Faculty Profiles

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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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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
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South Africa Program Offers Food for Thought , article
When Sophie Parker began her search for a master’s degree program three years ago, she had already spent six years working as a quality assurance specialist for NASA, as well as six years as an officer in the United States Air Force.
Date: Dec 13, 2018
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Cheese, Chocolates, and Case Studies , article
Croatia has recently become a hot tourist destination but students traveling as part of CLIGS’ Summer 2018 International Field Experience (IFE) to Croatia didn’t spend all of their time sampling delicious cheeses and chocolate truffles, swimming in the sparkling Adriatic Sea, or catching the next soccer World Cup game in the city square. There was a ton of work to be done as well, and the trip’s leader, Dr. Anamaria Bukvic, scheduled a full agenda of meetings with public officials in various localities so the students could get enough information for their group research projects.
Date: Nov 22, 2018
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Sustainable Tourism in a Young Democracy , article
Dr. Anamaria Bukvic is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at Virginia Tech and a CLiGS Global Faculty member. As the lead instructor for this summer’s International Field Experience (IFE) to Croatia, Dr. Bukvic sat for an interview with Lindsay Key, who accompanied the group as a Master of Natural Resources (MNR) alumna.
Date: Oct 01, 2018
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Conservation Hall of Fame Inductee , article
Joe Maroon, Executive MNR (XMNR) degree program faculty member and recognized leader in conservation for over 35 years, was inducted into the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD’s) Southeast Region Conservation Hall of Fame at a luncheon in Williamsburg, Virginia, on August 6, 2018 during the NACD Summer Conservation Forum and Tour and Southeast Region Meeting. The Hall of Fame honors distinguished conservationists whose careers have resulted in the wise use of our nations precious natural resources upon which we all depend. Maroon was nominated for the honor by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) for his significant contribution to soil and water conservation.
Date: Aug 16, 2018
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Authentic Problems, Transformative Learning , article
Master of Natural Resources (MNR) faculty member Dr. James (Jim) Egenrieder recognizes that students need to explore. That’s why, as a teacher, he’s always made a point to plan unique experiential learning excursions—”field trips”—for his students, most often in the form of an outdoor adventure.
Date: Apr 16, 2018
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A Toolkit for Climate Policy-Making , article
Climate scientist Dr. Adam Kalkstein will teach a graduate course on Climate Change Policy for Virginia Tech’s Master of Natural Resources (MNR) program during the upcoming 12-week Summer 2018 term, which begins on May 21st.
Date: Feb 05, 2018