About This Episode
Season 5. Episode 5.
In this episode of Education Insight, Dr. Jennie Stephens, author of Climate Justice and the University: Shaping a Hopeful Future for All, shares her insights on how higher education institutions are unprepared for the climate challenges ahead. As a researcher focused on climate justice, fossil fuel phaseout, and financial innovations for a more sustainable future, Jennie emphasizes the critical role universities must play in preparing students to address the complex realities of climate change.
Jennie explains the shortcomings in current climate education and the importance of integrating climate justice into diverse disciplines, from business and engineering to social sciences. She discusses how universities can bridge the divide between majors and foster interdisciplinary collaboration to address climate challenges more effectively.
With the political landscape shifting and climate threats intensifying, Jennie also offers practical advice for universities and communities committed to impactful climate action, despite setbacks. She highlights successful examples of partnerships between universities and local communities and suggests ways for local colleges to replicate these efforts.
Tune in to hear a compelling conversation about how universities can lead the charge in climate action, equip students with the skills to combat climate change, and influence policy to create a safer, more sustainable future for all.
Featured Guest
Dr. Jennie C. Stephens
Author of the 2024 book, Climate Justice and the University: Shaping a Hopeful Future for All.
Jennie C. Stephens is a feminist, climate justice scholar-activist focused on transformation toward a more just, healthy, and stable future for all. She is Professor of Climate Justice at the National University of Ireland Maynooth and on the coordinating team of the Climate Justice Universities Union. She is a fellow at the Global Center for Climate Justice, Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy at Northeastern University in Boston and was a Climate Justice Fellow at Harvard-Radcliffe (2023-2024). Her book Climate Justice and the University: Shaping a Hopeful Future For All (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024) proposes a paradigm shift to reimagine and restructure higher education to facilitate transformative social change toward ecological health and climate justice.
Her research, teaching, and community engagement focus on integrating transformative social justice, feminist, anti-racist, decolonial perspectives into climate and energy policy, fossil fuel phaseout, the renewable energy transition, energy democracy, gender in energy and climate, and climate justice in higher education. In her 2020 book Diversifying Power: Why We Need Antiracist, Feminist Leadership on Climate and Energy (Island Press), she argues that effectively addressing climate change requires diversifying leadership, redistributing wealth and power, and moving beyond mainstream male-dominated technocratic solutions to climate change. Throughout her career she has explored institutional and cultural innovation in energy and climate with a focus on societal transformation.
Jennie Stephens is on the advisory group of Feminists Communities for Climate Justice, is a member of the New England Grist Fixer Network, is part of the Climate Social Science Network, was a 2015-2016 Leopold Leadership fellow, and her book “Smart Grid (R)Evolution: Electric Power Struggles” (Cambridge University Press, 2015) explores social and cultural debates about energy system change (co-authored with Wilson & Peterson). Before joining Maynooth University in Ireland, Professor Stephens was on the faculty at Northeastern University, the University of Vermont (2014-2016) and Clark University (2005-2014). She did post-doctoral research at Harvard’s Kennedy School and she has taught courses at Tufts, Boston University, and MIT. She earned her PhD at the California Institute of Technology in Environmental Science & Engineering and her BA at Harvard University in Environmental Science and Policy.
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Interview Highlights
3:57 – Adrienne describes dual enrollment and its benefits.
7:15 – Adrienne speaks to how recent California mandates and initiatives may have influenced the growth of these new programs.
8:34 – Adrienne explains what research shows about the impact of dual enrollment on a student’s academic achievements or even their future success.
9:24 – Adrienne shares examples of dual enrollment activities that are taking place in our region and what is happening in the IE.
13:11 – Adrienne talks about strategies in place to make sure that equal opportunities are available for all students.
20:18 – Jorge explains how dual enrollment aligns with his role at Riverside County Unified School District.
21:28 – Jorge shares his experiences and thoughts on the current dual enrollment programs that are being offered at Riverside Unified School District.
23:32 – Jorge gives insight into how dual enrollment makes students career ready.
25:58 – Jorge describes what challenges students typically face in dual enrollment programs and how he addresses those issues.
32:43 – Jorge shares what he would like to see be the future of the dual enrollment program in his district and beyond.
36:31 – Special Feature: Avijeet Randhawa, 8th-Grader, Auburndale Intermediate School in the Corona Norco Unified School District.
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Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.
