Deb Callahan is an American environmental and political leader. In 2011, she became the executive director of the Point Reyes National Seashore Association in the San Francisco Bay area. Previously she served as president of The H. John Heinz III Center For Science, Economics And The Environment, 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 The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is an American environmental advocacy group. LCV says that it "builds political power for people and the planet." Through its affiliated super PAC, it is a major supporter of the Democratic Party. The org ...

, where she served as president for ten years. Prior to her work there, 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 Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (born March 31, 1948) is an American former politician, businessman, and environmentalist who served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He previously served as ...

and

Walter Mondale Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale (January 5, 1928April 19, 2021) was the 42nd vice president of the United States serving from 1977 to 1981 under President Jimmy Carter. He previously served as a U.S. senator from Minnesota from 1964 to 1976. ...

, and campaigns for Senator

Kent Conrad Gaylord Kent Conrad (born March 12, 1948) is a former American politician who was a United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the Democratic Party. First elected to the Senate in 1986, he served as chairman or Ranking Member of ...

, Congressman

Howard Wolpe Howard Eliot Wolpe (November 3, 1939 – October 25, 2011) was an American politician who served as a seven-term U.S. Representative from Michigan and Presidential Special Envoy to the African Great Lakes Region in the Clinton Administration, wher ...

and Congressman

George Brown George Brown may refer to: Arts and entertainment * George Loring Brown (1814–1889), American landscape painter * George Douglas Brown (1869–1902), Scottish novelist * George Williams Brown (1894–1963), Canadian historian and editor * Ge ...

. She has served on numerous boards of directors, including America Votes, the Federation of State Conservation Voter Leagues,

World Resources Institute The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research non-profit organization established in 1982 with funding from the MacArthur Foundation under the leadership of James Gustave Speth. Subsequent presidents include Jonathan Lash (1993– ...

and the

Earth Day Network Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally through earthday.org (formerly Earth Day Network) includin ...

. A nationally known spokesperson and media commentator on environmental and progressive political issues, in 2004 Callahan became the first environmental organizational representative to address the Democratic National Convention. She is married to Ken Cook, president of the

Environmental Working Group The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is an American activist group that specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of agricultural subsidies, toxic chemicals, drinking water pollutants, and corporate accountability. EWG is a 501(c)( ...

. She graduated in 1981 from the

University of California, Santa Barbara The University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara or UCSB) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Tracing its roots back to 1891 as an ...

with a degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science.

Prior positions

* Executive Director (1995–1996), Brainerd Foundation * Program Officer (1992–1994), W. Alton Jones Foundation * Policy Consultant (1991–1992), National Toxics Campaign * Campaign Manager (1990–1991), Wolpe congressional campaign * National Field Director (1987–1988),

Gore Gore may refer to: Places Australia * Gore, Queensland * Gore Creek (New South Wales) * Gore Island (Queensland) Canada * Gore, Nova Scotia, a rural community * Gore, Quebec, a township municipality * Gore Bay, Ontario, a township on Manito ...

presidential primary campaign * Executive Assistant (1986–1987), Office of Senator

* New England political director (1985–1986), League of Conservation Voters * Deputy Campaign Manager (1986), Conrad senatorial campaign * Field Coordinator (1984), Mondale- Ferraro presidential campaign

References

*League of Conservation Voters
LCV President Deb Callahan Steps Down After 10 Years of Service to the Organization
Accessed January 26, 2006. *Interview, Road Trip Nation

External links

EarthFocus Interview: Deb Callahan

Grist Magazine Interview: Deb Callahan
{{DEFAULTSORT:Callahan, Deb American environmentalists American women environmentalists Living people Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century American women