A Finder of Hidden Gems
Environmental educator Conrad Baker ’14 combines his journalism background with his enthusiasm for nature. by Robyn Rime From the joy of seeing his first-ever mourning cloak butterfly to the architectural history of an old stone wall, Conrad Baker ’14 finds magic in nature’s details. Happily, as an environmental educator for Letchworth State Park, he gets to share that enchantment with others every day. “In some ways, Western New York...
A Fight to Be (Finally) Heard
The environmental justice movement was launched by residents who suffered consequences of pollution and other issues — and refused to be ignored. By Kris Dreessen In the late 19th century, John Muir’s writings and advocacy focusing on the Sierra Nevada mountains sparked discussions about protecting wild spaces, ultimately leading to the creation of Yosemite National Park and other preserves. That passion forprotecting wildlife...
VIDEO: A Finder of Hidden Natural Gems
Meet English major Conrad Baker ’14, who turned his love of nature and exploration into a career in multimedia and outdoor education at Letchworth State Park. Storytelling, which he developed at Geneseo, is the basis of his work.
New Sustainability Major Grows in Popularity
Courses and experiences prepare students for careers in fields from renewable energy to finance. By Kris Dreessen Learn about how Geneseo is addressing sustainability in the world without our interactive map. Katelyn Adis ’24 entered Geneseo undeclared, open to trying many courses and activities in which she had interest, including dance, anthropology and environmental issues. She helped plan campus Earth Week events and joined...
The Human Dimensions of Conservation
Amanda Lewis-Nang’ea’s research brings historical perspective to the issues of land management and resource stewardship in Kenya. By Robyn Rime Amboseli National Park in Kenya is one of the best places in the world to get close to free-ranging elephants. The park, formalized as a national game reserve in 1948 and as a park in 1974, seeks to protect a unique ecosystem through conservation, wildlife viewing and tourism. Supporting...
The Big Idea: Tackling Waste and Transparency Worldwide
View our interactive map to learn how alumni and the College are addressing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals Peter Johnson ’02 is addressing the global problem of food waste and creating greater transparency and fairness in supply chains, worldwide. By Kris Dreessen From harvest to dinner table, 30 percent of all food produced globally goes to waste, the United Nations estimates, which impacts the environment, workers and food...
Mission Driven: The Necessary Push
Matt Cook ’17 knows the value of an encouraging nudge to dream bigger. Now he provides that support for other young adults. By Kris Dreessen Matt Cook ’21 has had people push him to do and be better throughout his life. In high school, teachers saw what the distracted, loud teen could do and motivated him to focus. The nudges took him to Geneseo, where professors again challenged him to meet his goals, then think bigger for his...
How to: Your Food Scraps, Renewed!
Geneseo’s sustainability experts share simple steps to compost at home. By Mat Johnson “Some things just take time — like good wine and compost,” says Dan DeZarn, Geneseo’s director of sustainability. Technically, composting is “the decomposition of organic waste,” says DeZarn, himself a backyard composter. In any active compost pile, oxygen-seeking bacteria are busy breaking down organic material. The result is a soil-like material...
Ideas So Good They Stuck
Some of Geneseo’s innovative ideas came from students who saw a need and led the way. By Kris Dreessen As a first-year student, Allison Hoppe ’13 joined the Geneseo Environmental Organization. She found friends who shared an interest and then a calling: to build a community for like-minded students to learn about sustainability and adopt a more conscious lifestyle. Dreaming, planning and effort by Hoppe and others opened Eco House in...
Epiphany: Caretakers for Future Generations
Protecting wildlands and volunteering on behalf of Geneseo highlights the true value of strengthening what each of us holds most dear. By Jessica L. Blair ’00 I live on the ancestral lands of the Lakota people, near Bdote, where the Mississippi River converges with the Minnesota River, in the city of Minneapolis. Before being forced to cede their home to European settlers in treaty after treaty, Indigenous people stewarded the lands...
