News | USC Dornsife News | April 2026

USC Dornsife Public Exchange welcomes climate leader with deep LA policy experience

Michelle Barton has led major environmental initiatives and will guide work on shade, heat resilience and the L.A. River.

An environmental leader whose work has shaped biodiversity, water conservation, and urban sustainability efforts throughout California, especially in Los Angeles, Barton has joined USC Dornsife Public Exchange as director of its Climate & Sustainability Practice.

Barton brings more than a decade of experience in city and state government, including leadership roles with Los Angeles World Airports, LA Sanitation & Environment, and Caltrans.

In her new role, Barton will lead the next phase of Public Exchange’s climate strategy. That includes:

• Co-leading ShadeLA with UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation, a cross-sector effort to expand shade infrastructure and reduce extreme heat risk across L.A. County.
• Overseeing Public Exchange’s L.A. River initiative and building on recent work with the 100 Acre Partnership to support Taylor Yard’s revitalization. Public Exchange also plans to expand scientific monitoring along the river ahead of a study of plant life in the river ecosystem.