Leadership
The initiative is led by Jackson Senior Fellow Jessica Seddon, whose work on environmental governance focuses on how new sources of data can be leveraged to enable new (and more sustainable) ways of interacting with the environment around us. Her career in India and the U.S. spans academic, program leadership, and strategic advisory roles focused on institutional design for integrating science into policy and social initiatives.
Affiliated Faculty
In Fall 2024, lecturer Jed Sundwall is teaching the course, “Planetary-Scale Data Institutions: Maximizing Access to Environmental Data for the Public Interest,” an overview of the advances in technology and business models that have enabled and shaped the rise of data platforms over the past quarter century and the impact of these data platforms on environmental governance. Sundwall is the executive director of Radiant Earth, a nonprofit that supports community-led initiatives that make data easier to access and use.
Student Fellows
The Deitz Family Initiative Fellows are future policy and business leaders who are part of the M.P.P. program at the Yale Jackson School. They are committed to being at the forefront of addressing our planet’s most pressing environmental challenges, incorporating policy and associated levers to move the needle forward. These individuals are chosen for their dedication and demonstrated commitment to understanding and tackling the multifaceted impacts of global environmental change, and to providing the best platform for the school to grow its influence in the space.
The fellows represent the student body interests, and primarily work with the initiative’s director to build greater student-focused programming that supports the exploration of the changing “operating environment” due to climate change. Their work will go beyond the traditional academic boundaries of the curriculum, and they will assist in creating a vibrant nexus where environmental science meets international relations, policy, and beyond, through Jackson across Yale. This interdisciplinary approach fosters a holistic understanding of our changing world and empowers students to envision creative solutions.
Affiliated Student Organization
Jackson Development, Environment, Society and Climate
Jackson Development, Environment, Society and Climate (DESC) is dedicated to being a part of ongoing discussions about climate and developmental policies. The student group aims to engage Jackson School students, faculty, and senior fellows interested in policy topics that intersect with the environment, climate, and development. The group provides diverse learning and networking opportunities and helps build professional relationships with industry experts. They collaborate with climate, environmental, and developmental policy communities at Jackson, Yale, and beyond.