New Faces at Colorado Mountain College

CMC will be welcoming a handful of new faculty this semester.  We’ll be sharing a few of their stories and introductions on eNews. First up, in her own words: Dr. Tina Evans, new Sustainability Studies faculty based in Steamboat Springs. Welcome, Tina! 

Dr. TIna Evans
Dr. Tina Evans is a recent addition to the Sustainability Studies faculty. She will based in Steamboat Springs.

I’m thrilled to begin working in this innovative and forward looking program! I’m excited to begin working with the members of the faculty, staff, and administration whom I met during my interview, and I look forward to meeting more members of the campus community. I especially look forward to working with CMC students. My decision to join the faculty at CMC was very much influenced by the people I met during my interview process, by the highly integrative nature of the Sustainability Studies program course offerings, and by my love of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado as my home. By way of introduction, I’d like to share with you some highlights of my background and experience.

My educational background includes a Ph.D. in Sustainability Education from Prescott College, an M.A. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University, a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Arizona, and a B.A. in English and History (double major) also from the University of Arizona. My work in sustainability spans diverse areas of thought and action, including analysis of globalized political economy and its potential alternatives, sustainability theory and praxis, place as a concept and construct for sustainability-oriented social change, sustainable food system praxis, analysis of the current energy system and its potential alternatives, social justice as an essential aspect of sustainability, relationships between various forms of leadership and sustainability, and sustainability pedagogy. These themes are addressed in my book Occupy Education: Learning and Living Sustainability that will be published by Peter Lang International Academic Publishers early this fall.

I come to CMC from Durango, Colorado where I served for 16 years as a faculty member, first in the Library and later in General Studies and Environmental Studies (ENVS). I was one among a small group of faculty members who developed the Environmental Studies program at FLC, and I was the first ENVS Program Coordinator. I also played a central role in developing the community based learning and research (service learning) components of the Environmental Studies program, including the required internship program, and I was the lead developer for the Introduction course for ENVS and the first to teach it.

At FLC, I also taught a number of upper division courses emphasizing sustainability. These courses included Culture and Place, Environment and Place, and The End of Oil. Some summer incarnations of these courses included travel in the Four Corners region of the Southwest and overseas in Jamaica, Ireland, and Northern Ireland.  This past year, I also served as a graduate student advisor and mentor for students enrolled in the Master of Arts program in Environmental Studies at Prescott College, and I taught two online courses offered to M.A. and Ph.D. students at PC: Energy Systems and Socio-ecological Sustainability and Food Matters: Food Systems and Socio-ecological Sustainability.

I am a founding member of the Journal of Sustainability Education (http://www.jsedimensions.org/) and a current member of the journal’s advisory board. I am also a member of the Advisory Council for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). My work has been published in academic journals, encyclopedias, books, and in various web-based news/opinion outlets including New Clear Vision, Truthout, and Counterpunch.

The Food for Thought program that I initiated at FLC is an example of my action-oriented work with students and the community. That program included working with individual students, entire classes, and community members to plant and maintain a 100 fruit tree orchard on the FLC campus. It also included starting and maintaining two beehives on campus, working with community organizations on sustainable gardening projects, and organizing student participation in gleaning thousands of pounds of apples annually for use in the local Apple Days festival.

I’m looking forward to learning more about CMC, the Sustainability Studies program, CMC students, and Steamboat Springs as a place. I’m certain I’ll learn a great deal from you as I become familiar with the campus environment, the town, and the local ecology. I’m glad to be a new member of the CMC community!
I’m thrilled to begin working in this innovative and forward looking program! I’m excited to begin working with the members of the faculty, staff, and administration whom I met during my interview, and I look forward to meeting more members of the campus community. I especially look forward to working with CMC students! My decision to join the faculty at CMC was very much influenced by the people I met during my interview process, by the highly integrative nature of the Sustainability Studies program course offerings, and by my love of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado as my home. By way of introduction, I’d like to share with you some highlights of my background and experience.

My educational background includes a Ph.D. in Sustainability Education from Prescott College, an M.A. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University, a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Arizona, and a B.A. in English and History (double major) also from the University of Arizona. My work in sustainability spans diverse areas of thought and action, including analysis of globalized political economy and its potential alternatives, sustainability theory and praxis, place as a concept and construct for sustainability-oriented social change, sustainable food system praxis, analysis of the current energy system and its potential alternatives, social justice as an essential aspect of sustainability, relationships between various forms of leadership and sustainability, and sustainability pedagogy. These themes are addressed in my book Occupy Education: Learning and Living Sustainability that will be published by Peter Lang International Academic Publishers early this fall.

I come to CMC from Durango Colorado where I served for 16 years as a faculty member, first in the Library and later in General Studies and Environmental Studies (ENVS). I was one among a small group of faculty members who developed the Environmental Studies program at FLC, and I was the first ENVS Program Coordinator. I also played a central role in developing the community based learning and research (service learning) components of the Environmental Studies program, including the required internship program, and I was the lead developer for the Introduction course for ENVS and the first to teach it.

At FLC, I also taught a number of upper division courses emphasizing sustainability. These courses included Culture and Place, Environment and Place, and The End of Oil. Some summer incarnations of these courses included travel in the Four Corners region of the Southwest and overseas in Jamaica, Ireland, and Northern Ireland.  This past year, I also served as a graduate student advisor and mentor for students enrolled in the Master of Arts program in Environmental Studies at Prescott College, and I taught two online courses offered to M.A. and Ph.D. students at PC: Energy Systems and Socio-ecological Sustainability and Food Matters: Food Systems and Socio-ecological Sustainability.

I am a founding member of the Journal of Sustainability Education (http://www.jsedimensions.org/) and a current member of the journal’s advisory board. I am also a member of the Advisory Council for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). My work has been published in academic journals, encyclopedias, books, and in various web-based news/opinion outlets including New Clear Vision, Truthout, and Counterpunch.

The Food for Thought program that I initiated at FLC is an example of my action-oriented work with students and the community. That program included working with individual students, entire classes, and community members to plant and maintain a 100 fruit tree orchard on the FLC campus. It also included starting and maintaining two beehives on campus, working with community organizations on sustainable gardening projects, and organizing student participation in gleaning thousands of pounds of apples annually for use in the local Apple Days festival.

I’m looking forward to learning more about CMC, the Sustainability Studies program, CMC students, and Steamboat Springs as a place. I’m certain I’ll learn a great deal from you as I become familiar with the campus environment, the town, and the local ecology. I’m glad to be a new member of the CMC community!