Mark R. Jenness Obituary
At Mark's request, there will be no memorial service. If you are able, honor Mark's memory in ways that help sustain the natural world. If you choose to make a contribution, please consider organizations like the Michigan Audubon Society Education Fund, the Kalamazoo Area Audubon Society, the Michigan Nature Conservancy, the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy or other organizations dedicated to supporting the natural world.
Mark Richard Jenness was born August 11, 1945 in Jackson, Michigan the son of William Dempster Jenness and Arlene Faulhaber Jenness. He was proceeded in death by his parents and his siblings Lois Studley and William Jenness. He is survived by his wife of forty-five years, Cheryl Lyon-Jenness, his nephews William Jenness (Terri) and Richard Jenness (Deborah), and his beloved great nieces and nephews including Elizabeth (Chris), Will, Caitlin, Matthew, and Alex.
Mark spent his life promoting and providing meaningful inquiry-based learning experiences designed to enhance understanding of and appreciation for the natural world. A largely self- taught naturalist, Mark was an avid reader and collector and as a young child began investigating the natural world near his Jackson, Michigan home. He continued that interest until the end of his life, and eventually enhanced his understanding of educational process through degrees from Nazareth College and Western Michigan University.
At the suggestion of a Jackson area mentor, Mark visited the Kalamazoo Nature Center in 1965, and was hired as a counselor in the newly formed Day Camp program. He continued at the Nature Center until 1986, serving for most of that time as the Center's Education Coordinator and Summer Program Director. Under his leadership, the Nature Center's education program grew to include day and residence camps, school curriculum programs, adult and family events and programs, the traveling Earthmobile and many other activities for both children and adults. His weekly appearances on the locally produced Channel Three Clubhouse brought his knowledge of the natural world to an even wider audience.
After leaving the Nature Center, Mark began work on an EdD degree at Western Michigan University. His studies eventually led to experiences in the WMU Evaluation Center and to his position as director and senior researcher of the Science and Mathematics Program Improvement (SAMPI) project in WMU's Mallinson Institute for Science Education. In his role at SAMPI, Mark worked with K-12 schools across the country to improve science and math instruction and learning. In 2012, to honor his contributions at both the Kalamazoo Nature Center and SAMPI, Mark received the George C Mallinson Award for Lifetime Achievement in the field of science education.
