Katrina Kessler was appointed commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner in November 2021. In her role, which includes leading Governor Walz’s Climate Subcabinet, Katrina is dedicated to collaborative and pragmatic problem-solving to address Minnesota’s most complicated environmental challenges.
Before being appointed commissioner, Katrina held the role of assistant commissioner of water policy and agriculture. Her full career at the MPCA extends more than 15 years as a permit engineer and in various managerial roles.
Prior to her appointment to assistant commissioner, Katrina was the director of the surface water and sewers division at the City of Minneapolis. In that role, Katrina was responsible for providing strategic direction for the management of the city’s 150-year-old sewer infrastructure along with work to meet climate and water quality goals.
Katrina 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 is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys swimming, biking, running, and downhill and cross-country skiing. She also enjoys traveling to mountains and beaches with her husband and their two sons.