Anne Christianson, Ph.D., is the director of International Climate Policy at American Progress. She has more than a decade of environmental policy experience, alongside her academic research in conservation and climate adaptation. Prior to joining American Progress, Christianson worked for The Pew Charitable Trusts, building multilateral support for marine protections and ocean-based climate actions in the Antarctic. Previously, she supported ocean policy at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, was on the government relations team at Ocean Conservancy, and worked on environment and agriculture policy for then-Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN).
Christianson earned a doctorate in natural resources science and management from the University of Minnesota, where her research focused on the social and ecological impacts of ecosystem-based approaches to climate adaptation. She holds a master’s degree in biodiversity conservation from the University of Oxford and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and political science from St. Olaf College. Originally hailing from St. Paul, Minnesota, she calls Washington, D.C., home.