Chris Hansen (politician)

Hansen was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and attended high school in Goodland, Kansas, where his father worked as a high school teacher and coach, while his mother worked as a nurse in a local hospital.[3] In 1998, Hansen earned his undergraduate degree in engineering from Kansas State University, where he also served as student body president[4] and Chair of the Regent's Advisory Committee. He went on to earn a Master of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2003, and a Ph.D in Economic Geography from the Linacre College at University of Oxford in 2009.[5] His doctoral dissertation discussed a case study of a bottom up model of electricity reform in Gujarat, India.

Hansen began work as an associate director at IHS CERA in 2005 where he was promoted to director of corporate strategy in 2010, and again to the position of director of energy insight in 2013.[6]

During his tenure at IHS, Hansen served in multiple capacities for several non-profit and business groups operating in the state of Colorado, including:

• Co-Chair, Colorado Energy Coalition
• Board Secretary, Executive Committee, Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation
• Mentor/Fundraiser, Denver Kids, Incorporated
• Member, Advisory Board, University of Colorado Denver Business School
• Member, Executive Committee, Central City Opera Board[7]

In 2016, Hansen won the Democratic nomination for Colorado State House District 6 on June 28, 2016 with 58% of the vote.[8] During the primary, Hansen focused on renewable energy, education funding, and job creation.[5] He went on to run unopposed and won the general election on November 8, 2016.[1]