The Electric School Bus Initiative Advisory Council
The Electric School Bus Initiative Advisory Council plays a key role in guiding the ESB Initiative toward the goal of equitably electrifying the full fleet of U.S. school buses.
Comprised of leading figures in fields including nonprofit advocacy, education, utility management, environmental justice and electrification, the Council provides invaluable insights and perspectives to experts across the ESB Initiative. The Council is co-chaired by: Alessandra Carreon, Chief Climate Officer, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Harold Wimmer, National President & CEO, American Lung Association, and Susan Mudd, Senior Policy Advocate, Environmental Law & Policy Center.
Co-Chairs
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Alessandra Carreon | Image
Harold Wimmer | Image
Susan Mudd |
Members
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Maia D. Bellon | Image
Chris Budzynski | Image
Bob Blake |
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Carolina Chacon Mendoza | Image
Christos Chrysiliou | Image
Emma Cimino |
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Paul D'Andrade | Image
Joy Gardner | Image
Curt Macysyn |
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Molly McGee-Hewitt | Image
Melissa Miles | Image
Donnie Owle |
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Charles Satterfield | Image
Nancy Skinner | Image
Nathaniel Smith |
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Antoine Thompson | Image
Carol Tyson | Image
Randi Weingarten |
Maia D. Bellon, Partner, Cascadia Law Group
Maia D. Bellon is a Partner at Cascadia Law Group and its consulting affiliate Cascadia Policy Solutions where she advises Tribal government, municipal, and private clients on a wide array of complex environmental matters, including climate and energy policy, air quality, environmental justice, water resources, toxics cleanup, water quality, and Tribal law.
Prior to joining Cascadia, Maia was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee, and unanimously confirmed by the Washington Senate, to serve as the director of the Department of Ecology (2013-2019). She was the longest-serving Ecology director in state history and led the agency to great achievements in carbon emission reductions, electrification initiatives, and integrating smart climate policy into land, air, and water regulations. She managed a staff of 1,700 employees and a biennial budget of $2.3 billion. Before serving as director, Maia was on Ecology’s Executive Leadership Team and held positions of deputy program manager and program manager of the Water Resources Program (2010-2012). Before working at Ecology, she represented the agency for 15 years as an Assistant Attorney General at the Washington Attorney General’s Office providing client advice and litigation support on a broad range of environmental and natural resources matters and litigation, including serving as the lead attorney for the state’s Clean Air Program. Maia received her J.D. from the Arizona State University, College of Law in 1994, and was presented a Dean’s Award upon graduation. She was also awarded the Joseph Albert Dear Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015 from her undergraduate institution, The Evergreen State College. Maia currently serves on the Washington Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
Bob Blake, Executive Director of Native Sun Community Power Development & Owner, Solar Bear
Robert Blake is the owner of Solar Bear, pronounced Gizis-o-makwa in Ojibwe, a solar development company located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Also, Robert is the Executive Director of Native Sun Community Power Development, a Non-Profit likewise located in Minneapolis. Robert is a tribal citizen of the Red Lake Nation. His passion is spreading the word about renewable energy through communication, cooperation, and collaboration.
Chris Budzynski, Director of Transportation and Federal Partnerships, Exelon
Chris Budzynski currently serves as Director, Transportation and Federal Partnerships for Exelon. Current responsibilities include leading the development of policy and strategic initiatives across Exelon’s six operating utilities related to beneficial electrification with an emphasis on transportation and mobility and leading Exelon’s federal regulatory affairs. Prior to his current role, Chris has held several management and leadership positions within Constellation Energy/Exelon including Finance & Treasury, Business Performance Improvement, Policy and Strategy.
Alessandra Carreon, Chief Climate Officer, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Alessandra Carreon is the Chief Climate Officer. In this role, Carreon oversees the Office of Climate and Energy (OCE), driving action to fulfill the state’s mission to address climate change impacts as outlined in the state’s MI Healthy Climate Plan. The office works on developing and implementing policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and support the transition to renewable energy sources. Through collaboration with varied partners and engagement with community, the OCE aims to create a resilient and sustainable future for all Michiganders.
Before joining EGLE, Carreon was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Public Service Commission as the first Asian-American commissioner in state history. Previously, Carreon also held key roles in the private and nonprofit sectors, including leading projects focused on electric vehicle battery circularity and equitable fleet electrification in carbon-free transportation at RMI and managing responsible raw material sourcing at Ford Motor Company.
Carreon brings nearly two decades of experience in sustainability and an equitable clean energy transition, including environmental consulting, regulatory compliance, and corporate responsibility. Her extensive experience and passion for environmental sustainability, clean energy, and public engagement are at the forefront of Michigan’s climate initiatives.
