Polly Endreny Holmberg

About

Polly Endreny Holmberg is a conservation biologist and professional development trainer at the nexus of sustainable global development and international education. At Cornell University, she manages the Humphrey Fellowship Program, a Fulbright exchange that enhances leadership capabilities, sharpens technical expertise, expands professional networks, and fosters cross-cultural understanding. The program collaborates with global cohorts of mid-career professionals to amplify impact in sustainable development, with a focus on food systems and natural resources. Polly also leads the World Food Prize Foundation New York Youth Institute, engaging high school students from across New York State in addressing critical 21st-century challenges. Through expert discussions, laboratory and farm tours, hands-on projects, and networking opportunities, the Institute encourages young leaders to develop innovative solutions to global issues such as food security and climate change, while offering distinguished internship opportunities.

Polly holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a Master of Science in Marine Resource Management from Oregon State University. Her career includes roles with The Nature Conservancy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Cheetah Conservation Fund, as well as Peace Corps service in Madagascar. Previously, she helped establish and lead the Cornell Alliance for Science’s international training program, training nearly 800 professionals from 48 countries in science communications and strategic organizing to combat global hunger.

Her leadership style emphasizes cooperative engagement, experiential learning, and the building of meaningful partnerships. Polly is drawn to projects that prioritize environmental vitality and cross-cultural collaboration, driven by a passion for achieving a balance between prosperous communities and thriving ecosystems. Back in the Finger Lakes of New York, where she grew up, she lives with her husband, son, and precocious cats.