From the Redwoods to Governors Island: UCSC Alum M Sanjayan to Lead New York's Climate Future
Image curtesy of The New York Climate Exchange
Dr. M. Sanjayan — conservation biologist, Emmy-nominated broadcaster, and UCSC distinguished alumnus has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of The New York Climate Exchange, one of the most ambitious climate initiatives in the world. The Exchange is developing a first-of-its-kind climate campus on Governors Island in New York Harbor, drawing together scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers under one roof to accelerate real solutions to the climate crisis.
Rendering of The New York Climate Exchange Climate Campus proposed for Governors Island
It is a role that demands exactly the kind of thinker UC Santa Cruz cultivates: someone who combines intellectual depth with the courage to act at scale.
Sanjayan's journey is a testament to what UCSC produces. As CEO of Conservation International from 2017 to 2025, he led campaigns totaling $2.4 billion in funding, expanded the organization to 35 countries, and forged partnerships with Apple, Microsoft, and Mastercard. Named to TIME's inaugural 100 Climate list in 2024, he has brought climate science to global audiences through award-winning work with PBS and BBC, producing documentaries and broadcasts that move people toward action.
"Climate change is both a crisis and an opportunity for humanity. It’s a privilege to lead The New York Climate Exchange at this consequential and defining moment for people and the planet. I cannot think of a more powerful platform from which to accelerate solutions that the world urgently needs."
— Dr. M. Sanjayan
UC Santa Cruz has long been more than a university. It is an incubator for unconventional thinkers who refuse to separate rigorous inquiry from real-world consequence. Its tradition of interdisciplinary research, environmental stewardship, and civic engagement runs deep, and Sanjayan embodies that tradition fully.
As the climate crisis intensifies, the world needs leaders who think boldly and act decisively. In Dr. M. Sanjayan, UC Santa Cruz has helped to cultivate one such leader. The Banana Slugs are proud.
