Macol Stewart Cerda is a multilingual Impact Strategist and Purpose-Driven Innovator with over 20 years of experience in environmental strategy and ecological advocacy that informs her unique perspective on the symbiotic relationship between people and the planet. Fueled by a belief that sustainability must be informed by a spectrum of contexts made possible by diverse populations, Cerda leads science, economics, policy, and technology with an inclusive approach and visionary lens.

As the Executive Director of the Climate Systems Engineering Initiative at the University of Chicago, Cerda is on a mission to shape a sustainable future. Under her leadership, the initiative is empowering expertise from communities around the world to address the intricate challenges in solar geoengineering and carbon removal by synergizing diverse strategies that marry systems engineering with climate science. Renowned for her ability to foster collaborative knowledge sharing and formulate adaptable, needs-based solutions, Cerda is driving the best ideas to solve our biggest problems.

Consistently at the forefront of interdisciplinary research, Cerda spent the majority of the last decade as the Founding Executive Director of the Institute on the Formation of Knowledge at the University of Chicago. Leading a diverse team of international scholars, Cerda spearheaded an initiative dedicated to unveiling the contextual nature of knowledge. By illuminating how the same facts can acquire diverse interpretations over time, across different locations, and through personal experiences, the program offered a multitude of perspectives. This breakthrough not only facilitated the resolution of intricate problems from novel angles but also encouraged us to confront the constraints imposed by our beliefs and contexts, ultimately leading to a richer collective comprehension of our shared history.

Prior, she consulted for high-profile environmental entities, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the World Meteorological Organization as the owner and operator of Silmaril Consulting. Her expertise in science, technology, culture, arts, and management, helped clients around the world with creative solutions for global problems. And former foundational roles in the US Agency for International Development and other entities, where she spearheaded strategies in energy, economic development, and environment, laid the foundation for a desire to lead society towards a resilient future.

As an active Board Member and former Advisor, Cerda’s leadership is contributing to entities, including the Society for Contemporary Art at the Art Institute of Chicago. Her commitment to revitalization, enrichment, and enhancement informs her dedication to creating positive societal change through an appreciation of where we have come and an understanding of how we’ve gotten here.

Holding a Master of Environmental Studies in Environmental Science from Yale School of the Environment and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Princeton University, Cerda’s educational background lays a diverse foundation for her climate and philosophical insights. With a Master of Arts in International Relations from Yale University, she further deepened her understanding of global environmental policies and their interplay with socio-economic dynamics. 

Her time aboard an oceanographic research vessel with the Sea Education Association and her studies at Antioch University, combined with her participation in esteemed programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, including the Advanced Leadership Program and the Executive Program for Emerging Leaders, have significantly sharpened her expertise and influence.

Cerda’s depth of knowledge, coupled with her extensive hands-on involvement in sustainability and climate change initiatives, empowers her to offer deeply informed and impactful perspectives in these critical fields. Driven by her goal to develop sustainable solutions for a sustainable future, she is not only an expert, but a leader poised to make significant strides in addressing the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.