This is Jan Cervelli!

Candidate for St. Joseph County Council District C

A local girl “done good”

Jan was born at St. Joseph Hospital in downtown South Bend and grew up on Riverside Dr. Her playground consisted of Keller and Pinhook Park and the connecting greenspace along the St. Joseph River. Jan graduated from Holy Cross Grade School and St. Joseph High School where she was formed by the charism of the Sisters of the Holy Cross expressed through compassion, prayer, and community. Jan is once again a member of the Holy Cross Catholic Parish.

A student athlete, Jan played varsity softball for the Holy Cross Crusaders and St. Joseph Indians as well as summer league teams sponsored by the old Victory Bar on Michigan Street and E&L Super on the corner of Eddy and Howard Street in South Bend.

Jan has never been afraid of hard work.

To help put herself through college she clocked long hours at the Burger King restaurant on the then US 31 North in Roseland. She worked on landscape crews driving heavy equipment and doing tree removal from irrigation ditches throughout St. Joseph County. During college, she served as an intern at LeRoy Troyer and Associates with Chuck Lehman, Landscape Architect of Lehman and Lehman, Associates.
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After graduation from Purdue University in West Lafayette with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture and University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada with a master’s degree in landscape architecture, Jan went onto become a nationally recognized urban designer and planner, landscape architect, and educator with decades of experience working on behalf communities across the United States. Jan is recognized as a fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture, and the American Council on Education. Purdue University College of Agriculture recognized her with the Outstanding Alumni Award.

A Teacher and Leader

Jan was excited to return to South Bend in 2016 to become the 12th president of Saint Mary’s College, a role she loved. She continues to be inspired by Saint Mary’s mission and its students and is currently Professor of Art and Environmental Studies at Saint Mary’s College teaching a full complement of classes. In addition to Saint Mary’s students, Jan’s courses on urban design and planning attract students from the Real Estate Institute at the University of Notre Dame.

An award-winning teacher, Cervelli has taught courses in a wide range of topics including landscape architecture, urban planning and design, construction science and technology, professional communication, and leadership. Jan began her teaching career as Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Kentucky in Lexington where she taught for nineteen years.

Cervelli holds a distinguished record in academic administration and leadership as the former Dean of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities at Clemson University; founding director of the Restoration Institute at Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina; and Dean Emerita of the College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture at the University of Arizona; and Special Assistant to the University President for Downtown Initiatives and Regional Planning at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.

Helping to Build Communities Across the Country

Over the course of her career, Jan has advised numerous cities across the nation in smart growth and sustainable urban development including cities of Boston, New Orleans, Cincinnati, and in Indiana (South Bend, Mishawaka); Kentucky (Lexington, Paducah, Owensboro, Middlesboro); South Carolina (Greenville, Charleston); Arizona (Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tohono O’odham Reservations); and the Mississippi Delta Region. Her work has ranged from small, local communities to statewide strategies.

Jan looks forward to advancing District C, St. Joseph County, and taking our case to the Indiana Statehouse and beyond. She has worked to advance small local communities and statewide interests alike. As chair of Arizona Forward, a statewide, non-profit smart growth visioning organization, Cervelli represented major corporations and governmental agencies on development and environmental issues, specifically water management, facing the state.

As chair of the Downtown Tucson Partnership, the primary public/private organization advancing Downtown Tucson, Arizona, Cervelli led numerous projects to advance the revitalization of the downtown area including the planning of the city’s new Modern Streetcar line which led to +$3 billion in private investment in the downtown. For her efforts, Cervelli was recognized as a Woman of Influence by Inside Tucson Business and the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award by the Arizona Commercial Real Estate Network.

Hometown Girl

All through the years, Jan never lost touch with her hometown returning frequently to visit family and friends. She was very fortunate to have been able to move near her mother, Theresa, in Granger and to see her celebrate her 96th birthday.

Jan’s major role model has been her father, Renato (Bob) Cervelli, now deceased. A graduate of the US Military Academy and Notre Dame, Bob was an aeronautical engineer at Bendix Corporation in South Bend for 42 years. His leadership and service on behalf of the environment in the South Bend area was extensive – Scoutmaster of troop 437 of the Boy Scouts of America and the advisor of the Post 437 of the Explorer Scouts; president of Michiana Watershed, Inc., and member of Hoosier Riverwatch, a citizen organization trained to measure the chemistry and quality of St. Joseph River water and its tributaries. Bob was also involved in Paddle Fest, salmon restocking of the St. Joseph River, water quality testing of the St. Joseph River and Juday Creek, and the creation of the East Bank Trail and Riverside Trail bike/pedestrian path.

Bob’s love of nature and his community live today in his good works. His example inspired Jan to pursue the profession of landscape architecture and to work on behalf the environment in many communities across our nation.

Jan recently joined the Board of the Shirley Heinze Land Conservation Trust which is preserving important endangered ecosystems in St. Joseph County and throughout Northern Indiana. Now she wants to bring this passion and expertise to ensuring a bright future for District C!

Living Life to its Fullest!

Jan has many loves. A lead singer in the local rock band, Pearl, Jan is also an avid beekeeper, fly fisherwoman, landscape designer, and organic gardener. Jan and her partner, Doug Hunt, enjoy hiking and cycling the many trails and woodlands of Northern Indiana, Arizona, and New Mexico.