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Melissa Eckert

Melissa Eckert wears a dark green blazer and glasses in front of a natural green background.

March 10, 2022

Melissa joined the Prize in 2013 and manages the foundation’s finances, human resources, and office operations. She has worked in philanthropy, strategic planning, public health, and nonprofit administration for over 20 years, having held positions with the Koret Foundation, the Washington University School of Medicine, and the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture. Melissa holds a BA in Psychology and a MPH in Community Health from Saint Louis University; she interned at the Carter Center and is a Coro Fellow.

Recent Posts

The Green Transition Cannot Be Built on Poisoned Rivers 


June 15, 2026 – By Pianporn (Pai) Deetes

Goldman Prize winners participated in a six-day march in Thailand to raise awareness about polluted rivers. The issue is complex, as the contamination is linked to mining for metals that are essential to renewable energy production.

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How Women Past and Present Drive the Environmental Movement


June 9, 2026

Women are increasingly leading grassroots environmental campaigns around the world. Discover why this is no coincidence.

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A Q&A with Sarah Finch on Reshaping Climate Policy in the UK


May 19, 2026

The Goldman Environmental Prize sat down with UK climate activist Sarah Finch to discuss her motivation to take on Big Oil, and her tenacity to see a multi-year judicial battle through to the finish line.

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