Mauricio Betancourt Publishes Article in the Peer-Reviewed Journal Socius
The assistant professor of environmental studies authored a paper titled “Guano and the Rise of the American Empire.”
Environmental Studies Archive (130 Stories)
W&L’s Robert Humston Receives Grant to Study the Trout Population in the Jackson River
The director of environmental studies and professor of biology received the funding from the Virginia Departments of Wildlife Resources and Environmental Quality.
Washington and Lee University Recognized for its Sustainability Efforts
The university earned high marks in the Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges and is highlighted in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s 2024 Sustainable Campus Index.
Ryan McCoy Awarded Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Environmental studies professor to supervise student assessments of the USDA Midwest Climate Hub.
Campus Kitchen Announces 2024-25 Just Food Series
The annual event series examines the ways in which food systems interact with issues of social justice.
Catarina Passidomo ’04 Authors Paper in the Peer-Reviewed Journal Food, Culture & Society
Passidomo explores how food and food narratives can build and reinforce regional and social identities.
Margaret Anne Hinkle Awarded a Collaborative Grant from the National Science Foundation
Hinkle and fellow scientists from the University of Pittsburgh will share the $550,000 award to examine the potential of adapting acid mine drainage remediation systems to produce critical minerals in economically viable concentrations.
Associate Professor Catarina Passidomo ‘04 to Present DeLaney Center Dialogue Discussion
Passidomo will use her essay “Rooted in Sand: A Reflection on Teaching and Tomatoes” to explore “Tomatoes and Southern Racial Realities.”
Where the Wild Things Are
Marcie Bernard ’25 explored the different avenues of veterinary medicine in the Amazon Rainforest as she worked to rehabilitate and rewild animals at Hoja Nueva.
Cultivating a Community of Care
Through the Davis Projects for Peace Grant and a Fulbright ETA, Allie Stankewich ’23 is building relationships with the communities she serves in East Africa.
Summer Knights
The A. Paul Knight Internship Program in Conservation, named in memory of a late Washington and Lee student, allows students to pursue their passion for environmental conservation.
Lending a Healing Hand
With the support of a Johnson Opportunity Grant, Sofia Iuteri ’27 is expanding the reach of the nonprofit she founded at 16.
W&L Earth and Environmental Geoscience Professor Publishes Peer-Reviewed Article
Margaret Anne Hinkle collaborated with additional authors to produce an article focused on manganese exposure in spring and well water in the Shenandoah Valley.
W&L’s Ian Kinney ’24 Selected for U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
Kinney will teach English in Austria at an agricultural research institute, blending his interests in German and environmental studies.
Meet Emma Scott ‘26
Scott’s passion for the environment carries over from the classroom to opportunities on campus and beyond.
Washington and Lee Names Four Faculty Members to Endowed Professorships
These faculty have been recognized for their outstanding teaching, scholarship and service to the university.
Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm to Deliver Lecture on Alternatives to Industrial Agriculture
The sustainable farmer’s talk will be held on March 19.
Meet Katherine Hudson ’26
Environmental humanities classes introduced Hudson to new ideas on how humans interact with the world.
Meet a Colleague: Mauricio Betancourt
Mauricio Betancourt is an assistant professor of environmental studies.
Pablo Abufom to Deliver Lecture on Latin American Politics
The Chilean activist’s talk will be held Feb. 12 at 5 p.m.
Six W&L Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships to Study Abroad
The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards of up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduate students who are Pell Grant recipients.
W&L’s Greer Featured in bioGraphic Magazine Article about the Coral Gardens Reef
Professor Lisa Greer has been taking students to Belize since 2011 to study the thriving reef corals located there.
W&L Student Co-Authors Paper Published by the Pain Medicine Journal
Lucy Worthy ’24 assisted in the research and helped publish the results alongside two W&L alumni.
W&L Professor Featured by Graywolf Press in 50th Anniversary Anthology
Leah Naomi Green’s essay on Kaveh Akbar’s poem “The Miracle” is anthologized in “Raised by Wolves.”
W&L Professor Receives Two-Year Grant from the USDA Forest Service to Perform Data Analysis and Modeling on Water Quality
Robert Humston will assess over 30 years of data collected by the U.S. Forest Service within the George Washington and Thomas Jefferson National Forests.
W&L Outcomes: Caroline Wise ’23
Caroline Wise ’23 is working as a backcountry guide for St. Elias Alpine Guides in Alaska.
W&L Outcomes: Allie Stankewich ’23
Allie Stankewich ’23 will spend the summer in Tanzania before pursuing a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Uganda.
Catching up with Sarah Tilbor ’08
For Tilbor, W&L instilled a healthy curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.
