Megan O'Rourke

Megan O'Rourke serves as the National Science Liaison for Climate Change at the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture since July 2020, leading NIFA's climate change priority team and authoring several significant plans and reports. Prior to this role, Megan held various positions, including National Program Leader for Climate and Agroecology, where management of substantial funding programs occurred. Additionally, as a Brookings Congressional Fellow for Rep. Pingree, Megan actively contributed to advancing climate-smart agriculture policies. Experience at Virginia Tech as an Associate Professor and at USAID as a Senior Environment Advisor further showcases expertise in climate-smart practices and agricultural development. Megan's academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Agricultural Ecology from Cornell University and a B.S. in Biology, among other degrees.