Experts in environment and governance
The Deitz Initiative is led by a director and works in collaboration with faculty members at Jackson and across campus. It supports several student fellows and student-led initiatives.
Deitz Initiative Leadership
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Jessica Seddon
- Senior Lecturer
- Director, Deitz Family Initiative on Environment and Global Affairs
2026-27 Deitz Fellows
The Deitz Family Initiative Fellows are future policy and business leaders who are part of the MPP program at the Yale Jackson School. They are committed to being at the forefront of addressing our planet’s most pressing environmental challenges, incorporating policy and associated levers to move the needle forward. These individuals are chosen for their dedication and demonstrated commitment to understanding and tackling the multifaceted impacts of global environmental change, and to providing the best platform for the school to grow its influence in the space. The fellows represent the student body interests, and work with the initiative’s director to build greater student-focused programming that supports the exploration of the changing “operating environment” due to climate change.
Nicola McPherson
Originally from Canberra, Australia, Nicola McPherson '27 MPP focuses on exploring the evolving role of leaders in public institutions and economic incentives for action on climate change. Prior to Yale, she served as a climate change policy adviser in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet of Australia. In this role, she supported cross-government coordination of the country's climate change policies.