Janet A Lorenzen

Janet A. Lorenzen (they/she) is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Willamette University with affiliations in Ethnic Studies, Sustainability, and Women’s & Gender Studies. They teach courses about social change, climate justice, trans studies, qualitative methods, sociological and feminist theory. Their primary area of research involves understanding and documenting mechanisms of social and structural change. They study processes of social change related to taking action on climate change, including: climate governance and policymaking, climate movement tactics, and lifestyle change. They use an equity lens to critique social change projects that recreate inequalities and reinforce environmental racism. Their current research project looks at how the climate justice movement influences state-level climate governance. Prof. Lorenzen’s work is shaped by a commitment to activism in the LGBTQ+ movement and the climate justice movement. They are actively engaged in 350-SalemOR, the Oregon Climate Equity Network, and on campus serve as faculty advisor for the Climate Action Alliance.