The Harris School of Public Policy and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth today announced that Gabriel Presler, MPP/MBA ’05, will join the University of Chicago as the inaugural Executive Director of the Master of Science in Climate and Energy Policy (MSCEP) program and a Senior Lecturer at Harris Public Policy. She will begin her role on June 8, 2026, before the program’s first cohort arrives in July.
Presler brings more than two decades of leadership at the nexus of finance, sustainability, and strategy to the role of overseeing the new one-year, full-time master’s program. Most recently, she served as Global Head of Enterprise Sustainability at Morningstar, where she leveraged the firm’s ESG data, research and ratings to shape Morningstar’s sustainability strategy, climate commitments and standard-setting disclosure. Over the course of her career, Presler has built and led global teams, developed product and corporate strategies at scale, and helped shape how investors and institutions engage with ESG and climate-related risks and opportunities.
Developed jointly by Harris and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth, the MSCEP program trains students at the intersection of data science, energy technology, economics, and public policy, equipping them with the analytical tools and interdisciplinary perspective needed to craft effective, evidence-based solutions to the most pressing energy, climate, and growth challenges. The highly selective, inaugural cohort will bring together students with diverse academic and professional backgrounds united by an interest in climate and energy.
“Gabriel is an exceptional builder and leader whose experience spans the worlds of markets, policy, and sustainability,” said Ryan Kellogg, faculty director of MSCEP, deputy dean, and the Ralph and Mary Otis Isham Professor at Harris. “She has a rare ability to translate complex climate and energy challenges into actionable strategies, and she will be instrumental in shaping and building MSCEP—from curriculum and faculty instruction to experiential learning and external partnerships—into a program that prepares students to lead in this rapidly evolving field.”
The MSCEP curriculum combines rigorous training in data and policy analysis with hands-on, experiential learning. Students will engage with real-world climate and energy challenges through applied coursework and a capstone project developed in collaboration with external partners, gaining experience that bridges theory and practice. The program offers students access to a dynamic ecosystem of industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers throughout the city of Chicago. In her role, Presler will oversee the program’s curriculum and capstone experience, work closely with faculty and instructional staff, and help build partnerships that connect students with leading organizations in climate and energy in preparation for future careers.
“MSCEP is built on the Chicago Curriculum on Climate and Sustainable Growth’s pioneering, cross-cutting approach—bridging data, economics, and science—and Gabriel’s leadership will help ensure that our students are equipped to develop solutions that are both effective and scalable,” said Michael Greenstone, director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth and the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics.
Presler is a graduate of the University of Chicago, earning a joint MPP from Harris and MBA from the Booth School of Business. She currently teaches at Harris and brings a deep commitment to educating the next generation of leaders.
“The climate and energy transition is the defining economic challenge of our time, and it will be won or lost on the quality and rigor of our thinking,” said Presler. “We need leaders who can interrogate the data, weigh trade-offs honestly, and design solutions that hold up under scrutiny. That’s what MSCEP is built to develop. I’m honored to help shape a program that takes both the urgency and the complexity seriously—and to prepare students who will drive real innovation while demanding real accountability.”
Graduates of the MSCEP program will be prepared for careers across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including roles in government, energy and financial firms, consulting, and international organizations. As governments, companies, and communities work to manage climate risks while sustaining economic growth, demand for professionals with rigorous, interdisciplinary training continues to grow. The program will also emphasize career development and industry engagement, helping students translate their training into impact across sectors.
With the addition of Presler, the program is poised to establish itself as a leading destination for students seeking to drive impact across the climate and energy landscape.
Apply to the Master of Science in Climate and Energy Policy (MSCEP)