Deb Callahan
Encyclopedia
Deb Callahan is an American environmental and political leader. Currently she is the president of the Heinz Center, a Washington, DC, nonprofit institution dedicated to improving the scientific and economic foundation for environmental policy.
Callahan is the immediate past president of the League of Conservation Voters
(LCV), where she served as president for ten years. Prior to her work at LCV, she served as the founding executive director for the Brainerd Foundation and was a Program Officer for the W. Alton Jones Foundation
, both prominent environmental grant making foundations. She has worked in advocacy organizations and on Capitol Hill, including the National Clean Air Coalition, the National Toxics Campaign and in the US Senate.
Callahan has also managed and staffed numerous electoral campaigns including the presidential campaigns of Vice Presidents Al Gore
and Walter Mondale
, and campaigns for Senator Kent Conrad
, Congressman Howard Wolpe
and Congressman George Brown
. She has served on numerous boards of directors, including America Votes, the Federation of State Conservation Voter Leagues, World Resources Institute
and the Earth Day Network. A nationally known spokesperson and media commentator on environmental and progressive political issues, Callahan was the first environmental organizational representative to address the Democratic National Convention (2004).
She is married to Ken Cook
, president of the Environmental Working Group
. She graduated in 1981 from the University of California, Santa Barbara
with a degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science.
Callahan is the immediate past president of the League of Conservation Voters
League of Conservation Voters
The League of Conservation Voters is a political advocacy organization founded in 1969 by American environmentalist David Brower in the early years of the environmental movement. LCV's mission is to "advocate for sound environmental policies and to elect pro-environmental candidates who will adopt...
(LCV), where she served as president for ten years. Prior to her work at LCV, she served as the founding executive director for the Brainerd Foundation and was a Program Officer for the W. Alton Jones Foundation
W. Alton Jones Foundation
The W. Alton Jones Foundation was a charitable foundation, and a sponsor of environmental causes. It was originally involved in sponsoring the arts, particularly theatre....
, both prominent environmental grant making foundations. She has worked in advocacy organizations and on Capitol Hill, including the National Clean Air Coalition, the National Toxics Campaign and in the US Senate.
Callahan has also managed and staffed numerous electoral campaigns including the presidential campaigns of Vice Presidents Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
and Walter Mondale
Walter Mondale
Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
, and campaigns for Senator Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party...
, Congressman Howard Wolpe
Howard Wolpe
Howard Eliot Wolpe III was a seven-term U.S. Representative from Michigan and Presidential Special Envoy to the African Great Lakes Region in the Clinton Administration, where he led the United States delegation to the Arusha and Lusaka peace talks, which aimed to end civil wars in Burundi and the...
and Congressman George Brown
George Brown
- Politicians :* George Brown, Baron George-Brown , British politician, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs* George Brown, Jr. , U.S...
. She has served on numerous boards of directors, including America Votes, the Federation of State Conservation Voter Leagues, World Resources Institute
World Resources Institute
The World Resources Institute is an environmental think tank founded in 1982 based in Washington, D.C. in the United States.WRI is an independent, non-partisan and nonprofit organization with a staff of more than 100 scientists, economists, policy experts, business analysts, statistical analysts,...
and the Earth Day Network. A nationally known spokesperson and media commentator on environmental and progressive political issues, Callahan was the first environmental organizational representative to address the Democratic National Convention (2004).
She is married to Ken Cook
Ken Cook
Ken Cook is president and co-founder of the Environmental Working Group , a public interest research and advocacy organization focused on protecting human health and the environment. Cook is the author of dozens of articles, opinion pieces and reports on environmental, public health and...
, president of the Environmental Working Group
Environmental Working Group
The Environmental Working Group is an American environmental organization that specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of toxic chemicals, agricultural subsidies, public lands, and corporate accountability...
. She graduated in 1981 from the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
with a degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science.
Prior positions
- Executive Director (1995–1996), Brainerd Foundation
- Program Officer (1992–1994), W. Alton Jones FoundationW. Alton Jones FoundationThe W. Alton Jones Foundation was a charitable foundation, and a sponsor of environmental causes. It was originally involved in sponsoring the arts, particularly theatre....
- Policy Consultant (1991–1992), National Toxics Campaign
- Campaign Manager (1990–1991), WolpeWolpeWolpe is a surname and may refer to:* Berthold Wolpe , visual designer* David Wolpe , American Rabbi* Harold Wolpe , South African activist and academic...
congressional campaign - National Field Director (1987–1988), GoreAl GoreAlbert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
presidential primary campaign - Executive Assistant (1986–1987), Office of Senator Kent ConradKent ConradKent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party...
- New England political director (1985–1986), League of Conservation Voters
- Deputy Campaign Manager (1986), Conrad senatorial campaign
- Field Coordinator (1984), Mondale-FerraroFerraroFerraro is a surname of Italian origin and may refer to:*Chris Ferraro , NHL hockey player, brother of Peter Ferraro*Christine Ferraro, writer for Sesame Street*Emanuele Ferraro , Italian footballer...
presidential campaign