Maggie Messerschmidt supports the public and private sectors in better understanding their vulnerabilities and preparing for and responding to climate change.
Since 2003, Maggie has been working in project development and environmental management across public, non-profit, and private sectors. Her skills include participatory strategic planning, systems thinking, and the application of environmental science to policy and implementation. Maggie is experienced in driving systems transformation toward sustainable and adaptive futures, including solutions analysis, design, and monitoring. She focuses on making climate information usable, useful, and actionable for clients. Maggie was a reviewer of the California Climate Adaptation Planning Guide 2.0 and a contributor to local and regional vulnerability assessments, including that of the City of San Diego and San Bernardino County. She also supports climate adaptation efforts of major West Coast utilities.
Prior to joining ICF, Maggie led work of The Nature Conservancy to apply nature-based solutions to urban environmental challenges, such as extreme heat and water scarcity, in Phoenix, Arizona. Much of this work culminated in the Heat Action Planning Guide for Neighborhoods of Greater Phoenix. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras and Peru, she worked with regional NGOs and local and federal government on environmental education, forest management, and watershed management plans. She has conducted research on the efficacy of green infrastructure for water quality and water balance in Bloomington, Indiana and in Mexico City.
Maggie holds an Master of Science in Environmental Science and an Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University's O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. She also holds Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology and Spanish from the University of Kentucky. Maggie is bilingual (Spanish and English), a skill which she enjoys using to further climate adaptation whenever possible.