Jonathan Lash

Amherst, MA, USA — President, Hampshire College

Jonathan Lash is the sixth president of Hampshire College, an institution committed to preparing students to provide creative solutions for our planet’s problems. He previously served as president of the World Resources Institute (WRI), where he helped to develop innovative approaches to measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrate the importance of environmental risks and opportunities to capital markets and pioneer the use of digital technologies to solve environmental problems.

Lash has been a catalyst in engaging business and industry in environmental and sustainability issues, and is recognized internationally for his expertise on climate change, energy security, and resource, environment and development policies. He has served on the DuPont Biotechnology Advisory Panel; the Tata Energy and Resources Institute (India); the Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation (Japan); the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development; Generation Investment Management, The VIVA Trust, and the Avina Foundation. He has chaired advisory groups to the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Secretary General of the OECD.

From 1993 until 1999, Lash co chaired the President’s Council on Sustainable Development, a group of U.S. government, business, labor, civil rights and environmental leaders appointed by President Clinton to develop strategies to promote sustainable development. In 2006 he played a key role in the creation and success of the United States Climate Action Partnership, which issued a highly influential “Call for Action” on global warming and a “Blueprint for Legislative Action.” Lash was previously a senior staff attorney of the Natural Resources Defense Council, and a Peace Corps volunteer and trainer. He holds a law degree and master’s degree in education from Catholic University of America and a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College.