Eugene joined CURE in early 2025 with a focus on advancing environmental justice and just climate solutions in rural Minnesota communities. Previously, Eugene served as a Tribal Planner and Sustainability Coordinator for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, leading initiatives around sustainable food systems, energy efficiency, and renewable energy development. In 2024, Eugene authored their first published case study—Tribal-State Collaboration on Sustainability and Solar Development—in partnership with the Clean Energy States Alliance.
Originally from Bemidji, Eugene holds a degree in Integrated Social Sciences from the University of Washington–Seattle. Their work is rooted in systems thinking, social ecology, and collectivism. They believe in learning from the natural world and Indigenous knowledge, and in building relationships that center community care.
Outside of work, Eugene can be found hiking, foraging, or wandering the woods with their partner and their dog.