Oakland, CA – Pesticide Action Network (PAN) North America’s Board of Directors announced earlier today that Kristin Schafer will assume the role of Executive Director at the organization, effective June 1, 2017.
“Kristin steps into this leadership role at a pivotal and promising time for PAN,” said Susan Baker, Board President. “The Board believes Kristin is the right person to build on PAN’s many achievements. We look forward to seeing the organization, under Kristin’s leadership, continue to amplify our principled approach to building a fair and just food system.”
Schafer has worked at PAN since 1995, beginning as a contract researcher and then joining the staff in 1997. She has held many roles at the organization over the years, including international campaign coordinator, campaigns department director, and most recently program and policy director. Before joining PAN, Kristin worked with the World Resources Institute, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and as an agroforestry extension agent in Kenya. She holds a degree in Social Change and Development from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.
“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to lead this amazing organization,” said Schafer. “Now more than ever, PAN’s work to create meaningful change in the food and farming system is critically important. Our firm grounding in the value of independent science and our longstanding commitment to working in coalition with partners on the frontlines of industrial agriculture sets PAN apart in these challenging times.”
Schafer will be replacing current Executive Director Judy Hatcher, who served on PAN’s Board of Directors before joining PAN’s staff in 2012.
“It’s been a privilege working for PAN during this exciting and perilous time,” said Hatcher. “We’ve done our best to lead with our values, and to be in partnership with people whose health and environment bear the burden of unsustainable agricultural practices. There’s been much to celebrate — like the Equitable Food Initiative, the revised federal Worker Protection Standards for farmworkers, and getting notably hazardous pesticides like sulfoxaflor off the U.S. market. In the face of anti-democratic measures coming out of Washington and many state capitols, our commitment to science and grassroots organizations is stronger than ever.”
“On behalf of the board, I want to express our deep gratitude to Judy for her decade of service to PAN,” said Baker. “Judy’s long-standing commitment to grassroots leadership, social and racial justice, alliance building and cultural competency strengthened PAN’s core mission. She challenged us to look within and outside our communities to refine our way of shaping the future of food and farming and she will always be a part of the PAN community.”
Hatcher will serve as PAN’s Executive Director until the end of May, and will continue working with Kristin through June, to ensure a steady leadership transition.
Contact: Paul Towers, 916-216-1082, ptowers@panna.org
