2012 Pam worked as Deputy Director of a local nonprofit providing drug and alcohol prevention and treatment. She served as Executive Director of Ashland Emergency Food Bank from 2012 until December 2016.
Advisory Member
Dr. Ray Seidler
Ray and his parents “immigrated” from New York City to the Southern California desert foothills when he was in elementary school. Rapidly he became a desert “hick” and discovered a love for nature and the outdoors, mainly because the closest town was some 15 miles away. He was the first in his extended family to earn university degrees.
A B.S. in Biology and a Ph.D. in Bacteriology soon led to further studies in Texas and Maryland prior to his professorial “landing” in 1970 at Oregon State University and later with the US Environmental Protection Agency in Corvallis. Ray has been a teacher and an environmental research scientist spanning over 40 years. He is one of the early MCP graduates and has been a happy SOCAN volunteer since our inception. A lover of the outdoors, hiking, and gardening, especially growing English and French lavender varieties on his hobby/business enterprise near Ashland. Of course, all the plants are grown in healthy soils using regenerative agricultural practices.
Ray was instrumental in the successful effort to exclude GMO crops from Jackson County and has become an expert in promoting regenerative agriculture as a means of restoring and maintaining soil health. He was the lead organizer of a 2020 international symposium on the topic, and Ray has generously agreed to serve as SOCAN’s expert adviser and consultant on all things relating to regenerative agriculture and soil health.
Former Board Members
SOCAN honors its former board members whose vision, dedication, and service helped lay the foundation for our ongoing climate advocacy.
2018 – 2026
Liz Olson
Liz is a graduate of the first Master Climate Protector program (MCP) and has been a Guest Presenter since 2022 teaching on climate change impacts to physical and mental health as well as climate justice.
With SOCAN Liz has created street theater projects and booth displays, moderated candidate forums, done legislation presentations and directed the Voices of the Valley documentary and display project. Along with Ken Deveney, she created and co-facilitated the first 6 years of the monthly support group Sustaining Climate Activists.
2017 – 2026
Dagoberto Morales
Dagoberto Morales came to the Rogue Valley from the State of Michoacan, Mexico, in 1988. In October 1996, he founded Unete, Center for Farmworker Advocacy, where he now serves as Director. He has been active in the social justice arena ever since.
Dago is employed by Timber Products, a Medford lumber mill where he does equipment maintenance. We are delighted that Dagoberto agreed to bring his concern for social justice to the SOCAN Board in 2017 to augment our environmental justice focus.
2020 – 2023
Ellie (Cosgrove) Thompson
Growing up on a small farm in Eugene, Oregon, Ellie Cosgrove developed her love for nature at a very young age. This love and respect for the natural world drove her to pursue a BS in biology at Portland State University, where she discovered her passions for conservation, climate action and education. In 2017, she moved to the Rogue Valley to earn her MS in Environmental Education from Southern Oregon University and fell in love with the area! Ellie served on the board from 2021 through February 2024.
2014 – 2018
Louise Shawkat (8/8/39 – 11/4/22)
Coming to Southern Oregon from Louisville Kentucky, Louise Shawkat was with SOCAN since our first meetings in the fall of 2012. Since then she may have been involved in more SOCAN activities than any other of our activist volunteers. Those who remember the great salmon excursion of 2013 may not know that without Louise staying up nights with brush in hand, many of the scales would have remained bereft of color.
When it came to staffing a booth, marching in a parade, attending a townhall, leafleting, keeping time, or otherwise helping projects achieve their goals, Louise could always be counted on to give more than her share of effort and enthusiasm. Without Louise, SOCAN would have probably achieved less than it has accomplished during the years of its existence. Louise served as one of our founding Board members and served from December 2014 through January 2018. Of course, Louise was not just a SOCAN volunteer. For those who do not know, Louise was deservedly recognized in 2015 by the Rogue Valley Messenger as the Rogue Valley Non-profit Volunteer of the Year.
2016 – 2018
Eric Dittmer
Eric Dittmer retired from Southern Oregon University in 2012 after teaching in Geology and Environmental Studies since 1992. His interests include geologic hazards, especially earthquake hazard reduction, and water management. He is also an avid cyclist, frequently riding his bike from home in East Medford to SOU. Prior to being enticed to SOU, Eric served the Rogue Valley Council of Governments for over a decade primarily as Oregon Water Resources Coordinator. Eric has also served in a professional resource capacity with the “Water for Irrigation, Streams, and Economy” (WISE) Project, the goals of which are to enhance water management and irrigation efficiency in Jackson County.
Known for consistent involvement in volunteer service reflects an amazing commitment to the community. When the idea of establishing a local Grassroots Climate Action group was first discussed with Southern Oregonians, Eric’s name came up as a ‘must visit’ person. Since Eric has honored us with his involvement, we have come to appreciate that if there are folks living in Southern Oregon who don’t know Eric, he probably knows them anyway. Eric was the ideas person behind ‘Our Critical Climate: Trends, Impacts, and Solutions – A Rogue Basin Summit’ and a major contributor to its orchestration.
2014 – 2016
David Beale
Retired Attorney David Beale served on SOCAN’s Government Group and on the Leadership Circle. He was on the organizing team for ‘Our Critical Climate’ where he energized and instilled confidence in the team to raise the necessary funds. David served as one of our founding Board members and served from December 2014 through January 2016.
2012 – 2014
Bob Scheelen (1/11/45 – 8/29/20)
Bob became a SOCAN volunteer activist for climate during SOCAN’s first year of existence and has been integral in our projects ever since. And he is well-known among SOCANistas for his sage and calm advice and particularly his contributions to Government group activities and among those especially visits to field staff of our Federal representatives. Despite the almost annual trips to India where the volunteer contributions of Bob and Dolores cross national and continental borders, Bob has been a constant with SOCAN since first coming to our meetings. We are grateful to Bob for serving as a founding Board member during our rebirth as a 501-C-3 non-profit. At our meetings Bob’s wisdom has always been welcome.
Interested in Joining?
We’re looking for new board members ready to lead on climate, equity, and community resilience. If you’re committed to action and accountability, we’d love to hear from you.