The National Academy of Engineering announced Tuesday that the organization has elected Lisa Perez Jackson as a new member. The vice president of environmental, policy, and social initiatives at Apple Inc. was honored “for sustainability leadership in government and business to protect air and water quality and limit greenhouse gas emissions.”

NAE members represent a select group of senior professionals in business, academia, and government who have distinguished themselves through technical accomplishments and leadership.

NAE members volunteer their time on initiatives that help guide the development of federal laws and regulations, improve the effectiveness of government programs, shape the direction of research fields, and inform public knowledge and dialogue about issues of critical importance.

Since Lisa Perez Jackson was tapped to lead Apple's Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, she has helped the technology company become an environmental leader and a pioneer in clean energy, recycling, and green technology.

Under her leadership, Apple reached carbon neutrality for its corporate emissions and now powers its operations worldwide with 100 percent renewable energy. Recently, the company announced its most ambitious target yet, pledging that every Apple device will be produced with net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

As vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives, Jackson has led the company’s environmental initiatives, community education programs, product accessibility work, community investment, racial equity, justice efforts, and worldwide government affairs. Before joining Apple, Jackson was the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2009 to 2013. She was the first African American in that position.

While an administrator, she prioritized reducing greenhouse gases, protecting air and water quality, preventing exposure to toxic contamination, and championing environmental justice by expanding environmental outreach to underserved communities and communities of color. She holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tulane University.

Click here to read excerpts of an interview that Jackson did with Women of Color magazine. The article is the cover story in the spring of 2021.