Faculty Profile: Kendra Abkowitz

Is TDEC’s Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices. She leads the department’s efforts to conduct short- and long-term environmental policy research and analysis, provide technical guidance to business, industry, and other public entities to promote environmental stewardship, implement departmental strategic planning initiatives, administer voluntary sustainability programs, and perform Title VI and Environmental Justice functions to better conserve Tennessee’s natural resources. Brooks regularly engages with federal agencies on new initiatives, proposed rulemakings and other environmental policies that may impact TDEC’s programs and collaborates with state and local leaders, non-governmental organizations and the academic and business community to exchange views on matters relevant to environmental policy and sustainability. She served as a primary contributor on the project team responsible for developing a strategy for state government to improve the energy efficiency of state-owned facilities, was significantly involved in the development of TDEC’s comments submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the proposed Clean Power Plan and facilitated the process for developing an approach to permitting voluntary wastewater reclamation and reuse within the state. Brooks holds a PhD in Environmental Management and Policy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Sociology from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Chicago.