Jennifer VanIstendal McHenry

I attribute my success to passion, first and foremost. I really feel like I'm just so passionate about protecting the world and trying to leave it better than we found it. I know that humans are the problem, and so I want to do everything I can to keep nature as much as nature as it can be. I really value the indigenous cultures, especially the Native American cultures in my local region, the Leni Lenape, because they're the first stewards of our lands and waters and air. They are a source of wisdom and inspiration for me. Beyond passion, it's been a lot of hard work. I've worked my absolute tail off to get where I'm at, and I keep working hard because I just care. I've also been incredibly fortunate to have strong female mentors and leadership throughout my career. My supervisor Dana Lawson taught me everything I needed to know about environmental policy and became one of my best friends. I have a really wonderful found family and network of colleagues who have supported me. And seven years ago, I met the love of my life, my husband, who has been a very strong pillar of strength for me. He's the calm to my storm and keeps me grounded. I've worked very hard to create a strategic roadmap for myself, making logical decisions based on where I want to be and what work I want to do, and saying no to things that don't align with my values. Being mission-driven has been very important to me. Having mentors, even just one or two people in your life who can help you steer the ship when you're not sure which direction to go, that's all you need.

The best career advice I've ever received, and what I tell all of my mentees, is that you never have to know everything, and it's better to admit when you don't know something, but to be willing to learn and to express interest in learning something new. It's okay to say that you don't know, because the best thing you can do is to network, and that starts by passing somebody in the hallway that you've never met and just saying hi, or you're in the elevator and just saying, hey, hope you have a great day. That could be the person you need to know, right? So I always tell them, you don't need to know everything, you just need to know who to ask. Years later, I'm like, wow, the guy that I used to say hi to, I'm so glad I know what he does, because I had this crazy email come in and I had no clue who to ask. Oh wait, I know this person does this, because I saw him in the elevator. You just never know. One of the things that frustrates me most is when people say, well, that's just how we've always done things. I always ask, okay, but is that what's working for you? Do you want to continue doing it this way, or do you think there's room for improvement? It's important to be curious and challenge things and audit yourself and the way you work, because things change. Technology comes out, new tools and resources become available. By just asking questions and being curious, and it's okay to challenge people if you do it respectfully and with kindness, that's how we grow these programs and make more impact.

I would encourage young women to stay curious and not be afraid to ask questions, even in complex or technical spaces. It’s okay not to have everything figured out—what matters most is a willingness to learn and engage. I also believe in respectfully challenging systems and processes when there is room for improvement, while building strong professional networks that can support long-term growth.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is the accelerating impact of climate change, alongside the emotional and professional strain it places on sustainability practitioners, including burnout and compassion fatigue. At the same time, there are significant opportunities in emerging technologies, climate funding mechanisms, and large-scale sustainability initiatives that are elevating the importance of environmental policy and clean energy transitions.

Being mission-driven and aligning my work with my values has been very important to me throughout my career. I've worked hard to make strategic, logical decisions based on where I want to be and what work I want to do, and I've learned to say no to things that don't align with my values. I truly believe in protecting the world and trying to leave it better than we found it. I value the indigenous cultures, especially the Leni Lenape in my local region, because they're the first stewards of our lands, waters, and air, and they serve as a source of wisdom and inspiration for me. In my personal life, I love being outside in nature with my husband and our four-year-old black Labrador, Guinness. We take him to farmers markets, go hiking in places like Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont, play pickleball and volleyball, and do axe-throwing leagues at Bury the Hatchet. I'm trying hard to develop my green thumb and not murder my tomato plant, which is funny for an environmental scientist. I still support Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, where I used to volunteer, because that place will always have a place in my heart. My friend and I also do monarch butterfly presentations for the public, hand-rearing caterpillars and teaching about pollinator ecology and migration. I support organizations like Monarch Watch and the Xerces Society. Having strong mentors and a supportive network has been crucial. My husband is the calm to my storm and keeps me grounded. I value curiosity, continuous learning, and being willing to challenge the status quo respectfully.