Carole LeBlanc: From the Pentagon to the Classroom, An Advocate for The Environment

At the University of New England, students often find themselves captivated in Dr. Carole LeBlanc’s classroom—not just because of the facts she teaches, but because of the way she brings environmental issues to life through stories, passion, and personal experience. 

Angelina Keizer | University Student | April 18, 2025

Alongside her teaching, Dr. LeBlanc is a published author and editor. She was the editor of Demystifying Climate Risk, Volumes I and II, and also contributed to and edited The Perils of Climate Risk. Her publications aim to give others a better comprehension of environmental issues, shedding light on the risks and realities of climate change.

She is, “pretty darn proud,” being the first American woman to graduate from the doctoral program in Sustainable Development and Management at Erasmus University in the Netherlands.  This achievement added credibility that she brings into the classroom, inspiring students to view environmental challenges with a globally informed and local perspective.

Her career includes time working for the United States Department of Defense, where she served as a special expert on emerging contaminants. In 2007, she received a Defense Special Act Award for her role in helping form the DoD’s toxic and hazardous chemical reduction plan, a critical policy mandated by presidential executive order. 

Even earlier in her career, in 1999, she was part of a Massachusetts state team that earned the Ford Foundation and John F. Kennedy School of Government/Harvard University’s Innovations in American Government Award—recognizing innovative approaches to public service and environmental reform. 

She wound up in Maine after purchasing an antique farmhouse located close by UNE. “The people who sold me my house suggested I apply for the position as an environmental professor here at UNE, since they were well aware of my expertise in atmospheric chemicals.” 

What began as a casual suggestion soon turned into the beginning of a new chapter for Dr. LeBlanc. One where she would go on to influence many students and colleagues, both in and out of the classroom.

Reflecting on the roots of her environmental journey, “I remember I first got involved in recycling because the state was interested in the Clean Air Act,” she says, thinking back to what initially sparked her passion. From that point forward, her curiosity about the environment only grew stronger. 

While attending the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Carole worked as a lab manager, overseeing chemical handling and lab procedures. This hands-on experience in the sciences helped build her expertise—and led to a turning point that still makes her laugh to this day.

One day while in the lab, she received an anonymous phone call claiming to be the Pentagon. At first, she suspected it to be a prank—that was until she saw the ending digits traced back to Washington D.C. She recalls saying to herself, “Holy shit! It’s the government!”—completely exhilarated yet still in total disbelief.

Before taking the job at the Pentagon, she took a step back to focus on family life. “I made the decision after I graduated from UMass to settle down for a bit and just spend time with my kids.” The pause gave her perspective and grounded her ambitions in personal values.

Reflecting on the next phase of her journey, she shares, “After spending some time at home, I transitioned into a role as a news reporter, covering environmental issues.” The experience allowed her to dive deeper into environmental issues occuring in the world in additon to educating the public.

Her work at the Pentagon was both long-term and impactful. “I worked as what they called a ‘special expert,’ regulating harmful chemicals to ensure they wouldn’t be released into the environment.”

The adjustment was weird for LeBlanc, switching from the Pentagon to a college professor—but she seems to find humor in the unexpected adaptation. “Honest to God I was more nervous on my first day of teaching a college freshman seminar than my first day working at the Pentagon.”

When asked about her proudest achievement, Dr. LeBlanc responds with a smile, “I received an award from Harvard University, and ironically, I was nominated for the same award again—but I wasn’t allowed to win both times.”

She adds, “Of course, none of that would have been possible without my team. Everything I’ve accomplished has been a team effort.” Her humility quietly underscores and compliments her accomplishments in life, offering a graceful contrast to her impressive journey through life.

Dr. LeBlanc also emphasizes the urgency of the issues she teaches. “Damage to the environment is currently increasing,” she says with a look of concern. It’s a message she wants students to take to heart—not out of fear, in hope of a genuine intent to act. 

In closing, she leaves her audience with wise words: “My job is to teach individuals how to think, not what to think.”