Educator, Policy Expert, Climate Communicator, and, most importantly, Mom

Laura A. Schifter, EdD, is a leading voice at the intersection of education and climate change, dedicated to ensuring the next generation can thrive in a changing world.

As a Senior Fellow at the Aspen Institute, she leads This Is Planet Ed, an initiative that leverages the power of education as a force for climate solutions. She is also a Senior Advisor with SustainableED at the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, an appointed member of the National Environmental Education Advisory Council with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and a steering committee member for Probable Futures.

In 2025, Laura co-authored Students, Schools, and Our Climate Moment: Acting Now to Secure Our Future, a framework for climate action in schools that shares inspiring stories from parents, educators, and leaders nationwide. Her expertise is widely recognized, with publications in TIME, CNN, The Hechinger Report, and Education Week, and features in national media including The Washington Post, USA Today, and NPR.

Previously, Laura was a Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education from 2014-2024, where she taught courses on education, climate, and policy. She has served as a policy and research consultant for clients including the Massachusetts Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice. Laura also worked as a senior education and disability advisor for Representative George Miller and as an education fellow for Senator Chris Dodd. Her early career included teaching elementary school in San Francisco and co-authoring How Did You Get Here? Students with Disabilities and Their Journeys to Harvard.

Laura earned an Ed.D. and Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from Amherst College. She lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband and three daughters, driven by a profound commitment to securing a hopeful and sustainable future for all children, including her own.