Alessandra is a licensed Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Rice University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.
She lives in Detroit with her family. In her free time, Alessandra enjoys planning and preparing elaborate meals for her loved ones and community, making Neapolitan pizza, and studying enology.
Carolina Chacon Mendoza, Coalition Manager, Alliance for Electric School Buses
Carolina Chacon Mendoza leads the Alliance for Electric School Buses, a national coalition of not-for-profit groups committed to an equitable transition of the nation's school bus fleet, starting in the communities most harmed by air pollution and creating good U.S. jobs along the way. Carolina has over a decade of experience in strategic planning, communications, community outreach and education, community organizing, and project management. For the last six years, she has worked as a consultant within the environmental field on advocacy work for clean energy, lands protection, and climate action, with a focus on elevating and supporting marginalized voices. Since 2017, she has worked on the Clean Buses for Healthy Niños campaign for Chispa, a Latinx organizing program by the League of Conservation Voters, pushing to prioritize Black and Brown communities in the transition to a clean ride for kids.
Christos Chrysiliou, Chief Eco-Sustainability Officer, Los Angeles Unified School District
Christos Chrysiliou is the Chief Eco-Sustainability Officer for the Los Angeles Unified School District leading the District’s eco-sustainability program. He is responsible for the development and implementation of sustainable and renewable energy initiatives with the goal of reducing the District’s carbon and water footprint and promoting climate literacy. Prior to that Christos served as the Director of Architecture and Engineering (A&E) Services for over a decade with the Facilities Services Division of the LAUSD.
A licensed architect, Christos is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a certified construction manager (CCM), and a LEED AP BD +C with experience in architectural planning, design, sustainability, and construction.
As the Chief Eco-Sustainability Officer and past Director of A/E Services he has been on the forefront of LAUSD efforts to promote sustainable design practices, campus ecology and the clean energy and decarbonization transition, and healthier, more eco-friendly school environments. Christos’s expansive knowledge and experience in all facets of planning, design, sustainability, and construction empowers him to direct complex programs that are responsive to the surrounding environment. Christos’s foresight regarding our climate challenges has been instrumental in building external and internal collaborations and directing talented teams comprised of Architects, Engineers, Sustainability Specialists, and Energy Managers to envision more resilient educational facilities.
Christos's vision is to transition LA Unified to clean energy in all sectors by developing healthy environments that utilize sustainable techniques and materials that protect and restore our natural resources and enhance our wellbeing.
Emma Cimino, Acting Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Emma Cimino is Acting Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). She was appointed to this position by Governor Lamont in July 2026 and appointed as DEEP’s Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Quality in November 2023, overseeing the Department’s air management, water protection and land reuse, and materials management programs.
Emma joined DEEP from the office of U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, where she led the Senator’s work on energy, environment, and infrastructure issues, including work on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Prior to the Senate, Emma worked as a Senior Policy Advisor at the National Governor’s Association. She began her state service working for former Governor Dan Malloy, serving as a Director of Government Affairs. Emma also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 2009-2011, during which she taught English in the Philippines.
Emma holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Paul D'Andrade, Executive Director, Fairfax County Public Schools Office of Transportation Services
Paul S. D’Andrade is a distinguished leader in transportation, boasting over 20 years of experience in mass transit and pupil transportation. As the Executive Director for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Office of Transportation Services, he oversees the safe transport of more than 147,000 students. Since joining FCPS in 2019, Paul has pioneered the transition to a fully electric fleet, encompassing around 2,000 vehicles. His leadership is marked by a profound commitment to safety and equity, ensuring his team effectively serves the diverse needs of the Fairfax County Public Schools community.
In his role at FCPS, Paul has been instrumental in driving forward a bold project to convert the school district's large fleet to 100% electric vehicles. His approach, deeply rooted in safety and equity, empowers his team to meet the varied transportation requirements of the students in Fairfax County with efficiency and care.
Joy Gardner, Executive Director, Empire Clean Cities
Joy Gardner is the Executive Director of Empire Clean Cities and serves as the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities and Communities Coalition Director for New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley. With nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and clean transportation advocacy, she works with public and private sector partners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut petroleum use, and accelerate the adoption of zero-emission and sustainable mobility solutions. Joy holds a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from The New School for Public Engagement and was inducted into the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities & Communities Hall of Fame in 2024.
Curt Macysyn, Executive Director, National School Transportation Association
Curt Macysyn currently serves as the Executive Director of the National School Transportation Association - a position he has held since May 2019. In his current position, Macysyn has presented publicly on a wide range of issues affecting student transportation, including Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs), the school bus driver shortage, and face mask and vaccine mandates in the pupil transportation realm.
