Nathaniel Keohane is an economist with more than 20 years of energy and environmental policy experience in academia, government, and the nonprofit sector. His work and studies have been dedicated towards addressing climate change and have included appointments at Yale and NYU School of Law.

Keohane is currently president of Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), an environmental policy research organization focused on accelerating a low-carbon transition, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and growing an equitable economy.

Previously, he was senior vice president for climate at the Environmental Defense Fund. At C2ES, Keohane worked to strengthen the Board’s commitment to DEI, helping develop an organizational DEI statement and pursuing initiatives in hiring, inclusion, and external programming.

Keohane was Special Assistant to President Obama for Energy and Environment on the National Economic Council and Domestic Policy Council. In this position, he helped develop and coordinate administration policy on lowering power plant emissions, establishing a national Clean Energy Standard, and conducting UN climate negotiations.

Keohane believes that “Harvard must build a welcoming, inclusive community that attracts and nurtures brilliant students, faculty, and staff from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, challenges and stimulates them through exposure to a wide range of viewpoints and ideas, and ensures equitable access to university resources and opportunities.” He is eager to help the University stand up to attacks from opponents of diversity and democracy.