Tonyisha Harris is ACE’s Associate Director of Communications and Partnerships. Having been introduced to the organization via a climate education assembly in high school, it is a full-circle moment for her to be working for the organization that inspired her to be a youth climate and environmental justice advocate. She helps ACE garner earned media opportunities, communicate with partners, and supports its coalition-building efforts. 

Tonyisha earned her B.S. in Environmental Science from Loyola University Chicago in 2019. As a Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program alumn, she conducted research at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and interned at the Huron River Watershed Council. After studying abroad in the Galapagos Islands, where she received her Open Water Scuba Dive Certification, she launched the “A Place at the Table” Campaign through the Student Environmental Alliance to promote diversity, equity and inclusion on campus for environmental discourse. She previously worked at Illinois Environmental Council as the Clean Energy Programs Director and Chicagoland Conservation Manager. One of her biggest accomplishments was organizing a CEJA photo banner delivery to Illinois Governor Pritzker with 300 young people at the Capitol; the bill passed in 2021. She is also a 2021 New Leaders Council Fellow. 

She lives in Chicago with her three-year-old husky mix, enjoys reading, writing, singing, and acting, and can always be found hanging out with her friends.