Hometown: Aurora, Illinois

Undergraduate Institution and Major: DeVry Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Science, Telecommunications Management

Graduate Institution and Major: University of Illinois at Springfield, Master of Arts, Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sustainable Development and Policy

Bio: Bernina (Nina) serves as the founder and Executive Director of E.S. Evolution, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Her purpose for starting the nonprofit was to focus on environmental and sustainability issues. Before E.S. Evolution, Nina served 8 years in the U.S. Army as a Tactical Telecommunications Specialists. After military service, she worked as a Network Engineer and Data Maintenance Manager for IBM Global Services, AT&T Global Network Services, and SBC Ameritech. Nina worked for her local municipality, where she was also appointed to the Veterans Advisory Council and Sustainable Advisory Board. Nina began her environmental and sustainability education until she enrolled and completed the Certificate in Environmental Sustainability program at the University of Illinois at Urbana. Nina has volunteered in her community dealing with veteran, environmental, and sustainability issues.

Email: bperkin2@uis.edu

Relevant Experience: Nina is a passionate environmental sustainability advocate with more than 30 years of collective experience in the military, technical network management, and office administration experience.

Research Interests: Green building standards and codes, resilient communities, local, sustainable foods system programs, nonprofit management and leadership, and programs supporting the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.