Michelle DePass

Dean, The Milano School

Michelle DePass is dean of the Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy at the New School. She is also director of the Tishman Environment and Design Center. Michelle joined Milano from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where from 2009 to 2013 she served as assistant administrator for International and Tribal Affairs. In this presidentially appointed, senate-confirmed position, Michelle was responsible for all dimensions of environmental policy between the EPA and other nations, federally recognized tribal nations, and multilateral institutions and donors. Prior to joining the EPA, Michelle was a program officer at the Ford Foundation, with a portfolio focused on the environment and community development, most notably green economy and climate change, environmental health and justice, and indigenous environmental rights. In her two-decade career in sustainability and public service, Michelle has also served as founding executive director of the New York Environmental Justice Alliance, senior policy advisor to the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and environmental manager for the City of San Jose. She is a sought after civil society leader and has served on dozens of boards and advisory committees to government organizations and international NGOs.