W&L’s Allie Stankewich ’23 Earns Fulbright to Uganda
Stankewich has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach English in Uganda.
Meet a Colleague: Margaret Anne Hinkle
Margaret Anne Hinkle is an assistant professor of earth and environmental geoscience.
SEAL to Sponsor First Annual Washington and Lee Campus-Wide Garage Sale
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sell unwanted items and donate any unsold items to benefit local nonprofit organizations.
Growing a Greener Future
For W&L alumni Kevin Green ’07 and Amanda Green ’06, nature and nurture go hand-in-hand.
W&L Visiting Professor Featured in Orion Magazine
Leah Naomi Green’s essay titled “Mourning Songs Are Love Songs” was excerpted from the anthology “Solastalgia: An Anthology of Emotion in a Disappearing World.”
W&L Earth and Environmental Geoscience Professor Publishes Peer Reviewed Article in Geochemistry Journal
Assistant Professor Margaret Anne Hinkle’s article is titled “Impacts of Sulfonic Acids on Fungal Manganese Oxide Production.”
Learning to Swim
Tetiana Kozachanska ’26 is taking full advantage of her first year at Washington and Lee.
W&L Professor Publishes Journal Article in PLOS ONE
Professor Lisa Greer’s article focuses on the survival of coral reefs in the Caribbean.
Matt Villante ’20 Presents Talk on Climate Technology and Science
Villante, a geoscientist in Iceland, will discuss the current state of the climate technology sector on Feb. 6.
Meet a Colleague: Jeff Rahl
Jeff Rahl is a professor and department head for earth and environmental geoscience.
Meet a Colleague: Leah Naomi Green
Leah Naomi Green serves as visiting assistant professor of English and environmental studies.
W&L Center for International Education Presents Public Lecture
Kim Stanley Robinson, an award-winning author, will give a public lecture on Nov. 10 at 6:15 p.m. in the University Chapel.
Author Bill McKibben To Present Talk on Climate Change
McKibben will present a public lecture on Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m.
Rooted in Justice
Kiera Stankewich ’25 tackled food justice in Louisville, Kentucky this summer through the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty.
Becoming a Better Scientist
Lucy Worthy ’24 is conducting clinical research and shadowing a physician at the Mayo Clinic.
Into the Wild
Caroline Wise '23 is spending her second summer working as an alpine guide in Alaska.
W&L’s Tyler Bernard ’23 Awarded Udall Scholarship
Bernard has been selected as a 2022 Udall Scholar in the environmental category.
W&L to Match 100% of Electricity Use with Solar Energy
A new deal will establish an offsite solar farm from which W&L will purchase energy equivalent to 100% of campus electricity use, allowing the university to lower greenhouse gas emissions, save money and close in on its goal of carbon neutrality.
W&L’s Allie Stankewich ’23 Awarded Boren Scholarship
Stankewich received a David L. Boren Scholarship from the National Security Education Program to study abroad in Tanzania in fall 2022.
Connecting the Dots
Bri Mondesir ’22 has found her purpose through volunteer work in the Rockbridge area community as a scholar in the Bonner Program at W&L.
Washington and Lee’s Jensen Rocha ’23 Awarded Goldwater Scholarship
Each scholar is awarded $7,500 to support undergraduate research in their junior or senior year.
W&L’s Casey Publishes Chapter in ‘Teaching Environmental and Natural Resource Economics’
The book will prove invaluable in helping students gain a better understanding of the theory and practice of environmental and natural resource economics.
Meet a W&L Scholar: AJ Mabaka ’22
AJ Mabaka '22 plans to attend a graduate program in marine science and conservation policy.
In the Zone
In addition to pursuing a double major at Washington and Lee, Jackson Hotchkiss ’24 is a competitive cycler who just placed fourth in his age group in a national cycling championship.
‘Chasing After Curiosity’
Allie Stankewich '23 spent summer 2021 learning about public health in Uganda and green roofs in New York City.
On the Job with W&L’s Compost Crew
The dedicated students on the crew are making W&L a more sustainable place.
W&L’s Christopher Watt ’21 Awarded Fulbright Grant
Watt has received a Fulbright grant to support his research on the importance of small-scale fishing for livelihoods, culture and well-being in Vanuatu, an island nation in the South Pacific.
Green Receives Treehouse Climate Action Poem Prize
Leah Naomi Green was recognized for her new poem, "Origin Story."
W&L’s Kathryn Hensler ’21 Earns Fulbright to Spain
Her project, “Age and Growth of Fan Mussel (Pinna nobilis) in Mar Menor,” will take her to Calpe, in Spain this fall.
