David F. Hales

David F. Hales "is the fifth president of College of the Atlantic. He became president July 1, 2006 and was inaugurated on October 8, 2006. Under his leadership, College of the Atlantic became the first institution of higher education in the United States to be a “NetZero” emitter of greenhouse gases, and one of the first US institutions in the US to commit to being 100% reliant on renewable energy by 2015.

"President Hales has held numerous positions promoting sustainability nationally and internationally. He directed environmental policy and sustainability programs of the United States Agency for International Development under the Clinton administration, served in the Carter administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the United States Department of the Interior, and was Director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. For seven years, Hales held the Samuel Trask Dana Chair of Natural Resources at the University of Michigan.

"Hales has represented the United States in numerous intergovernmental negotiations, including the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biodiversity, the Convention to Prevent Desertification, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Rio Plus 5 and Habitat II, as well as in meetings of the United Nations General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, Commission on Human Settlements and Commission on Sustainable Development. In addition, he has frequently been called upon to serve as chair or moderator of international conferences, including the Washington and Bonn International Conferences on Renewable Energy and the Hague Conference on Energy for Development and the World Conservation Congress Forum on Renewable Energy and Climate Change.

"Hales serves on the steering committee of the American College and University President Climate Commitment, and currently chairs the Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future and the Higher Education Committee for the American Council on Renewable Energy. "

• Advisory Board, American Council on Renewable Energy
• Advisory Board, Center for International Environmental Law
• Advisory Board, Blue Legacy