Wendy Hawthorne ’88

Wendy died May 10, 2025, in Denver after a brief battle with aggressive reproductive cancer.

Coming to Princeton from Ridgewood, N.J., Wendy majored in civil engineering and earned certificates in energy and environmental studies. She later earned a master’s degree in building systems engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Committed to service through her career, Wendy helped achieve what Gov. Jared Polis ’96 called “a generational shift in climate resilience for Coloradans.” Wendy was a fierce advocate for environmental justice and equity while leading the Northeast Denver Housing Center and Groundwork Denver. She later served as deputy director of Colorado’s division of housing and as senior project director for equity at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. In 2023, Wendy resumed a role in state government as director of strategic coordination of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act funding, leading a statewide strategy to maximize investments in Colorado.

Wendy is survived by her partner, Sina Pierret; mother, Lisbeth Werhan; siblings, Christine and Tom; beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins; and dear friends, Carmen Robinson and Shivawni Kenney. The class extends its deepest sympathies to Wendy’s family and friends.