An Affection for Connections
W&L has allowed Christopher Watt '21 to meet other members of the community and find a future career where three of his passions converge.
W&L’s Sociology and Anthropology Department Presents Lecture Series
The Sociology and Anthropology Department is collaborating with the Environmental Studies Program to present a new social justice series titled “White Supremacy and Society.”
Community-Based Learning Thrives Amid COVID-19
The pandemic has presented challenges to working and learning within the community, but virtual and distanced projects have allowed those partnerships to continue to bear fruit this year.
Wastewater Testing Helps W&L Track Virus
Testing sewage samples for the virus that causes COVID-19 is helping W&L to do targeted human testing and identify asymptomatic cases before they trigger large outbreaks.
Parsing a Pandemic
Fifteen W&L faculty members and two alumnae have signed on to help teach a Fall Term course that will cover multiple aspects of the COVID-19 crisis.
‘A Real Justice Issue’
Bridget Bartley '21 interviews Shiri Yadlin '12, director of Just Homes, a nonprofit that helps faith communities address homelessness in D.C.
An Intersection of Interests
At W&L, Katherine Ingram '20 found a research interest—and a future profession—where environmental studies meets economics.
Community Projects a Win-Win for Lexington and W&L
Washington and Lee University's Office of Community-Based Learning has partnered with Lexington on projects that provide real-world learning experiences for students while also advancing the city's goals.
W&L’s Kahn to Deliver Keynote Address at Brazilian Conference
Kahn has been invited to give the opening keynote speech at the Exposition of Sustainability of the Industrial Pole of Manaus.
The Future is Bioplastics
Julianna Keeling ’19 applied her passion for the environment to build a company focused on biodegradable consumer products.
W&L’s Casey Named to Board of Trustees of Virginia Land Conservation Foundation
Casey was appointed by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam.
Panel Discussion Planned for 2019 Earle Bates Lecture at W&L
The discussion is free and open to the public.
W&L’s Kahn to Lecture, Host Discussion on Amazon Fires
The event, which is free and open to the public, is titled "The Future of the Amazon Rain Forest."
Diving into Research
This summer, Ginny Johnson '20 served as a peer mentor to nine rising sophomores as part of the Keck Geology Consortium trip to Belize, where Professor Lisa Greer continued her research project into the staghorn coral population.
Current Affairs
This summer, geology and environmental science major Chantal Iosso ’20 is studying the effects of the Jordan's Point Dam removal on the Maury River.
Casey Provides Testimony on Cost-Benefit Analysis at EPA
His statement was given at a public hearing at the EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Mon., Mar. 18.
VIDEO: From Seed to Table
At W&L, sustainability starts with a seed and blossoms into sea change. Take a peek inside our gardening and composting effort to see how it's impacting our community — and the future.
Expert in Paleontology Sculptures to Give Keynote Speech for SSA
The title of Gary Staab’s presentation is “Digital Dinosaurs: Fleshing out the Past."
Washington and Lee to Host Climate Change Discussion
The talk, which is free and open to the public, is titled “Climate Change: Local Agriculture and Rainforest Solutions – A 7 Point Plan."
Sustainability House Peddles Green Transportation
The house's new Bike Shop offers free and low-cost rentals, lessons on bike maintenance, and opportunities for exploring the outdoors on two wheels.
Scaling the Entrepreneurship Summit
Jesse Evans '20 spent his summer ensuring that this year's summit, which took place Sept. 21-22, would be a success.
The 2018 Earle Bates Lecturer in Environmental Studies to Discuss ‘A Critical Time for State Environmental Leadership’
Strickler will give a talk on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. in the Stackhouse Theater in Elrod Commons.
Office Hours: Professor Sandra L. Reiter
The Darrold and Kay Cannan Associate Term Professor of Business Administration studies what she calls “the intersection of business and the natural environment.” She arrived at that spot after studying engineering, management, business — and philosophy.
Green Solutions for a Modern World
Attending the Princeton Environmental Ideathon was a natural progression for Julianna Keeling '19, who started a sustainable packaging company when she was still in high school.
Into the Great Wide Open
The A. Paul Knight Internship Program in Conservation, named in memory of a late Washington and Lee student, turns 30 this year. It has provided internships to 132 students and is still going strong.
Family Gift Establishes Endowed Director for Environmental Studies
Kathelen and Daniel Amos made the gift in memory of her son, John Kyle Spencer, a 2013 graduate of W&L. Professor Robert Humston (pictured) will be the new director.
Virginia Tech Professor Shannon Bell ’00 to Give Public Lecture at W&L
Bell will discuss her second book, “Fighting King Coal: The Challenges to Micromobilization in Central Appalachia.”
