Frances Beinecke

Frances Beinecke, who is the lead instructor of the course, is the former President of Natural Resources Defense Council, a leading nonprofit environmental group that works to preserve clean air and water, protect people’s health, preserve wild landscapes, and foster vibrant and sustainable communities. Under her leadership, NRDC focused on finding solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges of our time, including establishing a clean energy future that curbs climate change, reviving the world’s oceans, defending endangered wildlife, and wild places, protecting our health by preventing pollution, fostering sustainable communities, and ensuring safe and sufficient water. A graduate of Yale and F&ES, she has co-chaired the Yale School of the Environment’s Leadership Council, is a member of the Yale School of Management’s Advisory Board, and is a former member of the Yale Corporation.