Harrisburg, PA — Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced the nominations of Dr. Carrie Rowe to serve as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), and Jessica Shirley to serve as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Rowe currently serves as Deputy Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education at PDE, while Shirley is the Acting Secretary of DEP.
Governor Shapiro’s nominations reflect his commitment to strong, experienced leadership in key state agencies that affect Pennsylvanians every day. These nominations are subject to confirmation by the Pennsylvania Senate.
“Dr. Rowe and Acting Secretary Shirley are experienced, dedicated public servants – and I am proud to nominate them to serve as Secretaries and continue their work in education and environmental protection,” said Governor Shapiro. “Dr. Rowe has dedicated her career to ensuring every student has access to a quality education, and Acting Secretary Shirley has been a driving force in safeguarding our environment while streamlining permitting processes and promoting economic growth. Their expertise and leadership will help us build a stronger Commonwealth as we keep working to bring people together, solve problems, and create real opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.”
“I am honored to be nominated to lead the Department of Education in service of the Commonwealth’s learners, educators, and communities,” said Dr. Rowe. “I look forward to working with Governor Shapiro, the General Assembly, and partners in the field to ensure that all Pennsylvania learners have access to a world-class education system and all of the possibilities it brings.”
Under the Shapiro Administration, PDE has worked tirelessly to ensure all Pennsylvania students have the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed. PDE has driven out record funding to public schools across the Commonwealth, including $526 million last year through a new adequacy formula to the schools that need it most. PDE has also worked to expand career and technical education opportunities for students and helped schools fund critical repairs to their buildings and infrastructure to ensure students have safe and healthy learning environments.
“As someone who has dedicated their career to public service, it’s an honor to be nominated to lead the Department of Environmental Protection. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, I understand the importance of the mission to protect Pennsylvania’s air, land, and water resources, providing for the health and safety of our residents and businesses,” said Acting Secretary Shirley. “I look forward to working as part of the Shapiro Administration, alongside the dedicated staff at DEP, to continue our mission to protect public health and the environment.”
The Department of Environmental Protection under Acting Secretary Shirley has worked diligently to protect Pennsylvanians’ constitutional rights to clean air and pure water while improving the permitting experience for Pennsylvania businesses. DEP is modernizing its permitting process by investing in technology and reviewing processes to identify and eliminate bottlenecks. DEP has eliminated the vast majority of the permit backlog that existed when the Shapiro Administration took office – and has developed a new Permit Status Tracker tool, a user-friendly new tool to track the progress of permit applications submitted to DEP. Throughout the Shapiro Administration, DEP has been hiring staff to improve operational efficiency, including 225 employees to carry out critical functions like public health and safety inspections and permit application reviews.
Read more about Dr. Carrie Rowe – Secretary of Education Nominee
Dr. Carrie Rowe brings 25 years of public education experience to her new role. As Deputy Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, she has provided strategic guidance on structured literacy, workforce readiness, teacher recruitment and retention, and student mental health. She has been a champion for dual-credit programs, high-intensity summer learning, and multilingual education to prepare students for college and career pathways.
Before joining PDE, Dr. Rowe served as a Superintendent of Schools in western Pennsylvania, where she focused on equitable resource allocation and removing institutional barriers to opportunity. Her leadership in education policy has been instrumental in expanding access and support for students across the Commonwealth.
Read more about Jessica Shirley – Secretary of Environmental Protection Nominee
Jessica Shirley has been a leader in Pennsylvania’s environmental policy for more than a decade. As Acting Secretary of DEP, she has played a pivotal role in advancing sustainable and equitable environmental practices. Previously, as Executive Deputy Secretary, she oversaw the agency’s core programs and helped manage the implementation of federal funding for well plugging, abandoned mine land reclamation, and local water infrastructure.
Shirley’s tenure at DEP includes serving as Policy Director, where she helped direct the agency’s work addressing PFAS contamination, the Chesapeake Bay cleanup, energy conservation, and environmental justice. Shirley holds a master's degree in public administration from Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
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