Annual Report 2025 2026

SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM

2025-2026

Welcome to the annual report from the School of Environment and Sustainability (SEaS), the home of the Environmental Studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Cincinnati.

In our program, more than 40 faculty and postdoctoral scholars come together with students and local partners to forge a transdisciplinary, vibrant community in the Greater Cincinnati Area We address pressing social and environmental crises together, providing real-time learning opportunities and responsive, responsible, usable scholarship

SEaS continues to flourish in its third year SEaS remains the foundational home of interdisciplinary environmental programs at UC, where we are offering BS and BA degrees, as well as two minor tracks Combined, our programs serve more than 300 students This year, we were excited to offer a co-op option for the BA students for the first time, while maintaining our longstanding BS co-op program, extending our partnerships, impact, and reach in the local community

This past year, we prioritized competencybased, real-world curricular development for students and professionals alike, adding three microcredentials to our offerings: Land Ethic Conservation, Land Ethic Advocacy, and Outdoor Education

Our land ethic curriculum, spearheaded by Bob Hyland, fostered new partnerships with the Aldo Leopold Foundation, offering unparalleled opportunities and spaces for learning among our students We are in the process of developing graduate degree offerings and look forward to sharing more in the near future about upcoming courses and programs

We have also maintained an array of experiential learning opportunities for our students in the form of study abroad programs, community engagement, campus as a living laboratory, place-based learning, and research opportunities

Whether students participated in water quality on park lands, measuring methane in the city, or Miyawaki (tiny forest) care and maintenance at the UC Field Center, they are learning about transforming the world and engendering sustainable futures

Co-curricular and extracurricular partnerships with student organizations on campus are fundamental to our success Work with Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection (LEAP), Net Impact, UC Students for Burnet Woods, the Horticulture Club, Ornithology Club, and others offered opportunities to collaborate on end-of-theyear events at Burnet Woods, table at sustainability fairs, and co-create green learning opportunities

SEaS is also excited to partner with the UC Field Center We would welcome you to check out its programming Open throughout the week, its 176-acre parcel of land is one of the university’s most advanced teaching and research facilities

Want to stay involved? Here is how:

Learn more about recent SEaS news by visiting our website.

Support our programs and give to a fund that furthers the work of our school. Connect with us to discover opportunities to interact with, mentor, and employ our current students.

LauraZanotti,PhD DirectorandProfessor

ABOUT US

The School of Environment and Sustainability (SEaS) is a community of scholars and students dedicated to understanding and meeting the world’s environmental challenges. The School of Environment and Sustainability is home to the Environmental Studies BS and BA, minors in Environmental Studies and Environmental Analysis and Policy, as well as microcredentials in sustainability.

SEaS brings together expertise in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to create a transdisciplinary approach to problem-solving both in the classroom and beyond Students, faculty, and staff in SEaS co-create impactful action that can meet the seemingly insurmountable challenges we face.

COOPERATIVELY CREATINGAJUST ANDECOLOGICALLY THRIVINGWORLD.

TEACHING & LEARNING

WE OFFER

Majors

Environmental Studies, BS

Environmental Studies, BA

Minors

Environmental Studies Minor

Environmental Analysis + Policy Minor

Micro-Credentials

Introduction to Sustainability

Advanced Topics Sustainability

Land Ethic: Conservation New

Land Ethic: Advocacy New

Outdoor Education New

Graduate Sustainability Micro-Credential

STUDENTS AND FACULTY WORK TOGETHER IN ACTION-ORIENTED CLASSROOMS THAT SUPPORT CO-OP, INTERNSHIP AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS CAREER PLANNING.

STUDY ABROAD

Experiential and place-based learning in international contexts afford our students opportunities to engage in cross-cultural exchange, increase awareness of local to global problems, and learn critical skills for the global workforce.

BRAZIL

Stephen Matter and Dr Laura Zanotti lead students to Brazil on two separate study abroad programs The Amazon River basin is one of the largest, intact tropical ecosystems in the world and has long been stewarded by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. These courses offer students the opportunity to personally experience and develop a passion for sustainability, community collaborations, and biocultural diversity as they reflect on the interconnectedness of riverscapes across the Americas

COSTA RICA

Teri Jacobs leads students to Costa Rica where they are immersed in learning about how a nation can meet sustainable challenges and address a myriad of environmental problems (eg , sustainable farming for coffee and chocolate, biodiversity conservation, ecotourism, etc.). At the same time, students responsibly enjoy beaches and rainforests, boost local economies, support local host communities, reduce ecological impacts, restore biodiversity, and understand Pura Vida (i e , the way of Costa Rican life)

GERMANY

David Stradling offers a Germany study abroad experience to Amsterdam and Essen where students analyze the development of American and German cities in the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century With a mix of environmental and urban history techniques, the students learn how to address the economic factors leading to deindustrialization and the many attempts to repair environmental damage and reverse urban decline through the development of sustainable and resilient cities

CAPSTONE PROJECTS

Annually, our most senior students embark on formulating, researching, and completing groupbased projects Through engaging with partner organizations and community members, students tackle a sustainability challenge together Below, we share the titles of the range of interdisciplinary projects our students led this year to make a difference!