In July 2020, Macysyn was a founder and served on the executive committee of the Student Transportation Aligned for Return to School (STARTS) Task Force –a group that provided a blueprint for school bus operators to safely transport students after the initial wave of Covid-19. Throughout his career in association management, Curt has served in various executive leadership positions, including a stint as Executive Director of the New Jersey Child Care Association, as well as holding the title of Director of Government Relations of the New Jersey School Boards Association.
Molly McGee-Hewitt, PhD, CAE, Executive Director & CEO, National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT)
Molly McGee-Hewitt, PhD, CAE serves as the Executive Director & CEO of the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT). She brings over 25 years of experience in public education and association management and leadership, previously serving in executive leadership positions with two large and prestigious educational associations, the California School Boards Association, and the California Association of School Business Officials, where she most recently served as CEO.
As a professional and well-regarded association executive, she has demonstrated her expertise in member engagement, legislative advocacy, certification programs, and professional development programming.
Her experience includes serving as a classroom teacher, administrator and school board member serving public schools. She has authored four books, over 200 blogs and articles and has delivered speeches across the United States and South America. She has also served as a consultant and advisor to school systems, associations, and for profit and not for profit organizations. Molly has a B.S. in organizational development, an M.S. in school business leadership, and a Ph.D. in adult and community education and training. She is also a credentialed certified association executive. She serves on numerous boards including EdSource.
Molly is the recipient of over 200 Awards and Commendations including honors from the United States Senate and Congress, the Governor of California, The California State Assembly and Senate and the city of Anaheim, County of Orange, the California School Boards Association, CASBO, and ASBO International.
Solyana Mesfin, College Student & Student Ex Officio Member, Kentucky Board of Education
Solyana Mesfin (she/her/hers) is an incoming second-year at the University of Louisville pursuing a joint concentration in Sociology and Pan African Studies with a minor in Political Science.
Over the past couple of years, she has pursued advocacy in the areas of education, social justice, and mental health. Solyana served a two-year term as the first student member on the Kentucky Board of Education and served on the Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner Student Advisory Council representing Jefferson county for three years prior to graduation.
Following her term, she established several equity-related campaigns, amplified departmental student-led initiatives, and currently serves as an advisor to the Kentucky Student Mental Health Action Summit Initiative with Kentucky’s Lt. Governor. She has also delivered a multitude of speeches, legislative testimonies, and editorials relating to the importance of student voice, institutional reform and policy implementation.
Solyana has been recognized nationally for advocacy, drafting youth-based policy for the US Conference of Mayors, creating with the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), serving as co-chair for the inaugural World Resources Institute (WRI) Electric School Bus Initiative Advisory Council, and is a 2023-2024 Cities United Youth Fellow. She is involved in several student-led initiatives across Kentucky, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Student Voice Team and as a member of the Kentucky United We Learn Council, aiming to advance education resources. Locally, she serves as chair for Louisville Mayor’s Implementation Council and ambassador for Louisville Metro Government’s Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods and Office for Youth Development where she has led a series of protests, adopted nationwide movements, and mandated youth consultation in local policy. Solyana continues to emphasize the importance of youth inclusion in policy and a diverse student voice movement.
Melissa Miles, Executive Director, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance
Melissa began her career as a grassroots activist and community organizer while living in an Environmental Justice community in Newark, New Jersey, long used as the regions’ dumping ground, and called a “sacrifice zone” and a “waste-shed” by advocates. However, it is fertile soil for seeding activism and growing visionaries. Melissa is one of many there who was awakened to the environmental justice issues around her by organizers from the local grassroots organization. Melissa’s vision is to support environmental justice communities rooted in place, where people can live, work, learn, and play in health and harmony. She is someone who embodies the values and principles of environmental justice, with both the lived experiences and the extensive professional and organizing background that make her an ideal leader. Melissa is educationally well-credentialed with a MA in Anthropology from The New School, but she is also adamant when it comes to solutions to the world’s current environmental crises the best and most relevant come from communities and not from universities: “Those that are most affected, have the solutions” is the sentiment from which her advocacy stems.
She is a part of several national coalitions including the Climate Justice Alliance, Moving Forward Network, The Coalition for Healthy Ports and the international coalitions, The Movement of People Affected By Dams (MAB) and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives. She is also part of the New Jersey Environmental Justice Advisory Council responsible for advising state agencies including the Department of Environmental Protection on issues of Environmental Justice. Her “expertise” is rooted in her lived experience and her commitment to making sure that people at the frontlines are the protagonists in the struggle for their future.
