Jenny Tompkins
Originally from the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, Jenny Tompkins (she/her) now lives and works in Meadville, Pennsylvania, on Erie and Haudenosaunee lands.
Jenny joined River Network in 2025. As River Programs Associate, Jenny provides training, resource development, and policy advocacy support to River Network’s members across all its focus areas (drinking water, healthy rivers, and climate-resilient communities), primarily as part of the Drinking Water team.
Before joining River Network, Jenny served as Clean Water Campaign Manager at PennFuture, advocating for stronger local and state policy to protect Pennsylvania’s waterways. She also held local government and nonprofit roles focused on increasing investments in small and mid-sized communities and addressing community trauma. Jenny earned her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Allegheny College. Outside of work, Jenny enjoys gardening, reading, travel, and getting outdoors with her husband Bennett and two rescue pups, Chai and Finn, as much as possible. She also serves on the City of Meadville’s Environmental Advisory Committee and the Center for Family Services, a housing and essential services nonprofit.
What motivates you to go to work every day?
Enjoying a summer sunset in the Finger Lakes with Finn.
Other water advocates! Water is essential for life and serves as one of our greatest grounding forces and connectors. The many passionate, resilient community leaders, scientists, recreationalists, and others committed to protecting the smallest headwaters to the largest river deltas inspire me. There is so much work ahead of us, and building community and continuously learning from one another is essential to build and maintain momentum.
What called you to work in water?
Growing up on Seneca Lake in Upstate New York and the Great Lakes Basin, water was everywhere and defined our region’s identity. I had the great fortune of spending endless summer days swimming, fishing, and boating. However, over my lifetime, major clean water threats emerged in my home watershed including invasive species, nutrient pollution, harmful algal blooms, PFAS contamination, and the development of the state’s largest landfill. I learned an important lesson at an early age about River Network’s core value of balance and the necessity to reprioritize human and ecological health in economic development discussions. Moving to the water rich state of Pennsylvania for college and grappling with its difficult legacy of industrial and fossil fuel development, solidified that I wanted to make a career fighting for clean water.
Jenny and Bennett hiking in the Kamikōchi valley of Japan.
If you didn’t work in water or conservation, what would you be doing?
I’d still weave my passion for clean water and other justice issues in as much as possible, but opening a used bookstore with a cozy café would be amazing. I imagine a vibrant and inclusive community space bringing people together over shared loves of learning, tea, board games, and making new connections.
How do you recharge outside of work?
Spending at least one weekend per month at my husband’s family’s camp on the Allegheny River! We carve out uninterrupted time for reading, kayaking, hiking, and catching up with visiting family and friends.
