Jenks-Jay takes on new post

Author: Lisie Mehlman

Nan Jenks-Jay, who has served as Middlebury College's Director of Environmental Affairs since 1997 and has, throughout her tenure as director, played a pivotal role in the College's receipt of eight awards for its commendable and oft-emulated environmental policies, will become the Dean of Environmental Affairs. The newly-established position and Jenks-Jay's ascension to that position were announced in an e-mail to the College community sent by President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz on Monday.

Liebowitz explained that the creation of this position "reflects the College's institutional and academic commitment to the environment, as well as Nan's leadership and expertise in the field." Jenks-Jay, in addition to gracefully managing her prior responsibilities as Director of Environmental Affairs, teaches an environmental studies seminar, has served on external review committees for ten college and university environmental programs and has served on state governmental boards.

Liebowitz credited Jenks-Jay as being instrumental in integrating "sustainable design and construction practices" on campus and in planning and implementing the "College's carbon reduction initiative. Her leadership was integral to the development of the new Hillcrest Environmental Center as a base for environmental learning and leadership," he wrote.

Jenks-Jay is both looking forward to this experience and excited about the new challenges and opportunities that the position entails. She said, "The new position [requires a] commitment to engaging Middlebury College's undergraduate program, in which I am already involved. Additionally, [it requires a commitment to involving] the graduate and special programs, including the Language Schools, Schools Abroad, Bread Loaf School of English, Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and the Monterey Institute of International Studies in the broader concept of creating a greater environmental community while recognizing the individual and unique identities of each."

Her assumption of the new Deanship means that Jenks-Jay will now co-chair the Environmental Council rather than chairing it as she has done in the past, "thereby sharing this important role with other individuals at the College who have so much to offer and who can introduce new energy and infuse new ideas," she explained. She will continue to host the Environmental Retreat, an annual event during which faculty and staff "discuss issues that are relevant to enriching the learning experience for students," and much of her efforts will now "focus on the new capital campaign," she said.

When asked about potential challenges she might face in her new role as Dean, Jenks-Jay said that "Middlebury already excels in areas related to the environment. The challenge will be to bring this good work that is being done here by so many talented individuals to an even higher level with the infrastructure and support appropriate to ensure it staying power. That's the goal and it will be a challenge as Middlebury is already regarded as having a nationally acclaimed academic ES program and the stellar campus sustainability programs have become a model to colleges and universities across the country."

That the College is a trailblazer in environmental policy is no surprise - it is the recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Merit Award as well as the Vermont Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence, among others. Jenks-Jay believes that "higher education, as a major sector of society, can have a significant and influential role in accelerating the pace [of creating a more environmentally sustainable world] that is necessary."

In the coming years, she seeks to enhance and expand the environmental learning community so that every sector of the College, and each individual, contributes to the mission of educating students to be contributing citizens of the global community.

More specifically, her goals include continuing the shift to more renewable and clean energy sources and achieving carbon reduction to meet the College's current goals endorsed by the trustees. While she stated "that Middlebury will be leading the way and inspiring many to follow," she also acknowledged that accomplishing these goals "will not be without its challenges."

Still, Jenks-Jay said she has no reservations about her new role on campus. "Middlebury is well positioned to create catalytic change in environmental education and sustainability," she said. "With such strong philosophical and programmatic support from the trustees, president and senior administration, there is no telling what can be achieved with the administrative commitment, stellar faculty, dedicated staff, external partners and innovative students that are assembled here."