Kristen Sarri

Kris served as President and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation with the vision to bring America’s marine sanctuaries to the forefront of ocean and Great Lakes conservation in the U.S., centered around the many diverse communities critical to improving the well-being of these treasured places. Under Kris’ leadership, the Foundation developed programs focused on wildlife conservation, underwater marine debris cleanup and habitat restoration, and advocated for new and expanded sanctuaries. Working with the Lenfest Ocean Program, the Foundation initiated a unique project to assess marine biodiversity in U.S. waters and provide decision tools to guide the establishment of more sanctuaries and other protected areas. Kris served for six years in the Obama-Biden Administration in several key roles. She was the Department of the Interior as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget from 2014 to 2016; the Associate Director for Legislative Affairs for the Office of Management and Budget from 2011 to 2014; and the Deputy Director of Policy and Strategic Planning for the US Department of Commerce. Kris also spent eight years in the US Senate where she was on the Professional Staff of the Senate Commerce Committee with responsibility for the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee; she was a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Senator Jack Reed; and the Legislative Director of the Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition. Kris received a B.A. in Biology from Washington University, St. Louis and an M.S. and M.P.H. from the University of Michigan. A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Kris formed an early, life-long connection to environmental stewardship growing up surrounded by the Great Lakes.