Mary Jane Curry

March 2, 2021 Program

Mary Jane Curry is a former college English professor. Most of her working life she taught English, writing, and research at the university level. Her professional love is the novels of Jane Austen, with a focus on Austen’s portrayal of nature. 

Mary Jane became a Climate Reality Leader in March 2019 at former Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Training Conference in Atlanta. She had been a member of various environmental groups off and on for decades, but the rapid acceleration of climate change motivated her to devote volunteer time to doing something about it.

In August 2019, after Mary Jane’s Climate Reality presentation to the public, she and a small group of Haywood Countians started the WNC Climate Action Coalition. They are dedicated to working with local groups and government entities to mitigate the effects of climate change locally, especially supporting local farmers and outdoor education for young people.