Big-Data, Social Equity Veteran Brings Decades of Development and Strategy Experience

AUSTIN, TX —  The Pecan Street Inc. board of directors has hired Anissa Rodriguez Dickerman, Ph.D. as chief executive officer. Dickerman’s tenure began September 1, 2023.

“We are excited to add Anissa’s proven experience and vision for Pecan Street’s future,” said Mitch Jacobson, Pecan Street’s board chair and executive director of the Austin Technology Incubator at The University of Texas at Austin. “She has a unique combination of strengths in data, equity and business development we think will drive the organization to new heights.”

Dickerman has extensive leadership experience applying big data analytics to policy and systems in the education field. Most recently, she served as chief program officer for a national non-profit centered on system-level leadership and professional learning for educators. She has more than 20 years of experience in non-profit leadership, resource development, social impact research, and working at the nexus of big data and place-based social justice. She will apply her equity-centered research and policy approaches from the education sector to help design an equitable climate transition. Her business development efforts have yielded over $750M in state and federally-funded grants.

“Pecan Street has built a one-of-a-kind climate research network and already has an inspiring vision and a proven track record,” Dickerman said. “I’m excited to grow its scope and reach geographically and into other climate-focused areas, and to help the team increase its innovation and impact with members of our research network and the scientists and innovators who use our unique data.”

Suzanne Russo, who served as CEO since 2018, transitioned to the board of directors in February 2023. Climate tech entrepreneur and long-time Pecan Street consultant Bart Bohn served as interim CEO until Dickerman’s hire.

“I’m especially excited about Anissa’s commitment to equity,” Russo said. “We have significantly sharpened our focus on climate equity and justice in recent years, and her experience will translate to more equity research, more equity outcomes, and a more just transition to a clean energy future.”

About Pecan Street Inc.
Pecan Street is internationally renowned for its pioneering research model, which integrates communities, technology developers, data scientists and advocates to accelerate the pace of innovation for climate and conservation solutions. Pecan Street applies a high-impact research and development approach to high-potential, cost-effective climate solutions that are impeded by a lack of data and technology readiness. Pecan Street is a 501(c)(3) applied research and commercialization institute.

Contact
Colin Rowan, Pecan Street Inc., media@pecanstreet.org, 512-222-9603