Gina McCarthy

Gina McCarthy, Professor of the Practice of Public Health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has established herself as one of the nation's most influential voices in environmental policy and public health protection. After earning her MS in Environmental Health Engineering from Tufts University and BA in Social Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Boston, she has built an extraordinary career spanning over 35 years in public service. As the first White House National Climate Advisor under President Biden and former EPA Administrator under President Obama (2013-2017), she spearheaded landmark initiatives including the Clean Power Plan and helped secure the Paris Climate Agreement. Her leadership at EPA resulted in groundbreaking policies to cut air pollution, protect water resources, and strengthen chemical safety standards. Before her federal service, she served as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and held senior positions in five Massachusetts administrations. Currently, as Director of Harvard Chan School's Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, she leads crucial initiatives in climate science and sustainability while serving as Senior Advisor at Bloomberg Philanthropies and Managing Co-Chair of the America Is All In coalition. Her work has consistently emphasized the connection between environmental protection and public health, particularly focusing on vulnerable communities and environmental justice.