From the Classroom

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Applying XMNR Lessons in the Field , article
When considering grad school, people often wonder whether the investment of time, effort, and resources will pay off. And if so, when? Tyler Walston is currently about half-way through the Executive Master of Natural Resources (XMNR) graduate program at the Virginia Tech Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability, and what he's learning in class, and through team and individual assignments, he has applied directly to his current job responsibilities.
Date: Jun 25, 2019
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Who am I to change the world? , article
In these early days of the Executive Masters of Natural Resources Program at Virginia Tech, my fellow classmates and I are getting to know ourselves and one another, perhaps in ways, we had not considered upon entering this program. We are learning ways to build trust, as we establish working relationships towards our common goal, which is to learn and grow as sustainability leaders.
Date: Mar 25, 2019
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Celebrating XMNR and the Class of 2019 , article
In January 2011, when the first cohort of twenty students started the Executive Master of Natural Resources (XMNR) program at Virginia Tech’s Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability, the learning curve for our faculty was steep. We had a core group of experienced professors, but we were an interdisciplinary lot. Many of us had not worked together before. None of us had previously developed and delivered an education program quite like this one: a cohort-based, executive-style graduate curriculum specifically for working professionals. This was a new and exciting opportunity and we were determined to succeed!
Date: Mar 14, 2019
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Fairfax County Water Management – Part III , article
Private developers are key players in the management of water within the County, as they can provide some of the best opportunities to achieve a sustainable future due to their real investment of resources in local communities. Fairfax County has several areas within it, which currently or will soon meet most definitions of what makes an area urban.
Date: Mar 04, 2019
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Fairfax County Water Management – Part II , article
[In Part I of his three-part series, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (EWR) graduate student Joe Riley-Ryan introduced the need for careful sustainability planning using Fairfax County, Virginia as an example. This week, Riley-Ryan dives deeper into issues such as watershed protection, grey water reuse, and protecting aquatic ecology.] Public water supply source protection and demand reduction have been implemented in a variety of ways in Fairfax County, Virginia. One of the two main drinking-water sources for the County is the…
Date: Feb 25, 2019
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Fairfax County Water Management – Part I , article
[In this three-part series, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (EWR) graduate student Joe Riley-Ryan provides an overview of current practices being employed in Fairfax County, Virginia, to ensure a safe drinking water supply, and promote the principles of urban ecology and sustainability. Additionally, Riley-Ryan offers his thoughts on opportunities for improvement.] It has become widely recognized that major populations centers currently impose stress on the natural environment and will increasingly do so in the future. These areas will require more…
Date: Feb 18, 2019
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Leadership at Work: XMNR Alumni Jobs , article
Addressing global sustainability requires innovation and leadership on the part of diverse stakeholders working together to solve complex problems at multiple scales. We already have sufficient science and technology to address most environmental challenges; what we lack is effective leadership to create new opportunities for sustainable development. Leadership begins with individual self-awareness so that you can listen to, communicate with, and influence others. Leadership also requires working with diverse team members on project management and organizational development. It requires knowledge…
Date: Feb 11, 2019
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Sustainable Smart Mobility (Part II) , article
[In Part I of this two-part series, Online Master of Natural Resources student Marshall Distel explored transportation infrastructure innovations and the potential role of autonomous vehicles in sustainable development and urban mobility. In this final installment, Marshal delves deeper into connected and autonomous vehicles, their impact on transportation, policy, and sustainability.]
Date: Feb 07, 2019
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Sustainable Smart Mobility (Part I) , article
[In Part I of this two-part series, Online Master of Natural Resources student Marshall Distel explores transportation infrastructure innovations and the potential role of autonomous vehicles in sustainable development and urban mobility.]
Date: Jan 31, 2019
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A Living Nexus of Global Sustainability , article
Dust coated my hair, lined my throat, and stung my eyes while an open Jeep transported me deeper into the Thar Desert. The one-way sandy trail was unforgiving; dunes bounced me around while the sun beat a steady cadence across my back, and I contemplated how people managed to live in such a desolate place.
Date: Jan 17, 2019