Erika Jensen – Executive Director
Erika Jensen serves as executive director of the Great Lakes Commission, appointed in July 2021. As executive director, Ms. Jensen directs operations, manages relations with the Commission’s Board of Directors and Commissioners, oversees policy and advocacy efforts, and collaborates with the agency’s numerous partners to advance strategic regional priorities, among other duties.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Jensen directed the Commission’s aquatic invasive species (AIS) program. In that role she served as coordinator for the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species and Invasive Mussel Collaborative, and was the Commission’s designee to the U.S. federal Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.
Ms. Jensen has been a member of the Commission staff in various roles since 2006. She has a master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.