Dr. Carolyn A. Finnance-Enquist (she/her) is ARCCA’s Executive Director. Carolyn has worked passionately at the nexus of science, policy, and practice to advance climate adaptation for biodiversity and human well-being for over two decades. Most recently, Carolyn led collaborative programs for the U.S. Geological Survey for more than 10 years, where she served as Deputy Director of the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) and as the Acting Federal Director for both the South Central and Southwest CASCs. She later served as Senior Advisor for climate adaptation and resilience partnerships that included the Innovation Landscapes Network and Innovation Landscapes of the Southwest initiative with the Department of Defense, where she focused on nature-based solutions and wildfire resilience.

Her previous work includes the development of an actionable research approach for empowering scientists to translate science and engage authentically with stakeholders, in addition to authoring guidance on the practice of equitable adaptation planning and implementation. Carolyn served as a Lead Author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II 6 th Assessment Report, with special focus on adaptation across North America, and contributed as an author on three U.S. National Climate Assessments. She is the founder of the Southwest Adaptation Forum, held in 2018, 2021, 2023, and 2024. She received her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in ecology from the University of New Mexico.