Bison Trailblazers | Alum to Contribute to White House Climate Report

by Daliah Ouedraogo

Howard University alum Dr. Cassandra Jean has been nominated and selected as a participating author in the upcoming White House Climate Assessment Report, bringing their sociological expertise on diversifying climate and disaster scholarship to this crucial national initiative. As Climate Resilience Specialist, they will be among several authors who contribute to shaping the nation's climate understanding and response to climate challenges.

The White House Climate Assessment Report, is a comprehensive scientific report that provides decision-makers in Congress, state and government officials, and interested individuals to engage with the current climate-related work throughout the United States, including the territories and tribal communities. The entire report will take about three years to complete. It is slated for publication in late 2028 with studies and reports that have been curated and presented since the last assessment in 2023 (up to the new submission date to President-elect Trump, around 2027).

Alongside their co-authors, Jean will be focusing on developing the Social Systems chapter of the report. 

“This section marks the first time that the social sciences will serve as a foundational chapter alongside the physical sciences. I want to emphasize how big of a deal this is because, historically, it's been difficult for social scientists to have a seat at applied science tables. Our skills, experience, and unique perspective on how these issues impact society, culture, and individual livelihood bring immense value to spaces such as climate change work," says Jean.

The section will include social scientists from multiple backgrounds who will provide a foundation on the social dimensions of climate change and the impacts that these climate impacts have had on society, especially those most marginalized or at risk. As a researcher, Jean focuses on historically marginalized groups in climate science. Their interest stems from their Haitian immigrant background.

“Being a child of Haitian immigrants, my family always told me stories about how different disasters have shifted the trajectory of how we survived, ultimately leading to different forms of displacement. They also shared stories of strength, ancestral knowledge of values and environmental practices, and the importance of reaffirming my history despite what society says,” remarks Jean.

This personal experience revealed broader systemic issues, as they soon realized that their individual family experiences were not isolated incidents. 

“Recognizing that experiences like my families were not siloed but rather a large-scale problem pushed me to explore these dynamics more, especially after the impacts of and responses to the 2017 hurricane season. I saw a lack of focus on the US Virgin Islands, even though they experienced both Irma and Maria within 2 weeks,” says Jean.

When key stakeholders dismissed the significance of these experiences, Jean found their calling. 

“As a sociologist with an interdisciplinary background, I had questions I felt decision-makers and disaster scientists either dismissed or invalidated. From there, I realized that if they did not want to recognize the realities of underrepresented individuals, this was a space where I could combine theory, justice, advocacy, traditional and academic science, and practice,” notes Jean.

At Howard, they work directly under Dr. Terri Adams as a fellow in the NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, exploring the social dynamics of disasters while learning to collaborate with individuals in the physical and weather sciences. 

“This work is where I was able to really see myself and piece together the multifaceted impacts of disasters, whether that’s a political, economic, public health, weather, or social disaster. Howard is where I learned to stand firm on my feet instead of my tiptoes peeking from the sidelines," says Jean, a doctoral alum.

Jean is feels the urgency of climate action but is cautious about balancing that work with making sure the research remain thorough.

"Franz Fanon said to know what is wrong with society, you need to ask the ones who have benefited the least from its successes. After doing a postdoctoral scholarship at the University of Washington, School of Public Health, and now serving as a Climate Resilience Specialist with Adaptation International, I began to connect the importance of understanding spiritual, mental, and physical health when individuals respond to disasters and climate impacts. Incorporating knowledge from young folks and Indigenous elders further fueled my yearning to continue to advocate and provide space for underrepresented voices within this space. With the upcoming administration, which has called for reducing climate-forward actions and an affinity for overshadowing systemically marginalized individuals and communities, presenting evidence-based research from a social science lens becomes paramount. Recognizing that there is validity in knowledge that is not rooted in Western thought but can be well-rounded, holistic, socially, and culturally conscious is crucial. It doesn’t always have to be an “if/ or” situation, but “and/also," says Jean.

"Extreme weather events like extreme heat and cold have been shaking the US in a way we haven’t been accustomed to. These, along with the increasing threats of hurricanes and flooding, continuously and disproportionately impact unhoused, low-income, and communities of color in devastating ways, as seen with Hurricane Helene. Then there are other disasters that I feel we tend to overlook, like technological or internationally related disasters, displacement, and climate gentrification, and the impacts this will have on our food systems, our ways of being, and points of survival in a changing climate," they add.

Looking ahead, Jean aims to achieve meaningful impact and advocacy through their involvement in the White House Climate Assessment Report. For them it is important to make sure that multiple marginalized intersections can enter spaces, declare their spot, and make valid change. 

“It truly is an honor to serve as a representation not only for folks who identify with me and my intersections of being Black, woman, queer, and first generation but for all of the folks who have poured into me and my process of listening, learning, exploring, and engaging, ultimately leading to this monumental opportunity. This opportunity is one of the many ways I try to break through barriers as a thank you for their investment in me and prayers for me," says Jean. "Rarely do I see individuals like me in the climate space, and I am determined to change that and show folks who identify with me that they have autonomy, spirit, and the knowledge to speak on a truth that is consistently taken as false. Lastly, I want to speak directly to women (inclusive of cis, trans, and gender-non-conforming), those from low-income areas, and minorities and encourage them to join this field; we are more than qualified, and our presence, lived experiences, and flavor is needed in this field; we bring a unique perspective that deserves to be amplified."