Summer 2025: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Elects New Trustee, Dr. Sarah Kapnick, Ph.D.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Village Campus. (©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) August 6, 2025
Woods Hole, Mass. – At Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s (WHOI’s) Summer Board of Trustees Meeting, Institution leaders elected a new Trustee, Dr. Sarah Kapnick, Ph.D.
"It gives me great pleasure to welcome Dr. Kapnick as our newest board member. Dr. Kapnick brings a trifecta of expertise in the areas of global finance, scientific excellence, and research administration that will support WHOI’s continued leadership in ocean science and innovation in this pivotal moment” said Peter de Menocal, WHOI President and Director.
About the New WHOI Board of Trustees Member, Dr. Sarah Kapnick, Ph.D.
Dr. Sarah B. Kapnick is the Global Head of Climate Advisory at J.P. Morgan. In this role, she advises the bank's clients on climate, energy, biodiversity, and sustainability topics. Responsible for overseeing the Firm’s climate thought leadership strategy, Dr. Kapnick leverages extensive technical and scientific expertise to drive content strategy and advise clients at the intersection of finance, climate science, commerce, and national security.
She was previously with the bank’s Asset and Wealth Management division as Senior Climate Scientist and Sustainability Strategist. Prior to her current role, Dr. Kapnick was Chief Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), responsible for guiding the programmatic focus of NOAA’s science and technology priorities. She spent a decade at NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) leading research on seasonal climate prediction, mountain snowpack, extreme storms, water security, climate economics, and climate impacts.
Dr. Kapnick earned a Ph.D. in atmospheric and oceanic sciences with a certificate in Leaders in Sustainability from UCLA and an A.B. in mathematics with a certificate in finance from Princeton University. She serves on the board of Climate Central and advisory council for The Food Security Leadership Council.