Faculty Profiles

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Climate change solutions from the other side of the world: Neil Dampier to lead a Global Study to South Africa , article
CLiGS faculty and OMNR alum Neil Dampier grew up in apartheid-era South Africa. Now, he is teaching OMNR students about the connection between social inequality and natural resources disparity through the “Global Issues in Natural Resources” course, which includes a 10-Day Global Study in South Africa.
Date: May 18, 2021
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Environmental justice activist Dr. Marcy Schnitzer joins Online MNR faculty , article
Different perspectives, voices, and backgrounds serve as a foundation on which to build an ethical society that is fair and just, says Dr. Marcy Schnitzer. A new faculty member in our Online MNR program, Schnitzer brings over 25 years of promoting diversity and inclusion in higher education, research, and the nonprofit sector. She is teaching the “Environmental Ethics” and “Strategies for Sustainability” courses.
Date: Feb 16, 2021
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Climate resilience of island nations and coastal cities: Cuba, Iceland, Amsterdam, Venice , article
If your dreams of island getaways or beach vacations immediately bring up concerns about rising sea levels and sinking cities, you are not alone! Different countries around the world are developing adaptation approaches to survive and thrive in the Anthropocene, and we have designed Global Study experiences for our sustainability students to explore some of these approaches first-hand in locations as geographically, economically, and culturally diverse as Iceland, Cuba, Venice, and Amsterdam.
Date: Dec 15, 2020
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What can we do about global plastic pollution? , article
Plastic pollution is a new hot issue in global sustainability, and the debate is quickly moving from the sphere of science into international trade and politics. The ecologist and Online MNR faculty member Dr. Michelle Hilleary shares highlights from her study of the environmental and economic effects of growing plastic waste recently published by the journal “Science.”
Date: Nov 05, 2020
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Solving complex sustainability issues starts with clear communication , article
Sustainability issues are complex and often hotly debated. Knowing how to talk about challenging subjects with diverse audiences is key to solving them. Not surprisingly, successful communication starts with empathy—an ability to really listen and put yourself in the shoes of the person or group with whom you’re trying to communicate. Instructor Mary Berry teaches students in our Online Master of Natural Resources program how to become effective sustainability communicators in her course Leadership Communication for Sustainability Professionals.
Date: Oct 20, 2020
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Virginia Beach: bracing for local impact of global climate change , article
“Climate change is a global phenomenon, but its effects reflect local and regional conditions. Developing and selecting adaptation strategies that reflect geographic idiosyncrasies, as well as the needs and values of multiple stakeholders, isn’t always easy,” writes Jennie Hoffman, marine ecologist and one of the newest XMNR faculty members.
Date: Oct 13, 2020
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Buenos Aires and Mendoza: exploring environmental sustainability in Argentina , article
This October, students in Virginia Tech’s Online Master of Natural Resources (OMNR) program would have embarked on a 10-day Global Study trip to Argentina, where they would have immersed themselves in new landscapes and studied sustainability issues firsthand. While all overseas trips have been postponed in compliance with the university’s travel policies, we look forward to going back to Argentina as soon as it is safe to travel again.
Date: Sep 10, 2020
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Leadership: it’s wicked important, according to new book by CLiGS faculty , article
Virginia Tech faculty take on pervasive sustainability challenges in a new book Leadership for Sustainability: Strategies for Tackling Wicked Problems, slated to be released in the fall by Island Press. CLiGS Founding Director and one of the book’s authors Dr. Michael Mortimer emphases its timeliness during the COVID pandemic, pointing to “the deep polarization and politicization, disregard for salient facts, distrust of established expertise” that exacerbate so many of today’s environmental challenges and require leadership that can bridge these chasms.
Date: Aug 04, 2020
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New Course: Innovative Water Partnerships , article
Decision-making for water sustainability is a process that involves many stakeholders every step of the way and often requires participation from the public sector, especially when the goal is new policy. Dr. Seth Brown co-teaches the Innovative Water Partnerships course, which is designed to equip students with the skills to see sustainability initiatives through from start to finish.
Date: Mar 12, 2020
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New Course in Decision-Making to Reduce Environmental Impact , article
Our smallest everyday choices can have a significant impact on our environment. Knowing how to make smarter choices can help us make better decisions on how to use the planet’s limited resources wisely. Starting in the Fall semester of 2020, Dr. Michelle Hilleary will lead the course Environmental Decision-Making for the Anthropocene, as part of the curriculum for the Online Master of Natural Resources degree at the Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability (CLiGS).
Date: Jan 22, 2020