Brett Essler

Board Member

Brett brings nearly 25 years of experience as a higher education communications professional to the CATS board. As senior director of communications at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), he leads a digital team creating dynamic social media, video, and web content and serves as managing editor of SIPA Magazine. A graduate of Columbia Journalism School and recipient of the prestigious Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship, Brett’s writing and photography have been featured in Modern Farmer, Narratively, and Adirondack Life.

  

Passionate about environmental stewardship, Brett is an active member of the Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York’s environmental justice team. There, he organizes initiatives on composting and recycling, food justice, and reducing plastic pollution.

  

Originally from Western New York, Brett now divides his time between New York City and Essex, NY, where he, his wife Jodi, and their rescue cat Ash enjoy the natural beauty of the Champlain Valley.