Jane Preyer , '91

Former Southeast Regional Director, Environmental Defense Fund

“The MPA program really sharpened my analysis skills. I learned to get beyond rhetoric, try to understand the causes and tradeoffs of different approaches, build a substantive case, and ask hard questions.”

Jane Preyer grew up in the outdoors of North Carolina, hiking, fishing, and spending time with her family. Years later, when she began to work on air quality issues for Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), she was devastated to learn that her native state was one of four regions with the dirtiest air in the country. Her passion for the environment helped fuel a campaign that resulted in passage of the 2002 Clean Smokestacks Act. The legislation requires power companies to reduce harmful emissions and provided a model for other states in controlling air pollutants from coal-fired power plants.

Jane Preyer retired in 2016.

Professional Experience:

• Southeast Regional Director, Environmental Defense Fund, Raleigh, North Carolina
• Intern, Paper Task Force, Environmental Defense Fund, Raleigh, North Carolina
• Coach, Women’s Tennis, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
• Professional Tennis Player, ranked 43rd in world