UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Jessica Shirley will deliver the keynote address May 20 at the 2026 Penn State Climate Solutions Symposium, where she will outline priorities for building a more resilient Pennsylvania.
“We are eager to continue to collaborate, along with numerous other state agencies, with the many partners who are working for a resilient Pennsylvania and the world,” Shirley said. “I look forward to sharing more at the Symposium about how sectors across the commonwealth can work together to build resiliency and address a changing climate.”
As secretary of the DEP, Shirley leads the agency’s mission to protect and preserve the commonwealth’s environment while advancing sustainable and equitable practices. She brings more than a decade of leadership and policy experience at DEP to her role.
Her keynote comes at a time when Pennsylvania is advancing major climate and infrastructure investments, with increasing focus on solutions that support communities, strengthen the economy and address environmental challenges across the state.
Prior to her appointment as secretary, Shirley served as executive deputy secretary and as DEP’s first infrastructure implementation coordinator, where she oversaw federal investments from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. In that role, she focused on ensuring those investments delivered environmental and economic benefits across Pennsylvania, particularly in historically underinvested communities.
From 2016 to 2022, Shirley served as DEP policy director, helping shape the commonwealth’s environmental and energy agenda. She played a key role in developing executive orders on climate change, PFAS, energy conservation and environmental justice, including efforts that established Pennsylvania’s first greenhouse gas reduction goal and expanded engagement with underserved communities.
Earlier in her career at DEP, Shirley served as an executive policy specialist, advising on issues including energy, climate, air quality, water, waste and environmental cleanup.
Shirley holds a master’s degree in public administration from Penn State and a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The 2026 Climate Solutions Symposium will be held May 18-20 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center. The three-day event will include a keynote presentation, panel discussions, breakout sessions and networking opportunities for those working to advance climate solutions — including researchers, funders, policymakers and practitioners.
The event is organized by the Penn State Climate Consortium.