Marian Brown, a sustainability practitioner with over ten years of experience, understands that sustainability as an academic area of study is somewhat akin to "drinking from a fire hose". There is always more to know – the field is ever-changing - there is simply no "end point" to learning about sustainability. That is what makes this field of study exciting – and challenging. In her Intro to Sustainability course, Marian frames sustainability as a decision-making framework for continuous improvement – one that mindfully takes into account the environmental, social and economic impacts of one's choices. Marian takes a hands-on approach to this introductory course, incorporating real-life projects from the students' lived experience and tackling campus operational challenges, to make the concept of sustainability come alive for her students. You will never think about making even simple decisions in quite the same way again!
1978 B.S. SUNY at Brockport (Biological Sciences; minor: Chemistry)
1995 M.S. Ithaca College (Communications)
"Sustainability, Campus Operations, and Academic Entrepreneurship at Ithaca College", The Green Campus, Walter Simpson, editor, APPA, 2008.
"Finding the "U" in Sustainability", Wells College, 2014
"Riding the Green Wave: Integrating Sustainability", (multiple audiences)
"Don't Go it Alone: Collaborations for Community Resiliency", AASHE 2013
"Engaging Students in Climate Action Planning", NYAPPA, 2009
"Ecological Footprint", Ithaca College, 2013
"Green Conferencing", Ithaca College, 2010
"How Can Administrators Support Sustainability Education?", Finger Lakes Project, 2012
"Show Me the Money: Resources for Campus Sustainability Programs", NECSC conference, 2010
"Women as Natural Leaders for Regional Sustainability", Women & Sustainable Development, 2012
"Taking on Climate Change", Ithaca College, 2007
"Is a Green Collar Job in Your Future?", Summer Institute, 2008
SUS 101 Introduction to Sustainability (Wells)
A Systems Approach to Sustainability (Ithaca College online professional sustainability certificate program)
Using Evaluation to Craft the Business Case for Sustainability (")
How 'Green' Is My Organization: Policies and Practices (")