Environmental Studies
Humans are rapidly urbanizing the planet, with half the Earth’s population already living in cities. At the same time, our thirst for natural resources is stronger than ever. Managing population expansion, urbanization, and resource demand in a sustainable manner will be humankind’s primary challenge in the decades to come. The Environmental Studies (ENV) and the Urban and Environmental Sustainability (UES) programs prepare students to confront this challenge with broad understanding and creative problem-solving. The curriculum combines courses in natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities to expose students to diverse theories and methodologies.
As a flourishing global center and the most populous city in the United States, New York provides an optimal classroom to probe issues of sustainable urbanization. In ENV and UES courses, students conduct site-based studies using approaches from both natural and social sciences. This cross-disciplinary approach gives students tools to formulate innovative responses to urban problems like waste management, water treatment, air quality, and rapid growth. At the same time, students use New York City as a case study to probe issues of global sustainability. Students also take advantage of unique internship opportunities in public policy, environmental conservation, and urban resource management. By contextualizing environmental issues in their own backyard, students exercise social responsibility and community engagement.
Due to redundancies in the programs, it is not possible to double-major or double-minor in Environmental Studies and Urban & Environmental Sustainability, or to major in one and minor in the other.
| Division: |
Sciences |
| Division Office: |
Carson Hall 706 |
| Phone: |
212-774-0725 |
| Division Chair: |
Benedetta Sampoli Benitez, Ph.D.
bsampoli@mmm.edu |
| Division Assistant: |
TBD |
Program Faculty:
As interdisciplinary programs, Environmental Studies and Urban and Environmental Sustainability include faculty from assorted departments. The following full-time faculty teach courses in the programs:
Alessandra Leri
Professor of Chemistry
Coordinator, Environmental Studies and Urban and Environmental Sustainability Programs
B.S., College of William and Mary
M.A., University of Virginia
Ph.D., Princeton University
Carson Hall 603
Phone: 212-517-0661
aleri@mmm.edu
Ann Aguanno
Professor of Biology
Chair, Department of Natural Sciences
B.A., SUNY, Buffalo
M.S. & Ph.D., New York University
Carson Hall 603
Phone: 212-774-4838
aaguanno@mmm.edu
Diana Epelbaum
Assistant Professor of Academic Writing
Director, Academic Writing Program
B.A., New York University
M.S., Pace University
Ph.D., The Graduate School & University Center of CUNY
The Faculty Center 401,
Phone: 646-393-4112
depelbaum@mmm.edu
Andreas Hernandez
Associate Professor of International Studies
Chair, Department of International Studies
B.S.W. University of Washington
M.S.W., University of British Columbia
Ph.D., Cornell University
The Faculty Center 500
Phone: 646-393-4132
ahernandez@mmm.edu
Matthew Lundquist
Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S., State University of NY College at Oneonta
M.S., Michigan State University
Ph.D., Binghamton University
Carson Hall 603
Phone: 212-517-0667
mlundquist@mmm.edu
Magdalena Maczynska
Associate Professor of English and World Literatures
B.A. & M.A., Wroclaw University
Ph.D., The Catholic University of America
The Faculty Center 300
Phone: 646-393-4123
mmaczynska@mmm.edu
Lia Leon Margolin
Associate Professor of Mathematics
B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Tbilisi State University, Georgia
Carson Hall 614
Phone: 212-517-0650
lmargolin@mmm.edu
Philip R. Meyers
Professor of Mathematics
B.S., Brooklyn College, CUNY
M.A. & Ph.D., University of Maryland
Carson Hall 614
Phone: 212-517-0663
pmeyers@mmm.edu
Erin O’Connor
Associate Professor of Sociology
Chair, Department of Politics and Human Rights
B.A., Michigan State University
M.A. & Ph.D., New School for Social Research
The Faculty Center 400
Phone: 646-393-4133
erinoconnor@mmm.edu
Benedetta A. Sampoli Benitez
Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chair, Division of Sciences
Pre-Health Advisor
B.S. & M.S., University of Florence, Italy
Ph.D., University of California, San Diego
Carson Hall 706L
Phone: 212-517-0653
bsampoli@mmm.edu
Kenton Worcester
Professor of Political Science
B.A., University of Massachusetts at Boston
M.A., M.Phil., & Ph.D., Columbia University
The Faculty Center 100
Phone: 646-393-4137
kworcester@mmm.edu