Meet Jonathon

I come from humble but hardworking parents. My father was a tool and die maker at Cummins Engine Company, and my mother was a homemaker. Through their sacrifices, I had an opportunity they never did: the chance to attend college.

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. While I was in college, the AIDS epidemic was unfolding around me. As I watched friends become sick and die, I set aside—for a time—my longstanding passion for environmental issues and focused instead on helping people and communities in immediate need.

I volunteered as a test-site counselor and as a buddy in a local support program, and I co-founded HAVOC (HIV/AIDS Volunteer Outreach Coalition). Through HAVOC, we engaged in education and advocacy and organized the community’s first AIDS Walk. These experiences taught me the importance of showing up for people who are vulnerable, marginalized, or too often overlooked.

After graduating, I moved to Chicago, where I worked with homeless youth in a transitional living program before relocating to California, which has been my home ever since. In San Francisco, I spent several years managing a rental subsidy program for people with disabilities. Working directly with people facing housing insecurity and other significant challenges deepened my commitment to public service and strengthened my belief that meaningful change requires both compassion and effective systems.

A decade later, I returned to school to pursue a Master of Science in Applied Geoscience at San Francisco State University. The program allowed me to design an interdisciplinary course of study focused on marine and climate science, reconnecting me with my original passion for the environment. During graduate school, I also discovered a love of teaching. As a graduate teaching assistant, I taught oceanography labs and mentored low-income high school students participating in a summer research program.

After earning my master’s degree, I completed an associate teacher program at The Nueva School before becoming a lead teacher at Alta Vista School in San Francisco. There, I taught fourth- and fifth-grade science, mathematics, and technology, helping students develop scientific curiosity, critical thinking, and confidence in their own abilities.

Today, as a Technical Manager and sustainability auditor, I evaluate the sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions of major biofuel, recycled carbon fuel, and sustainable aviation fuel projects across North America. My work helps ensure that climate and sustainability claims are scientifically sound, transparent, and credible.

Although my career has taken several different paths, a common thread has remained constant: a commitment to public service through science, education, and systems thinking. Whether supporting vulnerable communities, inspiring young students, or helping strengthen the integrity of climate solutions, I have been drawn to work that combines technical knowledge with meaningful public impact. Each chapter has been different, but each has been guided by the same goal—to leave people, communities, and the environment better than I found them.

I hope to carry that commitment forward by using my experience across science, education, and public service to help build a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable future for all Palm Desert residents.