As the new director of the Environmental Studies Program (ENVS), I want to share my vision for the program. I strongly believe a successful environmental studies program benefits its majors, the college or university, and society. Given the important environmental issues facing society today and in the future, ENVS at Tufts should be one of the signature interdepartmental programs. Students who major must come to feel that they are members of a community and, as importantly, graduate with a deep understanding of critical issues facing society (e.g., alternative energy development, environmental justice, climate change, conservation of biodiversity, environmental literacy), with analytical skills, and with the ability to communicate their knowledge to their peers and the general public. Whether majors enter a graduate program or the work place, they will be prepared to take leadership roles and function as informed citizens.

The time is right to expand the ENVS Program. Thanks to the Deans of Arts and Sciences, ENVS now has a program coordinator, Ann Greaney-Williams. Although she just arrived on November 1^st, she has already updated the website to help you navigate the program, and started our new biweekly newsletter. Other changes are in the works and we will update you as they come on line. We are studying other programs, meeting with faculty and administrators, and working with students in order to increase engagement, improve the Program, and increase its visibility on campus. Many great ideas have come to our attention, and we look forward to implementing as many as possible.

To make ENVS a signature interdepartmental program, we need your involvement. You can work with us to plan an event, write for the newsletter, and/or send us ideas for how to make the program grow (Check out our new Facebook). We want to nurture your creativity, so please join us in creating a dynamic and forward-thinking program.

Sincerely,

Colin M. Orians

Director, Environmental Studies Program