Dr. Anand Gopal is a globally respected climate policy expert whose work in clean energy and environmental justice has made a significant impact in the United States, India, and China.  

Gopal embodies a lifelong commitment to sustainability, science, and equity. Currently, Gopal is the Founder and CEO of Elar Strategies, a clean energy and sustainable food systems consulting firm that supports clients in transforming their livelihoods for the better while reducing pollution rapidly and equitably.

Gopal has held leadership roles in leading research organizations and private foundations such as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Hewlett Foundation, and Energy Innovation. In all of his roles, his mission has stayed the same: improving the lives of the most vulnerable people in the world. 

Gopal grew up in Chennai, a city of 7 million people in Southern India. He earned a bachelor’s in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. He was only able to enroll in the master’s program at Cal Poly Humboldt thanks to a first-of-a-kind scholarship and research position offered by the Schatz Energy Research Center. After graduating from Humboldt, he went on to earn a Ph.D. in Energy and Resources from Berkeley. 

He continues to be closely connected to the Schatz Center, serving on their Advisory Board and supporting their work in numerous ways. He also serves on the boards of influential organizations such as the International Council on Clean Transportation, the Good Food Institute, and Veloz. He is a syndicated contributor on Forbes, where he shares insights on the energy transition.

Cal Poly Humboldt shaped Gopal's life more deeply than any other institution of higher learning that he has attended. This is where he met his wife, Elizabeth Pimentel-Gopal (‘00, Spanish, Business Administration), where he met mentors Dr. Peter Lehman and Dr. Charles Chamberlin, who inspired his career in clean energy, and where he visits often to spend time with his 1-year-old grandson, Hendrix.