2025-2026 PROJECTS

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Pollution in Middletown, OH - Sarah Austgen, Dylan Brown, Jackson Cahall, Amanda Cooper, Michael Cortes, Maura Eckerle, Deakota Hall, Benjamin Longardner, John Mitchell, LeLe Sardari, Abby Slosek.

When Nature Isn’t Safe: Understanding E. coli Risks in the Soil of Burnet

Woods - AJ Kaylor, Andy Strader, Annie Schmidt, Brady Thomas, Evelina Strauss, Hannah Gottenbusch, Joel Adams, Kennedi Roberts, Marc Galinger, Olivia Archambault, Summer Victor.

Evaluating Various Factors on the Health of Trees in Urban Parks and Nature Preserves of Cincinnati Parks - Abigail Abbott, Carly Balzarini, Madeline Brinker, Chloe Callahan, Maddie Fisher, Lauren Kohls, Grace Pastrick, Melanie Shepherd Project Partner: Andrew Bernier, Cincinnati Parks

Waste Diversion Roadmap for Fairfield, Ohio: A Data-Driven Path to 35% by 2030 - Madison Archer, Lauren Ann Barnes, Nate Conklin, Amanda Cooper, Evan Droder, Jackson Jacobs, Kaitlin Petersen, and Madelyn Sherwood. Project Partner: Gillian Hart, City of Fairfield Sustainability

Sustainability Central Climate Museum Proposed Exhibits - Josh Strife, Kaitlyn Colegate, Gabriella Stoecker, Alyssa Conley. Project Partner: Colleen McSwiggin, Sustainability Central

Homeowner Energy Perception and Communication in Clermont and Brown County - Phillisity Neal, Nathan Malsbary, Logan Peters, Brendon Reiners, Sarah Austgen. Project Partner: Tara Means, Honey Hive Reality

Impact of Biochar and Compost on Soil Microbial Activity - By Jayla Dixon, Tarynn Schultz, and Mike Creamer Project Partner: Teri Jacobs, MAGIC Garden

Cincinnati Parks Archives and StoryMaps - Brandyn Longhauser, Mary Boehm, Pierson Scott, AJ Cook. Project Partner: Andrew Bernier (Cincinnati Parks)

Water Quality in Burnet Woods Lake: A Pilot Study - Brock Bostick and Cade Weber. Project Partner: BPAC

Ethnoagriculture: Sharing Plant Knowledge Through Community Gardens

- Lily Webb, Oliver Mack, Noah Duplechan, and Isabella Naylor Project Partner: Teri Jacobs, MAGIC Garden

ARNOLD I. MILLER AWARD

SEaS honors outstanding students in the Environmental Studies program to acknowledge their exemplary work The Arnold I Miller Award recognizes students for high achievement in the classroom and extraordinary engagement in the community The award also comes with a monetary prize.

Miller is an emeritus professor of geology, former senior associate dean, and a former director of the EVST program. We are excited that student Kirsten Arill was the Arnold I. Miller Awardee in 2026. Marissa Shannon and Elise Bergeron had the honor of being selected as runners-up for the award for their notable service and academic excellence

Kirsten Arill was recognized for her work with the UC Bearcat Student Council for Sustainability, her Sustainability Fellow Leader position with SEaS, her Environmental Education internship at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, her involvement in Science Olympiad, and her participation in the Bates-Parker Leadership Program In addition, Kirsten has engaged in short-term study abroad and research opportunities in Germany and has maintained work as a research assistant at UC throughout her career as an undergraduate student. Congratulations on all your accomplishments, Kirsten!

EXTRACURRICULAR STUDENT GROUPS

Our students lead and participate in a wide variety of UC student organizations We are thrilled to partner with student organizations collaborate on events, organize programming, and take action

Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection LEAP is a student organization that aims to create alliances and unite student leaders with faculty and local environmental organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area. Starting in 2025, LEAP launched the University of Cincinnati chapter of Environmentors, a chapter-based program offered by the Global Council for Science and the Environment The first UC team will present at the GCSE conference, held in Panama, in summer 2026

UC Students for Burnet Woods UC4BW is a group of students who are passionate about our sacred green space that neighbors UC's main campus We work for and support initiatives that promote equitable access to the park, as well as the park's preservation and well-being

Net Impact is a student organization whose mission is to shift the narrative around sustainability and organizational practices to create transformative awareness in student mindsets of all disciplines at UC.

