About Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest

Board & Staff

ASPI is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors with deep roots in Appalachia and powered by dedicated staff and interns.

Board of Directors

Volunteer leadership

Our board members bring expertise in law, farming, education, engineering, and community organizing — all connected by a shared commitment to Appalachia’s future.

Timi Reedy

BOARD PRESIDENT

Read Bio

Timi is an herbalist and mycologist with undergraduate and graduate degrees from Eastern Kentucky University. She has volunteered with ASPI since the 1990s, and in 1996 helped conduct a video oral history project gathering stories from Appalachian elders about the forest and how it has changed in their lifetimes. She currently serves as Board President and Service-Learning Coordinator for university alternative break visits to the region. Since 2019, she has led substantial physical repairs and upgrades to both ASPI sites, including roof repairs, solar expansions, EV charging station installations, and grounds reclamation.

Harrison Reedy

BOARD SECRETARY

Read Bio

Harrison Reedy is an attorney with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Kentucky and Lincoln Memorial University. Born and raised in Southeastern Kentucky, he has a deep-rooted passion for the region’s unique culture and history, as well as Appalachia as a whole. Recently elected Secretary of the Board of Appalachia – Science in the Public Interest, Harrison is committed to bridging legal frameworks with scientific initiatives in ways that support ASPI’s mission and the communities it serves. Through this interdisciplinary approach, Harrison aims to enhance sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and community engagement throughout Appalachia.

Holly Chiantaretto

BOARD MEMBER

Read Bio

Holly Chiantaretto has been a resident of Kentucky for over 20 years. She received a Bachelor’s in History and a Master’s in History Education from Eastern Kentucky University. Holly currently works for Rockcastle County High School as a teacher, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture as a contracted organic farm inspector, the Organic Association of Kentucky as an organic transition trainer, and the Rockcastle Farmers Market as a market manager. Holly also administers the Rockcastle Growers Cooperative, a local agricultural non-profit. She manages the family farm in Climax, Kentucky, with her co-farmer, James, where they raised their five children and one granddaughter. 

James Robinson

BOARD MEMBER

Read Bio

James Robinson is a native born resident of Climax, Kentucky. He has deep family roots in Rockcastle County and the surrounding counties. He received his education from Rockcastle County High School and Somerset Community College. James has engaged in a variety of types of work over the years. He has worked in auto body repair and management. He worked repairing and building Harley-Davidsons and other motorsports vehicles. James has worked in the construction industry, building and remodeling. He is currently a full-time farmer and manager of the farm in Climax, Kentucky, on Hallow Springs Farm, where he runs a cow-calf operation and organic produce gardens. James and his co-farmer, Holly, have five children and one granddaughter together.

William Reedy

BOARD MEMBER

Read Bio

William Reedy is a dynamic senior manager with extensive experience in project development, operations management, and continuous improvement across the agricultural, municipal, and distillery sectors. Currently serving as Vice President of Project Development at Stircor Services Inc., he leads engineering teams in designing and implementing advanced drying and gasification systems, with a focus on carbon credit analysis and sustainable project execution. Previously, William managed large-scale green infrastructure projects at ARCO/Murray, overseeing the conversion of industrial waste streams into valuable products like biogas and sustainable aviation fuel. At AppHarvest, he was instrumental as an early team member, driving procedural standards, major capital projects, and continuous improvement initiatives. William holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Kentucky and is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt. His leadership is marked by a commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and environmental stewardship. William looks forward to providing his vast insight toward the betterment of ASPI

Julie Gutherie

BOARD MEMBER

Read Bio

As a Title I Building Coordinator, Interventionist, and Middle School Science Teacher, Julie wears many hats, and occasionally a lab coat. With over seventeen years in education, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have access to high-quality learning experiences that spark curiosity and build confidence.
Passionate about equity in education, sustainability, and the power of collaborative problem-solving, she thrives in environments where ideas are shared freely, challenges are met with creativity, and success is measured by meaningful growth. Whether facilitating small group interventions, organizing Title I programming, or launching rockets with seventh graders, her mission remains the same: fostering a space where students and staff alike feel empowered, supported, and inspired. She believes learning should be joyful—and yes, sometimes a little messy. That’s where the real magic happens. With this approach to learning and growth guiding her life goals, Julie believes that her work will plug into ASPI’s mission perfectly, creating a diverse and balanced community where everyone can thrive.

