W&L Presents Author and Climate Scientist Michael Mann
The Presidential Distinguished Professor of Earth and Environmental Science from the University of Pennsylvania will discuss his new book, “Science Under Siege,” on March 4.
environmental studies
Refining an Industry
Eric Herrera ’20 was recently named to the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his work with chemical manufacturing startup MaverickX, which he cofounded with Jesse Evans ’20.
Mauricio Betancourt Co-Authors Article in the Environment, Development and Sustainability Journal
The assistant professor of environmental studies served as the first author for a paper titled “Revisiting sustainable development: a time-series, cross-national study of the nexus between human well-being and environmental impact.”
Meet Luis Chong ’28
Chong loves spending time in nature, especially visiting the gazebo on campus.
A Marriage of Minds Continues a Legacy of Giving
I feel very fortunate and honored that my parents found a way to go more than the extra mile to give back to a place so special to our family and to make this gift in a way that celebrates different pieces of our W&L experience.
In Case You Missed It
Environmental Studies Professor Publishes Paper in the Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Journal
Ryan McCoy’s paper addresses how local knowledge can contribute to climate research.
Bill Hamilton Co-Authors Paper in Science
The article, also featured on the journal’s cover, sheds new light on the value of bison recovery efforts in Yellowstone National Park.
Catarina Passidomo ’04 Contributes Book Chapter
The associate professor of environmental studies authored a chapter in “The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Cultural and Social Geography.”
Washington and Lee Names Six Faculty Members to Endowed Professorships in The College and The Williams School
These faculty have been recognized for their outstanding teaching, scholarship and service to the university.
W&L Environmental Studies Professor Awarded Mednick Memorial Fellowship
Mauricio Betancourt will receive $2,250 from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges to support his research on the Peruvian guano trade.
Meet Sofia Iuteri ’27
Iuteri’s work with the Connolly Entrepreneurship Society and business administration professors has led to the expansion and growth of her own nonprofit.
Meet Riley Mitchelson ’27
Mitchelson embraces extracurriculars such as volunteering with the Nabors Service League and teaching salsa through Around the Globe.
Lisa Greer to Deliver Lecture in Honor of Her Appointment to the Harry E. and Mary Jayne W. Redenbaugh Term Professorship
Greer’s talk, “Coral Reefs Past, Present and Future and Our Human Footprint,” will be held Jan. 15 in Science Addition 214.
W&L’s Staniar Gallery Presents Erica Lord’s ‘The Codes We Carry: Beads as DNA Data’
The solo exhibition will open Jan. 9 with an artist’s talk slated for Jan. 14.
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.”
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.
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.
Office Hours with Robert Humston and Megan Fulcher
Professors Robert Humston and Megan Fulcher are part of a team of faculty volunteers who serve as liaisons between athletics and academics.
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.
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.
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 Nathan Unger ’24
Unger embraces the full W&L experience, including incredible academic opportunities and being a DIII athlete.
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.
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.
Meet a Colleague: Margaret Anne Hinkle
Margaret Anne Hinkle is an assistant professor of earth and environmental geoscience.
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.”
Learning to Swim
Tetiana Kozachanska ’26 is taking full advantage of her first year at Washington and Lee.
Meet a Colleague: Leah Naomi Green
Leah Naomi Green serves as visiting assistant professor of English and environmental studies.
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.
Meet a W&L Scholar: AJ Mabaka ’22
AJ Mabaka '22 plans to attend a graduate program in marine science and conservation policy.
