Liz Purchia manages communications planning and media relations for Harvard Chan C-CHANGE.
From 2014-2020, Liz served as an advisor and spokesperson for Gina McCarthy, U.S. National Climate Advisor, helping her become one of our nation’s most effective environmental champions. She led communications teams and provided counsel on media, events, politics, and fundraising.
Previously, she was the head of communications and national spokesperson for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, leading the agency’s work on climate change communications under President Obama’s Climate Action Plan.
Liz was a Deputy Press Secretary for Secretary Tom Vilsack at the U.S Department of Agriculture. Her work focused on the Recovery Act, First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative, school nutrition issues and the agency’s rural development efforts. Liz worked as a field organizer on the 2008 Obama campaign in Iowa. During the 2012 re-elect, she was the Iowa Press Secretary. Liz also worked on both Presidential Inaugurations coordinating media logistics and assignments for outlets across the country and the world.
In the private sector, Liz has managed accounts for environmental organizations, healthcare systems, insurance providers, associations and consulting companies, helping them navigate a rapidly changing energy and healthcare industry. She got her start in communications at Hill & Knowlton Public Relations. Liz graduated from Hamilton College with a degree in World Politics.
