Today, we are excited to announce that two new colleagues are joining McKnight Foundation as senior program officers in our Midwest Climate & Energy and Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems programs.
In these roles, our new colleagues will help shape and guide the trajectory of the Foundation’s work to advance clean energy, decarbonize buildings, and transform global food systems. They will develop and oversee grant portfolios that support efforts to build power through partnership, aligning McKnight’s climate and equity goals.
Julia Eagles, Senior Program Officer, Midwest Climate & Energy
Julia has over 16 years of experience in clean energy program delivery, regulatory policy analysis, and strategic leadership working across community organizations, the utility sector, and national policy and research.
Most recently, Julia served as associate director of utility and regulatory strategy at the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), where she supported local governments and community-based organizations across the country in utility regulatory engagement to advance equitable building decarbonization. She previously worked at Xcel Energy as public policy and strategy manager, producing a nation-leading carbon reduction vision and pathway to carbon-free electricity by 2050. Earlier in her career, she managed low-income energy efficiency programs at the Phillips Community Energy Cooperative in Minneapolis and coordinated clean energy projects across the Twin Cities with the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs). Throughout these roles she has focused on shifting power and building community wealth through the clean energy transition.
“I am thrilled to welcome Julia Eagles to the Midwest Climate & Energy team at this pivotal moment for the region and for our program. Julia has a demonstrated of bridging across stakeholders to develop solutions and a commitment to ensuring that all communities benefit. Her strategic vision, ability to embrace complexity, and passion for advancing work at the highest expression of McKnight’s mission will serve us and our partners well as we continue taking bold and urgent action to dramatically reduce harmful environmental impacts and move the Midwest toward an economy powered by clean energy where everyone benefits.”– BEN PASSER, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, MIDWEST CLIMATE & ENERGY
Julia tem mestrado em Políticas Públicas pela Humphrey School of Public Affairs da University of Minnesota e bacharelado em estudos ambientais pelo Macalester College. Ela é membro fundadora do Conselho do grupo Twin Cities Young Professionals in Energy e foi nomeada para o Midwest Energy News 40 Under 40.
“Nearly 20 years ago, I started my career managing a low-income energy efficiency program in Minneapolis’s Phillips community. Working with residents and businesses to reduce their energy bills while cutting carbon emissions, I discovered my professional mission: shifting power and building community wealth through the clean energy transition,” Julia Eagles shared. “I am excited to amplify this work across the Midwest with McKnight at this critical moment for action on the climate crisis.”
Emily Mattheisen, Senior Program Officer, Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems
Emily brings 12 years of experience in the global food systems and agroecology sector, working with a range of global and local actors and stakeholders on advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative research.
A recognized thought leader in the sector, she has published extensively on global food systems and policies through her work at FIAN International and the Housing and Land Rights Network. Emily began her career as a human rights researcher based in Egypt, focusing on forced displacement, land struggles, and international advocacy with grassroots movements across various regions.
Emily holds a Master of Arts in Migration and Refugee studies from American University in Cairo, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in World Religions and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. She currently serves on the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council, which provides recommendations to city leaders for improving access to sustainable, locally grown foods in Minneapolis.
“We could not be more excited to welcome Emily Mattheisen to the Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems team as our new senior program officer. Emily brings years of experience helping local farming communities and organizations turn their ideas into actionable strategies. Her ability to integrate community expertise and innovative solutions into global food debates will enhance McKnight’s efforts to bridge farmer-centered agroecological research, action, and influence and cultivate resilient food systems.”– JANE MALAND-CADY, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, GLOBAL COLLABORATION FOR RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS
“My work over the past decade has centered on advocating for food sovereignty and the right to food through collaborative efforts that centralize the voices of grassroots communities and marginalized groups,” Emily Mattheisen said. “I’m thrilled about the opportunity to bring my global experience to McKnight Foundation’s mission of supporting transformative, community-driven food systems change.”
Please join us in congratulating Julia and Emily and welcoming them to the McKnight team!
Sobre a Fundação McKnight: The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Established in 1953, the McKnight Foundation is deeply committed to advancing climate solutions in the Midwest; building um equitativo and inclusive Minnesota; and supporting the arts and culture in Minnesota, neuroscience, and global food systems.
