Rachael Petersen

Background

About Rachael Petersen

I am a writer, convener, and strategic advisor working at the intersection of ecology, philosophy, and social transformation. Across all my work, I ask big questions — about mind, matter, meaning, and the futures we are called to create — and support organizations and individuals in translating bold ideas into grounded action. I am currently a PhD student at Harvard University. Previously, I founded and led Harvard University's Thinking with Plants and Fungi Initiative, an interdisciplinary exploration into how plant science is reshaping our understanding of consciousness and life. I also lead Earthrise Services, a consulting practice supporting mission-driven organizations and philanthropists through facilitation, strategy, and research. Before returning to graduate study, I spent a decade advancing climate and conservation solutions, with expertise in forest protection, indigenous rights, and international environmental policy. I've served as Deputy Director of Global Forest Watch at the World Resources Institute, as Senior Advisor to the National Geographic Society, and as a strategist for leading climate philanthropies. I hold a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, where my research focused on panpsychism, pantheism, and the more-than-human world, as well as a BA in Anthropology and Environmental Policy from Rice University. I am a trained Buddhist Ecochaplain and a published author, with writing appearing in Aeon, The Sun, Harvard Divinity Bulletin, Tricycle Magazine, and elsewhere. I’m passionate about building spaces — through writing, gathering, and advising — where new ideas can take root and new futures can emerge.