Marisa Vertrees is the National Campaign Director for the Clean Transportation team at the Union of Concerned Scientists. In her role, she leads strategic development of Clean Transportation campaign priorities and strategies, coordinates work across our campaigns, and mobilizes experts and supporters to support key federal and state policies.
Ms. Vertrees has over 15 years of experience in organizing and leading social justice oriented and environmental campaigns at the local, state, federal, and international level. Her background is in community organizing, particularly with congregations and faith communities. She helped found Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement, an organization that advocates for economic justice, fair local transportation policy, and immigrant rights throughout the northern Virginia area, and the Virginia state chapter of Interfaith Power and Light. Subsequently, she organized local leaders in the United States in support of global health, anti-corruption, and debt relief campaigns. She served as the global Organizing Director for the Laudato Si' Movement, building global support for climate change action and managing the fossil fuel divestment campaign. After this, she shifted to concentrate more directly on U.S. climate policy and was the Campaign Manager at the National Audubon Society, where she managed state clean energy and conservation campaigns and led campaign work on sustainable renewable energy. In her career she has designed and led global days of action, managed high-level coalitions and partnerships, and spoken at global events and conferences.
Ms. Vertrees is a Florida native whose passion for environmental protection stems from seeing the impact of development and climate change on her hometown. She received an MA in global environmental politics from American University and a BA from the University of Central Florida.
Contact
Questions about our Transforming Transportation campaign? Email Marisa at [email protected].