A headshot of Becky Alexander on the left, and a headshot of LuAnne Thompson on the rightBecky Alexander has agreed to be reappointed as director of the Program on Climate Change (PCC), effective Sept. 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2025. Alexander is expecting to take a one-year sabbatical for AY22-23, so LuAnne Thompson will be serving as acting director, effective Sept. 1, 2022 to Aug. 31, 2023.

Alexander is an atmospheric chemist in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences who studies the feedbacks that arise between climate change and the chemical composition of the atmosphere. In addition to serving as the PCC Director since 2019, she was initially hired by the UW as one of a number of new faculty hires spearheaded by the PCC to promote interdisciplinary climate research and teaching.

Thompson, a Lowell A. and Frankie L. Wakefield Endowed Professor in the School of Oceanography, uses climate models along with satellite observations to untangle the role that the ocean plays in moving and storing heat and chemicals in the climate system. She also has a long-standing relationship with the PCC. In addition to serving as the PCC director from 2011-2017, she has been a member of the PCC community since the inception of the program.

“The PCC is particularly well aligned with my priorities for the College of Environment in building interdisciplinary bridges across units and across the university, ensuring we are more than the sum of our parts, and in the training and work around climate and environment justice,” said UW Environment Dean Maya Tolstoy. “I was especially impressed with the PCC strategic plan that was recently developed under Becky’s leadership and look forward to working with both Becky and LuAnne to help implement this plan. Please join me in congratulating and thanking these two individuals for their willingness to serve in this leadership role.”