Griffin Museum of Science and Industry Showcases Clean Energy Nonprofit’s Woman Leader

CHICAGO – Today, Elevate announces that our CEO, Dr. Anne Evens, has been selected by Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (Griffin MSI) as a featured leader in its 2026 Women’s History Month pop-up exhibition “Women in Energy”.  

The museum’s annual Women’s History Month exhibit celebrates women whose work transforms their fields. With the opening of Griffin MSI’s new pop-up exhibition, “Women in Energy,” this year’s Women’s History Month exhibit highlights women in energy, featuring a wide range of energy-related careers, from scientists and engineers to power line technicians and data analysts. The exhibit explores energy’s intersection with climate, sustainability, public health, and community resilience.  

“Clean energy touches every part of our lives,” said Dr. Anne Evens. “We need it to support our homes, schools, and small businesses. Access to safe, affordable energy is essential, and it impacts the health and wealth of  communities. Working in clean energy could mean improving grid reliability, advancing energy efficiency, or moving toward renewable resources. All of these efforts help make energy more affordable.”  

Dr. Evens’ leadership embodies this interconnected vision, and her impact is reflected in the measurable progress Elevate and its partners have achieved. To date, Elevate has helped create more than 2,350 jobs in the clean energy sector, invested more than $155 million back into communities through energy savings and incentives, and prevented over 576,000 metric tons of carbon emissions through cleaner, more efficient home performance solutions. 

Under Dr. Evens’ leadership, Elevate has expanded its mission to ensure everyone has access to clean, affordable heat, cooling, power, and water. Elevate implements clean energy and water upgrades across affordable housing and nonprofits, supports the growth of clean energy businesses, and invests in workforce training to open pathways to long‑term careers. 

«Women’s ingenuity has always powered energy innovation, and this exhibit shines a light on the women who continue that meaningful work today,» said Dr. Patricia Ward, Griffin MSI Head Scientist and AVP of Content and Partnerships. «Highlighting the current work of women in the field like Dr. Anne Evens supports Griffin MSI’s mission to make STE(A)M accessible and inspire the next generation of girls and women to imagine new possibilities for themselves.» 

Dr. Evens brings more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit and governmental leadership focused on public health, environmental sustainability, and economic development. She holds degrees from Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Illinois Chicago, where she also serves as adjunct faculty at the School of Public Health.  She is the 2022 Heinz Award for Environment recipient.  

This year’s Griffin MSI exhibit highlights women shaping the future of energy across science, technology, infrastructure, and community impact. As one of the 70 women selected to be featured, Dr. Evens’ inclusion reflects her decades-long commitment to advancing clean, affordable energy solutions for frontline communities across the country. 

Elevate is honored to see Dr. Evens recognized among the women shaping the future of energy. Her feature in Griffin MSI’s exhibit will help inspire the next generation of women and girls to imagine themselves as innovators, problem‑solvers, and leaders in the clean energy transition. 

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