February 1, 2023

Top Stories

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Visits ESF

ESF hosted new SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. on his tour of SUNY's 64 campuses on Monday. The visit highlighted ESF's commitment to educating students on the environment and its position as a leader in sustainability. The Chancellor met with students, faculty, and staff to learn about the vital role ESF plays in the earth’s environmental future.

You Don’t Have to Be Complicit in Our Culture of Destruction

Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer

The New York Times Magazine

Dr. Chang Geun Yoo Receives NSF CAREER Award

Developing ways to increase the sustainability of the paper industry and potentially drive down the cost of biofuels has earned Dr. Chang Geun Yoo the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, the most prestigious grant that NSF offers to early-career faculty. Dr. Yoo is an assistant professor in ESF’s Department of Chemical Engineering.

Dr. Fred Agyeman Honored by SUNY

Dr. Fred Agyeman earned an honorable mention for the SUNY Chancellor's Distinguished Ph.D. Dissertation Awards, which celebrate the work Ph.D. graduates have done to address some of society's most pressing issues.

Tracking Moose from the Air in the Adirondacks

ESF

WSTM

ESF Adds EV Truck to Its University Police Fleet

ESF is the first SUNY campus to have an EV vehicle—a Ford F150 Lightning Pro—in its University Police Department fleet.

U.S. News & World Report Ranks ESF Among Best Online Programs

ESF ranked No. 216 among the 2023 Best Online Bachelor's Programs by U.S. News & World Report.

The New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management Launches Statewide Zero Waste Call for Projects

New certification designed to help New York State facilities achieve zero waste.

Jason Kohlbrenner, Digital Support Associate, Writing Center

Jason Kohlbrenner is the digital support associate in the Digital Storytelling Lab, where he helps students at all stages of the storytelling process.



Jason is someone you can go to with whatever needs you have when it comes to equipment for your next story, creative guidance, or just someone to talk to. I always leave the studio with a smile on my face after hanging out with Jason. He offers new perspectives and advice that opens your eyes to something you may not have considered. By providing new angles, I can see my work in a new light which allows me to take my projects places I never thought they would go. Jason has encouraged me to push the boundaries and express myself in my work which brings a unique authenticity that I am not sure would come out so strong if it wasn't for his encouragement. When I chat with Jason, he reminds me that my work is worthwhile, and I leave feeling proud of what I have accomplished in and out of the studio.

Thank you, Jason, for offering a kind, encouraging, and creative space for everyone at ESF.



- Maggie Liddell, Junior, Environmental Studies

Give a Shout-Out!

Know someone making an impact on campus? Tell us and we'll feature them in an upcoming issue! This could be an ESF student, faculty member, or staff member (or a department, office, or group) who:

• Goes above and beyond
• Demonstrates ESF’s mission to “Improve Your World”
• Contributes to our community in a positive way

What's Happening on Campus

Celebrate Black History Month

ESF has several events planned to celebrate Black History Month including motivational speakers, career roundtables, and speakers on environmental justice and environmental stewardship.

Sustainable You: A Conversation on Growth, Change, and Community

Friday, Feb. 3 | 11 a.m.-noon | Gateway Center

Faculty and staff may attend without charging accruals.

Join us for a conversation with Clay Rivers -- actor, artist, author, and founder of the nonprofit Our Human Family

Circle of Professionals Dialogue

Thursday, Feb. 9 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Gateway Center

Refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

In a roundtable format, a panel of faculty and community experts will hold a dialogue highlighting their accomplishments, and what has motivated and inspired them for success and provide career tips.

Environmental Justice is Racial Justice is Reproductive Justice

Thursday, Feb. 16 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Nancy Cantor Warehouse

Refreshments will be served.

Community educator and doula (birth worker) SeQuoia Kemp will trace the relationship between environmental racism, reproductive justice, and the production of maternal toxic zones.

Celebrating Blackness

Thursday, Feb. 23 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Gateway Center

Soul food will be served | entertainment and dancing by Kalabash

Keynote speaker Amara Ifeji is a youth advocate encouraging and supporting underrepresented students in their journey to become environmental stewards and climate justice activists. Soul food will be served. Entertainment and dancing are provided by Kalabash.

Meet the Candidates: Chief Diversity Officer

Two finalists for the role of Chief Diversity Officer will be on campus to present to and talk with the ESF community. 

Everyone is invited to join each of their presentations on strategies they would implement to recruit and retain a diverse body of ESF students, faculty, and staff. Candidates will present for 30 minutes, followed by a 30-minute discussion.

Derek James

Monday, Feb. 6 | 1:40-2:40 p.m. | Gateway Center

Danushi Fernando

Friday, Feb. 10 | 2-3 p.m. | 408 Baker

Green Out the Dome as the Mighty Oaks Take on Vaughn

Come to the Green Out Tailgate and then head to the JMA Wireless Dome on Feb. 7 to cheer on the ESF Mighty Oaks basketball team as they take on Vaughn College.

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Tailgate I 4 p.m. I Gateway Center

Tip-Off I 6 p.m. I JMA Wireless Dome

Click over to Engage to RSVP and check in at the Tailgate or the Dome for the chance to participate in halftime activities to win gift cards and be entered to win an amazing prize at the final men’s home game at Onondaga Community College (OCC) on Feb. 18!

The first 50 people to check in receive a limited-edition Fear the Forest T-shirt!

Fifty free tickets to "Come From Away" will also be given away to those who registered and checked in! (25 tickets for the 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16 show at the Landmark Theater and 25 tickets for the 1 p.m. matinee, Sunday, Feb. 19 matinee). Ticket giveaway is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Keep the excitement going as the Mighty Oaks close out their home games Sat. Feb 18 at 1 p.m. against Berkeley at OCC. Head to esfathletics.com for the full schedule.

One Week Left to Submit Your Storyfest Entry

There’s less than a week to enter Planet Forward’s Storyfest for the opportunity to travel to Iceland!

The Planet Forward’s Storyfest invites ESF students to use their authentic voices to tell stories about how to best care for the earth. They are looking for "stories that inspire, motivate, and drive change; stories that are compelling, thought-provoking, and vibrantly stimulating.”

Get details on the award categories, topic areas, and prizes. And check out previous ESF winners and finalists here. Hurry – the deadline is 11:59 p.m. Feb. 6!

Take the ESF Mission Statement Survey

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education requires ESF to re-affirm our existing mission statement or develop a new mission statement that accurately defines its purpose within the context of higher education, the students it serves, and what it intends to accomplish. To this end, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee has developed a survey to satisfy this requirement.

Responses will be kept confidential and participation is voluntary. This survey will take approximately five minutes to complete and will close on Feb. 13.

Events

Find out what’s happening on campus this week on the ESF Calendar and ESF Engage!

Download the Corq app and stay up-to-date on all the events in Engage no matter where you are!

ESF News is the College's source for all ESF news, information, and events issued every Wednesday.