The Shape of the Maury
Robert Humston's Aquatic Ecology class collected ecological data about the Maury River in preparation for the removal of Jordan's Point Dam.
An Education in Place
Kat Oakley '19 has spent a lot of time contemplating the idea of "place" - both in Lexington and across the world.
Climate Change and Sharks
As a research assistant at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Rachel Steffen ’18 gathered data on the environmental thresholds of juvenile sandbar sharks.
Small Company, Big Internship
Marta Regn ’19 used her internship to throughly explore all aspects of a sustainable, ethical jewelry startup.
Down By the River
Over the summer, students worked with Professor Robert Humston to examine the potential effects of smallmouth bass on native brook trout populations in the Virginia watershed.
Making Sense of the Jungle
Liz Todd '19 was able to extend her Spring Term Abroad and spend the summer in Brazil, where she worked for an environmental agency.
Southern Environmental Law Center Attorney to Speak on Atlantic Coast Pipeline
Greg Buppert, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, will speak on “The Case Against the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.”
VIDEO: Sustainability Leadership Trip
Students on the Sustainability Leadership pre-orientation trip had a chance to meet local food producers and learn about W&L's commitment to the environment.
Advanced Research Cohort Program Marks Second Successful Year
Twelve Class of 2021 students visited W&L for a five-week Advanced Research Cohort program that allowed them to dabble in STEM projects and establish quality relationships.
In Her Natural Habitat
As director of Iowa State University's conservation camp, Jennifer Schieltz ’08 follows the lives of elk, deer, moose, bears, wolves and mountain lions.
W&L Hosts Joint Reading and Talk on Ecological Approaches to Poetry
Ann Fisher-Wirth and Laura-Gray Street will hold a joint reading and talk on ecological approaches to poetry.
Meet the Johnsons: Shlomo Honig ’18
Meet Shlomo Honig ‘18, whose day consists of analyzing rocks, protecting the environment, and ultimate frisbee
Tessa Horan’s Passion for the Environment
Meet Tessa Horan '18, a pre-med, self-proclaimed "tree-hugger" with big plans for making the university - and the world - a little greener.
Meet the Johnsons: Harry Lustig ’17
Meet Harry Lustig ‘17, a scholar-explorer who’s hiked everywhere from the Blue Ridge to Alaska.
W&L Researchers See Coral Decline
Geology professor Lisa Greer, who has been taking students to Belize since 2011 to monitor the health of coral reefs, said their research indicates that the latest El Niño, on top of global climate change, may be harming the Belize Barrier Reef.
Many Shades of Green
A call for student proposals related to sustainability projects provided valuable results for the campus and community.
One Fish, Two Fish
Above or below the water, Sasha Doss '13 studies and connects with fish and their environment.
The Ethics of Environmental Valuation
The conference will explore two fundamental but related themes: the ethical issues surrounding the valuation of ecosystem services and the proper role of preference satisfaction in the development of environmental policy.
Planting Seeds for a Sustainable Future
Taking part in the Sustainability Leadership Pre-Orientation Program allowed a group of Washington and Lee first-years to understand the many facets of creating and supporting sustainable communities.
Student Sustainability Projects: Many Shades of Green
New student-sourced sustainability initiatives get the green light on campus.
My W&L: Alejandro Paniagua ’17
"The one thing that will set you apart and help define you is how you cope with the challenges you face, learn from them and move on."
Interns at Work: Leigh Stauffer ’16
Studio art major Leigh Stauffer '16 works as a membership and development intern at The High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
My W&L: Madeleine Boireau ’17
"One of my goals is to bring Hillel to the students — to show them that we're here, and that we're here for everyone. ".
Alumni at Work: Christine Balistreri ’11
The Long Road to Facebook.
Changing Perspectives: Hannah Gilmore ’16
Shepherd Intern Hannah Gilmore interns at the Mobile Oasis Farmer's Market in Greensboro, N.C.
W&L Professor Jim Kahn ’75 Named President-Elect of USSEE
John F. Hendon Professor of Economics and Director of Environmental Studies James R. Kahn has been named president-elect of the United States Society for Ecological Economics (USSEE).
Danielle Breidung ’13 Named Lowcountry Emerging Leader
The Islands Society named Danielle Breidung, a 2013 graduate of Washington and Lee University, as its inaugural Lowcountry Emerging Leader by its constituent society for the Lowcountry — the Sea Islands Society. She received the award based on her focus on empowering local communities in the Lowcountry through collaborations with human services and other organizations in South Carolina.
