Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future

As part of our celebration of Women’s History Month, middle and upper school students had the opportunity to hear from an inspiring leader at the forefront of environmental resilience and climate adaptation: Dr. Jessica Whitehead.

Dr. Whitehead, mother of Declan ’30, serves as the Joan P. Brock Endowed Executive Director of the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience at Old Dominion University. A nationally recognized, action-oriented leader, her work supporting coastal communities in the Carolinas and Virginia as they adapt to climate change has been featured in major media outlets, including The Washington Post and The New York Times.

Speaking to students through the lens of this year’s theme—”Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future”—Dr. Whitehead emphasized that environmental challenges are not just scientific issues, but human ones. She encouraged students to think deeply about “the people part of environmental stressors,” reminding them that the most impactful solutions come from understanding both data and the communities affected.

Her message was clear: today’s students will be tomorrow’s decision-makers.

“You are going to be the ones who will be in charge of managing what we have done in the middle of your careers,” she shared. “You will be thinking about the future risk of sea-level rise, really hot summer days, and extended cold periods—and how to respond to those challenges.”

Dr. Whitehead also urged students to reflect on resilience—not simply as survival, but as a pathway to growth and innovation.

“Set yourself up so that you don’t just survive, but that you thrive,” she said, encouraging students to consider how they might bring environmental awareness and opportunity into whatever careers they pursue.

Her visit left students with a powerful takeaway: the future of sustainability will be shaped not only by scientific knowledge, but by thoughtful, adaptable leaders ready to take action.