On September 30, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson presented this year’s Campus Read, her book What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures, a collection of interviews with climate leaders and activists. Moderated by Provost Dr. Helen White and Associate Professor of Anthropology and Environmental Studies Dr. Joshua Moses, the evening’s conversation spanned topics from marine ecology to climate justice, with a central focus on the power of community and envisioning sustainable climate futures. Throughout the evening, Johnson reframed her central question with variations such as “What if we get it as right as is still possible?” and “What if we act as if we love the future?”
A marine biologist, climate justice expert, think tank founder, and podcast host, Johnson currently teaches at Bowdoin College. Her talk, widely attended by Haverford students, faculty, and community members, marked the first event sponsored by the newly established Michael B. Kim Institute for Ethical Inquiry and Leadership, as well as the fourth annual Campus Read event.
The evening began with opening remarks from Haverford President Wendy Raymond, Dean John McKnight, and Professor Jill Staufer, co-director of the Kim Institute and director of the concentration in Peace, Justice, and Human Rights. Each speaker emphasized the shared values behind Campus Read and the Institute, such as ethical inquiry and community-wide learning.
An initiative of Haverford’s Strategic Plan, the Kim Institute’s mission is “to prepare Haverford students to lead with integrity and vision,” with a focus on ethics and civic engagement—cornerstones of the College’s Quaker-rooted liberal arts education. The Institute will explore a new theme each academic year. This year’s inaugural theme, Heat, led by Director of Health Studies Professor Anna West and Professor Moses, examines the uneven global effects of extreme heat and the ethical questions posed by the climate crisis.
Now in its fourth year, Campus Read is a collaborative program involving Customs, the Office of the Provost, the Dean’s division, and the Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) division. The program, which selects one book each year to be discussed by first-year and transfer students, was initially launched during the pandemic to raise ethical questions around antiracism and foster critical thinking. “There’s something special about elevating one work and engaging with it deeply as a campus,” President Raymond remarked.
Johnson opened her talk by reading from the chapter “A Note on Hope,” which the audience selected through a live vote. Although her editor tried to cut the chapter three times, Johnson noted that it has become one of the book’s most beloved sections. She explained that when people ask her what makes her hopeful, they are often really asking, “Can you give me hope?” But for Johnson, hope alone is not enough; it must be paired with truth, courage, collaboration, and community. “We simply do not get to quit,” she said.
In a light-hearted moment, Provost White asked which ocean creature best captures the spirit of “getting it right,” referencing the book’s title. Johnson chose the mangrove tree, which thrives in saltwater environments and serves as a climate solution that buffers storms, protects coastal communities, and supports marine biodiversity. Other humorous moments included Johnson’s advice for working in climate justice (“Don’t work with assholes!”) and the most rewarding part of being a marine biologist (“People think you’re cool until proven otherwise”).
Though her book features many voices, Johnson admitted she originally intended to keep her own story out of it. Eventually, she decided to include a personal prelude, which went through 18 drafts, and wove pieces of her life into the footnotes. “I come from ocean people on both sides,” she said, referencing her Jamaican father and her mother’s family, who are originally from Newfoundland. She also spoke of her family’s background in farming and praised Haverford’s nature-filled campus, telling students, “You’re so lucky that you get to live in an arboretum!”
Asked what keeps her motivated, Johnson pointed to her podcast, also titled What if We Get it Right?, as a way to foster her creativity, build community, and keep her listeners updated on climate policy. Despite its smaller audience, she finds the work meaningful. “I get to have 90-minute conversations with my heroes,” she said. “It’s not about the glory; it’s about the ripples.”
During the audience Q&A session, Johnson addressed a range of questions on topics including the environmental impacts of war, climate justice in her hometown of New York City, and the role of intersectionality in climate work. When asked how she approaches people who may not share her views, she acknowledged, “I’m not the right messenger for everyone,” but emphasized shared human values of fairness and collective responsibility. “Everyone wants the same things on a fundamental level. The question is, how do you talk about it?”
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