Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces First Statewide Heat Resilience Officer

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces First Statewide Heat Resilience Officer

New statewide role will strengthen efforts to protect residents, support communities, and prepare Massachusetts from extreme heat

WORCESTER — As Massachusetts experiences hotter summers and more frequent, long-lasting heat waves, Governor Maura Healey today announced the appointment of Katie Schlick as Massachusetts’ first statewide Heat Resilience Officer. 

Massachusetts is the second state in the nation to establish a statewide position dedicated to extreme heat. Schlick will lead coordination across state government and work with communities to prepare for rising temperatures, protect public health and reduce the impacts of extreme heat.

The announcement was made at Clark University, home to the Human-Environment Regional Observatory (HERO) Program. For more than two decades, HERO researchers have studied how communities experience environmental change and how local planning can reduce climate risks. 

“Extreme heat is becoming more common, more intense and more dangerous in Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We need to be ready for what that means for our families and communities. This new role will lead our work to prepare for extreme heat and make sure we’re doing everything we can to keep Massachusetts and our residents safe.” 

“Cities and towns are already seeing the impacts of hotter summers, and we want to make sure they have the support they need,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This new role will help communities plan ahead, reduce the risks of extreme heat and put solutions in place that make a real difference for residents.”

“Extreme heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the U.S., killing more Americans than hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and other weather hazards combined,” said Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. “July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in the U.S., and an estimated 20,000 people died in the European heat wave in June. Extreme heat and droughts have caused global crop losses this year and threaten water supplies, as well as infrastructure, like railways and runways, that was not built to withstand these temperatures. Ecosystems like forests, that can help us mitigate the effects of extreme heat are stressed. This is what climate change looks like. As we fight to zero out the dangerous fossil fuel pollution causing climate change, we must simultaneously make the changes that will keep our residents safer. Our whole-of-government approach is working, and we are thrilled to welcome Katie to the team to lead this critically important work.”

“This summer was another reminder that climate change is making extreme heat more common across Massachusetts,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We need to adapt just as quickly. The new Heat Resilience Officer will help us build on the important work already underway across the state. Katie will be looking out for workers, seniors, students, and neighborhoods with extreme temperatures.”

"Extreme heat is a predictable public health threat, and that recognition gives us an opportunity to prepare and act before people get sick," said DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. "As the inaugural Massachusetts Heat Resilience Officer, Katie Schlick will help us turn what we know into what we do, bringing public health data, climate science, and the experience of communities together into a clear, coordinated statewide approach that will help protect people from the dangers of extreme heat."

 

Schlick will report jointly to Climate Chief Hoffer and Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. She will also work closely with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and all state agencies to improve preparedness for extreme heat events and support communities across Massachusetts. The position is funded through generous support from The Boston Foundation. 

Schlick brings extensive experience advancing climate resilience at the federal, state, and regional levels. Most recently, she worked on federal and external affairs and led the resilience portfolio at the U.S. Climate Alliance, supporting states in developing and implementing resilience and extreme heat strategies. Previously, she served as Special Assistant to the White House National Climate Advisor, where she helped advance national climate policy and coordinate major initiatives, including the first White House Summits on Extreme Heat and Building Climate Resilient Communities. Earlier in her career, she worked as an environmental planner in Connecticut. She is a graduate of Yale University and has dedicated her career to developing climate solutions that protect public health and strengthen communities.

“Amidst another record-breaking year of heat and smoke, Massachusetts is taking bold, coordinated action to protect and uplift our communities,” said Heat Resilience Officer Katie Schlick. “I am grateful to Governor Healey and the Boston Foundation for establishing our Commonwealth’s first Heat Resilience Officer position and kickstarting a government-wide, community-centered partnership to tackle extreme heat—everywhere from schools and summer camps to health centers, workplaces, and our electric grid. I am thrilled to join the Massachusetts team to work alongside state and local leaders to broaden our understanding of the heat challenge and equip ourselves with diverse solutions that will leave the Commonwealth more prepared and more resilient."

Since taking office, Governor Healey has made climate resilience a priority, investing in communities and strengthening the state’s ability to prepare for the impacts of climate change. She has expanded support for local climate resilience through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program and filed the Mass Ready Act to strengthen infrastructure and help communities prepare for flooding, extreme heat and other climate risks. This year, Governor Healey also launched the Environment & Climate One Stop (ECO One Stop), making it easier for communities to access state funding for climate resilience and environmental projects.

Governor Healey has also established the Office of Climate Resilience and Innovation and designated Climate Officers across state secretariats to strengthen climate planning and coordination across state government. The new Heat Resilience Officer will build on this work by bringing dedicated expertise and coordination to Massachusetts’ efforts to prepare for extreme heat.