Staff

The team at work

Our small but mighty staff and long-term contributors keep the programs, publications, and properties running.

Mark Spencer

Simple Lifestyles Calendar Guru & Graphic Artist

Read Bio

Mark is ASPI’s longtime graphic artist, media producer, and author and designer of the Simple Lifestyle Calendar. Mark is one of six kids and was born in upstate New York. He’s widely traveled, including a stint at Mother Teresa’s hospitals in India, a cross-country bicycle trip, and a through-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Mark arrived from Herron School of Art and Design as an intern at ASPI in 1986, and with a few breaks for biking, nesting, and trekking in between, has been here since. Through the years, Mark has worked on many important ASPI projects, including the design of ASPI and project logos, audio and video recording for oral history projects, and the Earth Healing TV shows. He previously lived in the Solar House and enjoys hiking, reading, and collecting all sorts of crazy stuff for “found object” art projects. But your cards and letters with calendar kudos and suggestions still do the most to light up his eyes. Mark also helped conduct ASPI’s “Creative Aging & Lifelong Learning” interview project funded by an Arts Access Assistance Grant from the Kentucky Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts.

River

Wilderness Site Caretaker & Website, Newsletter & Technology

Read Bio

River keeps ASPI’s digital presence running — maintaining the website, producing the newsletter, and handling the technology infrastructure that supports the organization’s outreach and operations.

Loki

Wilderness Site Caretaker

Earl Gutherie

Groundskeeper and Media Aide

Interns

Current & Recent Interns

ASPI hosts interns from universities across the country, offering hands-on experience in environmental education, community organizing, and sustainable living.

Nathan Brannon

Summer 2026 intern – University of Notre Dame

Read Bio

Nathan joined ASPI as part of the NDBridge program through the University of Notre Dame. As a rising sophomore studying Civil Engineering, Nathan enjoyed helping out on farms, building systems for transporting clean drinking water to houses in remote areas, constructing storage buildings for nonprofits, assisting with ASPI projects, and working closely with Rockcastle County Solid Waste. Over the summer, he conducted research on how coal mining in Appalachia has affected source water quality in the region and what steps, if any, are being taken to address the issue.

Jacob Kong

Summer 2026 intern – University of Notre Dame

Read Bio

Jacob joined ASPI as part of the NDBridge program through the University of Notre Dame. He is a rising sophomore studying Environmental Engineering and Finance, and spent his summer constructing springwater and rainwater systems, helping out in local farms, and assisting with ASPI infrastructure. Jacob is also doing a case study on how decades of neglect cripples Martin County’s water system.

Kristine Delelis

Summer 2026 intern – University of Notre Dame

Read Bio

Kristine joined ASPI as part of the NDBridge program through the University of Notre Dame. She is a rising sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering and spent her time this summer helping with the construction of running spring water and rainwater catchment systems, assisting in farms, and getting involved in ASPI homestead workshops. She is also doing a case study analyzing the impacts and constraints of grassroots water projects such as home water testing (in Martin County) and DIY rainwater catchment systems (in Rockcastle County).

Veronica Entley

Summer 2026 intern – University of Notre Dame

Read Bio

Veronica joined ASPI as part of the NDBridge program through the University of Notre Dame. A rising sophomore studying Environmental Engineering, Veronica spent her time contributing to the construction of spring water systems, assisting farmers, and helping with ASPI infrastructure. Over the summer, she also created a documentary-style film about sustainable development in rural communities – aspiring to share oral histories.

Blayne Schwarz

Summer 2025 intern – University of Notre Dame

Read Bio


Blayne joined ASPI as part of Notre Dame’s Social Concern Summer Fellowship. A rising junior studying Chemical Engineering with minors in Engineering Corporate Practice and Catholic Social Tradition, she contributed to resiliency grant work, invasive species removal at the wilderness site, fruit tree planting, and the creation of ASPI’s Social Platform Integration Document — now shared widely through the SPARK network. She previously visited ASPI in October 2024 with Notre Dame’s service learning cohort.

ASPI periodically hosts interns through university service-learning partnerships. Past programs have included positions in nature center education, the Simple Lifestyles Calendar, and Grow Appalachia. Learn more about getting involved →

Join the ASPI community

There are many ways to support and connect with this work – as a donor, volunteer, partner, or intern.

Get Involved
Shopping Cart
Scroll to Top