After ten years as a whitewater wilderness guide, Jean began her career in architecture with the goal to design sustainable environments that celebrate the heritage of existing structures. Her approach to design centers on collaborating with others to drive change and create a more equitable world. As a Principal at Goody Clancy, Jean considers herself fortunate to do work that positively affects the lives of people in both the present and future.
Jean is an industry leader in sustainable preservation and building reuse. Her influential book, titled Sustainable Preservation: Greening Existing Buildings, was published by John Wiley & Sons in 2010. She serves as a founding member of the Technical Committee for Sustainability in the Association for Preservation Society, and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Lawrence Medal from the University of Oregon's College of Design and the Harley J. McKee Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Association for Preservation Technology International.
Jean’s work celebrates holistic sustainability by creating functional places of delight that support communities and allow for future adaptations. She is proud of having restored treasured works of campus architecture in ways that preserve the past while promoting a more sustainable, healthy future. A few examples from her portfolio include the University of Minnesota’s Pillsbury Hall, New Cabell Hall at the University of Virgina, and Perry Hall at Champlain College.
When not writing her own books and articles, Jean is an equally prolific reader. Her favorite authors include Olga Tokarczuk (the Nobel-winning Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead is a must!) and Ursula Le Guin, and she also follows a handful of publishers closely: Daunt Books, Blackstone Press, and Persephone Press.
