andrea l. colnes
Policy Leadership Director
Andrea Colnes has spent much of her career working on natural resource public policy and coalition building throughout New England and elsewhere in the country. After receiving her Masters of Wildlife Conservation from the University of Maine and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Williams College, she has held a variety of positions in public policy and non-profit advocacy across the northeast.
Andi currently serves as the Policy Leadership Director for the Carsey Institute and works with non-profit leaders throughout the New England region to build strategic capacity on state fiscal policy, affordable housing and smart growth, and working landscape issues. Andi is also involved in developing the National Rural Assembly, an effort supported by the Kellogg and Ford foundations to define and advance an agenda for rural America, and Carsey’s Community and Environment in Rural America project.
Andi has served as founding Executive Director of the Northern Forest Alliance, Policy Director of the Northern Forest Center, and Deputy Director of the Vermont Natural Resources Council. She also co-founded Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation and the Eastern Forest Partnership.
Giving perspective and depth to her work and life, Andi has spent about 4 years traveling the world by bicycle, exploring people, place and life.
Andi works primarily from her office in Vermont, and can be reached by phone at (802) 223-5349 or e-mail Andrea Colnes.