Susan Mudd, Senior Policy Advocate, Environmental Law & Policy Center
Susan Mudd is an attorney and senior policy advocate for Environmental Law & Policy Center, where she directs ELPC’s Diesel Pollution Reduction Initiative to protect children’s and community health, ELPC’s Electric School bus campaign and with ELPC’s Science Advisory Council. Susan previously served as Citizens for a Better Environment’s Wisconsin director for 15 years, consulted for the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and the Brico Fund. She lives in Chicago with her husband.
Donnie Owle, Service Manager, Cherokee Boys Club
After Donnie Owle graduated from North Georgia Technical College, he went straight to work at Mountain Ford in Bryson City, North Carolina as a service manager and was there from 1986-2006. In 2006, Owle started his employment with the Cherokee Boys Club (CBC) and continues to work there as service manager.
During his time at CBC, Owle has been instrumental in transitioning the school bus fleet to alternative fuels. Owle was the project manager for a North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) grant received in 2020 to replace a diesel school bus with an electric school bus, along with installing the charging infrastructure.
Gilbert Blue Feather Rosas, Director II Sustainability & Adaptation, Modesto City Schools
Gilbert Rosas has specialized in energy conservation, emissions reductions and grant project management for the past ten years. His passion is seeking environmental justice for disadvantaged communities through electric school bus adoption and empowering students through sustainability initiatives and green career path choices.
In addition to WRI’s Electric School Bus Initiative Advisory Council, Gilbert serves on Generation 180’s Solar Advisory Council and the District Innovation Hub for the California Environmental Literacy Initiative.
Gilbert has gained national attention with two of the fastest electric school bus deployments in California’s history. In 2020, Stockton Unified School District went from design to construction to buses arriving and charging in less than 11 months.
In March of 2022, Gilbert joined Modesto City Schools as Director II of the Sustainability & Adaptation Department. Modest City Schools is the 25th largest school district in California and is converting half of its existing bus fleet, while exploring funding options for full electric conversion.
Charles Satterfield, Senior Manager of Electric Transportation, Edison Electric Institute
Charles Satterfield is the Senior Manager of Electric Transportation with the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) where he supports the efforts of the nation’s investor-owned electric companies to advance electric transportation. Charles leads all work on electric transportation at EEI including initiatives to promote the deployment of charging infrastructure, managed charging, and electrification of utility fleets.
Prior to joining EEI, Charles led all work related to fleet electrification at Atlas Public Policy and authored studies to investigate the electrification of all publicly owned vehicles in the state of Washington and the federal fleet.
Nancy Skinner, Commissioner, California Energy Commission
Commissioner Nancy Skinner is serving her first term on the California Energy Commission (CEC). Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Skinner in January 2025 to serve as the CEC’s engineer/scientist member. She was a state senator at the California State Senate from 2016 to 2024 and an assemblymember at the California State Assembly from 2008 to 2014. She also served on the Berkeley City Council from 1984 to 1992. From 2015 to 2016, Skinner was a senior advisor at the Energy and Efficiency Institute at the University of California, Davis, and a lecturer at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.
She has worked on climate and sustainability issues for most of her career, including serving as the United States Director of The Climate Group; the International Director and United States Director of the ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability Climate Protection Campaign, and Executive Director of ICLEI-US Local Governments for Sustainability. Skinner was also the executive director of the Graduate Assembly at UC Berkeley and a writer/researcher at Earthworks Press. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in conservation and resource studies and a Master of Arts in education from UC Berkeley.
Nathaniel Smith, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Partnership for Southern Equity
Nathaniel Smith serves as Founder and Chief Equity Officer of the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE), which advances policies and institutional actions that promote racial equity and shared prosperity for all in the growth of metropolitan Atlanta and the American South. Among PSE’s notable accomplishments was the creation the American South’s first equity mapping and framing tool, the Metro Atlanta Equity Atlas, and co-authoring numerous reports including: “Growing the Future: The Case for Economic Inclusion in Metropolitan Atlanta”, and “Employment Equity: Putting Georgia on the Path to Inclusive Prosperity.” PSE also led a coalition of diverse stakeholders to support a $13 million transit referendum that expanded Atlanta’s metropolitan transit system into a new county for the first time in 45 years.
Smith’s advocacy activities were instrumental in the ratification of a 15 percent set aside of Atlanta BeltLine Tax Allocation District (TAD) dollars for the development and maintenance of affordable workforce housing within the Atlanta BeltLine Planning Area - $250 million dollars over the 25-year lifespan of the Atlanta BeltLine TAD. Among his many accomplishments, The Huffington Post honored Nathaniel as one of the eight “Up and Coming Black Leaders in the Climate Movement” in 2017. Nathaniel was also named to the Grist 50 by Grist Magazine in 2018 and the Atlanta 500 by Atlanta Magazine in 2019 and 2020 and designated one of the 100 “Most Influential Georgians” by Georgia Trend magazine in 2018, 2019 and 2020. His work was also featured in the U.S. News and World Report, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nonprofit Quarterly, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Voice and others.
