Jane Lubchenco is Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology and Valley Professor of Marine Biology at Oregon State University.  She is an ecologist with expertise in the interactions between the environment and human well-being. Her passion and experience span scientific discovery, public service, communication, and public engagement. She grew up in Denver, received a B.A. in biology from Colorado College, an M.S. in zoology from the University of Washington, and a Ph.D. in ecology from Harvard University. She is one of the most highly cited ecologists in the world, an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, among others, and has received numerous awards including a MacArthur ‘genius’ Fellowship and 24 honorary doctorates (most recently from Oxford University).  Lubchenco has served multiple times in the U.S. government, and has been nominated by a president and confirmed by the Senate three times.  Her service includes leading the Climate and Environment team at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (2021-2024); the State Department’s first U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean (2014-2016) where she was a science diplomat to China, Indonesia, South Africa, Mauritius, and Seychelles;  Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and Administrator of NOAA, and an inaugural member of President Obama’s Science (dream) Team (2009-2013); and two terms on the National Science Board (1996-2006).   She co-founded the United By Nature Initiative that is producing the nation’s first scientific assessment of the state of nature and nature’s benefits in the U.S.