It’s spring, it’s Earth Day, and I’m starting a new job. I always enjoy the sense of renewal that spring brings, and this spring brings a unique opportunity for me to reaffirm my commitment to the issues that define our times. As the Wilson Center’s new Director of Population, Environmental Change, and Security, I am excited to build on the success of the Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program and Global Health Initiative to forge new paths and identify ways that reproductive health, environmental conservation, and women’s empowerment affect our lives today and in the future.

The nexus of population, environment, and security has never been more important as it is now, especially today, as we mark Earth Day 2013. As Secretary of State John Kerry recently said, “We cannot talk about the unprecedented changes happening on our planet, without also talking about the unprecedented changes in its population, another great opportunity at our fingertips.”

We know the many issues and opportunities that surround those changes. From small island states facing the threat of sea-level rise, to giants like the United States, India, and China dealing with the demands and needs of growing populations; from international political and scientific deliberations at the United Nations to programs implemented by local natural resource user groups in countries like Malawi; from policy discussions with world leaders to living room conversations with my two teenage sons about their future: in all these places the links connecting family planning, global environmental changes, local livelihoods, and national security are on our minds and in our hearts.

In the face of this almost unprecedented convergence of global, national, and personal issues, at the Wilson Center we will continue to bring new voices, meaningful insights, and practical solutions to these issues. I look forward to building on the legacy of my long-time friend and ECSP Senior Advisor Geoff Dabelko. And with a team of bright and energetic colleagues and a global network of strategic advisors, we are uniquely positioned to make a difference in today’s world.

When I shared the news of my new job, many people told me that the Wilson Center was, “top caliber,” “unique,” “a powerhouse.” I agree. In the words of President Woodrow Wilson, “There are many voices of counsel, but few voices of vision; there is much excitement and feverish activity, but little concert of thoughtful purpose.” The Wilson Center is one such voice of vision and thoughtful purpose on these tough global issues.

To work here at the Center, on these issues, at this moment in time is a commitment, but it’s also a responsibility. I look to you to share in that responsibility. I invite you to join me and my colleagues in this meaningful dialogue, in purposeful scholarship, and in actionable ideas. This Earth Day, I urge us all to reflect on the past, take stock of the present, and plan for the future. Let’s work together to build a sustainable future for lasting peace – for our sake and for the sake of future generations.

Sources: U.S. Department of State.

Photo Credit: Schuyler Null/Wilson Center.