Taryn Finnessey

Chair

Taryn Finnessey has spent her career working on water, natural hazards, and climate change at the federal, state, and local levels. She works to integrate scientific and policy innovations that increase Colorado’s ability to address climate change impacts and reduce emissions. She has helped to establish Colorado as a national and international leader on drought resilience, and has worked in the nonprofit sector seeking cost-effective approaches to the balance between human water demands and protection of the natural environment. She was drawn to environmental science and policy work while studying abroad in Tanzania, where she spent time in Iringa, Lushoto, Tanga, Dar es Salaam, and numerous other small villages. She holds a B.A. in Earth and Environmental Science from Wesleyan University, and an M.A. in Global Environmental Policy from American University.