Jennie C. Stephens

Jennie C. Stephens is the Dean's Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy at Northeastern University's School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. She holds adjunct roles at Maynooth University (Ireland) and Harvard University. Her work focuses on climate justice, renewable energy transitions, energy democracy, and equity in climate policy. She is author of Climate Justice and the University (2024) and Diversifying Power (2020), advocating for antiracist, feminist leadership in sustainability.

Education:

• PhD, Environmental Science and Engineering, California Institute of Technology (2002)
• MS, Environmental Science and Engineering, California Institute of Technology (1998)
• BA, Environmental Science and Public Policy, Harvard University (1997)

Research Interests: Stephens integrates feminist, antiracist, and decolonial perspectives into climate policy, fossil fuel phase-out, energy democracy, and university reform. Key areas include:

• Climate justice frameworks
• Renewable energy equity
• Higher education's role in climate activism
• Fossil fuel industry influence on universities

Awards:

• Radcliffe-Salata Climate Justice Fellowship (2023-2024)
• Leopold Leadership Fellowship (2015-2016)
• Arab-American Frontiers Fellowship (2017)

Key Projects:

• Co-founder of the Climate Justice Universities Union
• Leadership in the Global Resilience Institute and Northeastern Environmental Justice Research Collaborative
• Advocacy for energy justice through policy and community engagement