Check out all of the sustainability student groups, curated by Net Impact

RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP

RESEARCH

Research is built into the Environmental Studies curriculum. Students can select from a wide range of experiences to conduct research during their capstone projects, co-ops, internships, in advanced courses, or in partnership with research faculty.

Last year, SEaS partnered with Green Umbrella and the UC Office of Sustainability to launch a firstof-its-kind Sustainability Hackathon event in the fall semester. The challenge matched student teams with local partners to address a pressing sustainability challenge At the end of the weekend, final projects presented included an explainer video, community-driven communication plans, waste diversion proposals, and a sustainability tracker workflow.

Annually, students celebrate and present their work at the Environmental Justice and Advocacy Symposium, SEaS Springfest in Burnet Woods, Discovery in Action Scholarly Showcase, Sustainability@UC week, the UC Undergraduate Scholarly Showcase, or at the Midwest Regional Climate Summit. For a full list of research opportunities, please check out our Undergraduate Research Page

LauraZanotti

Professor+Director EnvCulture,Film,Rights CommunityEngagement

BobHyland

AssociateProfessorEducator EnvWriting,EnvJustice, CommunityEngagement

RobertSkipper Professor HistoryandPhilosophyofBiology

TeriJacobs

AsstProfEducator UndergradDirector Geography,SoilScience, Conservation

StephenMatter Professor Ecology,InsectPlantInteractions

ZaneL.MillerProfessor ofUrbanHistory EnvironmentalHistory,Pollution, Urbanization,Dredging

JuliaS.Carlson AssociateProfessor Romanticism,EnvFilm, Ecopoetics

DanielMurphy AssociateProfessor Culture,Economics,Risk, Pastoralism

SarahSturmer Instructor-AdjunctAnn EnvironmentalStudies

MuhammadFaruque AssociateProfessor Philosophy,Environment,Ethics, Religion

KennethPetren Professor Conservation,Comparative landscapegenetics

AmyTownsend-Small Professor ImpactsoftheOil&Gasindustry, CommunityEngagement

SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS

Muhammad Faruque

Associate Professor

At UC’s Annual Sustainability Week in January of 2026, Associate Professor Muhammad Faruque (RALL, School of Environment and Sustainability) was recognized by the UC Office of Sustainability as the recipient of the UC Sustainability Research Award for the year

Bob Hyland

Associate Professor-Educator

Associate Professor Educator Bob Hyland (School of Environment and Sustainability, English) for the second year in a row received the Faculty Award from the UC Office of Sustainability Hyland’s award also was given during an award ceremony held by the UC Office of Sustainability during UC’s Annual Sustainability Week.

SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS

Teri Jacobs Assistant Professor-Educator

Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition selected Teri Jacobs as the recipient of an Environmental Award for the 2026 Earth Day Festival as the Educational Honoree. Dr. Jacobs was recognized during the award presentation, which took place at the Earth Day Festival on Sunday, April 19th

Amy Townsend-Small

Professor

Amy Townsend-Small was selected by the Green Umbrella to receive a Sustainability Leadership Award at this year's Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit Her incredible passion and efforts as a sustainability leader were recognized at the Summit, as was her inspiring and impactful work. Congrats, Dr. Townsend-Small!

OHIO RIVER VALLEY CLIMATE CHANGE & HEALTH CONFERENCE

AUGUST

7, 2026

Dr. Amy Townsend-Small is hosting the second Ohio Valley Climate Change and Health Conference on UC’s campus in the summer of 2026 to build well-being and resilience in the Ohio River Valley. The conference will include sessions on the largest geo-health issues in our region such as increased levels of environmental contaminants, extreme heat, flooding and combined sewer overflows. This is a results-oriented, interactive conference for scientists and students in the Earth and health sciences.

ENGAGEMENT

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

From our annual participation in Sustainability@UC week, to enjoyable fall days at the UC Field Center, festive celebrations like Spring Fest in Burnet Woods, along with partnerships with the Taft to explore infrastructures, papermaking, and erasure poetry, there's something for everyone!! We began the academic year with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate our first office suite, located on the ground floor in Arts and Sciences Hall. We also launched several new events to activate our space; regular coffee and donut hours with students quickly became a success! A sample of some of the many events we hosted last year are below! A heartfelt thank you to all our co-sponsors and our events committee for their dedicated efforts this year!

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY SYMPOSIUM

Alumni Advisory Board

The SEaS Alumni Advisory Board provide critical advice on and insights to our program, regularly visit Environmental Studies classes, mentor current students, and supervise internships.

The Board has set up a LinkedIn group for current students, alumni, and faculty. Join us to connect, post job opportunities, and share events!!

Scan the QR code to join!

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who makes this work possible. A special thanks to our Alumni Advisory Council and our donors for your ongoing support and generosity.