Heather Zissler
Senior Social Impact & Sustainability Leader | Community Engagement & Leadership | Cross-Sector Partnerships | Equity-Driven Culture & Systems Change
- Role
- Program Director at Path Home
- Location
- Portland, OR, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Heather Zissler
Human-centered leader with a passion for developing high-performing teams that advance equity, climate resilience, and community-led conservation across borders and sectors.20+ years of experience in international development, natural resource management, and inclusive community engagement—currently serving as Deputy Director for Communication and Community Engagement at the U.S. Forest Service. I specialize in aligning public investments with locally led conservation, wildfire resilience, and equity-centered environmental strategies.At the Forest Service, I’ve led the design and implementation of regional engagement frameworks and programs, securing over $20M in funding for Tribal and rural partnerships. Recognized in 2023, with the Regional Forester\'s Honor Award for Advancing the Equity Action Plan and the Chief’s Honor Award for Developing Tribal and Equity-Centered Partnerships. Previously, I held senior roles with the Peace Corps in Mexico and Washington, D.C, managing climate resilience programs, overseeing multimillion-dollar grant portfolios, and supporting MEL systems across 20+ countries. My work is rooted in deep collaboration, intercultural fluency, and the belief that communities closest to the challenges must lead the solutions.Field-tested in Paraguay, Brazil, and Mexico. Policy-informed in Washington. Fluent in Spanish, proficient in Portuguese and Guarani.
Experience
Program Director
Oct 2025 — Present · Portland, OR, US
Education
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
MA, International Environmental Policy - Conservation & Sustainable Development
2006 — 2008
Instituto de Estudios Internacionales
M.A. International Environmental Policy
1998 — 1998
University of Oregon
B.A, International Relations; Law, Diplomacy, and Policy
1997 — 2000
Skills
- Non-Profits
- Program Development
- International Relations
- Grants
- Policy Analysis
- Public Speaking
- Spanish
- Program Evaluation
- Program Management
- Grant Writing
- Research
- Policy
- Analysis
- Training
- Editing
- Community Outreach
- Community Development
- Proposal Writing
- Project Management
- Nonprofits
- Nonprofit Organizations
- International Development
- Capacity Building
- Public Policy
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