Jeanan Yasiri Moe ’85 is the director of strategic communications and public affairs at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), which helps UW–Madison scientists patent and commercialize discoveries that have the potential to benefit humanity, with much of the income reinvested in future UW research.
Her extraordinary career as a leading changemaker has spanned journalism, healthcare and higher education, including 26 years as a faculty associate and lecturer at the School of Human Ecology, where she founded the original UW Center for Nonprofits.
In this interview, Yasiri Moe shares how she has applied a human ecological approach throughout her career to tackle complex problems and bring people together.
What does “human ecology” mean to you?
Human Ecology is all about understanding how we, as humans, interact with everything around us — nature, society, and the places we live. It’s like a big puzzle that combines different pieces from various fields to help us see the bigger picture. By studying Human Ecology, we learn how to adapt to changes, make the most of new opportunities, and tackle challenges. It helps us appreciate our role in the world and how we can live more harmoniously within it.
How do you view yourself as a human ecologist?
I’ve used knowledge from different fields to solve problems and create positive change. As a human ecologist, I love learning from others and planning ahead to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. My education helps me work with a variety of people and communities, making sure we all move forward together. From a personal perspective, I know that my education in human ecology better prepared me to navigate into new career opportunities with great success.
What is the most important lesson you learned from human ecology?
The most important lesson Human Ecology has taught me is the power of interdisciplinary thinking. By integrating diverse perspectives, we can uncover innovative solutions to complex problems.
Another key lesson is about navigating complexity with simple truths. In an increasingly intricate world, certain fundamental questions can guide our understanding of key issues:
- What has changed? Identifying shifts in our environment.
- Who is impacted? Recognizing the affected individuals and communities.
- How are they impacted? Understanding the nature and extent of these impacts.
- How does this impact society at large? Assessing the broader societal implications.