Antoine Thompson, Executive Director, Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition
Antoine Maurice Thompson is a native of Buffalo, New York. He graduated from Buffalo Public Schools #61, #60, and Bennett High School. A graduate of SUNY Brockport with a dual bachelors’ degree in History and African and Afro-American Studies, Thompson also studied at the University of Ghana in Ghana, West Africa. Antoine is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree from Medaille College. He is a graduate of the 2001 Class of Leadership Buffalo.
Antoine M. Thompson is a nationally recognized leader for environmental justice, green business, housing, diversity and urban policy. Antoine is the Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCC), a public-private partnership that promotes the use of clean, American transportation fuels for homeland security, improved air quality, environment justice, diversity and inclusion.
He is the former Executive Director of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) the oldest organization of African-American real estate professionals in the United States. He also had a significant public service career in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. His positions have included election to Buffalo Common Council where he authored the Buffalo’s Fair Housing Law, the Minority and Women Business Enterprise Inclusion Law and secured over $75 million for community development projects. He was elected to the New York State Senate in 2006 and 2008 and served as the Senate Deputy Majority Whip and the first African-American to Chair the Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation and Co-Chair of the Senate Minority and Woman Business Enterprise Task Force. He authored the NYS MWBE Mentor/Protégé Law. He was also a key architect of the Green Jobs/Green New York law.
Carol Tyson, Government Affairs Liaison, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
Carol Tyson is the Government Affairs Liaison for the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), a national law and policy center, with offices in Berkeley, California and Washington, D.C. Tyson provides an advocate voice in the District, and works in coalition with disability and civil rights partners and industry stakeholders, focusing on: transportation equity; healthcare; supports and services needed to remain in the community; education; and civil rights. Tyson has served on committees addressing: on-demand transportation, bicycle and pedestrian safety, equity and accessibility issues. In 2014 Tyson received the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Dr. Rosalyn Simon Award in recognition of advancing the field of accessible transportation through education, training, and advocacy. Tyson has been a grateful contributor to Mobility Lab, and the Eno Center; has been quoted in numerous local and national transportation press. Prior to joining DREDF, Tyson served as the Director, Disability Policy for United Spinal Association, and as a researcher in the labor movement in the US and Australia.
Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers
Randi Weingarten is president of the 1.7 million-member American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, which represents teachers; paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; higher education faculty and staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; local, state and federal government employees; and early childhood educators. The AFT is dedicated to the belief that every person in America deserves the freedom to thrive, fueled by opportunity, justice and a voice in our democracy. This freedom is achieved through an economy that works for all, including the ability to form a union; great public schools and affordable higher education; healthcare as a right; retirement security; the right to vote and civil rights; a vibrant democracy; and safe, welcoming and healthy environments and communities. The AFT and its members advance these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through members’ work—we care, fight, show up and vote.
Prior to her election as AFT president in 2008, Weingarten served for 11 years as president of the United Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 2, representing approximately 200,000 educators in the New York City public school system, as well as home childcare providers and other workers in health, law and education. Weingarten is the recipient of many commendations; she was included in Washingtonian’s 2021 Washington’s Most Influential People, City & State New York’s 2021 New York City Labor Power 100, and Washington Life’s 2018 Power 100 list of prominent leaders, and in 2017 received the Roosevelt Institute’s FDR Distinguished Public Service Award. In 2013, the New York Observer named Weingarten one of the most influential New Yorkers of the past 25 years.
Harold Wimmer, National President & CEO, American Lung Association
Harold Wimmer is the National President and CEO of the American Lung Association, carrying out the strategic framework and policies established by the National Volunteer Board of Directors. Fostering a culture of innovation and a distinct mission-first approach, Harold directs the executive operations of the Association to deliver high impact services and initiatives to improve the lung health of Americans and prevent lung disease. Harold has dedicated his life to improving the lung health of all Americans. His work with the American Lung Association began in 1978, and he became National President and CEO in February 2013.
Prior to leading the nationwide organization, Harold served in key executive positions in the American Lung Association in Illinois and the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest. Earning a B.S. in Community Health and an M.S. in Health Administration & Policy from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, he has been an active alumni member at U of I, serving on the Applied Health Sciences Alumni Board. Harold received the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois, College of Applied Health Sciences.