About

The mission of Span is to provide services to help alumni of Public Interest Network organizations continue to make a difference.

The Public Interest Network operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. You can read more about this vision and approach here.

Over the last 45+ years, the Public Interest Network organizations have served as the training ground for countless young activists and organizers. Now, alumni of state PIRGs and affiliated Public Interest Network organizations are everywhere: leading the nation's environmental, consumer, political reform, and social justice organizations; distinguishing themselves in government service; and working in the media, foundations, universities and the private sector; and in countless other professions. We celebrate our alumni!

Our Team

Chris Lindstrom, middle, poses with U.S. PIRG alumni Liz Hitchcock, left, and Luke Swarthout, right. She start on PIRG staff in 1992 as a field organizer with the Recycling Initiative campaign in Massachusetts;  but her longest stint was directing U.S. PIRG’s Higher Education Project for 13 years.  After a 4 year hiatus, she rejoined staff in August 2022 to direct the Alumni Department.  She lives in Amherst, MA, with her husband and daughter.  She is a local activist around walkability;  is on her local transportation advisory committee; and loves hiking in the Fall weather, and skiing in the Winter.

Kirsten Schatz is the previous director of the SPAN Alumni Department. Sarting in 2003, she went on to oversee the Alumni Department for close to two decades!  She still helps Chris on occasion.  Now, as of September 2022, you can find Kirsten on staff at Colorado PIRG,  fighting for cleaner air.  Photo above, courtesy of Kimball Nelson Photography