Former EPA exec Edward Chu joins ASU Global Futures Laboratory in leadership role
Edward Chu (left) joins Peter Schlosser at the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, where his new role will advance global efforts to connect research with policy, finance and implementation.
The Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University has named former Environmental Protection Agency executive Edward Chu as its first deputy director general, tapping into Chu’s decades of experience in environmental policy, finance and governance to the laboratory.
Chu will help advance global efforts to connect research with policy, finance and implementation.
“Ed is a visionary leader whose deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory and financial landscapes makes him an ideal partner for the next phase in the evolution of GFL,” said Peter Schlosser, vice president and vice provost of Global Futures and director of the Global Futures Laboratory. “His ability to build cross-sector coalitions will be instrumental in advancing our mission.”
ASU President Michael M. Crow said Chu’s experience across government and finance aligns with the university’s global futures agenda.
“Addressing the challenges facing our planet requires leaders who can mobilize government, finance and communities,” Crow said. “Ed’s track record and commitment to results will be a tremendous asset.”
Chu joins the laboratory after a 30-year career at the EPA, where he held senior executive roles in environmental governance, infrastructure finance and regulatory policy. He worked across five federal regions and collaborated with state, tribal and local governments. He also served on the White House Council on Environmental Quality and advised on federal climate finance initiatives.
From 2023 to 2024, Chu was an affiliate Global Futures scholar with the laboratory and served as special adviser to the president for climate and environment.
Chu holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. He has academic and advisory affiliations with several universities and serves on the board of the Washington State Green Bank.
“Joining the Global Futures Laboratory is a profound opportunity to apply my experience in federal policy and environmental governance to the urgent challenges of our time,” Chu said. “ASU has created a unique environment where innovation meets action, and I look forward to helping scale solutions that bridge the gap between scientific discovery and systemic change.”