SEO: DeLeon, sustainability at UMD

Sally DeLeon changed her students opinions about science by incorporating their interests into her lesson plans. She knew she could do the same on a larger scale but needed a platform to stand on.

Former teacher changes life-lesson plan Sally DeLeon proves its never too late to change your mind
Home to Americas oldest agricultural fair, rural Topsfield, MA, provided Sally DeLeon with the experience of growing up immersed in natures beauty. Childhood adventures in the woods and backyard garden with her sister and golden retriever Copper sparked interests in exploration and science. DeLeon, now 36, graduated from Dartmouth College with a bachelors degree in biology and environmental studies. After graduation she went west to San Francisco and taught high school science for four years. Meanwhile, research on climate change grew more concerning and legislation to reverse damage became a primary concern.
Environmental activist DeLeon hiking through the Denali National Park in Alaska. Credit: Sally DeLeon

DeLeons desire to teach and share her love of science was stifled as concern for the deteriorating climate loomed in the back of her mind. How could she continue teaching when her expertise was needed somewhere else? Although I like this, I want to do something where I can affect more change, she said. If I do not go now, I will not go, and with that DeLeon left San Francisco and moved crosscountry to return to school and start a new career.

Inspiring a change Attending Dartmouth College, her fathers alma mater, offered an environment to explore her individuality and find her path in life. Art appealed to her but her father urged her to choose business or science. With a knack for biology and chemistry, she excelled expanding her academic horizons. DeLeon began to understand the complexities of nature that perplexed her as a child. A self -proclaimed forced extrovert, DeLeon joined the outing club, ski patrol, sailing team and volunteered on the organic farm. Being outdoors provided a release from the stress of college life. DeLeon, an avid adventurist, studied abroad in Costa Rica, Jamaica, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Her experiences opened her mind to the idea of teaching. She said, as an environmental studies major I was interested in changing peoples lifestyles so I decided I wanted to do some kind of education outreach. I though my personality was suited well to classroom education. Affecting change After graduation, DeLeon and her fianc Patrick moved west to San Francisco where she would teach science at a small private high school. Her proudest achievement to date is, making connections with science and getting them to relevant to their lives, she
DeLeon, front, Teaches students to appreciate science on the San Francisco Bay marsh. Credit: Sally DeLeon

students who dont like appreciate and see how its says.

As her first cohort of students prepared for graduation, DeLeon reflected on what was happening in the broader society: effects of climate change were resonating globally. Mother Nature cried out for help and her old friend, DeLeon, answered. Although she worried it was the wrong choice to leave the security of her job, DeLeon wanted to return to college and begin a career advocating for the environment. Her family supported her decision, they knew she would make an intelligent decision. Patrick and Sally, now married, traveled 3,000 miles back to the East Coast, starting on an unplanned path. DeLeon was not sure what she would study but was committed to help and, excited to be a student again, broadening [her] learning environment, she said. A new life Three years into graduate school at the University of Vermont, DeLeon volunteered for Gioia Thompson, the director of sustainability. Climate change initiatives became too overwhelming for Thompson to handle alone, she recruited DeLeon to work part time as her assistant. The Rocky Mountain Institute, an organization specializing in research, sustainability and resource efficiency, was interested in colleges approaches to climate action plans. They respected Thompsons work and asked for a suggested candidate to conduct research on the topic. Thompson, without hesitation, gave them DeLeon. Two weeks after earning her masters degree in natural resource planning, DeLeon moved to Colorado, without Patrick, to co-author a campus climate initiatives guide for RMI. About the experience DeLeon says, I learned far more there than I could have anywhere else. She was in the mix, working with scientists, like herself, making a difference.

RMI could not offer DeLeon a permanent position, and she returned to Vermont to be with Patrick and work from home. A purpose fulfilled Ready for the next step, the couple moved to Takoma Park, Maryland, bought a home and started family.
Doing more art. I dont If I could change one thing about my life, it would be

A naturally selfless woman, DeLeon chose

use that side of my brain

her next career with her infant daughter in mind. The University of Maryland, College Park was a large campus providing opportunities to effect environmental change across a community but also offered the flexibility of a nine-to-five job. This

enough because I dont have time, but I want to more than I currently am. -Sally DeLeon

appealed to DeLeon, a young mother not ready to stop the climate-change fight. As the project manager for the Office of Sustainability, she interacts with interns like Jordan Koebler on a daily basis. Koebler, a senior civil and environmental engineering major, interned with DeLeon for a year. Sally was a very effective teacher. I definitely see [her] as a mentor and have a great deal of respect for her, he says. The Office of Sustainability is the outlet for collaboration DeLeon searched for when she started out as an environmentalist. Reflecting on her choice she says, what Im doing now is reaching far more people at the cost of not being able to interact with students as much. Although education outreach plays a small role in her life today, she predicts it will play a larger role in the future. No route is off the map.