Janelle Knox-Hayes

Janelle Knox-Hayes & Jarrod Hayes have been the heads of house of Burton Conner where they have lived with their twin daughters Isabelle and Mackenzie since 2018. Mackenzie and Isabelle love being around so many talented and interesting students. Study breaks, reverse trick-or-treat and bubble blowing parties are their favorites! During summer 2020 Janelle and Jarrod added Vala, a Leonberger puppy, to the family. Despite being born during the pandemic, Vala has few social inhibitions, happily greeting everyone she meets with lunging hugs and slobbery kisses.

Janelle is an associate professor of economic geography and the head of the Environmental Policy and Planning Group in the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning. She attended the University of Colorado for her undergraduate studies where she triple majored in Ecology, International Relations, and Japanese Language and Civilizations. She completed a Master’s Degree in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy, and DPhil in Economic Geography and Environmental Finance at the University of Oxford. Janelle directs the Resilient Communities Lab, a research team with projects ranging from examining the interface of values and sustainability, weaving Traditional Ecological Knowledge and STEM disciplines together, and assessing risks, vulnerabilities and strategies of adaptation in major cities. In addition to research, Janelle teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on environmental policy, climate change mitigation and adaptation and environmental planning with indigenous communities. Janelle serves on a number of Institute committees and Co-Chairs the School of Architecture and Planning Diversity Committee with Head of House for MacGregor House, Larry Sass. In addition to scholarly enlightenment and international travel, she enjoys gardening, throwing ceramics, and hosting munchkin dance and backyard unicorn pool parties.

Janelle, Jarrod, Isabelle and Mackenzie have deeply enjoyed getting to know the vibrant BC community over the years with its dynamic floor cultures. 

Connect with Janelle via email at jankh@mit.edu.