Overview
Deeohn Ferris, J.D., is an environmental law and environmental justice advocate. Her career has been marked by a commitment to safeguarding the environment, advancing racial and social equity, and advocating for systemic change. Ferris has held roles in government agencies and nonprofit organizations, including the US Environmental Protection Agency, Institute for Sustainable Communities, and the National Audubon Society, where she strived to create a more equitable and sustainable world. She seeks to draw upon the collective strength of diverse communities and organizations to guide them towards transformative shifts in our economic, social, cultural, and ecological landscapes.
Selected Publications
Bernow, S., Costanza, R., Daly, H., DeGennaro, R., Erlandson, D., Ferris, D., … & Woodwell, J. (1998). Society News: Ecological Tax Reform. BioScience, 48(3), 193-196.
Ferris, D. (1993). Environmental Justice Legislation: An Overview of Federal and State Legislation and the Clinton Administration’s Response to the Environmental Justice Movement. Race, Poverty & the Environment, Fall 1993, 48, 41-43.
Ferris, D. (1993). Communities of color and hazardous waste cleanup: expanding public participation in the federal Superfund program. Fordham Urban Law Journal, 21(3), 671-687.
Ferris, D. (1994). Broad Environmental Justice Agenda: Mandating Change Begins at the Federal Level, A. Maryland Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues, 5, 115.
Ferris, D. (1995). Burning injustice: An overview of federal incinerator policy in the United States. Clearinghouse Review, 29, 424-435.
Early Life and Education
Growing up with a deep sense of justice and a love for the environment, Deeohn Ferris was destined for a career that merged these two passions. Her journey began with a solid academic foundation. After completing her undergraduate studies, she pursued a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Georgetown University Law Center, specializing in environmental law.
Career
Ferris embarked on her professional journey at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where she became the inaugural Director of Special Litigation within the agency’s enforcement office. In this role, she spearheaded legal actions that held corporations accountable for environmental violations, setting precedents for environmental justice and compliance. Ferris started the Environmental Justice Project for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. She championed the national policy campaign that resulted in President Bill Clinton’s Executive Order 12898, “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-income Populations.”
She was President and Chief Executive Officer of Global Environmental Resources, Inc., from 1997 to 2000. Later, as CEO of Sustainable Community Development Group from 2000 to 2017, Ferris played a pivotal role in advancing sustainable practices within communities. Her leadership focused on promoting equity, public health, responsible land use, and community resiliency. Under her guidance, SCDG became a driving force behind innovative strategies that aimed to create healthier and more inclusive communities while preserving the natural environment.
Transitioning to the nonprofit sector, from 2017 to 2020, she served as Vice President for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the National Audubon Society. She focused on fostering opportunities for women, people of color, youth, individuals with different abilities, and those from various cultural backgrounds. During her time at Audubon, she collaborated with Robert Smith, an African American technology entrepreneur, and his Fund II Foundation to establish and introduce a career development initiative focused on environmental sustainability for young professionals from diverse backgrounds.
In July 2020, Ferris joined the Institute for Sustainable Communities as President & CEO, becoming the first African American woman to lead a US-based international climate change organization. She prioritized equity in various aspects, including providing technical guidance, devising sustainable, low-carbon economic strategies, and fostering collaborations between the public and private sectors. Her technical assistance initiatives involved the active participation of civil society, government bodies, urban centers, educational institutions, and prominent corporations across a range of countries, including the United States, China, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Ferris currently takes on clients to design sustainability, equity, and social impact strategies.
Sources
Deeohn Ferris. (n.d.) Home [LinkedIn Page]. LinkedIn. Retrieved September 18, 2023, from https://www.linkedin.com/in/deeohn-ferris-j-d-965a4147/.
Ferris, D. (n.d.) Deeohn Ferris, JD. Retrieved June 24, 2026, from https://deeohnferris.com/
Survey and interviews conducted by Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Sustainability Initiative staff. 2022-2023. Yale University-School of the Environment. New Haven, Connecticut.