New UC & Berkeley Connected Climate Appointees Bring Hope to the Start of 2021

February 9, 2021

The inauguration of the Biden-Harris administration brought about a multitude of exciting appointees, especially in regards to climate, energy, and transportation-related positions. 

Berkeley News recently featured Jennifer Granholm of the Goldman School of Public Policy, the incoming secretary of the Department of Energy, in the article At a time of crisis, Berkeley policy experts join Biden administration. The article focuses on Biden appointees in a diverse range of positions, some environmental. Here we share some additional Berkeley and UC-connected appointees in climate-related positions. 

UC Berkeley Alum & Connections:  

In the Department of Energy, Avi Zevin, a UC Berkeley L&S grad, will serve as the Deputy General Counsel for Energy Policy. 

Ali Douraghy, the Chief Strategy Officer at the Lawrence National Berkeley Laboratory and a UCLA & UC San Diego alum, will be serving as the Chief of Staff in the Department of Energy Office of the Under Secretary for Science & Energy. 

Steven Cliff, a Beamline Scientist at the Lawrence National Berkeley Laboratory & UC San Diego alum, will serve as the National Highway Traffic Deputy Administrator for the Department of Transportation. 

UC Alum & Connections: 

Debra Haaland, the nominee for Secretary of the Interior, is a UCLA alum.

Jennifer Van der Heide, a UC Hastings College of Law alum, will be serving as the Chief of Staff for the Department of the Interior. 

Jennifer Jean Kropke, a UCLA Law alum, will serve as the Director of Energy Jobs in the Department of Energy. 

UCSB alum Tanya Das is the incoming Chief of Staff for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. 

Read about the other Berkeley policy experts via Berkeley News here & other UC-connected appointments here.


Sources: 

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-welcomes-members-biden-harris-leadership-team

https://t4america.org/2021/01/26/meet-the-new-leaders-of-the-u-s-department-of-transportation/

https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-announces-new-senior-leaders

https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1063723315/feed