Laurie Ristino
Laurie Ristino serves as VCMI’s Co-Executive Director, responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the Secretariat. Laurie is also Meridian Institute’s General Counsel and a Senior Fellow.
Previously, Laurie served as senior counsel at the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, advising on environmental and sustainable agriculture matters. After her federal service, she was appointed as a law professor and director of a sustainable food systems center at Vermont Law School. She currently teaches environmental policy and global food system sustainability at Johns Hopkins University. A recognized expert in her field, she has been quoted in leading media outlets such as Inside Climate News, Christian Science Monitor, and Yale360 and has authored academic articles, book chapters, and a book on conservation easements.