Woodwell Climate announces recipients of endowed chair positions

This week, Director of Government Relations Laura Uttley, Senior Scientist Dr. Sue Natali, and Senior Scientist Dr. Brendan Rogers were appointed to Woodwell Climate’s three endowed chairship positions to honor their leadership in the field of climate research and policy.

These appointments are professional distinctions that honor the living legacy of Sally Shallenberger Brown, Dr. George Woodwell, and Dr. Richard “Skee” Houghton, whose vision and leadership continue to guide work at the Center. The endowed funds provide salary support for a renewable three-year term, annual stipends, and recognition of the appointee’s leadership.

“I’m thrilled to announce the appointment of these remarkable experts to Woodwell’s three endowed chairs,” said Woodwell Climate President and CEO Dr. Max Holmes, who led the selection committee along with Drs. John Holdren and Jennifer Francis. “This public recognition of their extraordinary contributions, along with the support provided by the endowments, will unlock exciting opportunities to advance climate solutions.”

The Sara Shallenberger Brown Chair of Environmental Policy

Laura Uttley, M.P.A., Director of Government Relations

Sara Shallenberger Brown was an influential environmentalist and philanthropist who served on the boards of many environmental and conservation nonprofits throughout her lifetime, including Woodwell Climate Research Center.

The Brown chairship recognizes Uttley’s fifteen years of experience bridging science and policy in Washington, D.C. She has developed federal advocacy strategies and facilitated outreach to policymakers, ensuring that Woodwell Climate’s leading research influences policy development and implementation. Prior to joining Woodwell, Uttley worked at Lewis-Burke Associates and served in the offices of Congressman James Langevin, Senator Jack Reed, and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs. She is also a Truman National Security Project Political Partner and teaches advocacy at American University. Her expertise and leadership embody the Brown Chair’s mission of connecting science with conservation and policy at the highest levels.

Dr. Kilaparti Ramakrishna previously held the Brown chairship.

The George M. Woodwell Chair in Conservation

Dr. Sue Natali, Senior Scientist

George Woodwell was not only the founder of the Center, but a pioneer and visionary whose scientific inquiries hit on the biggest environmental issues of the late twentieth century, including DDT, nuclear radiation, and “the carbon dioxide problem.”

Natali is a leading Arctic climate scientist whose pioneering research on permafrost thaw has deepened our understanding of the immense risks it poses. She directs the Permafrost Pathways initiative, funded through the TED Audacious Project, which brings together scientists, policymakers, and Indigenous communities to inform equitable adaptation and mitigation strategies. Natali’s commitment to collaboration, her extensive fieldwork across the Arctic, and her global engagement exemplify the legacy of George Woodwell, whose vision was to unite science and conservation for lasting impact.

Dr. Richard Houghton previously held the Woodwell chairship.

The Richard “Skee” Houghton Chair in Carbon Cycle Science

Dr. Brendan Rogers, Senior Scientist

Since becoming one of the Center’s first employees, Skee Hougton has shaped the organization as its Acting Director & President, and his research field, notably contributing to the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Rogers’ research focuses on boreal forests and Arctic tundra, with particular emphasis on wildfire, permafrost thaw, and their consequences for the global carbon cycle. He integrates field measurements, satellite observations, and modeling to understand rapidly changing northern ecosystems and to inform resource management and policy. As co-lead of Permafrost Pathways, Rogers has emerged as a global leader in translating science into action, embodying the tenacity, rigor, and collaborative spirit that defined Dr. Houghton’s career.

Rogers is the first to hold the Houghton Chair.