Shalanda Baker joined the Energy Department in 2021 and served as director of its Office of Energy Justice and Equity before stepping down earlier this year.
As DOE’s energy justice lead, Baker was responsible for aligning the agency’s work with President Joe Biden’s environmental justice goals — a task that was expanded by legislation that poured billions into climate solutions while also highlighting the need to protect and ensure benefits for historically marginalized communities.
From her new position as the University of Michigan’s first vice provost for sustainability and climate action, she spoke with us recently about some of her challenges and successes — and the work that remains to be done.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.