Joanne A. Benkley

Assistant Director, Center for the Environment, Ecological Design, and Sustainability
Acting Coordinator, Environmental Science and Policy Program

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Office: Wright Hall 010

Phone: 585–3951

Joanne Benkley joined the Environmental Science and Policy (ES&P) Program at Smith College in 2003. Since then she has played a pivotal role as liaison to current and prospective students, alumnae, faculty, other Smith departments and offices regarding the Program and sustainability issues. Joanne was a founding member of both the Committee on Sustainability and the Green Team with which she remains actively involved.

As the new ES&P major takes off, Joanne plays a vital role advising students and providing support to faculty. She has developed relationships with environmental study away programs, graduate schools, and government and non-government organizations that provide students and faculty with educational, research, and internship opportunities beyond Smith.

In her new role as Assistant Director of the Center for the Environment, Ecological Design, and Sustainability (CEEDS), Joanne combines both professional and academic interests in conservation, design, and sustainability. She works to develop programming that takes advantage of faculty and alumnae expertise in environmental issues and encourages new and exciting interdisciplinary connections.

Joanne’s goal is to help develop the Center for the Environment into a useful resource where all members of the Smith community can find ways to engage with the natural world and take action on environmental issues regardless of their chosen discipline or previous experience.

Professional Experience

Director, Smith-NOAA summer internship program, 2003–present
Coordinator, Coral EdVentures Summer Program, 2003–present
Chair, Staff Council Diversity Committee, 2011–present
Presidential appointee, Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA)
Campus liaison, Five College Blue Sky Initiative
Smith College Committee on Sustainability