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Peter brings robust experience in public policy, political campaigns and community organizing. He worked for 16 years in City of Minneapolis government including as Policy Director for Mayors R.T. Rybak and Betsy Hodges. There, he played a lead role in major initiatives such as establishing the Clean Energy Partnership, closing the Upper Saint Anthony Falls Lock & Dam to stop invasive carp, stopping the burning of coal at the Riverside Power Plant, and championing critical transportation projects such as the 20-year plan for rebuilding parks and streets, Central Corridor (Green Line) LRT, Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along 35W, Riverview Corridor Streetcar and the C-Line and D-Line arterial BRT. Before that he worked for five years for the State Senate Democrats as a writer/researcher, specializing in housing, jobs, energy, community development and transportation. He has also managed political campaigns full time and volunteered for countless candidate campaigns. He graduated from Carleton College with a degree in Political Science and has also worked at an educational theater company teaching social skills for children with learning challenges. Peter and his wife have two young daughters who love being chauffeured around town by their Dad on an amazing longtail cargo bike.
About the STEP Seminar Series:
The STEP Seminar Series is an interdisciplinary platform for scholars and practitioners to discuss research and policy issues in the broad domain of science, technology, and environmental policy. The seminar series provides an informal setting for feedback and engagement with ongoing research projects and policy debates.
We invite scholars from all disciplines and practitioners working in all action arenas with connections to the fields of scholarship that shape science, technology, and environmental policy. The seminar series takes place throughout the academic year at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, typically over lunchtime on Mondays.
Interested speakers should email Olivia Schares for a list of available dates.