Jess Wilber OC ‘21

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Shanxi Agricultural University, China (2021-23)

Jess Wilber ’21 is a double-major in Environmental Studies & East Asian Studies with a double minor in Politics & History and a concentration in International Affairs. She has spent the last three years working for Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), where she helped to pioneer their current programs for students in higher education. She was among the first members of the Campus Leaders Program, which seeks to educate and empower students to become effective climate advocates and organizers in their communities. She founded the Oberlin College CCL Chapter, or OCEAL, and worked alongside other student environmental groups to create a powerful and cohesive climate movement on campus. She was then hired as the organization’s first Great Lakes Regional Fellow, where she managed a network of K-12 and college-level students and educators engaged in climate advocacy. She has also coordinated research and organizing projects with CCL’s education, diversity, and international teams. Beyond her climate work, Jess is a musician, poet, certified mediator, and nationally and world-ranked equestrian in the Morgan Horse circuit.

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Searching for Squirrels and Craving Connection, an Ocean Apart
Searching for Squirrels and Craving Connection, an Ocean Apart

By Jess Wilber ‘21, Taigu Fellow

As with many college students across the US that were sent home in March of 2020, I left knowing the chances of my return would be slim. My entire senior year was going to be spent abroad, beginning with a cross-continental environmental justice program during the fall and ending with a language immersion program in China during the spring. It felt like my entire college experience had been building towards this year abroad. Of course, by the time August rolled around, the pandemic was only getting worse.