Professor Dale Jamieson of N.Y.U. to Lecture on Climate Change
Dale Jamieson, professor of environmental studies and philosophy at New York University (N.Y.U.), will lecture at Washington and Lee University on March 17 at 5 p.m. in the Hillel House, room 101.
The Intersection Between Psychology and Environment
Psychology major Maya Epelbaum worked as an intern at Henry's Fork Foundation in Ashton, Idaho.
First Global Issues Seminars Will Focus on Middle East and South East Asia in 2015-16 and Brazil in 2016-17
The Center for International Education at Washington and Lee University has announced that two groups of faculty will receive support to establish Global Issues Seminars under the Global Fellows Program, which is funded with support from the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation.
Sir Crispin Tickell to Lecture on Climate Change
Sir Crispin Tickell, a former British diplomat with particular interest in the relationship between the environment, politics and business, will give a lecture at Washington and Lee University on May 5, at 5:30 p.m. in Northen Auditorium in Leyburn Library.
Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder Awarded Scholarship from Florida Capitol Press Corps
Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder of Tallahassee, Florida, a junior at Washington and Lee University, has been awarded a 2014 Barbara L. Frye Scholarship from the Florida Capitol Press Corps. The scholarship is awarded to aspiring journalists.
W&L Announces Final Winners of 2014 Johnson Opportunity Grants
Washington and Lee University has announced the final round of students who will receive 2014 Johnson Opportunity Grants. The grants cover living, travel and other costs associated with the students' proposed activities, which are designed to help them with their future careers and fields of study.
W&L's Kahn Assesses Decision to Drill in Amazon Rainforest (Audio)
Environmental Studies Department head fears major impact on indigenous populations.
Latin America and Environmental Problems Subject of W&L Lecture
Timothy Shenk, coordinator of the Committee on U.S.-Latin American Relations (CUSLAR) at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., will give a public lecture at Washington and Lee University on Tuesday, March 12, at 5 p.m. in Northen Auditorium, Leyburn Library.
Dani Breidung Awarded First Certificate of International Immersion at W&L
Washington and Lee University senior Danielle (Dani) Breidung has become the first student at the University to earn a Certificate of International Immersion, awarded to students who demonstrate significant commitment to and understanding of global interaction.
Ann Fisher-Wirth to Give Glasgow Endowment Reading on Dec. 6
Ann Fisher-Wirth, poet, author and scholar, will give a Glasgow Endowment-sponsored reading on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 4:30 p.m. in the Hillel House at Washington and Lee University.
Crochet a Coral Reef
The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef is a project of the Institute for Figuring in Los Angeles that combines mathematics, art, crafts, marine biology and environmental science in creating crocheted reproductions of coral reefs. A satellite reef is now being locally constructed, sponsored by Roanoke College. Students and faculty at Washington and Lee University and members […]
W&L Researchers Examine the Economic Value of Coastal and Marine Resources
A pilot study by Washington and Lee economics professor James F. Casey and a team of W&L students suggests that visitors to Belize would be willing to pay more in conservation fees than the $3.75 fee that the country currently charges.
W&L’s Kahn Participates in Rio+20 Summit
Washington and Lee University economics professor Jim Kahn participated in the parallel scientific sessions of the Rio+20 United Nations Environmental Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June. Kahn, the John F. Hendon Professor of Economics at W&L, presented the results of joint research between Washington and Lee University and the Federal University of Amazonas in […]
Two W&L Professors Win State's Highest Teaching Honor
Two Washington and Lee University faculty members — James R. Kahn, the John F. Hendon Professor of Economics, and Lesley M. Wheeler, the Henry S. Fox Jr. Professor of English — have won Outstanding Faculty Awards from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) for 2012. The award recognizes superior accomplishments in teaching, […]
New Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope at W&L for Regional Use
A new confocal laser scanning microscope at Washington and Lee University aims to increase research and training across the sciences, not only at W&L but also at two nearby institutions, Virginia Military Institute and Mary Baldwin College. The microscope will be acquired through a $366,000 Major Research Instrumentation grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). […]
Author, Conservationist Terry Tempest Williams to Speak at W&L
Author Terry Tempest Williams, an environmental conservationist and fierce advocate for freedom of speech, will give a reading with commentary at Washington and Lee University on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. in Lee Chapel. It is free and open to the public. The reading will be immediately followed by an audience Q&A with a […]
Mark Farley '88 to Address Deepwater Horizon Catastrophe
Mark Farley, a Houston-based attorney who specializes in environmental issues, will present a public lecture on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20, in Northen Auditorium of Washington and Lee University's Leyburn Library. The lecture, "Lessons from Deepwater Horizon and Similar Environmental Catastrophes," is open to the public at no […]
