Welcoming Tamara Jeffries
Last month, the Center for Science and Society welcomed Tamara Jeffries as the new Co-Production of Knowledge Program Manager. She will oversee the Co-Production of Knowledge Initative with a focus on building community partnerships. We spoke with Tamara about her new role!
I am from the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. I went to undergrad at Case Western Reserve University where I double majored in environmental geology and anthropology. I also had a photography minor, played for 4 years in the Case Western Marching Band (flute and piccolo), and was an executive member of my school's Food Recovery Network chapter.
Before entering this role, I pursued my Masters of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy at Columbia University (Class of 2024). Immediately after graduation, I was blessed with the opportunity to work with WE ACT For Environmental Justice based in Harlem as a Yale Environmental Justice Fellow. Check out the bios and summer reflections from myself and fellow cohort members!
One of the most frequent observations I had throughout my academic career was that the environmental challenges the world faces today cannot be solved nor researched independently of the social, cultural, and economic challenges they induce. Undoubtedly, the environment is intimately intertwined with everyone; regardless of race, class, occupation, or other socially defined category. Thus, advocating, planning, and implementing strategies for change must be facilitated in ways that are direct, personal, and local to be effective. As leaders across various disciplines in the environmental justice movement have reiterated: everyone, regardless of race, class, gender, education level, or social status deserves equal and adequate access to clean natural resources and our planet’s environments. Therefore they should also be involved in making the decisions that govern these resources and spaces.
From these mentors and others, I have learned that becoming a leader and change maker in the areas of climate science, public policy, and environmental justice requires more than the ability to do hard work. It also requires the willingness to be humble in our pursuit to produce solutions that both unify humanity and respect our planet. There is no way to facilitate such work unless frameworks of equity and inclusivity provide the groundwork for new climate change research and policy development.
Without question, High School Musical (yes… the Disney Channel original movie series) has my entire heart. Please don’t ask me to pick just one… I can quote them all! As for why, I feel like the quality of the films speaks for themselves. The plot line and events portray the perfect coming-of-age story during a timeframe of life which we can almost all relate to. All while including outstanding, one-of-a-kind musical numbers which are impossible to forget. What's not to love?