Governor Walz has appointed Katrina Kessler commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency effective November 1, 2021. Prior to her appointment, Kessler served the agency as assistant commissioner for water policy and agriculture.
“I am proud to appoint Katrina Kessler as commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,” said Governor Walz. “Katrina is a dedicated public servant with a long track record of implementing innovative solutions at both the state and municipal level that are good for the environment and good for business. She is deeply committed to our Administration’s One Minnesota vision and is prepared to lead the state forward during this critical time to protect our state’s waters, air, land, and climate for future generations of Minnesotans.”
Kessler joined the MPCA as assistant commissioner in 2019, having returned to the agency after serving as director of the Surface Water and Sewers Division at the City of Minneapolis for three years. Previously, Kessler worked for 13 years at the MPCA, holding several positions across the agency.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to build upon the MPCA’s exceptional work to create a better climate, prevent and address PFAS contamination, and ensure that Minnesotans disproportionately impacted by pollution have cleaner air and water,” said Kessler. “We can continue to foster stronger economic growth and protect our natural resources by embracing the best science, local innovation, and Minnesota common sense.”
Serving as assistant commissioner, Kessler helped advance numerous agency priorities and policies to ensure that every Minnesotan has healthy air, sustainable lands, clean water, and a better climate.
- Helping develop the statewide PFAS blueprint to prevent, manage, and clean up these “forever chemicals” around Minnesota to protect families and communities
- Collaborating with business and industry to identify flexible environmental regulations in communities like Luverne that protect the environment and support new jobs
- Forging partnerships with farmers and other state agencies to protect water quality including the Ag-Urban Forum, a statewide effort to bridge divides between agricultural and urban sectors
While at the City of Minneapolis, Kessler provided strategic direction for management of the city’s 150-year-old sewer infrastructure and helped advance the city’s climate and water quality goals. During her first tenure at the MPCA, Kessler worked as a permit engineer in the Municipal and Industrial Divisions. She also served in supervisor and manager roles within the Environmental Analysis and Outcomes Division.
She has a bachelor of arts in environmental science from American University and a master of science in environmental engineering from the University of Minnesota. Katrina lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two sons.
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